Investigation of a New Approach for Paper Heating and Drying Via Microwave Energy, Part 2: Economics, 2003 Spring Technical Conference Proceedings

In a companion paper [Ahrens, et al., 2003], the technical performance of a microwave applicator for paper heating/drying, having waveguides aligned with the machine direction (MD), was presented. This paper presents an economic assessment of the new microwave technology, based on consideration of a range of representative application cases/scenarios.

The microwave applicator performance is based on projections from a low power (3 kW) laboratory unit, using the reasonable assumption that the efficiency relationship is independent of power level. A dryer section model described by Ahrens and Rudman [2003], extended for simulation of hybrid systems incorporating both microwave and conventional drying technologies, was employed in making estimates of the productivity benefits of including microwave technology on the paper machine.

The economic assessment indicates that the time needed to recover the installed capital cost can be less than one year, the potential increase in machine speed can be over 30%, and the reduction in water removal energy can be about 20% (if the applicator is positioned before a final press).