TW201231885A - Wood heater with enhanced microwave choke system - Google Patents

Abstract

A microwave heater equipped with a microwave choke and suitable for heating wood under vacuum. The microwave choke inhibits leakage of microwave energy between a door of the heater and a main vessel body of the heater without causing arcing at the choke, even at low pressures. In certain situations, the microwave choke can be configured with side-by-side choke cavities. In certain situations, the microwave choke can be removably coupled to the door and/or vessel body for easier fabrication, installation, and/or replacement.

Description

201231885 VI. Description of the Invention: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to microwave heating systems suitable for heating wood. [Prior Art] Electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave radiation, is a conventional mechanism for delivering energy to an object. The ability to electromagnetically penetrate and heat an object both quickly and efficiently has proven to be advantageous in a variety of chemical and industrial processes. In addition, since the use of microwave energy as a heat source is generally non-invasive, microwave heating is particularly advantageous for processing r-sensitive "dielectric materials (such as foods and drugs) and even for heating materials having a relatively poor thermal conductivity ( For example, wood, the complexity and nuances of the safe and efficient application of microwave energy (especially on a commercial scale) have severely limited its use in several types of industrial processes. Due to its wide range of applications & Applicable, &, its renewable nature and its relatively low cost's. Therefore wood is one of the most widely used building materials available. However, since wood is a natural product, its physical and structural properties can be substantially Different species and different locations in different trees or even in the same wood block. In addition, wood is usually .3⁄4 (four) 'this material is scalloped, and it gives her money to be susceptible to fungal erosion. , several types of wood treatment processes have been developed 2 to increase the stability of the wood through its chemical, physical and/or structural properties. Examples of processes include impregnation, coating, thermal modification, and chemical upgrading. The latter two processes typically change the properties of the wood to - more severe than other conditions, and therefore these types The process is generally 160978.doc 201231885 involves more complex solutions and systems. For example, many chemical and thermal processes can be carried out under vacuum and/or in the presence of one or more processing chemicals. The commercialization of technology has been limited, and there are still many challenges to overcome in order to make these processes large-scale industrialization. Therefore, 'a commercial scale system that is more efficient and cost effective for one of chemical or heat treated wood is needed. An efficient and cost effective industrial scale microwave heating system for use in a wide variety of processes and applications, including wood processing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention relates to a process for producing chemically modified a system for drying and/or thermally modifying wood, the system comprising a microwave heater comprising a container body and a door for selectively permitting and blocking the passage of a bundle of wood out of the interior of the microwave heater. The door and the container body have respective door side and body side sealing surfaces on the door and the container body when the door is closed Forming a fluid seal directly or indirectly, wherein the door and the container body cooperatively form at least a portion of a microwave choke that effectively suppresses microwave energy between the door and the container body from the microwave heater when the door is closed The microwave choke includes a first radially extending choke chamber, a second radially extending choke chamber, and at least partially disposed in the first choke chamber when the door is closed a radially extending choke deflector wall between the two choke chambers, wherein at least a portion of the second choke chamber abuts at least a portion of the first choke chamber when the door is closed. Another embodiment relates to a system for producing chemically modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood, the system comprising a microwave heating 160978.doc • 4·201231885 'The microwave heater comprises a circle A cylindrical container body, a door and a microwave choke. The microwave heater is configured to receive and heat a bundle of wood, wherein the microwave choke is operable to substantially prevent microwave energy from leaking from the microwave heater between the door and the container body when the door is closed. The microwave choke includes a portion of the removable flow block that is removably coupled to the container body or the door. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for producing a chemically modified, dried, and/or thermally modified wood. The method includes: (a) loading a bundle of wood through an open door of a microwave heater Up to the microwave heater; (b) closing the door of the microwave heater to thereby form a fluid seal between the door and a container body; ((the 维持 maintains no more than 350 Torr in the microwave heater) a pressure; (1) heating the wood beam by means of microwave energy introduced into the microwave heater while maintaining a vacuum; and (e) simultaneously with step (d), using a microwave choke to prevent the microwave energy At least a portion of the microwave heater is exited at the junction of the door and the container body. The present invention is also directed to a method for producing a chemically modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood. The method comprises: (4) attaching a removable choke portion to a door or a volume of a microwave heater; (8) heating a bundle of wood by means of microwave energy introduced into the microwave heater; and (4) Step (b) simultaneously, using - microwave choke To prevent this from being: a portion exits the heating 15 ' at the junction of the door and the container body. The microwave choke includes the removable blocking component 0. [Embodiment] I60978.doc 201231885 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments of the present invention are provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A heating system configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention may include a heat source, a heating vessel (eg, a heating And a vacuum system is selected. Typically, a heating system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be adapted for use as an independent heating unit or can be used as or in conjunction with a chemical reactor for a wide variety of processes. A heating system configured in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention is set forth in detail below with reference to the drawings. In one embodiment, a heating system of the present invention can be used to heat a lignocellulosic material. The lignocellulosic material can include the following Any of the materials. Cellulose and lignin and (as needed) other materials such as hemicellulose. Examples of lignocellulosic materials Including (but not limited to) wood, bark kenaf, hemp, sisal, jute, crop stalks, nut shells, coconut shells, straw and stalk shells and stems, corn stover, bagasse, conifers and broadleaf tree bark, Corn cobs and other crop residues, and any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the lignocellulosic material can be wood. The wood can be a conifer or a broad-leaved tree. Examples of suitable wood species can include ( But not limited to) pine, fir, spruce, eucalyptus, oak, maple, and beech. In the embodiment, the wood may include red oak, red maple, German beech or Pacific white maple. In another embodiment The wood may comprise a pine species comprising, for example, radiata pine, European red pine, Pinus taeda, A long-leaf pine, short-leaf pine or cedar pine, wherein the latter four may be collectively referred to as "Nan ^ Huang 160978" .doc * 6 · 201231885 松". Wood treated by a heating system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be in a suitable form. Non-limiting examples of suitable forms of wood may include, but are not limited to, shredded wood, wood fibers, wood flour, wood chips, small wood blocks, wood flowers, wood chips, and wood wool. In one embodiment, the wood treated in one or more of the heating systems of the present invention may comprise sawn timber, peeled trunks or branches, boards, sheets, beams, sections, squares or any other profile. Wood. Generally, the size of the wood can be defined by two or more sizes. These dimensions may be actual "measured" dimensions or may be nominally sized. As used herein, the term "nominal size" refers to the size calculated using the size of the wood. The nominal size can be greater than the measured size. For example, Dry 2"4" can have an actual size of 1.5 inches by 35 inches, but still uses a nominal size of "2x4". It should be understood that the dimensions referred to herein are generally nominal dimensions unless otherwise indicated. In the seven embodiments, the wood may have three dimensions: a length or a longest dimension, a width or a second length; and - a thickness or a shortest dimension. Each of the dimensions may be substantially identical ' or one or more of the dimensions may differ from other dimensions - or more. According to the embodiment, the length of the wood may be at least 6 inches, at least ft, at least 3 feet, at least 4 feet, at least 6 feet, or at least 1 foot. In another embodiment, the width of the wood may be at least 0.5 inches, at least 吋 吋, at least 2 inches, at least 斗英: at least 8 inches, at least 12 inches, or at least 24 inches and/or no more than 10 Feet are no more than 8 feet, no more than 6 feet, no more than 4 feet, no large feet, no more than 2 feet, no more than 1 foot, or no more than 6 inches. In still another embodiment, 160978.doc 201231885, the thickness of the wood may be at least 25 inches, at least 英$英叶' at least 英75 miles, at least 1 foot, at least 1.5 feet, or at least 2 feet and/or no More than 4 feet, no more than 3 feet, no more than 2 feet, no more than 1 foot, and/or no more than 6 inches. According to the embodiment, the wood may comprise - or a plurality of solid wood blocks, engineered solid blocks or a combination thereof. As used herein, the term "solid wood" refers to wood that measures at least 10 centimeters in at least one dimension but otherwise has any dimension (eg, wood having the dimensions as previously described ρ as used herein) The term "engineered solid wood" means the smallest size of solid wood (for example, at least one size is at least 1 但 but consists of several smaller wood bodies and is at least one - a wooden body. The smaller wood body may or may not have - or more of the dimensions previously described with respect to the solid wood. Non-limiting examples of engineered wood may include wood laminates, fiberboard 'directional strand board, plywood, waffle boards (four) such as board ), slabs, and laminated veneer lumber. In the embodiment, 'wood can be grouped in bundles. As used herein, the term "bundle" refers to stacking, placing, and/or tightening in any suitable manner. Two or more pieces of wood that are fixed together. According to an embodiment, a bundle may comprise a plurality of plates that are stacked in red and coupled to each other via a belt, strip or other suitable device. In an embodiment, the two or more pieces of wood may be in direct contact with or in addition to the use of at least one spacer or "adhesive (4)" disposed therebetween. Partially spaced. In one embodiment, the bundle can have any suitable size and/or shape I60978.doc 201231885. In one embodiment, the bundle can have at least 2 feet, at least 4 feet, at least 8 Feet, at least 10 feet, at least 12 feet, at least 16 feet or at least 20 feet and/or no more than 6 feet, no more than one foot or no more than 25 feet in total length or longest dimension. The bundle may have at least 1 foot At least 2 feet, at least 4 feet, at least 6 feet, at least 8 feet and '/ or, more than 16 feet' no more than 12 feet, no more than 1 foot, no more than 8 feet, no more than 6 feet or no more than 4 feet a height or a second long dimension. In one embodiment, the bundle may have at least 丨 feet, at least 2 feet to 乂 4 feet, at least 6 feet and/or no more than 20 feet, no more than b feet, no more than 12 Feet, no more than 1 inch a ruler, no more than 8 feet or no more than 6 feet - the width or the shortest dimension. The total volume of the bundle containing the space between the plates (if present) may be at least 5 cubic feet at least 1 (8) cubic feet, at least 250. Cubic feet, at least 375 cubic feet, or at least 500 cubic feet. According to one embodiment, introduced into a reactor and/or heater of one or more heating systems of the invention (eg, during heating or treatment *t) The weight of the bundle of wood (or the cumulative weight of one or more items, items or loads to be treated) may be at least 1 〇〇, at least 1, just a pound or to 5'000 pounds. The bundle may be cubic or cuboid in shape. Wind Another: In the T example, one or more heating systems of the present invention may be used to chemically dry and/or thermally reform wood, thereby producing chemical Modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood. Wood that has been dried and/or thermally modified may be "heat treated" wood such that the term "heat treated wood" is a wood that has been heated, dried and/or thermally modified. I60978.doc 201231885, as used herein, means "thermally reforming" means modifying at least a portion of the chemical structure of at least a portion of one or more wood blocks without an exogenous treatment agent. In the embodiment, a heating system (which will be described in detail later) may be used to heat and/or dry the wood during the thermal reforming process to thereby provide a thermally modified wood