Seed drying process and apparatus

An apparatus for drying seed, said apparatus comprising:

• a pressure vessel;
• means defining a chamber within the pressure vessel;
• a microwave power unit located externally of the pressure vessel and being capable of generating microwave energy;
• a wave guide extending from the microwave power unit through the wall of the vessel and opening into the chamber within the vessel, the wave guide being configured to direct the microwave energy into the chamber;
• means for holding the seed within the chamber and being formed from a non-metallic material which is not affected by the microwave energy;
• a vacuum pump connected with the vessel and being capable of reducing the pressure in the vessel, whereby the microwave energy will elevate the temperature of the water in the seed sufficiently to convert it to water vapor which escapes from the seed;
• a condenser in the pressure vessel;
• and means for maintaining the condenser at a temperature low enough to condense the water vapor on the condenser.

An apparatus for drying a moisture-bearing substance, said apparatus comprising:

• a pressure vessel having a chamber therein;
• a microwave power unit located externally of the pressure vessel and being capable of generating microwave energy;
• a wave guide extending from the microwave power unit through the wall of the vessel and opening into the chamber, the wave guide being configured to direct the microwave energy into the chamber;
• means for holding the substance to be dried within the chamber and being formed from a non-metallic material which is not affected by the microwave energy;
• a vacuum pump connected with the vessel and being capable of significantly reducing the pressure in the vessel, whereby the microwave energy will elevate the temperature of the water in the substance to be dried sufficiently to convert it to water vapor which escapes from the substance;
• a condenser having a condensing surface exposed to the interior of the pressure vessel so that the water vapor which escapes from the seed will come against the surface;
• and means for maintaining the condenser at a temperature sufficiently low to condense the water vapor to liquid water on the surface.