Microwave vacuum-drying of organic materials

摘要

An apparatus (20) for dehydrating organic material in batches has a processing unit (22) having a microwave-vacuum chamber (34), an input module (28) and an output module (30), with a conveyor (54) for moving the material through the chamber on a microwave-transparent window. A material reservoir (68) is arranged to receive the material exiting the output module. A conveyor (78) external to the vacuum chamber conveys material that exits the reservoir to the input module. The vacuum chamber (34), reservoir (68) and external conveyor (78) are in fluid communication to operate at a common, reduced pressure. The organic material passes through the vacuum chamber multiple times to equilibrate and dry to the desired degree.

主权项

1. An apparatus for dehydrating organic material, comprising:
(a) a vacuum chamber having an inlet and an outlet for the organic material; (b) a microwave generator arranged to irradiate the organic material in the vacuum chamber; (c) means for introducing the organic material into the apparatus; (d) a first conveyor means for conveying the organic material through the vacuum chamber from the inlet to the outlet; (e) a circuit external to the vacuum chamber for moving the organic material that exits the vacuum chamber outlet to the vacuum chamber inlet, the circuit comprising a material reservoir and a second conveyor means; (f) means for removing the organic material from the apparatus; (g) the vacuum chamber, the material reservoir and the second conveyor means being adapted to be in fluid communication with each other for operation at a common pressure that is less than atmospheric; and (h) means for reducing pressure in the vacuum chamber, the material reservoir and the second conveyor means.