WOOD HEATER WITH ENHANCED MICROWAVE DISPERSING AND TM-MODE MICROWAVE LAUNCHERS

摘要

A microwave heater capable of heating a bundle of wood and equipped with an optimized system for introducing microwave energy into the heater is provided. Also provided is an enhanced system for launching and dispersing within the heater. The system uses one or more TM_ab microwave launchers to emit microwave energy in the interior of the microwave heater in a TM_ab mode, where a is 0 and b is an integer between 1 and 5. The TM_ab launchers can be configured to emit microwave energy through an open outlet that faces generally parallel to the nearest wall of the heater. In certain situations, it can be advantageous to use at least two TM_ab microwave launchers having open outlets that face towards one another. In certain situations, it can be advantageous to use at least two TM_ab microwave launchers located on generally opposite sides of the microwave heater. In certain situations, the system can also include one or more moving reflectors for dispersing microwave energy emitted from the TM_ab microwave launchers.