bundle. According to one embodiment, the #-modification can occur simultaneously with heating and/or drying of the wood in a wood heater and/or dryer. In the embodiment, it can be heated in a wood heater or dryer and /f Dry the wood without heat changing it. As used herein, the term "drying" means to cause or accelerate the vaporization or otherwise removal of at least a portion or additional heat-removable components of one or more liquids via heat addition or other suitable energy form. At least a portion or one or more of the one or more liquids may be thermally removable. The thermal upgrading process can include contacting the wood with one or more heat transfer agents such as, for example, water vapor, heated inert steam (such as nitrogen or air) or even a liquid heat transfer medium (such as a heated oil). The steps. In another embodiment, a radiation source can be used during thermal upgrading. The thermally modified wood may have a moisture content substantially lower than one of the untreated wood and may have enhanced physical and/or mechanical properties such as, for example, increased flexibility, resistance to decay and biological attack. Higher resistance and increased dimensional stability. In still another embodiment, a heating system configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention may be used to chemically modify wood. As used herein, the term "chemically modified" means the chemical structure that at least partially upgrades at least a portion of one or more wood blocks in the presence or absence of one or more exogenous treating agents. Specific types of chemical upgrading processes may include, but are not limited to, acetylation and other types of 160978.doc 201231885 vinegarization, epoxidation, etherification, 糠 „ A., s ... thiolation, methylation And/or a non-limiting example of a melamine treated sigma treatment may comprise sour liver (eg, acetic anhydride, liver, azalea, maleic acid, propionic acid or butyric acid); Acid; isocyanate; road (for example, road, brew: difunctional aldehyde); chloral aldehyde; dimethyl sulfate; alkyl hydride; , ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide); difunctional epoxide; borate; acrylate; citrate; and combinations thereof. The process for chemically modifying wood may include - chemical modification a step followed by a heating step. During the chemical upgrading or reaction step that can be carried out in a chemical upgrading reactor, the wood can be exposed to - or more than one of the source treatment agents previously described, the - or more An exogenous treatment agent can be combined with a functional group of untreated wood (for example, a base) Less-partial reaction to thereby provide chemically modified wood. During the chemical upgrading step, one or more thermally initiated chemical reactions may occur, either with or without an external energy (eg, thermal energy or Electromagnetic energy, including, for example, microwave energy, starts from the source. The specific details of the chemical modification process vary among many types of chemical modifications, but most of them are chemically modified compared to untreated wood. The wood may have enhanced structural, chemical and/or mechanical properties, including lower hygroscopicity, higher dimensional stability, greater biohazard and insect resistance, increased resistance to decay and/or higher Weatherability. In one embodiment, the wood may be acetylated in a wood acetylation reactor. The acetylation may comprise replacing the hydroxyl groups on the surface or near the surface with an acetamidine group. The treatment agent utilized during the acetonitrileization may include a concentration of 160978.doc 201231885 degrees of at least 50 wt%, at least 6 〇 _, at least 7 〇 (four), at least (10) wt%, at least 90 wt%, at least 98 wt% Or the heart of the acetic acid needle and the rest (if Included in the presence of acetic acid and/or one or more diluents or a brewing catalyst. In a JS Φ-tk J, a, sigma, the treatment agent for acetamylation may include acetic acid and acetic anhydride. The mixture has an anhydride to acid weight ratio of at least 80:20, at least 85:15, at least 9G:1, or at least 95:5. Before the brewing, 'smoke dry method, vacuum degassing method or the like can be used. Suitable methods for drying the wood to contain its humidity (for example, water) as small as not more than 25% by weight, not more than 2% by weight, not more than 15, no more than u wt / 〇, not more than 9 Wt% or not more than 6 wt 〇 / 0. During acetylation, the wood may be contacted with the treatment agent via any suitable method. Examples of suitable contacting methods may include, but are not limited to, steam contact, spraying, liquid immersion, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the temperature of the processing vessel may be no greater than 5 (rc, no greater than 4 (rc or no greater than 3 〇C, and at least 25 psig, at least 25 psig, at least 25 psig, at least 25 psig) 5 psig, at least psig and/or no greater than 500 psig, no greater than 250 psig or no greater than 15 psig. Once the contacting step is completed, at least a portion of the liquid treatment (if present) may be discharged from the reactor as needed and Heat may be added to initiate and/or catalyze the reaction. In one embodiment, microwave energy, thermal energy, or a combination thereof may be introduced into the vessel to increase the temperature of the wood to at least 5, at least 65, at least 80. °C and / or to not more than 175. (:, not more than 150 ° c or not more than 12 ° C, while maintaining one of the pressure in the reactor is at least 750 Torr, at least 1, 〇〇〇, at least 1, 2 〇〇 or at least 2, 〇〇〇 and/or no more than 7,700 Torr, no more than 5,000 Torr, no more than 3,500 Torr or no more than 2,500 Torr. Root 160978.doc • 12- 201231885 According to an embodiment, add At least a portion of the heat to the reactor may be from a non-microwave source Served to the wood, such as, for example, comprising at least 5 〇 wt%, at least 75 wt%, at least 90 wt%, or at least 95 wt% of one of the acetic acid heat vapor streams, and the remainder comprising acetic anhydride and/or dilution In one embodiment, hot steam, a portion of which may be condensed on at least a portion of the bundle of wood being treated, may be introduced into the reaction vessel for at least 2 minutes, at least 35 minutes, or at least 45 minutes and/or Not more than 18 〇 minutes, no more than 15 〇 minutes, or no more than 120 minutes. After the reaction step, the "chemically wetted" chemically modified wood may include at least one chemical group that can be removed by heat and/or vaporization. The term 'chemically_wet' or 'chemical-wet' as used throughout this application is meant to contain, at least in part, one liquid as a result of a chemical treatment or modification. A wood in which one or more chemicals are present. A "chemically wetted" bundle of wood means that at least a portion of the wood bundle is at least partially chemically wetted. Some examples of the one or more chemicals may include An article, a dipping, a reaction product, or the like. For example, when the wood is brewed, at least a portion of the residual acetic acid and/or anhydride can be removed by vaporization. As used herein, the term "acid wetting" By means of wood containing residual acetic acid and/or anhydride, an "acid wet" wood bundle means that at least a portion of the wood bundle is at least partially acid wetted. According to one embodiment of the invention, chemical wetting Or the acid-wet wood may comprise at least 20 Wt°/o, at least 3〇Wt%, at least 40 wt%, or at least 45 wt% and/or no more than 75 wt%, no more than 60 wt% or no more than 5〇. One or more heat removable or vaporizable chemicals, such as, for example, acetic acid and/or acid 160978.doc • 13· 201231885 anhydride. As used herein, the term "thermally removable" or "vaporizable" chemical component refers to one component that can be removed by heat and/or vaporization. In one embodiment, the vaporizable or thermally removable component or chemical can include acetic acid. Next, at least a portion of the one or more thermally removable chemicals can be removed from the chemically wetted wood via flash vaporization. In one embodiment, the pressure in the reactor can be at least! , 〇〇〇, at least 12 〇〇, at least 18 〇〇 or at least 2,000 Torr and / or not more than 77 〇〇, no more than 5 〇〇〇 不 no more than 3,500 Torr, no more than 2,5 〇〇 The pressure of one or more than 2,000 Torr is reduced to atmospheric pressure to achieve a flashing step. In another embodiment, the pressure of the reactor can be reduced from a high pressure (as described in the text) or atmospheric pressure to no more than 100 Torr', no more than 75 Torr, no more than 5 Torr or A pressure of no more than 35 Torr is used to achieve the step of vaporization. According to an embodiment, the amount (eg, chemical content) of one or more of the thermally removable chemical components remaining in the chemically wet wood after the flashing step may be at least 6 wt%, at least 8 wt%, at least Οο wt%, at least 12 wt% or at least 15 wt% and/or no more than 60 wt. /❾, no more than 40 wt%, no more than 3〇 wt%, no more than 25 wt ° /. , no more than 20 wt ° / 〇 or no more than 15 wt0 /. . According to one embodiment, a heating step may be performed after the chemical upgrading step to further heat and/or dry the chemically modified (or chemically wetted) wood to thereby provide a chemically modified, heated and/or dried Wood bundle. As used herein, a bundle or other item or material is referred to as "heated" for convenience only to indicate that the temperature of at least a portion of the bundle has risen above the ambient temperature. Similarly, as used throughout this application, only for the benefit of 160978.doc 14 201231885, 纟 or other items or materials " _ * (力甘& also respected) to mean not borrowed, two implementation In the example) heating f this is at least a portion of the π strip to remove at least some of the thermally removable chemicals. In a real #α example, the heating step can be operated to further reduce the amount of heat-removable chemical group/knife present in, the armor or the evening. The energy source of (4) during the heating step may be suitable for heating, and/or drying the wood - light, conductive and/or convective energy sources. In the embodiment, the heater can be a microwave heater. In another embodiment, another source of heat may be utilized to directly or indirectly (via, for example, a hot gas injection, a jacketed or heat traceable container or other means) to heat at least a portion of the container, such as (for example In terms of) one or more side walls. In this embodiment, the sidewall can be heated to at least 45 <t, at least 55 it or at least 65 C and/or no more than U5 ° c, no more than 丨 "It or no more than 95. 〇 one μ degrees. This heating step can be carried out under any suitable conditions, including higher than, Pressure at or near atmospheric pressure. Specific embodiments of various heating systems suitable for use in the production of chemically modified and/or thermally upgraded wood will be discussed in detail later. The heating step can be implemented to remove the remaining At least 50%, at least 65%, at least 75%, or at least 95% of the total amount of one or more thermally removable chemical components in the chemically wet wood. In one embodiment, this may correspond to removal At least 100 pounds, at least 250 shards, at least 500 lbs, or at least 1,000 shards of total liquid. As a result of one of the heating steps, in one embodiment, based on the initial (preheated) weight of the bundle, heated or The dried chemically modified wood may include no more than 5 wt%, no more than 4 wt%, no more than 3 wt%, no more than 2 wt%, or no more than 1 wt% of the one or more heat transferable 160978.doc 15 201231885 In addition to chemicals (eg, acetic acid). In addition, based on the initiality of the wood The preheated weight, heated or dried chemically modified wood may have no more than 0 wt ° /, no more than 5 wt%, no more than 3 wt%, no more than 2 wt% or no more than 1 wt% or not A water content greater than 55 wt%. In one embodiment 'after the heating step, the wood may have a water content of approximately one %. In one embodiment, the 'chemical upgrading step and the heating step may be Occurs in a single container. In another embodiment, the chemical upgrading step and the heating step can be carried out in separate vessels such that the internal volume of the chemical upgrading reactor and the heater are different in position. As used herein, "inner volume" of a container means the entirety of the space enclosed by the container, including any volume defined by the door(s) of the container when closed or within the door. As used herein, the term "different in position" means that the internal volume does not overlap. When the chemical upgrading reactor and heater comprise separate vessels, various types of wood conveying systems can be utilized to transport the wood between the two vessels. In one embodiment, the delivery system can include rails (as illustrated in Figure 、), rails, belts, hooks, rollers (as illustrated in Figure 3), strips, trucks, motorized vehicles 'Stacker, pulley, turntable (as illustrated in Figure 2) and any combination thereof. Various embodiments of wood processing facilities capable of producing chemically modified and/or thermally modified wood will now be discussed in detail with respect to Figures 3 through 3. Referring now to Figure 1 'an embodiment of a wood processing facility 1' is illustrated as including - a chemical upgrading system 20, a heating system 3, a delivery system 4, and a stock storage area 60a and a finished material storage area 6 b. The chemical upgrading system 20 includes a -chemical upgrading reactor 22, a reactor heating system "and 160978.doc -16· 201231885 - a reactor pressurization/reduction system 26 is selected. The heating system 30 includes a heater 32, a Energy source 34 and a heater pressurization/depressurization system 36. Conveying system 40 includes a plurality of transport sections 42a for transporting wood between storage areas 6a, 6b, reactor 22 and heater 32 to 42e, as explained in detail below. In operation, one or more bundles of wood may be removed from the stock storage area 60a via the transport section 42a. Although illustrated in the figures as including a track or rail, it should be understood that the transport section 42a may comprise any type of transport mechanism suitable for moving wood between storage area 6a and reactor 22. As shown in Figure 1, wood may then be introduced or loaded via an open reactor inlet door 28. Into the reactor 22. Thereafter, the first reactor inlet door 28 can be closed to allow chemical modification of the wood disposed within the reactor 22 in accordance with one or more of the processes described above. Once the reaction is complete, the reaction can be self-reactive. 