Apparatus and method for microwave processing of materials

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870435

Johnson, Arvid C ^[1]; Lauf, Robert J ^[2]; Bible, Don W ^[3]; Markunas, Robert J ^[4]

---

1. Lake in the Hills, IL
2. Oak Ridge, TN
3. Clinton, TN
4. Chapel Hill, NC

A variable frequency microwave heating apparatus (10) designed to allow modulation of the frequency of the microwaves introduced into a furnace cavity (34) for testing or other selected applications. The variable frequency heating apparatus (10) is used in the method of the present invention to monitor the resonant processing frequency within the furnace cavity (34) depending upon the material, including the state thereof, from which the workpiece (36) is fabricated. The variable frequency microwave heating apparatus (10) includes a microwave signal generator (12) and a high-power microwave amplifier (20) or a microwave voltage-controlled oscillator (14). A power supply (22) is provided for operation of the high-power microwave oscillator (14) or microwave amplifier (20). A directional coupler (24) is provided for detecting the direction and amplitude of signals incident upon and reflected from the microwave cavity (34). A first power meter (30) is provided for measuring the power delivered to the microwave furnace (32). A second power meter (26) detects the magnitude of reflected power. Reflected power is dissipated in the reflected power load (28).

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5521360
• OSTI ID: 870435
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
method
microwave
processing
materials
variable
frequency
heating
10
designed
allow
modulation
microwaves
introduced
furnace
cavity
34
testing
selected
applications
monitor
resonant
depending
material
including
workpiece
36
fabricated
signal
generator
12
high-power
amplifier
20
voltage-controlled
oscillator
14
power
supply
22
provided
operation
directional
coupler
24
detecting
direction
amplitude
signals
incident
reflected
meter
30
measuring
delivered
32
26
detects
magnitude
dissipated
load
28
high-power microwave
furnace cavity
microwaves introduced
allow modulation
power load
directional coupler
microwave signal
frequency microwave
variable frequency
power supply
microwave cavity
signal generator
microwave heating
power meter
power delivered
microwave amplifier
reflected power
heating apparatus
microwave furnace
power microwave
wave signal
selected applications
microwave oscillator
microwave processing
microwave process
wave cavity
controlled oscillator
/219/