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Frequently Asked
Questions
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What are microwaves, and how do they work to remove moisture?
Microwaves are short-wavelength, high speed waves of electromagnetic
energy. They are relatively close to the frequencies used in
television and radio broadcasting, radar, and cellular
telephones. In fact, they are classified as radio waves.
Microwaves excite water molecules, causing them to vibrate.
The resulting friction heats the water and allows it to be
released from the material being processed.
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What materials can be dried with the BioWave?
The BioWave is well-suited to drying a variety of materials. These include municipal and
industrial sludge, biosolids, animal manures, paper mill
byproducts, fruits and nuts.
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How wet can the input material be? Can BioWave handle liquid materials?
As long as a material does not have free water flowing out of it, the BioWave can
typically handle it. In the case of municipal biosolids, the
lower limit of solids content that the system can be fed is
around15% (85% moisture).
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What else do the microwaves remove in addition to water?
Extensive tests of BioWave air
emissions and the end-product material have shown that this
system removes virtually only water and pathogens. The
end-product retains all of the nutrients and fertilizer
value it started with, but with no surviving disease-causing
organisms.
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What can the BioWave end-products be used for?
Processed sludge, biosolids and
manures can be used for home gardens, landscaping, and other
uses where nutrient value is desired. Processed paper mill
byproducts have a wide variety of applications, including
animal bedding, insulation, and as a constituent of
lightweight concrete.
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Does microwave drying produce odours?
The actual processing of material
through the Burch BioWave will produce very few odours. The
end-product will also have very little odour, because of the
dryness of the material.
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Are microwaves safe? Does the BioWave have operator safeguards in place?
Safety is the top
priority in the Burch BioWave system. In addition to the
safeguards employed at the entrance and exit points of the
throughput conveyor belt, all access doors in the system
have two safety features. The BioWave process meets or
exceeds the leakage restrictions set by OSHA.
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Is microwave drying more or less efficient than other drying systems?
Competing drying systems
typically use natural gas as their primary fuel. Such
systems are far less energy-efficient than the Burch
BioWave. The BioWave uses electricity as its primary fuel,
and natural gas (or propane or methane) as a supplement to
heat the circulating air. The unique combination of
electricity and gas creates the highest energy efficiencies
in the industry. Microwaves heat material volumetrically
(all at the same time) and the heat is generated from within
the material. Gas dryers rely on the convection of heat to
heat material from the outside in. This allows a lot of
energy to be lost to the surrounding environment and also
can cause over drying of the outside of the material.
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Is the BioWave a stand-alone system, or can it interface with other equipment or systems?
The BioWave can be connected to an upstream dewatering system
(belt press, centrifuge, etc.), conveyors, augers and many
other types of material handing equipment.
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Can my existing operator(s) run the BioWave?
Burch BioWave, Inc. provides
complete operator training. The user-friendly touch screen
controls and troubleshooting guidance make operation of the
BioWave system no more difficult than other equipment such
as belt presses. The customer can also contract with Burch
to provide custom operation of the system, if desired.
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What does Burch BioWave provide after the sale?
Burch’s involvement with a BioWave
system does not cease after the sale or installation. The
company can provide complete operator training, startup
assistance, testing of equipment function, input material
and end-product analysis, troubleshooting and programming
assistance, service contracts, repair services, parts sales
and installation. The customer can also contract with Burch
to provide custom operation of the system or marketing of the end-product.
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