22 extracts chemistry The wet wood is conveyed to a heater 32. According to one embodiment, the chemically wet wood can be removed from the reactor 22 via the reactor inlet door 28 and delivered to the heater 32 via the delivery section 42b. In another embodiment The wood can be removed via a selective reactor outlet door 29 and delivered to the heater 32 via the transfer section 42c, as shown in Figure 1. Next, the chemically wetted wood can be passed through an open heater inlet door 38. Introduced or loaded into the heater 32 'The open heater inlet door 38 can then be closed to thereby form a fluid seal between the heater inlet door 38 and the body of the heater 32 prior to heating of the starting wood. When the reactor outlet door 29 is selected and the heater outlet door 39 is selected, the outlet valves 29, 39 can be located in the reactor 22 and the heater 32 except for the respective reactor inlet door 28 and heating 160978.doc -17· 201231885 inlet door At substantially opposite ends than 38. In various embodiments, during the heating of the wood within the heater 32, the pressurization system 36 can be used to maintain a pressure within the heater 32 of no more than 55 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, +large 350 Torr, no more than 25 Torr is no more than Torr' no more than 150 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no Torr. In one embodiment 'The vacuum system is operable to reduce the pressure in the heater 32 Small to not more than 1 〇 milliTorr (10·3 Torr), not more than 5 mTorr, not more than 2 mTorr, not more than 1 mTorr, not more than 〇.5 mTorr or not more than 毫1 mTorr. When the heater 32 includes a microwave heater, one or more of the features (including, for example, a microwave choke, one or more microwave emitters, and the like) may be used in detail to Energy is introduced into the interior of the heater 32, thereby heating and/or drying at least a portion of the bundle of wood contained therein. According to one embodiment, the wood treatment facility 10 can include multiple reactors and/or heaters. Any number of reactors and/or heaters can be employed and the reactors and/or heaters can be configured to any suitable configuration. For example, the wood treatment facility 10 can utilize at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 5, and/or no more than 10, no more than 8 or no more than 6 reactors and/or heaters. When multiple reactors and/or heaters are employed, the containers can be paired in any suitable combination or ratio. For example, the ratio of reactor to heater can be 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3, 3:1, 2:3, 3:2, 1:4, 4:1, 4 : 2, 2: 4, 3: 4, 4: 3 or any feasible combination. According to one embodiment, one or more of the reactors and/or heaters may include separate inlet and outlet doors, while in another embodiment, the reactor and/or heater 160978.doc • 18· 201231885 One or more may include a single door for loading and unloading wood. In one embodiment, the heated and/or dried wood can be removed from the heater 34 via the heater inlet door 38 and transported to the storage area 60b via the delivery section 42d. Alternatively, the wood can be withdrawn via a selective heater exit door 39 (if present) and transported via section 42e to storage area 60b, as illustrated in FIG. Various configurations of wood processing facilities employing multiple reactors and heaters configured in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described with respect to Figures 2 and 3. Turning now to Figure 2'' illustrates a wood treatment facility 110 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wood treatment facility 11A includes a plurality of reactors (illustrated as 122a, 122b, 122n) and a plurality of heaters (illustrated as 132a, 132b, 132n). According to an embodiment, each of the reactors 122a, 122b, 122n and each of the heaters 132a, 132b, 132n includes means for selectively permitting the wood to pass out of a single door 128a of each container, 128b, 128n, 138a, 138b, 138n. Additionally, the wood treatment facility 110 can include a rotatable platform (illustrated as a turntable 140) that is operable to position a timber east 1 2 so that it can be in various directions (generally from arrow 19〇a to 190c indicates) transporting the bundle of wood between reactors 122a, 122b, 122n, heaters 132, 132b, 132n and a storage area 160. Referring now to Figure 3, another embodiment of a wood processing facility 21 is shown to include a plurality of chemical upgrading reactors (illustrated as 222a, 222n) and a plurality of heaters (illustrated as 232a, 232b, 232n). As shown in Figure 3, each of the reactors includes a separate reactor inlet gate 228a, 160978.doc • 19-201231885 228η and a selective reactor outlet gate 229a, 229n. Similarly, each of the heaters 232a, 232b, 232n includes a heater inlet door 238a, 238b, 238n and a selected heater outlet door 239a, 239b, 239n. The delivery system 240 shown in Figure 3 includes a plurality of segments 242a through 242j and 244a through 244e 'which are operable to deliver wood to the reactors 222a, 222n and heaters 232a, 232b, 232n, from the reactors and The heater transports the wood and transports the wood between the reactors and the heaters. Although illustrated as including a continuous belt segment, the conveyor system 240 can include one or more segments' that include any suitable delivery mechanism, as discussed in detail above. According to one embodiment, in operation, wood loaded into the first reactor 222a via the delivery section 242a can be introduced through the reactor inlet door 228a. Once the chemical upgrading process is completed 'the chemically wetted wood can be removed from the reactor 222a via the reactor inlet gate 228a and can then be delivered to the heater 232a, 232b or 232n via the respective delivery sections 242e, 242f, 242g. One of them. In an alternate embodiment, the wood removed from reactor 222a can be removed through reactor outlet port 229a via delivery section 244a prior to being conveyed to heater 232a, 232b or 232n, as previously described. Alternatively, the wood treated in reactor 222n can be loaded, chemically modified, and delivered to one of heaters 232a, 232b, 232n in a similar manner as previously described. Thereafter, one or more of the heaters 232a, 232b, and 232n may be heated and/or dried to deliver one or more chemically wet wood bundles in accordance with one or more of the methods set forth herein. In one embodiment, at least one of the heaters 232a, 232b & 232n can include a microwave heater. Once the heating step is completed, the heated and/or dried bundle can be passed through respective inlet doors 238a, 238b, 238n 160978.doc -20- 201231885 or via respective outlet doors 239a, 239b, 239n (when present) It is extracted from the heaters 232a, 232b, and 232n. Subsequently, the end-view modified beam is removed from the heater inlet doors 238a, 238b, 238n or the heater outlet door 23, 2391, 23911 'can be via the transport segments 24211, 2421, 242' or 244c, 244d, 244e deliver the bundles to subsequent processing and/or storage. The chemical upgrading process previously discussed can be carried out at any suitable scale. For example, the wood treatment facilities described above may include laboratory scale, pilot plant scale or commercial scale wood treatment facilities. In one embodiment, the wood treatment facility used to produce the chemically modified and/or thermally upgraded wood may have at least 500,000 board feet, at least i million board feet, at least 2.5 million board feet, or at least 5 One of a million board feet of annual production capacity for commercial scale facilities. As used herein, the term "plate foot" means a volume of wood expressed in units of 144 cubic feet. For example, a plate having a size of 2 inches x 4 inches x 36 inches has a total volume of 288 cubic feet or 2 boards feet. In various embodiments, the internal volume of a single chemical upgrading reactor (ie, 'internal reactor volume') and/or the internal volume of a single heater (ie, "internal heater volume") may be At least cubic feet, at least 500 cubic feet, at least 1 inch cubic foot, at least 0 cubic feet, at least 5, cubic feet or at least 10 000 cubic feet to accommodate commercial scale operations. Even when the commercial scale is implemented, the chemical and/or ., , and upgrading processes as described herein can be performed with a relatively short total cycle time. By way of example, the total cycle time of the dry and/or thermal upgrading process carried out using one or more of the systems of the invention (from the time of the initial upgrading step 160978.doc • 21 - 201231885) The amount of time until the completion of the heating step can be no more than 48 hours, no more than 36 hours, no more than 24 hours or no more than 12 hours, no more than 1 hour, no more than 8 hours or no more than 6 hours. This is in contrast to many conventional wood treatment processes that can have a total cycle time that lasts for days or even weeks. According to an embodiment of the invention, the wood treatment facility of the invention may comprise one or more steam containment chambers and/or aeration structures for substantially isolating the external environment during transport of the wood (ie, immediately following the chemistry) Chemically modified wood that is chemically wetted with the environment of the reforming reactor and the heater. The vapor containment chamber and/or the venting structure can be coupled to a venting system that removes at least a portion of the gaseous environment from the containment/venting region, thereby minimizing leakage of one or more undesired vapor state chemicals into the external environment . Additional details and an embodiment of a wood treatment facility employing a vapor containment chamber and/or a venting structure will now be described in more detail with respect to Figures 4d. Figure 4a is a top plan view of one of the steam reforming chambers 322 coupled to a chemical upgrading reactor 322 and a heater 332. The vapor containing chamber 36 is operable to partially or nearly completely isolate the external environment from the transfer of wood from the chemical upgrading reactor 322 to the heater 332 via a transfer zone 361 located between the reactor 322 and the heater 332. A chemically modified wood bundle. As used herein, the term "isolation" refers to the inhibition of fluid transfer between one or more zones, zones or zones. According to one embodiment, the vapor containment chamber 36 can be coupled to a venting system (Fig. 4a) Not shown) operable to remove at least a portion of the vapor and gas from the interior of the vapor containing chamber 360, thereby reducing, 160978.doc -22-201231885 minimizing or preventing the interior of the reactor 322, the heater 332 The interior contains and/or leaks from the chemically modified wood bundle to one or more of the externally removable chemical components. In one embodiment, the chemical upgrading reactor 322 can include a reactor inlet gate 328 for receiving a wood bundle from an external environment and for discharging the wood from the chemical upgrading reactor 322 after chemical upgrading. One of the bundles exits the door 329. Additionally, heater 332 can include a heater inlet gate 328 for receiving a chemically modified, chemically wetted wood bundle exiting from chemical reforming reactor 322. According to one embodiment, heater 332 may also include a heater outlet gate 339 for separating a bundle of wood from heater 332 from heater inlet door 338. In one embodiment, the respective reactor inlet gate 328 and heater inlet gate 338 and the reactor outlet gate 329 or heater outlet gate 339 (when present) may be positioned generally at one of the reactor 322 or heater 332. The opposite ends are such that the respective central elongated axes of the reactor 322 and heater 332 (shown as axes 370a, 370b in Figure 4b) can extend through the respective inlets 328, 338 and outlets 329, 339. In one embodiment, reactor 322 and heater 332 are axially aligned with one another such that central elongated shafts 370a, 370b in Figure 4b are substantially aligned with each other, while in another embodiment, shafts 370a, 370b Can be parallel to each other. As used herein, the term "substantially aligned" means that two or more containers are configured such that the maximum acute angle formed between the intersections of their respective central axes of elongation is no greater than 20°. In some embodiments, the maximum acute angle between the intersections of the two elongated axes of the substantially aligned container may be no greater than ten. No more than 5°, no more than 2° or no more than 1°. In certain embodiments, reactor 322 and heater 332 can be configured as a side-by-side configuration (not shown). According to an embodiment shown in Figure 4a, the vapor containing chamber 36 is sealingly coupled to the reactor 322 and the heater 332 such that during transport of the wood bundle from the reactor 322 to the heater 332 the external environment is substantially The transfer zone 361 is isolated. As used herein, the term "sealedly coupled" means that two or more items are attached, fastened, or otherwise associated such that the junctions from such items substantially reduce or substantially avoid fluids leakage. In one embodiment, reactor inlet door 328 and/or heater outlet door 339 (when present) may be open to the external environment, while reactor outlet door 329 and/or heater inlet door 338 may be directed to the vapor storage chamber. The interior of 360 is open thereby isolating the external environment from steam or gas from chemical reactor 322, heater 332, and/or chemically wet wood bundles during transport between reactor 322 and heater 332 via transfer zone 361. Steaming > Fly Valley Lab 360 can be configured in any suitable way. In one embodiment illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the vapor containing chamber 36 includes four generally upstanding walls 342a through 342c coupled to the one-day deck structure 344 and a floor (not shown). 