MICROWAVE-EMITTING ROTOR, SEPARATOR APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, METHODS OF OPERATION AND DESIGN THEREOF

摘要

An apparatus for use in separating, a mixture, including a rotor assembly (14), at least one chamber (32) and at least one microwave generating device configured for communicating energy into the at least one chamber (32). The rotor assembly (14) may comprise an ellectric generator for generating electricity for operating the at least one microwave generation device. The at least one microwave generaion device may be positioned within a tubulat interior shaft (36) extending within the rotor assembly (14). At least a portion of the tubular interior shaft (36) may be substantially transparent to microwave energy. Microwave energy. Microwave energy may be emittedin an outward radial direction or toward an anticiped boundary surface defined between a mixture and a separated constituent thereof. A method including flowing the mixture through the at least one chamber (32) and communicating microwave energy into the at least one chamber (32) while rotating same is disclosed.