Unidirectional Waveguide Structure for Microwave Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microwave heating systems face inefficiencies and energy wastage due to low heating efficiency and microwave reflection, which can damage equipment and require complex and costly protection devices.

Innovation Solution

A high-efficiency microwave heating device featuring a straight-walled waveguide with asymmetric transmission and unidirectional propagation structures, where the dielectric constant gradually increases along the transmission direction, reducing reflection and enhancing energy absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional microwave heating is used, then heating can be performed, but heating efficiency is low and microwave reflection damages equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrowave reflectionVSAvoidequipment safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful reflected microwave energy into useful heating energy by designing a waveguide structure that guides reflected microwaves to heat the waveguide material itself, transforming the harmful reflection into a beneficial heating effect that protects the magnetron

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If circulator and water load are used to absorb reflected microwaves, then equipment is protected, but additional insertion loss is introduced and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment protectionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using additional devices to absorb reflected microwaves, the patent designs the waveguide structure to naturally guide reflected energy to heat the waveguide material, converting the harmful reflection into useful heating while protecting the magnetron, thereby eliminating the need for circulators and water loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If three-pin adjuster is used to improve heating efficiency, then efficiency increases, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidadjuster structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex three-pin adjuster device by designing a waveguide structure with built-in reflective characteristics that naturally improve heating efficiency without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The waveguide structure utilizes the normally harmful reflected microwaves to enhance heating efficiency, eliminating the need for complex adjustment devices while maintaining or improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution improves microwave heating efficiency, reduces equipment costs, and extends the lifespan of microwave sources by minimizing reflection and energy wastage, while simplifying the heating process and enhancing safety.

Implementation Method 1

a unidirectional propagation structure... comprising a first medium section and a second medium section... the dielectric constant of the first medium section gradually increases along a microwave transmission direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

a straight-walled waveguide with an asymmetric transmission function... one end of the straight-walled waveguide is communicated with the heating chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWaveguide transmission: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentUS20230156878A1High-efficiency heating device in microwave chamber and heating method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.05.18 SICHUAN UNIV

AI summary

The invention relates to the technical field of microwave heating, and more particularly to a high-efficiency heating device in a microwave chamber and a heating method thereof. A high-efficiency heating device in a microwave chamber, comprising: a heating chamber; a straight-walled waveguide with microwave asymmetric propagation function; wherein one end of the straight-walled waveguide is communicated with the heating chamber; and at least one group of unidirectional waveguide structures, which are attached to an inner sidewall of the straight-walled waveguide; wherein the unidirectional waveguide structures comprise a first medium section and a second medium section which are provided along the microwave transmission direction; wherein a dielectric constant of the first medium section gradually increases along the microwave transmission direction and has a maximum value of εmax, a dielectric constant of the second medium section is a constant value of εc, and εmax=εc.