4a and 4b are illustrated as being generally attached to the ceiling structure 344, but are used to remove steam and gas from the interior of the steam containment chamber 36. One of the steam outlet conduits 349 may alternatively be attached to one of the walls 342a through 342d Or to the floor. Additional details regarding the removal of steam and gas from the steam containing chamber 360 will be explained in more detail later. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the walls 342a-342d can include at least one blast plate for controlling a direction of pressure release in the event of an explosion or rapid pressurization within the vapor containing chamber 360. Or blast wall 160978.doc -24- 201231885 343. In one embodiment, the blast plate 343 can be attached to the slab b 344 and/or floor (not shown) of the steam containment chamber 360. The blast plate or wall 343 can be hinged, tethered, or otherwise fastened to another structure of the vapor containing chamber 36〇 to avoid or reduce the direction in which the blast plate or wall 343 will exit the steam receiving chamber 360 due to an explosion. The possibility of arbitrarily protruding at an undesired rate. The blast plate or wall 343 can have a substantially solid surface (as shown in the flap) or can include a plurality of slats or slots (not shown). Typically, the wall "to" is not a section of the hurricane panel/wall 343 constructed of a high strength material such as, for example, a precast concrete slab, concrete block or steel sheet. Although illustrated herein as having four walls, it should be understood that vapor storage chambers having a variety of other shapes may also be utilized. As depicted in Figure 4C, the vapor containment chamber 360 can be equipped with - or a plurality of vents 370a, 37b for selectively permitting fluid to flow from the external environment into the interior of the vapor containing chamber 360. In one embodiment, the vents 370, 37Gb are unidirectional vents that permit fluid to flow from the external environment into the vapor-distributing chamber 36G (as in Figure 4, indicated by arrows 38Qa, 3) However, the fluid is reduced, inhibited or substantially prevented from flowing out of the interior of the steam containing chamber 36() into the external soil. Examples of external fluids that can be flowed into the base containment chamber via the vents 37a, 3 include Ambient air or - or a plurality of inert gases (such as nitrogen). In the case of the package, the oxygen-passing holes 370a, 370b can be configured to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between the internal and external environments of steaming A to 36G. By extracting a predetermined differential pressure m37Ga, 37Gb between the internal and external environment of the vapor containing chamber 36Q, the rate at which the fluid 160978.doc • 25-201231885 from the external environment is drawn into the vapor containing chamber 360 can be controlled. Maintaining a relatively constant pressure differential between the interior and exterior environment of the vapor containing chamber 36, the vents 370a, 370b can be equipped with means for varying the vents 370a, 370b based on the pressure differential across the vents 37a, 37b One of the openness controls a structure (for example, an electronic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator or a mechanical spring). When the pressure difference between the external environment and the interior of the steam containing chamber 360 is too high, the vent 370a, 370b is wide open' and similarly, when the pressure differential is too low, the vents 370a, 370b are moved toward a closed position. In one embodiment, the vents 370a, 37b can be loaded with springs and facing off. The position is shifted such that when the pressure difference between the steam accommodating chamber 36 〇 and the external environment is below a threshold, the vent holes 37 〇 a, 37 〇 b are closed, but when the pressure in the steam accommodating chamber 360 is higher than the outside When the environment is lower than the threshold pressure difference, the vent holes 370a, 37013 are open to allow an external fluid to be drawn into the steam accommodating chamber 360. Further, when the vent holes 370a, 370b are loaded with springs, the vent holes Helping to maintain the interior and exterior of the vapor containing chamber 36〇 by automatically opening wider when the pressure differential is high and automatically moving toward the closed position when the pressure differential is low, the steam is at a low pressure and can remain at Environment A substantially constant pressure difference. The containment chamber 360 is maintained at a minimum of 0.05 water readings during transport, at least W water plumes or at least water plumes and/or no more than 1 water column logarithm, no greater than 丨The logarithm of the water column is not more than 0.5 water column - vacuum. In the embodiment, the vents 370a, 370b are configured to permit at least 2 exchanges, at least 4 exchanges, or at least 5 per hour. The exchange of electricity from the "steam capacity, W extracted out - 160978.doc -26· 201231885 rate of fluid from the external environment (you are like a fan | clothing [such as 'J mourning air) to the steam to accommodate 360 纟The Shen-Second exchange is equal to one volume of the steam receiving chamber 360. As used herein, the term "number of exchanges per hour" refers to the total number of times the total volume of fluid in the system is replaced per hour, which is obtained by dividing the volumetric flow rate of steam removed from the system. The total system volume is calculated. • The size of the 'steam containment chamber 36' in the embodiment may be such that the reactor 322 and the heater 332 (eg, the internal volume of the positioning reactor and heater) are at least 2 feet apart, at least 4 feet, or at least 6 feet apart from each other. / or no more than 50 feet, no more than 30 feet or no more than 2 feet. In one embodiment, the length of the 'vaporated A-nano chamber may be the same or substantially the same as the distance between reactor 322 and heater 332. According to an embodiment, the ratio of the length of the vapor containing chamber 360 to the total length of the reactor 322 and/or the total length of the heater 332 may be at least 0.1:1, at least 0.2:1, or at least 0.3:1 and/or Not more than 1:1, not more than 0.6:1 or not more than 05:1. When the spacing between reactor 322 and heater 332 is minimized, reactor outlet door 329 and heater inlet door 338 may be capable of contacting each other during opening. In this embodiment, the reactor outlet door 329 and the heater inlet door 338 can be configured to nest/overlap each other (but not in contact with each other) when both are fully open. Figure 4d is a side elevational view of a wood processing facility 416 including a reactor 322, a heater 332, and a vapor containment chamber 360 disposed therebetween. Figure 4d additionally illustrates an embodiment of a product vapor removal system or structure 400 employing one of the outlet doors 339 located adjacent the heater 332. The product vapor removal system 400 can be configured to deliver steam from the outlet gate 339 of the heater 332 and away from an area near the exit gate 339 (e.g., a recovery chamber). This configuration may be substantially reduced by 160978.doc -27-201231885 and in some embodiments may substantially prevent vapor from the chemically treated wood bundle exiting heater 332 and/or from exiting reactor 322 and/or The steam of the heater 332 escapes to the external environment. As shown in Figure 4d, the steam/flying chamber 360 and product vapor removal system 4 can be coupled or otherwise operatively coupled to a common venting system 4〇2. The venting system 4〇2 is used to extract steam and gas from the vapor containing chamber 360 and/or to pass it through the product vapor removal system 400. Although Figure 4d illustrates a common venting system 4〇2 for both steaming a valley chamber 360 and product vapor removal system 4, individual venting systems may also be used for each containment/venting region of the wood treatment facility. . In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4d, the product vapor removal system 4 includes a venting shroud 404 and a venting chamber 406 disposed between the venting shroud 4〇4 and the heater 332. The venting cap 404 and the venting chamber 406 can be coupled to a venting system 402 that draws steam from the venting shroud 4〇4 and/or the plenum chamber 406. The plenum 406 can be configured to receive a chemically modified bundle of wood through the heater outlet door 339 (which opens into the plenum 406). The venting chamber 406 can be equipped with a venting chamber outlet 4〇8 through which the chemically modified wood material passes to a cooling position below the venting cover 4〇4. In one embodiment, the plenum outlet 4〇8 can be equipped with a door 4〇9 that substantially isolates the exterior environment from the interior of the plenum when closed. When the venting chamber is equipped with such a door, the venting chamber may also be equipped with venting holes (not shown) similar to the venting holes 37A, 37 of the steam accommodating chamber 36 先前 previously described with reference to Figure 4c. However, in another implementation, the vent exit 4〇8 is configured to continually permit fluid to pass from the external environment to the interior of the venting chamber. In this embodiment, the plenum outlet 408 can be fully open to permit free flow of fluid therethrough. Another option is that the venting chamber outlet 408 may be partially covered with a flexible material (eg, a 'suspended VISQUEEN sheet or VISQUEEN strip) that permits chemically treated wood strands to pass therethrough, but at least partially inhibits passage therethrough. The free flow of its fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, the plenum 406 can be completely eliminated and the venting shroud 404 can be positioned adjacent the exit gate 339 of the heater 332. As shown in Figure 4d, the venting system 40 2 can include one or more vacuum generators 410, a processing device 412, a flow finder 414, and a plurality of steam outlet conduits 349a through 349c. The vacuum generator 410 is operable to draw steam from the vapor containing chamber 360, the venting shroud 404, and/or the plenum 406 via outlet conduits 349a, 349b, 349c, respectively. The processing device 412 is operable to remove or change the composition of at least a portion of one or more components of vapor extracted from the vapor containing chamber 360, the venting shroud 4〇4, and/or the plenum chamber 406 via the vacuum generator 410. Examples of suitable processing devices may include, but are not limited to, scrubbers, thermal oxidizers, catalytic oxidizers or other catalytic processes and/or precipitation

The distillate containment chamber 360 and the product vapor removal structure (eg, 'ventilation cover 404 and/or

The maximum steam volume removed, for example, gas capacity. As used herein, the term is expressed as a time based rate via a vacuum generator or other source system. Example 160978.doc •29· 201231885

One of the domains (such as, for example, a steam holding chamber X provided to the steam receiving chamber 360, 1/6 inch is provided to the venting shroud 404 and will be) /6; χ is provided to the venting chamber jog. 4d details an embodiment of the operation of the wood processing facility 416. A first wood bundle (indicated by the letter "c" herein) can be loaded into the chemical upgrading reactor 322 via the reactor inlet gate 328 and Its progress

