Microwave Resonator Impedance Control for Uniform Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave treatment apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform dielectric heating for multiple targets due to standing wave distribution, leading to uneven heating and complexity in apparatus design for localized heating.
Innovation Solution
A microwave treatment apparatus with a resonator unit on one wall of the treatment chamber, capable of changing impedance by controlling microwave frequency, allowing for control of standing wave distribution and microwave energy distribution within the chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If microwaves are focused onto a single heating target using multiple microwave generators, then localized heating intensity is improved, but when multiple heating targets are heated simultaneously, the microwaves that are not absorbed by one target can incident on another target, making it difficult to improve the intensity of localized heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of microwaves to control standing wave distribution. By adjusting microwave frequency, the standing wave pattern in the treatment chamber changes, allowing different regions to have different electric field intensities. This enables independent heating control for multiple targets without requiring multiple microwave generators, resolving the contradiction between localized heating intensity and heating control accuracy for multiple targets.
2Power
If a plurality of microwave generators are used to supply microwaves from different positions, then localized heating is achieved, but the apparatus becomes complicated and increases in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single microwave generator perform multiple functions by utilizing frequency adjustment to create different standing wave patterns. Instead of requiring multiple generators for different positions, one generator can achieve localized heating at different locations by changing frequency, thereby reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining localized heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the frequency parameter of the microwave generator, the patent achieves different standing wave distributions that enable localized heating at various positions within the treatment chamber. This eliminates the need for multiple physical generators, simplifying the apparatus structure while preserving localized heating functionality.
3Power
If standing wave occurs in the treatment chamber, then microwave energy is concentrated at antinodes, but heating targets placed at nodes are not heated properly, leading to uneven heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic frequency adjustment to change the standing wave pattern in real-time. By varying the microwave frequency, the positions of nodes and antinodes shift, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different heating requirements. This enables proper heating of targets regardless of their initial position, improving heating uniformity while maintaining energy concentration benefits.
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
Enables desired dielectric heating for each heating target by deflecting standing waves and optimizing electric field distribution, improving heating uniformity and efficiency for multiple targets simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
The resonator unit has a resonance frequency in a frequency band of the microwave
Implementation Method 2
the impedance of the surface of the resonator unit can be changed by controlling the frequency of the microwave supplied to the treatment chamber
Implementation Method 3
A microwave supply supplies a microwave to the treatment chamber... the heating target is heated intensively when placed at a position that corresponds to an antinode of the standing wave
Implementation Method 4
the microwave reflected on a wall has a phase difference of 180 degrees with respect to the microwave applied to the wall
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave treatment apparatus includes a treatment chamber, a microwave supply, and a resonator unit. The treatment chamber is surrounded by a plurality of walls, and accommodates a heating target. The microwave supply supplies a microwave to the treatment chamber. The resonator unit is provided on one wall of the plurality of walls, and the resonator unit has a resonance frequency in a frequency band of the microwave. In this embodiment, the impedance of the surface of the resonator unit can be changed by controlling the frequency of the microwave supplied to the treatment chamber. This makes it possible to control the standing wave distribution within the treatment chamber, that is, the microwave energy distribution within the treatment chamber. As a result, in the cases where a plurality of heating targets need to be heated simultaneously, desired dielectric heating is conducted for each of the heating targets.