Apparatus and method for heating objects with microwaves
AssigneeWashington State University Research Foundation
InventorsJuming Tang, Fang Liu, Surya Kumar Pathak, Eugene E. Eves, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing foodstuffs. In one representative embodiment, an apparatus for pasteurizing or sterilizing a packaged foodstuff includes at least one cavity in which the foodstuff to be pasteurized or sterilized is positioned. The cavity is configured such that, as microwave energy radiates into the cavity, the cavity operates as a single-mode cavity for sterilizing or pasteurizing the foodstuff. In another embodiment, methods are provided for optimizing a microwave system for sterilizing or pasteurizing a foodstuff.
Claims19
An apparatus for sterilizing a packaged foodstuff utilizing microwaves, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one cavity in which the packaged foodstuff is positioned, the cavity being configured to operate as a single-mode cavity for sterilizing the packaged foodstuff whenever microwave energy radiates into the cavity;
- and
- first and second waveguides configured to direct microwaves into the cavity in opposite directions,
- wherein the first waveguide includes a first horn-shaped applicator, and the second waveguide includes a second horn-shaped applicator, the first and second applicators being situated on opposing sides of the cavity for directing microwaves into the cavity in opposing directions.
An apparatus for sterilizing a packaged foodstuff utilizing microwaves, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one cavity in which the foodstuff is positioned, the cavity being configured to operate as a single-mode cavity for sterilizing the foodstuff whenever microwave energy radiates into the cavity;
- and
- a waveguide for directing microwaves into the cavity, the waveguide having a cross-sectional area defined by a length and a width,
- wherein the cavity has cross-sectional area defined by a length and a width, the length of the cavity being equal to or less than twice the length of the waveguide, and the width of the cavity being equal to or less than one and a half times the width of the waveguide.
An apparatus for heating an object utilizing microwaves, comprising:
- at least one cavity for receiving the object to be heated, the cavity comprising a liquid-tight cavity, the cavity having first and second microwave-transparent windows on opposing sides of the cavity;
- at least one waveguide comprising a first applicator and a second applicator, the first applicator being positioned adjacent the first microwave-transparent window for directing microwaves into the cavity in a first direction, and the second applicator being positioned adjacent the second microwave-transparent window for directing microwaves into the cavity in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- a pressurized-liquid source configured to deliver a pressurized liquid to the cavity for immersing the object in the liquid during heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.