Chemical treatment. At the same time, the bundle of materials (here indicated by the letter "B can be represented by a second entry through the heater inlet door 338") is introduced into the heater 332 and heated and/or dried. When bundles C and B are chemically modified and heated/dried in chemical upgrading reactor 322 and heater 332, respectively, a third wood bundle can be removed from venting chamber 406 (indicated by the letter "A" herein) It is positioned below the venting hood 404, as generally shown in Figure 4d. Once the bundle A has been sufficiently dried, it can be removed from the venting cover 4〇4 and transported to a storage area (not shown). Next, the flow divider 414 can be used to adjust the distribution of the total venting capacity of the venting system 402 such that the amount of venting capacity assigned to the steam accommodating chamber 360 is increased, and the amount of venting capacity distributed to the venting hood 4 〇 4 is reduced. Next, after the completion of the heating of the bundle "B", the heater inlet door 338 and the heater outlet door 339 may be continuously opened and present in the heater 160978. Any residual vapor or gas in the interior of the doc•30·201231885 332 can be removed and passed through the steam containing chamber 36〇 before entering the venting system 402. In one embodiment, the evacuation of the heating Is 332 may also include drawing an external fluid (e.g., ambient air or other inert gas) into the system through the venting hood 4 and the venting chamber when present. The external fluid can then enter the heater 332 via the heater outlet door and pass through the interior of the heater 332 before exiting the heater 332 via the heater inlet door 338 and passing into the vapor containing chamber 360. Once in the vapor containing chamber 360, the external fluid, along with any residual vapor or gas removed from the interior of the heater 332, can be exchanged by the venting system 4〇2 at least 2 times per hour, at least 4 times per hour, or every One of the exchanges of at least 6 exchanges per hour is withdrawn from the steam containing chamber 36. For example, if the venting system has a total volume of 100 cubic meters and the rate of steam removal is 200 cubic meters per hour, the number of exchanges per hour will be (2 〇〇 cubic meters per hour) / (100 cubic meters) ) or exchange 2 times per hour. Once the external fluid and residual steam/gas have been removed from the vapor containing chamber 360, the bundle B can be removed from the heater 332 via the heater outlet gate 339, through the plenum 406 (if present), and positioned below the hood 404 Cooling and/or further drying of the bundle B' is as previously discussed in detail. The heater outlet gate 339 can then be closed prior to sequentially opening the reactor outlet gate 329 and the reactor inlet gate 328. Thereafter, aeration system 402 can be used to evacuate residual steam or gas from within the chemical upgrading reactor 322. In one embodiment, an external fluid (eg, 'ambient air or other inert gas') may be drawn into the reactor 322 via the reactor inlet gate 328 and worn before exiting into the vapor containing chamber 360 via the reactor outlet gate 329. Passing through the interior of reactor 322. As above 160978. Doc •31 · 201231885 stated that 'the external fluid and any residual steam or gas may then be exchanged at least 2 times per hour, at least 4 exchanges per hour or at least 6 times per hour via steaming/flying out of line 349a. It is taken out from the steam accommodating chamber 360. Thereafter, bundle c can be removed from chemical upgrading reactor 322 via reactor outlet gate 329 and passed through vapor containing chamber 沿 along a delivery path 399. In one embodiment, the 1st venting system 402 can be used to extract gas from the steam holding chamber during the 'transfer of the reactor 322 and the heater 332 and steam/fly can then be passed before heating of the starting bundle C Heater inlet door 338 introduces chemical wetting bundle C into the interior of heater 332. A fourth bundle (not shown) can then be loaded into the interior of the chemical upgrading reactor 322 prior to sequentially closing the reactor inlet gate 328, the reactor outlet gate 329, and the heater inlet gate 338. The distribution of the total venting capacity to the steam accommodating chamber 36A can be reduced while increasing the distribution to the venting hood 404 to thereby cool and/or further dry the bundle Β» repeating the steps mentioned above to treat a new wood bundle The sequence is assembled in a loading zone (not shown) or near the reactor inlet gate 328 - a fifth bundle (not shown). It will be understood that in the sequence of operations set forth above, some of the steps may be carried out in the order illustrated, and some steps may be performed simultaneously and/or the order of the steps may be reversed. The above sequence of steps is included only to illustrate one exemplary method of operating a wood processing system. Microwave Heating System According to one embodiment, one or more of the heating systems set forth above may include a microwave heating system that utilizes microwave energy to heat one or more items or items in addition to the wood treatments set forth above. In addition to an embodiment of the facility, 160978. Doc -32· 201231885 According to the invention, it is difficult to implement "microwave force H (4) can be widely applied to a variety of other processes. It should be understood that _ this article mainly relates to the process of heating wood" or "wood bundle" (d), but the processes and systems set forth herein are equally applicable to applications in which one or more items, articles or loads are heated. Examples of other types of applications that may utilize a microwave heating system as set forth herein may include, but are not limited to, high temperature vacuum Tauman and metal sintering, melting, brazing, and heat treatment of various materials. In one embodiment, the microwave heating system can include a vacuum system (magic microwave vacuum heater) and can be used for vacuum drying of materials such as minerals and semiconductors, vacuum drying of foods such as fruits and vegetables, ceramics and fibers. Vacuum drying of the mold and vacuum drying of the chemical solution. Turning now to Figure 5, a microwave heating system 420 is configured to include at least one microwave generator ", a microwave heater 430, a microwave distribution system 44", and a vacuum selected in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. System 450. The microwave energy produced by microwave generator 422 can be directed to microwave heater 43() via one or more components of microwave distribution system 440. Additional details regarding the components and operation of microwave distribution system 440 will be discussed in detail later. When present, the vacuum system 450 is operable to reduce the pressure in the microwave heater 43 to no more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no greater than 15 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. In one embodiment, the vacuum system is operable to reduce the pressure in the microwave heater 430 to no more than 1 Torr (1 〇 - 3 Torr), no more than 5 mTorr, no more than 2 mTorr, no more than 1 mTorr, no more than 〇. 5 mTorr or not greater than 0. 1 mTorr. The microwave heating system 42 will now be discussed in detail below. Doc •33· 201231885 Each of the components. Microwave generator 422 can be any device capable of producing or generating microwave energy. The term "microwave energy" as used herein refers to electromagnetic energy having a frequency between 3 〇〇 MHz and 30 GHz. In an embodiment, the various configurations of the microwave heating system 420 may utilize microwave energy having a frequency of one of 915 MHz or a frequency of 2 to 45 GHz, which are typically designated as industrial microwave frequencies. Examples of suitable types of microwave generators can include, but are not limited to, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, and gyrotrons. In various embodiments, one or more microwave generators 422 can be capable of delivering (eg, having one of the following maximum outputs) at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kw, at least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW, at least 1 〇〇kw, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kW, at least 750 fcW or at least 1,000 kW and/or no greater than 2,500 kw, no more than 15 〇〇 let the goods or no more than i, ooo kw. Although illustrated as including a microwave generator 422, the microwave heating system 420 can include two or more microwave generators configured to operate in a similar manner. Microwave heater 430 can be any device capable of receiving and using microwave energy to heat one or more items, including, for example, wood bundles or wood bundles. In one embodiment, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 95%, or substantially all of the heat or energy provided by the microwave heater 43 is provided by microwave energy. Microwave heater 430 can also be used as a microwave dryer that can be further operative to dry one or more items disposed therein using microwave energy as set forth herein. I60978. Doc 34· 201231885 Turning now to FIG. 6 'An embodiment of a microwave heater 530 is illustrated as including a container body 532 and one of the interiors 536 for selectively permitting and blocking access to and from the microwave heater 530 or One of the doors 534 is accessed or accessed by a plurality of objects. In one embodiment, the container body 532 of the microwave heater 53 can be elongated along a central elongated axis 535 'the axis can be oriented in a substantially horizontal direction' as illustrated in FIG. The container body 532 can have a profile of any suitable shape or size. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the container 532 may be substantially circular or rounded, while in another embodiment, the cross-section may be elliptical. According to one embodiment, the size and/or shape of the cross-section of the container body 532 can vary along the direction of elongation, while in another embodiment, the shape and/or size of the cross-section can remain substantially the same. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the container body 532 of the microwave heater 530 includes a horizontally elongated, cylindrical container body having a circular cross-section. Microwave heater 530 can have a total maximum internal dimension or length L and a maximum inner diameter D, as shown in FIG. In one embodiment, l may be at least 8 feet, at least 1 foot, at least 16 feet, at least 2 feet, at least 30 feet, at least 50 feet, at least 75 feet, at least 1 foot, and/or no more than 500. Feet, no more than 35 feet, no more than 25 feet. In another embodiment, D can be at least 3 feet, at least 5 feet, at least 10 feet, at least 12 feet, at least ι 8 feet, at least 2 () feet, at least feet or at least 30 feet, and/or no more than 25 feet. No more than 2 feet or no more than 15 central feet. In one embodiment, the ratio of the length of the microwave heater 53〇 to its inner diameter (L:D) (L:D) may be at least 1:1, at least 2:1 'at least 3:1, at least 4: 1. At least 6:1, at least 8:1, at least 1〇:1 and/or no more than 50:1, not much 160978. Doc -35- 201231885 at 40:1 or no more than 25:1. Microwave heater 530 can be constructed from any suitable material. In one embodiment, microwave heater 530 can include at least one electrically conductive and/or highly reflective material. Examples of suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, selected carbon steels, stainless steels, nickel alloys, aluminum alloys, and copper alloys. The microwave heater 53 can be constructed almost entirely from a single material, or a variety of materials can be used to construct various portions of the microwave heater 530. For example, in one embodiment, microwave heater 530 can be constructed from a first material and can then be coated or layered with a second material on at least a portion of its interior and/or exterior surfaces. In one embodiment, the coating or layer may comprise one or more of the metals or alloys listed above, while in another embodiment, the coating or layer may comprise glass, polymer or other Dielectric material. Microwave heater 530 can define one or more spaces suitable for receiving a load. For example, in one embodiment, the microwave heater 53A can define a load (eg, wood) configured to receive and retain one or more bundles of wood (not shown in FIG. 6). ) can be positioned within the interior 536 of the microwave heater 530 in a static or dynamic manner. For example, in one embodiment in which the load is statically positioned in the microwave heater 53A, the load may be relatively inactive during heating and static positioning may be used such as, for example, a shelf, a platform, A parked = car, a stopped drive belt or the like is held in place. In another embodiment in which the load is dynamically positioned within the microwave heater 530, the load can be in motion during heating for at least a portion of the heating using one or more dynamic positioning devices (not shown). Dynamic positioning equipment 160978. Doc •36· 201231885 Examples can include, but are not limited to, continuous moving belts, rollers, horizontal and/or vertical vibration platforms, and rotating platforms. In one embodiment, one or more dynamic positioning devices can be used in a substantially continuous process, and - or multiple static clamping devices can be used in a batch or semi-batch process. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, microwave heater 530 may also include one or more sealing mechanisms to reduce, inhibit, minimize, or substantially prevent fluid and/or microwave energy entering and exiting container interior 536 during processing. leak. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the container body 532 and the door 534 may each have a respective body side sealing surface 531 and a crotch side sealing surface 533. In the embodiment, the body side sealing surface 531 and the door side sealing surface 533 may form a fluid seal directly or indirectly between the door 534 and the container body 532 when the door 534 is closed. A direct seal can be formed when at least a portion of the body side sealing surface 531 and the door side sealing surface 533 are in direct physical contact with each other. One or more of the interior of the microwave heater 530 and an external environment (not shown in FIG. 6) may be at least partially compressed against the door side sealing surface 533 and the body side sealing surface 531 when the door 534 is sealed. An indirect seal is formed between the door 534 and the container body 532 when the resilient sealing member is in place. Examples of resilient sealing members can include, but are not limited to, 〇-shaped rings, spiral wound gaskets, sheet gaskets, and the like. According to one embodiment, when subjected to the use of a Varian model No. 938-41, the program titled "Spraying Testing" is described in the document entitled "Helium Leak Detection Techniques" published by Aicatel Vacuum Technology under the heading "Spraying Testing". One of the direct or indirect seals formed between the container body 532 and the door 534 during a leak test may allow the microwave heater 530 to be at the junction of the body 532 and the door 534 or J60978. Doc •37· 201231885 Close to the junction has no more than 10. 