Abstract:
A microwave heater equipped with a microwave choke and suitable for heating one or more articles under vacuum. The microwave choke inhibits leakage of microwave energy between a door of the heater and a main vessel body of the heater without causing arcing at the choke, even at low pressures. In certain situations, the microwave choke can be configured with side-by-side choke cavities. In certain situations, the microwave choke can be removably coupled to the door and/or vessel body for easier fabrication, installation, and/or replacement.
Abstract:
A microwave heater capable of heating a bundle of wood and equipped with an optimized system for introducing microwave energy into the heater. The system uses a high-efficiency elongated waveguide launcher having a plurality of launch openings defined in relatively thin walls. The waveguide launcher can exhibit a launch efficiency of at least 50 percent, thereby providing substantially energy savings over conventional waveguide launchers.
Abstract:
An optimized microwave barrier assembly suitable for use with a vacuum microwave heater. The barrier assembly is configured to allow microwaves to pass therethrough in a TMab mode, wherein a is 0 and b is an integer in the range of 1 to 5. The barrier assembly is also configured to maintain a pressure differential across a window of the barrier assembly. Such a configuration can reduce or eliminate arcing in the barrier assembly, even at low pressures.