Feasibility Study of Density-Independent Moisture Measurement with Microwaves

Abstract

A new method of density-independent moisture determination with microwaves operating at one single frequency is developed. It is based on the two-parameter measurement of the complex dielectric constant beirlg composed to a density-independent calibration factor A(psi) which is a function of the moisture content psi. The principle is demonstrated for practical applications of the wool-water system, and a complete error analysis is given. The results confirm the promising prospects of the method which opens up a new class of density-independent moisture meters particularly suited for on-line process control.