2 Torr · liter / second, no more than 10 · 4 Torr. l / sec or no more than 1 〇 · 8 Torr. One of the fluid leakage rate in liters per second. In one embodiment, the fluid seal may be particularly advantageous when the environment inside the microwave heater 53 includes a low pressure and otherwise challenging processing environment. The microwave heater configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may also include a microwave choke for suppressing or substantially preventing the gate 534 of the microwave heater 530 from the container body 532 when the door 534 is closed. Energy leakage (e.g., at or near the junction of the door 534 and the container body 532). As used herein, the term "flow blocker" refers to any device or component of a microwave container that is operable to reduce the amount of energy leakage from the container or from the container during application of microwave energy. In one embodiment, the choke can be operable to reduce the amount of microwave leakage from the container by at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 75%, or at least as compared to when a choke is not employed. 9% of any device. In one embodiment of the invention, the microwave choke is operable to allow no measurement from a container with a wideband isotropic radiation monitor (300 MHz to 18 GHz) of a Narda MiCr〇line Model 8300. Microwave energy transmission resistance greater than 5 〇 milliwatts/square metre (mW/cm2), no more than 25 mw/cm2, no more than 1 〇m W/cm2, no more than 5 mw/cm2 or no more than 2 claws π-2 The flow device leaks from the heater. Progressively, the microwave choke operation configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention substantially inhibits microwaves even under full vacuum conditions, as compared to conventional microwave chokes, which typically fail when subjected to low air pressure. Can leak. For example, in one embodiment, a microwave blocker as described herein can inhibit microwave energy leakage from the heater to the microwave plus 160978 as set forth above. Doc -38_ 201231885 The pressure in the heat exchanger is not more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no more than 〇0 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. In one embodiment, a microwave choke as described herein can inhibit leakage of microwave energy from the heater to a pressure system in the microwave heater as set forth above of no more than 1 〇 milliTorr (丨0_3 Torr) ), no more than 5 mTorr, no more than 2 mTorr, no more than 1 mTorr, no more than 〇5 mTorr or no more than 0. The degree of 1 mTorr. Further, a microwave choke can maintain its leakage prevention level on a large unit, such as, for example, having at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kW, at least 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW, at least 1 kW, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 6〇〇kw, at least 75〇kw Or a microwave heater with a microwave energy input rate of at least l'OOO kW and/or no more than 2,5 kW, no more than 1500 kW or no more than 1 000 kW. In an embodiment 10, when microwave energy is introduced into the container even at the level of microwave energy and vacuum pressure as set forth above (eg, during the heating step), the emission does not occur substantially near the choke 65. arc. As used herein, the term "arcing" refers to an undesired, uncontrolled discharge resulting at least in part by ionization of a surrounding fluid. Arcing C can damage the alpha material and material and cause a substantial fire or explosion hazard) with a lower threshold at lower pressures (especially low pressure (e.g., 'vacuum) pressure). Often the 'utility system' limits the rate at which it is difficult to lose to minimize or avoid arcing. However, the microwave heater configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be operated at a pressure system of no more than 550 Torr, no more than a full stroke, and no more than 160,978. Doc •39· 201231885 More than 350 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no more than 1 Torr, no more than 75 Torr, no more than 10 mA (1 〇 _3 Torr), no more than 5 mTorr, Not more than 2 mTorr, not more than 1 mTorr, not more than 0. 5 mTorr or not more than 〇·ι mTorr and/or at least 50 Torr or at least 75 Torr, at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kW, at least 60 kW, at least 65 k\V, at least 75 kw, At least 100 kW, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW 'at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kw, at least 750 kW or at least 1,000 kW and/or no more than 2,5〇 Receiving microwave energy at a rate of 〇kw, no more than 1,500 kW or no more than 1,000 kW and introducing it into a microwave heater (as needed, referred to as a vacuum microwave heater or a vacuum microwave dryer) There is substantially no arcing at or near the choke. Referring now to Figure 7a, a section of one embodiment of a microwave choke 650 for providing microwave energy leakage between a door 634 of a microwave heater and a container body 632 when the door 634 is closed is provided. . As shown in the figures, when the door 634 is closed and the respective door side 633 and body side 631 sealing surfaces are in direct or indirect contact with each other, at least a portion of the microwave choke 65 is cooperatively defined or formed in the door 634 and the container body. Between 632. In an embodiment t, there may also be a fluid sealing member 66 selected to inhibit, minimize or substantially prevent leakage of fluid entering and exiting the microwave heater, as previously discussed, fluid sealing member 660 (when present) It is coupled to the container body milk or (as shown in Figure 7a) coupled to the door 634. According to one of the figures shown in Figure 7a, Ji -3⁄41 λ.  In still another embodiment, the microwave choke 050 defines a -first-radial extension choke chamber 652, a second radially extending choke 160978. Doc • 40· 201231885 cavity 654 and a radially extending choke deflector wall at least partially disposed between first choke chamber 652 and second choke chamber 654 when gate 634 of microwave heater is closed 656. In one embodiment illustrated in Figure 7a, the first choke chamber 652 is defined between the container body 632 and the choke deflector wall 656 when the door 634 is closed, while the second choke chamber 654 At least partially disposed between the door 634 and the baffle diversion wall 656 such that the baffle diversion wall 656 is substantially coupled to the door 634. The first choke chamber 652 can be open to the interior of the microwave heater and can be positioned radially between the interior of the microwave heater and the fluid seal formed by the sealing member 660 (when present). In another embodiment of the invention (not shown in Figure 7a), the second choke chamber 654 can be at least partially defined by the container body 632 such that the second choke chamber 654 can be positioned when the door 634 is closed Between the container body 632 and the baffle diversion wall 656 such that the baffle diversion wall 656 is substantially coupled to the container body 632. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the second choke chamber 654 reliably extends over at least a portion of the first choke chamber 652 when the door 634 is closed. In one embodiment, at least 40%, at least 60%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the total length of the second choke chamber 654 when the door 634 is closed is reliably held against the first choke chamber 654. The total length of the first choke chamber 652 and/or the second choke chamber 654 (designated by the letter "L" in Figure 7a) may be at least 1/16 of the dominant wavelength length of the microwave energy inside the microwave heater. Times, at least 1/8 times, at least 1/4 times and/or no more than 1 time, no more than 3/4 times or no more than 1/2 times. The length L of the first choke chamber 652 and/or the second choke chamber 654 can be at least 1 foot, at least 1. 5 feet, at least 2 feet or at least 2. 5 feet and / or no more than 8 feet, no more than 6 feet or no more than 5 feet. 160978. Doc -41 - 201231885 As illustrated in Figure 7b, a relative extension angle φ can be defined in the direction of extension of the first choke chamber 652 (specified by line 690) and the direction of extension of the second choke chamber 654 (by Line 692 is specified between). In various embodiments, the relative extension angle Φ can be no greater than 60. No more than 45. No more than 30. Or no more than 15. . In some embodiments, the second choke chamber 654 extends substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the first choke chamber 652, as depicted in Figure 7a. Referring now to Figure 7c, a partial isometric section of a microwave choke is provided. As shown in Figure 7c, the baffle diversion wall 656 can be integrally formed into the door 634. According to an embodiment, the flow guiding wall 656 can include a plurality of spaced apart open ends 67〇 circumferentially disposed along the flow guiding wall 656. In an embodiment, the spacing between the centerlines of each of the gaps may be at least 5 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 2 inches, or at least 2.5 inches and/or Not more than 8 inches, no more than 6 inches or no more than 5 inches. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the flow blocker 650 can include a removable portion 651 that is removably coupled to the container body 632 or the door 634. In one embodiment, the removable portion 65 can be removably coupled to the door 634. As used herein, the term "removably coupled" means that it can be substantially undamaged or destroyed. The container body, the flow blocker and/or the door are attached in one of the ways to remove one of the chokes. In one embodiment, the removable baffle portion 651 can include at least a portion or all of the flow guiding wall 656. Figure 7d illustrates a microwave choke with at least one removable portion 65 1 . In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 7d, the flow guiding wall 656 can be coupled to the removable baffle portion 651. Removable choke section 160978. Doc 42-201231885 651 can include a plurality of removable flow block segments 6533 to 653e that are each removably coupled to a door 634 or container body 632 (not shown). In an embodiment, the removable baffle portion 651 can include at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 6, at least 8, and/or no more than 16, no more than 12, no More than 10 or no more than 8 removable baffle segments 653. Depending on the embodiment in which the removable baffle portion 651 has a generally annular diameter, the baffle segments 653 & 6536 can be individually removed to have a generally arcuate shape' as shown in Figure 7d. The removable baffle portion 651 can be secured to the door 634 or container body 632 according to any conventional method, including, for example, 5 screws, screws, or any other type of suitable removable fastening device. In one embodiment, the removable baffle portion 651 can be magnetically fastened to the door 634 or the container body 632. Partially depending on the desired fastening method, the removable spoiler portion 651 can have a variety of them. ! Face shape. For example, as illustrated in Figures 7e through several, the 'removable baffle portion 651 can define a generally dome shape (as shown in Figures ~), a generally J shape, or a U shape (as shown in Figure 7f). A section of a general [shape (shown in the figure, shown) or a general 1 shape (shown in Figure 711). Attachment, removal, and/or subsequent replacement of the removable choke without removing the portion of the container body 632 and/or the door 634 or substantially mechanically machining the container body 632 and/or the door 634 The portion 651 recovers the normal operation of the microwave heater. By way of example, in the embodiment, a plurality of individually removable spoiler segments 6A through 653e can be individually and individually attached to the door 634 and/or the container body. Subsequently, one or more of the microwave chokes. When the P-knife becomes damaged or otherwise needs to be replaced, or more than one can be 160978. Doc -43- 201231885 The removal of the choke section 653 and/or the entire removable baffle portion 651 can be detached or removed separately and individually from the container body 632 or the door 634 and used with one or more new (eg, Alternatively, the removable choke section 653 and/or a new removable choke section 651 are replaced. In one embodiment, the removable spoiler segment 653a can be detached from the container body 632 or the door 634 and then reattached to the container body 632 or door 634 (eg, removed therefrom and replaced) The number of 653b, 653c, 653d, and/or 653e may be at most or no greater than the total number of spoiler segments 6 5 3 a through 6 5 3 e of the removable portion 6 51 . Microwave heater 530 (generally shown in Figure 6) can be classified as a single mode cavity, a multimode cavity, or a quasi-optical cavity, depending on how the microwave energy is represented. As used herein, the term "single mode cavity" refers to a cavity that is designed and operated to maintain its microwave energy as a single, specific pattern. Often, the design and nature of a single mode cavity can be limited. The size of the container and/or a load can be located within the chamber. Thus, in one embodiment, microwave heater 530 can include a multi-mode or quasi-optical mode cavity. As used herein, the term "multi-mode cavity" refers to a cavity or chamber in which microwave energy is excited into a plurality of standing wave patterns in a semi-random or unguided manner. As used herein, the term "quasi-optical mode cavity" refers to a cavity or chamber in which most, but not all, of the energy is directed toward a particular area in a controlled manner. In one embodiment, a multi-mode cavity has an energy density higher than a quasi-optical cavity near the center of the container, and the quasi-optical cavity can utilize the quasi-optical properties of microwave energy to more closely control and direct to the cavity The emission of energy in the interior" is turned back to the microwave heating system 42 图解 illustrated in Figure 5, microwave distribution 160978. Doc 201231885 System 440 is operable to transfer or direct at least a portion of the microwave energy produced by microwave generator 422 into microwave heater 430, as briefly discussed above. As shown schematically in Figure 5, the microwave distribution system 440 can include at least one waveguide 442 operatively coupled to one or more microwave emitters (illustrated as emitters 444a through 