System and method for continuous thermal treatment of a flowable product

An apparatus for thermally treating a flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

• a waveguide defined by first and second arms that extend in opposing directions, wherein each arm comprises a termination end that includes a reflector plate and a port for allowing a conduit to pass therethrough;
• a conduit for receiving a flowable material, wherein the conduit passes through the first and second arms and wherein at least a portion of the conduit is transparent to electromagnetic energy;
• a multi-port applicator junction that delivers electromagnetic energy to the first and second arms of the waveguide;
• and
• a generator for providing electromagnetic energy to the multi-port applicator junction through an input port;
• wherein each waveguide arm includes an output that is isolated from the output of the other arm and optionally includes a phase shift, such that any reflected electromagnetic energy exits the arm through an exit port different from the input port.

A method of thermally treating a flowable material, the method comprising:

• passing the flowable material as a continuous stream through a thermal treatment apparatus comprising:
• a waveguide defined by first and second arms that extend in opposing directions, wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a termination end that includes a reflector plate and a port for allowing a conduit to pass therethrough;
• a conduit for receiving a flowable material that passes through the first and second arms, wherein at least a portion of the conduit is transparent to electromagnetic energy;
• a multi-port applicator junction that delivers electromagnetic energy to the first and second arms of the waveguide;
• and
• a generator for providing electromagnetic energy to the multi-port applicator junction through an input port;
• wherein each waveguide arm includes an output that is isolated from the output of the other waveguide arm by a phase shift, such that any reflected electromagnetic energy exits the waveguide arm through an exit port different from the input port;
• initiating the generator to provide electromagnetic energy to the input port of the multi-port applicator junction, wherein the electromagnetic energy travels to the first and second arms of the waveguide, and wherein the portion of the conduit that is transparent to electromagnetic energy is thereby exposed to electromagnetic energy such that the flowable material is thermally treated.