Microwave reactor having a slotted array waveguide coupled to a waveguide bend
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorHarold D. Kimrey, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for heating wood products is provided. The system may include a launcher. The launcher may include a waveguide bend and a waveguide. The launcher may have one or more slots along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The slots may be slanted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and spaced at an interval along the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the system may include windows covering the slots. The windows may serve as a physical barrier and allow electromagnetic energy to be transferred from the launcher to the wood product. The launcher and wood products may be contained in a microwave reactor (also referred to as a chamber) to heat the wood products.
Claims24
An apparatus for heating a wood product in a chamber, comprising:
- a launcher, wherein the launcher comprises:
- a waveguide bend and a waveguide, the waveguide having a rectangular cross section and a plurality of slots along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, the slots being disposed on alternating sides of the waveguide and slanted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and spaced at intervals with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- and a plurality of windows covering the slots, the windows serving as a physical barrier and allowing electromagnetic energy to be transferred from the launcher to the wood product.
A system for acetylating a wood product comprising:
- a chamber sized to accommodate the wood product;
- and a launcher disposed within the chamber, the launcher comprising:
- a waveguide bend and a waveguide having a rectangular cross section;
- a plurality of slots along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, the slots being disposed on alternating sides of the waveguide and slanted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and spaced at an interval along the longitudinal axis;
- and a plurality of windows covering the slots, the windows serving as a barrier and allowing electromagnetic energy to be transferred from the launcher to the wood product.
A heating system for a material comprising:
- a launcher comprising a waveguide bend and a waveguide having a rectangular cross section, a plurality of slots along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, the slots being disposed on alternating sides of the waveguide and slanted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and spaced at an interval along the longitudinal axis;
- and a plurality of windows, the windows:
- covering the slots;
- serving as a physical barrier;
- and allowing electromagnetic energy to be transferred from the launcher to the material.
A system for heating a material comprising:
- a plurality of launchers configured within a chamber containing a material to supply electromagnetic energy to the interior of the chamber, wherein:
- the launchers comprise a waveguide bend and a waveguide having a rectangular cross section;
- the launchers have one or more slots along the longitudinal axis of the waveguides;
- the slots are disposed on alternating sides of the waveguide and slanted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and spaced at an interval with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- and one or more windows covering the slots, the windows serving as a physical barrier and allowing electromagnetic energy to be transferred from the launcher to the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.