MICROWAVE WOOD HEATER WITH ENHANCED SPATIAL USAGE EFFICIENCY AND UNIFORMITY OF HEAT DISTRIBUTION

摘要

A commercial scale microwave system that includes a heater having enhanced heat distribution and minimized void space. The enhanced heat distribution can be provided by a unique launcher and/or reflector configuration disposed in the interior of the microwave heater. The microwave system can be operated to prevent the wood from both overheating (which results in scorching) and under-heating (which results in inadequate drying and/or inadequate thermal- modification). The microwave heating system can provide enhanced microwave energy distribution for large quantities of wood, even large quantities of wood heated under vacuum and/or in the presence of one or more chemical reagents.