Electromagnetic wave food processing system and methods

A food processing system comprising:

• a housing defining a continuous processing channel divided into a come-up chamber, a main microwave heating chamber, and a cool-down chamber;
• the continuous processing channel defining at least two separate portions oriented for vertical product movement;
• wherein the come-up chamber and the cool-down chamber are at least partially filled with an aqueous liquid;
• wherein the main microwave heating chamber is completely filled with the aqueous liquid;
• a product conveyor mechanism to convey food products to be processed continuously along a conveyance path passing from the come-up chamber through the main microwave heating chamber and to the cool-down chamber;
• a plurality of retaining trays attached to the product conveyor mechanism, wherein each retaining tray is configured to hold a plurality of individual food containers laterally across each retaining tray;
• a microwave energy emitting apparatus configured to emit microwave energy into the main microwave heating chamber;
• a distance sensor disposed in the main microwave heating chamber to measure a distance to the food products;
• a pressure sensor disposed in the main microwave heating chamber to measure pressure therein;
• a microwave energy detector disposed in the main microwave heating chamber;
• and
• an actuator to move the microwave energy emitting apparatus or a distal portion thereof, the actuator configured to adjust the position of at least the distal portion of the microwave energy emitting apparatus based on the distance to the food products measured by the distance sensor;
• wherein an average pressure in the continuous processing channel changes along the conveyance path of the product conveyor mechanism;
• wherein the microwave energy emitting apparatus comprising an array of microwave units.