A numerical analysis of the laser drying process by employing a generalized,Maxwell-Cattaneo equation to treat both heat and mass transfer was presented. Calculations wereperformed to illustrate the non-classical transport of heat and moisture. The effect of the heatflux density and the initial moisture content on water removal was also investigated. The resultsindicate that the non-equilibrium mass diffusion plays an important role during the very earlystages of moisture removal, especially at the surface of the medium. Away from the surface, thenon-Fickian model shows a delay in the reduction of the moisture content. The calculation resultsalso show that the initial moisture content of the medium has a considerable effect on waterremoval.
The measurements of temperature and moisture content of a wet porous material were accomplished on the micro-seconds scale. The temperature wave was observed when the wet porous material was heated by short-pulsed laser with high power. It firstly revealed that the moisture content of wet porous material rapidly rises twice in one laser irradiation. The influences of laser parameters, the thickness and initial moisture content of the wet porous material on its temperature and moisture content were investigated.
