Drying Method Using Cyclic Microwave Heating and Decompression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying methods, such as freeze-drying, require a long time to dry objects, and alternative methods proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not significantly improve drying efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A drying method involving an initial decompressing and temperature-lowering step followed by a repeated drying cycle that includes microwave heating and subsequent decompressing and temperature-lowering, optimizing the process to maintain a high temperature for efficient moisture removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If freeze-drying is used to dry an object, then the object can be dried, but the drying time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by repeatedly cycling between microwave heating and decompression/cooling phases. The object is heated by microwave irradiation to raise its temperature, then decompression and cooling are performed to lower the temperature. This cyclic process is repeated multiple times, each cycle removing moisture more efficiently than conventional freeze-drying while maintaining complete drying through the cumulative effect of repeated cycles.
2Device complexity
If conventional drying methods are used, then the process is simple, but drying efficiency remains low and time consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting temperature and pressure parameters through cyclic operations. During the heating phase, temperature is increased via microwave irradiation; during the decompression phase, pressure is reduced and temperature is lowered. These parameter changes are systematically controlled through repeated cycles, transforming a simple conventional process into an efficient drying method that achieves high productivity while maintaining reasonable operational simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly shortens the drying time by incorporating microwave heating into the decompressing and temperature-lowering process, enhancing drying efficiency and reducing the overall time required to dry objects.
Implementation Method 1
an initial decompressing and temperature-lowering step (S2) of decompressing the chamber and lowering an air temperature inside the chamber by operating a decompression pump (12a)
Implementation Method 2
a microwave heating step (S32) of heating the object in the chamber by microwave irradiation in the chamber
Implementation Method 3
by adding a heating process to heat the object further to the decompressing and temperature-lowering process in the drying cycle step, the time (drying time) required to dry up the object can be shortened
Data Source
AI summary
A drying method includes an initial decompressing and temperature-lowering step of decompressing the chamber and lowering an air temperature inside the chamber by operating a decompression pump; and a drying cycle step that is repeatedly performed a plurality of times to dry an object to be dried after performing the initial decompressing and temperature-lowering step. The drying cycle step includes a microwave heating step of heating the object in the chamber by microwave irradiation in the chamber and a decompressing and temperature-lowering step of decompressing the chamber and lowering the air temperature inside the chamber again after performing the microwave heating step by operating the decompression pump with the microwave irradiation being stopped.