Heat pattern simulation of some cryo-protectant agencies using a combined electromagnetic and heat transfer solver

An iteration algorithm is presented to obtain the electromagnetic field distribution and the temperature pattern for arbitrary shaped samples when they are in free space and inside cavities. The iteration involves solving the electromagnetic wave equation and the heat transfer equation alternatively. The electromagnetic solver models the cavity with quadrangle patches and the dielectric tissue by hexahedrons. Hence it can be used to simulate realistic microwave re-warming and heating processes, and provides an accurate and effective tool for virtual experiments, through which we can analyze the heating pattern and the heating rate as functions of sample's size, shape, and electric and heat conduction properties. The similar simulation can be performed using the FDTD method. Our preliminary comparison shows that the integral equation method has higher efficiency than the FDTD method for this example. These simulations are essential to determine what kind of cavity and what control process can lead to a desired heating pattern and re-warming history