444c). The microwave distribution system 44A may include one or more microwave mode converters 446 for varying the microwave energy passing therethrough and/or for selectively routing microwave energy to the microwave emitters 444a through 444c, as desired. One or more of one or more microwave switchers (not shown). Additional details regarding the particular components and various embodiments of the microwave distribution system 440 will now be discussed in detail below. Waveguide 442 is operable to deliver microwave energy from microwave generator 422 to one or more of microwave emitters 444a through 444c. As used herein, the term "waveguide" refers to any device or material that is capable of directing electromagnetic energy from one location to another. Examples of suitable waveguides can include, but are not limited to, coaxial wound optical fibers, dielectric filled waveguides, or any other type of transmission line. In one embodiment, waveguide 442 can include a waveguide section for transporting microwave energy from microwave generator 422 to one or more of the ones of emitters 444a through 444c. Waveguide 442 can be designed and constructed to propagate microwave energy in a particular mode. As used herein, the term "mode" refers to one of the microwave energy generally fixed scratch field patterns. In one embodiment of the invention, waveguide 442 can be configured to propagate microwave energy in a TE〇 mode, where X is auto-twisted to - integer in the range of 5 to zero. In another embodiment of the invention, waveguide 442 can be configured to propagate microwave energy in a -TM mode, where is 160978. Doc -45- 201231885 An integer from the range 1 to 5. It will be understood that as used herein, the above-described ranges of alpha, X, and minor values used to illustrate one mode of microwave propagation are applicable throughout this description. Further, in some embodiments, when two or more components of a system are described as "ΤΜ&" or "ΤΕ^" components, β, ^, and/or less values may be used for each component. The same or different. In one embodiment, the values of β, X, and/or are the same for each component of a given system. The shape and size of the waveguide 442 can depend, at least in part, on the desired mode of microwave energy that will pass through it. For example, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the waveguide 442 can include a "waveguide" having a generally rectangular cross-section. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the waveguide 442 can include a 圆形βέ having a generally circular cross-section. Waveguide. According to one embodiment of the invention, the circular section waveguide may have at least 8 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 12 inches, at least 24 inches, 11 inches 'at least 36 inches or at least 4 inches. In one embodiment, the rectangular cross-section waveguide can have at least 丨 吋, at least 2 inches, at least 3 奂 leaves and/or no more than 6 inches, no more than 5 inches, or no more than 4 inches. One of the short sizes' and the long size may be at least 6 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 12 inches, at least 18 inches and/or no more than 5 inches, no more than 35 inches or no more than 24 inches. As illustrated schematically in Figure 5, the microwave distribution system 44A can include a mode or a plurality of mode conversion segments 446 that are operable to change the mode of microwave energy therethrough. For example, the mode converter 446 can Including patterns for at least a portion of the microwave energy A mode change to one -TE〇 TMafe TMd mode to mode converter ΤΕ ^. In another embodiment, mode switching section 446 may 160,978. Doc • 46· 201231885 Includes one of the microwave energy conversion and emissions in one mode for receiving TMaf) mode energy and 呈αί> mode converter. The values of α, 6, and ^ can be within the ranges set forth above. The microwave distribution system 44A can include any number of mode converters 446, and in one embodiment can include at least two, at least two 'at least three, or at least four, located at various locations within the microwave distribution system 440. Mode converters. Turning again to FIG. 5, the microwave distribution system 440 can include one or more of receiving microwave energy from the generator 422 via the waveguide 442 and emitting or discharging at least a portion of the microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 430. Microwave transmitter 444. As used herein, the term "microwave emitter" or "transmitter" refers to any device capable of emitting microwave energy into the interior of a microwave heater. The microwave distribution system according to various embodiments of the present invention may employ at least one 'at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 8, at least 10, and/or no more than 1 〇. One, no more than 5〇 or no more than 25 microwave emitters. The microwave emitter can be of any suitable shape and/or size and can be constructed of any material, including, for example, selected carbon steel, stainless steel 'nickel alloys, aluminum alloys, and copper alloys. In one embodiment in which the microwave distribution system 440 includes two or more microwave emitters, each emitter can be made of the same material, while in another embodiment, two or more emitters can be Made of different materials. In operation, microwave energy generated by one or more microwave generators 422 can be routed or directed via waveguide 442 to one or more mode converters 446, if any. Thereafter, the micro in the waveguide 442. The wave energy can be viewed before it is directed to one or more microwave emitters (illustrated as 44牦 to 444c in Figure 5). Doc -47· 201231885 Deliberately split into two or more separate microwave sections (eg, at least three sections as shown in Figure 5). Microwave emitters 44A through 444c may be partially or integrally placed in the microwave The heater 430 is operatively operable to introduce or emit at least a portion of the microwave energy passing therethrough via one or more spaced apart emission locations into the interior of the heater 43A, whereby the heating and/or drying is disposed The article, article or load therein includes, for example, one or more wood bundles. Specific configurations and details regarding various embodiments of the microwave heating system will now be discussed in detail below. Turning now to Figures 8 through 10, several embodiments of a microwave heating system configured in accordance with the present invention are provided. Although illustrated as being configured to receive and heat a bundle of wood, it should be understood that the microwave heating system set forth below may be adapted to be used in any of the other processes and systems previously described and in which microwave heating is used. Used in a system or process. Further, it should be understood that all of the elements and components set forth below are suitable for use in any of the microwave heating systems configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, although described with reference to a particular figure or embodiment. Turning now to Figures 8a and 8b, an embodiment of a microwave heating system 720 is illustrated as including a microwave heater 73A and for delivering microwave energy from a microwave generator (not shown) to the heater 73. One of the microwave distribution systems 740. In various embodiments, a vacuum system (not shown) is operable to reduce the pressure in the interior of the microwave heater 730 to, for example, no greater than 550 Torr, no greater than 450 Torr, no greater than 350 Torr, Not more than 300 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no more than 150 Torr, no more than 1 Torr, no more than 75 Torr and/or no more than 1 Torr (1 〇 -3 Torr), not greater than 5 mTorr, not much 160978. Doc -48- 201231885 at 2 mTorr, no more than 1 mTorr, no more than 0. 5 mTorr or not greater than 0. Several features of one or more embodiments of the microwave heating system 720 are discussed in detail below. Turning now to Figure 8a, the microwave distribution system 74 is illustrated as including an elongated waveguide emitter 760 that is at least partially and integrally disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 730. As shown in Figure 8a, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can extend substantially horizontally within the interior of the microwave heater 73A. As used herein, the term "substantially horizontal" means within 10 of the horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the ratio of the length of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 to the total length of the interior space of the microwave heater 730 can be, for example, at least zero. 3:1, at least 〇. 5:1, at least 〇 75:1 or at least 〇 9〇:1. In one embodiment, the substantially horizontally extending elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be located at an upper or lower half of the interior volume toward the microwave heater 73A and can be disposed at least partially or integrally vertically. Above the heater inlet door 738 and a selected heater outlet door (not shown), the optional heater outlet door (if present) is disposed on one of the substantially opposite ends of the microwave heater 730. As used herein, the terms "upper" and "lower" volume refer to the area in the vertical or lower vertical portion above the internal volume of the container. In one embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be disposed, for example, integrally within the upper third, quarter, or fifth of the interior volume of the microwave heater 730, In yet another embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be disposed, for example, within the lowermost half, one-quarter, or one-fifth of the total internal volume of the microwave heater 730. To measure the "top" or "lowest" fraction of the total internal volume as described above. Doc -49· 201231885 points, from the uppermost or lowermost wall of the container to the desired extension of the section (for example, one-third, one-quarter or one-fifth) of the central extension axis of the container section The portion may extend along the central axis of elongation to thereby define the "topmost" or "lowest" fractional volume of the inner container space. As shown in Figure 8a, a microwave heater 730 that can be configured to receive and heat a bundle of wood includes a heater inlet door 738 that can optionally be configured to allow a bundle of wood 702 to be introduced into a bundle of receptacles. One of the spaces 739 is a flow blocker (not shown). Although illustrated as being in direct contact, it should be understood that the bundle 702 can also include one or more spacers or "adhesives" disposed between the panels. In an embodiment (not shown), the microwave heater 73A may also include a selected heater outlet door 739 positioned opposite the heater heater inlet door 738 at the microwave heater 730. When the microwave heater 730 includes a separate heater outlet door 739, the bundle 702 can optionally be loaded via the inlet gate 738, passed through the microwave heater 730 and unloaded via the outlet gate 739, rather than being loaded and unloaded through the heater inlet door 738. Reference to "inlet" and "outlet" doors in this embodiment is not limiting, and bundle 7〇2 may optionally be loaded via door 739, passed through microwave heater 730, and unloaded via door 738. Moreover, in another embodiment, when, for example, no exit door 739 is selected, the bundle 7〇2 can be loaded (inserted) from the entry gate 738 and unloaded (removed) from the entry gate 738. In one embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 76 can be positioned in the microwave heater 730 substantially below or below the beam 7〇2 (not shown) such that when the beam 702 passes into the interior of the heater 730 When passing from inside the heater 730 and/or through the interior of the heater 730, it is not necessary to move, remove, withdraw or otherwise reposition the elongated emitter. 160978. Doc -50- 201231885 Referring now to Figure 8b, a partially detailed isometric view of an elongated waveguide emitter is provided. In one embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter can be substantially hollow and include one or more side walls. The one or more side walls can be configured in a variety of ways such that the elongated waveguide emitter can have a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes. For example, in one embodiment the 'extended material emission ϋ 76 〇 may have a single sidewall defining a substantially circular or sugar circular cross-sectional shape. In another embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 as shown in the figures can include four substantially planar sidewalls 764a through 764d that are configured to have a generally rectangular cross-section (or in another embodiment) The 'square' profile configuration is assigned to the emitter 76〇. The elongated waveguide transmitter 760 can be configured to propagate and/or transmit microwave energy in any suitable mode (including te^ and/or TMei mode), as previously discussed in detail/according to an embodiment, an elongated waveguide Transmitter 76A can include an elongated TExy transmitter, and in one embodiment, can be implemented with a commercially available rectangular waveguide size, such as WR284, WR430, or WR340. The particular dimensions of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be any suitable size and, in one embodiment, can be custom made. As illustrated in Figure 8b, one or more sidewalls of the elongated waveguide emitter 76 can define a plurality of emission openings for discharging or emitting microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 730. Although illustrated in the figure as defining a plurality of elongated slots 767a through 767e having a generally rectangular shape with rounded ends, the firing openings 767a through 767e can have any suitable shape. Each of the elongated slots 767a through 767e can define a length (designated "L" in Figure 8b) and a width (designated "w" in the figure rib). 