Sustainable manufacture of brick and tiles with microwave energy

The main objective is to halve the energy consumption for drying and firing of brick, while the energy source is transformed from fossil fuels to electricity, potentially from renewable energy. This is obtained by using new MAGF (microwave Assisted Gas Firing) technology. The current source of power for drying and firing of bricks is in Danish brickworks over 90 % natural gas.
Scientific research will create the required knowledge of mineralogy and dielectric heating of ceramic materials to a swift and efficient conversion of traditional drying and firing technologies to MAGF. The process from raw materials to brick is managed in modern PLC controlled systems. But the “formulae” and drying and firing programs are largely based on experience, making it expensive to develop new products.
Energy savings of 50 % by restructuring to a combination of natural gas and microwaves firing (MAGF) was the result of an extensive pilot project conducted in England.
The main activities are:

• Scientific research in typical Danish raw materials, their dielectrical properties and response to MAGF.
• Scientific research in the mineralogical development of both traditionally fried and MAGF products including establishing thermodynamic and reaction kinetic models.
• Establishment of an experimental pilot plant for MAGF drying and firing of brick at DTI
• Industrial research collaboration at the brickworks, developing new products and experimenting with implementation of the results of scientific research

The goal is that the MAGF technology can be considered mature and ready for implementation in the industry in general.