Continuous measurement of moisture in nonconducting materials

A microwave-based system for the continuous measurement of moisture in nonconducting materials is described. The system was implemented on conveyor belts carrying coarse coal. To obtain a reliable measurement for this application, several other factors which influence the microwave measurement technique had to be investigated. These factors are, among others, the mass per unit area and the temperature. The measurement of these factors makes possible the general characterization of the coal, which is important for optimizing the utilization of the coal for various applications.<
>