160978. Doc -51 - 201231885 In one embodiment, the length to width (L:W) ratio of the elongated grooves 7673 to 767e may be, for example, at least 2:1, at least, at least 4 inches or to 5 . 1. Additionally, as shown in the ribs, the elongated slots 767a through "" can be oriented at various angles relative to the horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the elongated slots 767a through 767e can be, for example, at least 1 相对 relative to the horizontal plane. , to ) 20, at least 30. And/or (for example) no more than 8 inches. Not more than 7 inches. Or no more than 6 inches. One angle extends. In one embodiment, each of the elongated slots 767a through 767e can have the same shape, size, and/or orientation. In one embodiment, the shape, size and/or orientation of the individual elongated grooves 767 & to 7676 may vary. The change in shape, size and/or orientation of the elongated grooves 767 & to 7676 can affect the distribution of energy emitted from the elongated waveguide emitter 76. Although shown as uncovered in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b, one or more of the transmit openings 767 may be substantially covered by one or more overlay structures (not shown) adjacent to the launch opening, the one or The plurality of cover structures are operable to prevent flow of fluid into and out of the opening 767 but allow microwave energy to be discharged therefrom. The 'emissive openings 767a through 767e' as shown in Figure 8b may be at least partially or integrally defined by one or more of the elongated waveguide emitters 76'' or sidewalls 764a through 764d. In the embodiment, at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 85%, or at least 9% of the thickness of the emission openings 767a through 767e, for example, may be defined by one or more sidewalls 764a through 764d. Embodiments according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b 'emissive openings 767& to 7676 may be at least partially or integrally defined by two substantially upstanding sidewalls 764a, 764c. As used herein, the term "substantially upright" means 3 在 in the vertical plane. Inside, in a 160978. Doc-52-201231885 In the embodiment, the sidewalls 764a-764d of the elongated emitter 760 can be relatively thicker. In other embodiments, the sidewalls 764a-764d can be relatively thin. For example, the average thickness of the sidewalls 764a through 764d (designated as X in Figure 8b) can be at least 1/32 (0. 03 125) Miles, at least 1/8 (0. 125) miles, at least 3/16 (0. 1875) Miles and / or (for example) no more than 1/2 (〇 5) inches, no more than 1/4 (0. 25) Miles, no more than 3/16 (0. 1875) Miles are not greater than 1/8 (0. 125) Miles. The elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least according to an embodiment in which one or more sidewalls of the elongated waveguide emitter 76 are relatively thin. One of the 95% microwave emission efficiencies transmits microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 73. As used herein, the term 'microwave emission efficiency' can be defined by converting the result of the following equation to a percentage: (total energy introduced into the emitter - total energy emitted from all openings in the emitter) + ( The total energy introduced into the emitter). The transmit openings 767a through 767e can be configured along the elongated waveguide emitter 760 in accordance with any suitable configuration or configuration. In one embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b, 'emission openings 767a through 767e can include a set of first emission openings (e.g., emission openings 767a, 767b) disposed on one side of emitter 760 and disposed in One of the second emission openings (e.g., emission openings 767c to 767e) on the other substantially opposite side of the elongated waveguide emitter 760. According to an embodiment, the first set of emitter openings and the second set of emitter openings may be axially staggered with each other ' such that corresponding openings (eg, openings 767a, 767c shown as pairs of emitters or pairs 780a and shown as emitting pairs or openings) The openings 767b, 767d) of 78〇b are not axially aligned with each other. Although in Figure 8b, Figure 160978. Doc • 53· 201231885 is illustrated as having only two pairs of emitter openings 780a, 780b, but it should be understood that any desired number of pairs of emitter openings may be utilized. According to one embodiment, each of the pairs 780a, 780b includes an emission opening disposed on one side of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 (eg, both openings 767a of the pair 780a disposed on the side wall 764a) And an opening 767b of the pair 780b and another emitting opening disposed on the opposite side of the emitter 760 (eg, the opening 767c of the pair 780a and the opening 767d of the pair 780b both disposed on the side wall 764c in FIG. 8b) . In one embodiment, the openings 767a, 767c and the openings 767b, 767d disposed on opposite sides of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 are axially aligned, while in another embodiment, the oppositely spaced openings 767a 767c and openings 767b, 767d may form a plurality of "near neighbors" pairs (eg, launch pairs 780a, 780b include "near neighbors" openings 767a, 767c and openings 767b, 767d, respectively). In one embodiment, for example, when an even number of firing openings are used, one or more of the single-ended emitting openings can be independent without forming a pair with any of the other openings. In one embodiment, the separate opening may be open at one end, such as the end opening 7 6 7 e shown in Figure 8b. According to an embodiment in which pairs 780a, 780b include pairs of adjacent open pairs, at least one of the transmit openings 767a through 767d of the transmit opening pair 780a, 780b can be configured to cancel as close to the neighbor pair 780a One or more of the other emission openings 767a through 767d of 780b are reflected back to at least a portion of the microwave energy in the interior space of the waveguide 760. For example, the microwave energy reflection caused by the opening 767a of the 780a may be at least partially, substantially or substantially entirely by the configuration of the other opening 767b of the 780a. Doc •54- 201231885 Elimination. In a similar manner, the microwave energy reflection caused by opening 767c of 780b can be offset, at least in part, substantially or nearly entirely, by the configuration of another opening 767d of 78〇b. Further, in one embodiment, each of the emission openings 767a through 767d of the pair of openings 780a, 780b is transferred to the interior of the microwave heater 730 when the emission openings 767 & 767d are disposed proximate to the adjacent pair. The total amount of energy in the energy may be equal to a fraction of the total amount of microwave energy introduced into the emitter 760. For example, in an embodiment in which the emitter includes N pairs of emission openings and a single-ended opening, the fraction of microwave energy emitted from each pair of emission openings (and/or unpaired openings or single-ended openings) It can be expressed by the following formula: 1/(N+1). Thus, according to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b (where N = 2) 'the total amount of energy emitted by each of pairs 780a, 780b may be equal to being introduced into the elongated waveguide emitter 76" 1/(2+1) or 1/3 of the total energy. Similarly, in this embodiment, the energy emitted from an unpaired emission opening (e.g., the single-ended opening 767e in Figure 8b) can be implemented by the formula "(n+u expression ° thus 'implemented in Figure 8b' In an example, the emission opening 767e can also emit approximately 1/3 of the total energy introduced into the elongated waveguide emitter 76. Another embodiment of a microwave heating system 82 is provided in Figures 9a through 9h. The microwave heating system 820 shown in 9a includes a microwave heater 820 and a microwave distribution system 84 operable to deliver microwave energy from a microwave generator (not shown) to the heater 820 (in one embodiment) The microwave heating system 820 can also include a vacuum system (not shown) for reducing the pressure in the microwave heater 830 to below atmospheric pressure. As shown in Figure 9a, the microwave 160978. Doc-55-201231885 The heater 830 can include a heater inlet door 838 for introducing a bundle of wood (or other load) into the interior of the heater 830. The microwave heater 830 can include a heater outlet door (not shown in Figure 93) placed on the opposite end of the heater 830 from the heater inlet door 838, as desired. Additionally, the microwave heater 830 can include a plurality of spaced apart emission openings located at various locations along one or more of the outer sidewalls 83 1 of the microwave heater 83 (such as illustrated as 841a, 841b in Figure 9a) They launch openings). The emission openings 841a, 841b are operable to house one or more components of the microwave distribution system 84, thereby facilitating transmission of microwave energy into the microwave heater 83. Additional details regarding the microwave distribution system 84 will now be discussed in more detail with respect to Figures 9b through 9h. Turning to Figure 9b, a top cross-sectional view of one of the microwave heaters 830 is provided, which in particular illustrates a plurality of microwave emitters 844a through 844d coupled directly or indirectly to opposite sidewalls 831a, 83b of the microwave heater 830. As used herein, the term "indirect coupling" refers to one or more intermediate devices used to at least partially connect one or more transmitters to a container. Transmitters 844a through 844d are operable to transmit microwave energy into the interior of microwave heater 830 via one or more open outlets 845 & 845d, as shown in Figure 9b. Although illustrated in Figure 9b as including four emitters 844a through 844d, it should be understood that microwave heater 830 can include any desired number of emitters. In one embodiment (not shown), the 'microwave heater 8 3 ' may include two additional emitters axially positioned to the left of the emitters 844a, 844b in FIG. 9b and/or to the right of the emitters 844c, 844d. . These additional transmitters (not shown) may face in the same direction and/or in different directions. For example, at 160978. Doc - 56 - 201231885 In one embodiment shown in Figure 9b, the emitters 844a through 844d are shown facing in opposite directions. Moreover, in one embodiment (not shown), the microwave heater 830 can include four additional transmitters configured in a manner similar to the transmitters 844a through 844d illustrated in Figure 9b, as further described below. Microwave transmitter 844 can be positioned along microwave heater 830, within microwave heater 830, or near microwave heater 830, according to any suitable configuration. In one embodiment, the microwave transmitter 844 can be configured to include two transmitter pairs. The individual emitters within the pair may be located on substantially the same side of the microwave heater 83 (eg, the pair includes emitters 84A and 844d and the other pair includes emitters 844b and 844c) or located in the microwave heater 83 On substantially opposite sides (eg, 'the pair includes microwave emitters 8443 and 8441) and the other pair includes 844c and 844d). As used herein, the term "substantially opposite side" or "opposite side" means that two emitters are positioned such that the radial alignment angle defined therebetween is between at least 90. To 180. In the scope. "Radial alignment angle (8)" is defined as the h formed between the two lines drawn from the center of each emitter to the central axis of the container. For example, E9e shows the definition between them - radial alignment angle Shirts, exemplary transmitters 845 and 84. The radial alignment angle between two emitters positioned on substantially opposite sides of a container can be at least 12 inches. At least 165. And / or no more than 18 〇. Or roughly 18 inches. . In one embodiment, the two emitters can be positioned on generally opposite side walls, as shown in FIG. 9b, while in another embodiment, two oppositely disposed emitters can be positioned in the heater (not Display) at the top or bottom of the vertical or in its attached 160978. Doc •57· 201231885 Near ο at one or more of the transmitter pairs comprising individual emitters on substantially opposite sides of a microwave heater (eg, emitters 844b and 844a or emitters 844c & 844d in Figure 9b) In one embodiment, the individual emitters within the pair may also be axially aligned with each other. As used herein, the term "axial alignment" means that two emitters are defined between themselves. To 45. One of the ranges of axial alignment angles. As used herein, "axial alignment angle" may be formed by the shortest line drawn between the centers of each emitter (which also intersects the elongated axis of the container) and one line drawn perpendicular to the axis of elongation. The corner is defined. In Fig. 9d, the axial alignment angle α is formed between the line 85〇 drawn between the centers of the exemplary emitters 845 and 846 and the line 852 perpendicular to the elongated axis 835a. In one embodiment, the axially aligned emitters can define at least zero. And/or (for example) no more than 3 〇. Or no more than 15. One of the axial alignment angles. In another embodiment, individual emitters within a pair may be located on substantially the same side of a microwave heater. As used herein, the term "substantially the same side" or "the same side" means that the two emitters have a radial alignment angle β that is in a range from at least or equal to 0° to 90°. The exemplary emitters 845 and 846b of Figure 9c are located on substantially the same side of the microwave heater because the radial alignment angle (e.g., βζ) defined therebetween is no greater than 9 〇. . In one embodiment, two emitters disposed on the same side of a microwave heater may define at least 0° and/or no greater than 60. No more than 30. And no more than 15. Or a radial alignment angle of approximately 0°. In one or more of the transmitter pairs are contained in a general microwave of 160978. