Time Domain Reflectometry Usage to Moisture Content Estimation in Electrically Conductive Mineral Wastes

The article presents the possibilities of using domain-time reflectometry (TDR) to determine the moisture content of waste. The TDR method consists in measuring the time of electromagnetic pulse transmission and reflection from the obstacle back to the source point. The impulse is a step signal of voltage. The reflected signal contains information about the dielectric properties of the material being tested. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative properties of the material can be detected. The tests were carried out using a stationary reflectometric device and an electronic temperature and humidity meter. The obtained results were validated using the traditional weight method, obtaining 94% convergence of results in the measurement cycle. On the basis of the obtained results, the usefulness of reflectometric methods in the study of the moisture content of wastes was determined.