Ridged serpentine microwave waveguide applicator

摘要

Disclosed is a microwave applicator which includes a serpentine waveguide having a first end and a second end and an applicator portion between the first and second ends. The waveguide includes a number of waveguide passes arranged with opposite top and bottom sides which are connected to a pair of opposite slotted sides having slots between the top and bottom sides so as to form a generally rectangular interior cross section. The waveguide passes are disposed side by side with the slots aligned. The microwave applicator also includes a microwave energy source coupled to the first end of the serpentine waveguide to supply microwave energy flowing through the serpentine waveguide to the second end. The waveguide has bent end portions connecting adjacent waveguide passes in series so that microwave energy flows in an opposite direction in each adjacent waveguide pass. The microwave applicator includes a conveyor extending through the aligned slots in the applicator portion to transport a material into the applicator portion for exposure to microwave energy. The microwave applicator further includes tunnels disposed between facing slotted sides of consecutive waveguide passes to enclose the material transported by the conveyor between the waveguide passes. The waveguide passes have conductive ridges projecting interiorly from corners of the waveguide passes to reduce the microwave energy at the slots in the slotted sides of the waveguide passes.