This book offers a broad coverage of the theory and practice of
industrial microwave heating. It introduces the physical processes
behind dipolar and conductivity loss mechanisms and follows with a
thorough presentation of dielectric property data of many industrial
materials as a function of the moisture content, temperature and
frequency, focussing on the interpretation of such data as regards the
suitabiliy for processing these materials with microwave energy. The
basic equations which govern the power dissipation, attenuation, phase
constant, penetration depth and skin depth are derived from first
principles while the transport equations of heat, mass and pressure are
qualitatively described, giving particular emphasis to the physical
mechanisms behind high frequency drying. The book provides established
procedures backed by theoretical formulations for the design of
industrial travelling wave and multimode applicators. It also provides
extensive coverage of single mode fundamental or higher order resonant
cavities and outlines a number of atypical applicator structures. It
describes the essential features of processing with microwaves under
vacuum and presents a brief introduction to the mechanisms which lead to
gas breakdown. It stresses the need for a degree of hybridisation with
other electrical or conventional heating systems and discusses a few
such schemes. The book outlines a number of systems for limiting leakage
from on-line industrial microwave systems and concludes with an
extensive discussion of successful industrial applications.
