Surface Wave Exciter Microwave Reuse for Heating Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-frequency heating devices have low utilization efficiency of microwave energy as microwaves not absorbed by the heating subject are typically radiated into space, rather than being reused for heating.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a surface wave exciter with a periodic structure and a reuse unit, such as a reflective or matching unit, to propagate and reuse microwaves in a surface wave mode that have not been absorbed by the heating subject, improving energy utilization by re-supplying these microwaves for continued heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If microwaves are supplied to the surface wave exciter for heating, then heating function is achieved, but microwave energy utilization efficiency is low because unabsorbed microwaves are radiated into space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism by capturing microwaves that would otherwise be lost and feeding them back into the heating system. The reflecting unit redirects unabsorbed microwaves back toward the heating chamber, creating a closed-loop energy system that continuously utilizes microwave energy for heating purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by capturing microwave energy that would normally be discarded (radiated into space) and recovering it for reuse. The reflecting unit and waveguide structure work together to recover this wasted energy and redirect it back into the heating chamber, transforming a loss into a useful resource.
2Loss of energy
If a reflective unit is added to reuse microwaves, then energy utilization efficiency is improved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a waveguide as an intermediary component that facilitates the redirection of microwaves without requiring complex mechanical systems. The waveguide acts as a mediator between the reflecting unit and the heating chamber, providing a simple yet effective pathway for microwave redirection that minimizes structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes spatial arrangement and dimensional positioning of the reflecting unit and waveguide to achieve microwave redirection. By strategically positioning these components in three-dimensional space, the system achieves efficient energy reuse without adding complex mechanical or electronic control systems.
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
The described configuration enhances the efficiency of microwave energy utilization by effectively reusing microwaves that would otherwise be lost, thereby improving the heating process in high-frequency heating devices.
Implementation Method 1
The surface wave exciter includes a periodic structure and heats a heating subject by propagating the microwaves in a surface wave mode
Implementation Method 2
high-frequency heating devices which heat heating subjects such as food products by supplying microwaves
Implementation Method 3
a reflective unit configured to reflect, toward the surface wave exciter, the microwaves in the surface wave mode that have reached another end portion of the surface wave exciter
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A high-frequency heating device (1a) includes a generation unit (8), a surface wave exciter (10), a first connecting unit (12), and a reuse unit (14). The generation unit (8) generates microwaves. The surface wave exciter (10) includes a periodic structure and heats a heating subject (6) by propagating the microwaves in a surface wave mode. The first connecting unit (12) is disposed at one end portion (15) of the surface wave exciter (10). The microwaves generated by the generation unit (8) are supplied to the surface wave exciter (10) through the first connecting unit (12). The reuse unit (14) reuses, for heating the heating subject (6), the microwaves that have reached another end portion (17) of the surface wave exciter (10) located in the propagation direction of the microwaves from one end portion (15) of the surface wave exciter (10). According to the present aspect, microwaves that have not been absorbed by the heating subject can be reused for heating the heating subject.