Migrating Temperature “Thermo-Chromatographic” Pulses (TCP) Initiated by Radio-Frequency (RF) Heating

In the present study, the astonishing influence of water dosage on a purged dry packed bed of NaY zeolite in the presence of an electric field with a frequency of 13.56 MHz was investigated. The injection of a small amount of water to the inlet of the bed led to pronounced selective heating of the inlet zone by more than 150 K. Thus, water represented a very effective coupling medium for dielectric heating. The selectively heated zone then slowly moved through the whole packed bed and a water pulse finally left the zeolite. This effect correlated with a coupled water and heat flux was called thermo-chromatographic pulse (TCP) emphasizing its analogy to chromatography. The phenomenon could not be performed by using conventional (convective) or microwave heating. It was demonstrated under various conditions and explained by a new model based on own experimental results as well as data from literature. The model will be the objective of a forthcoming publication.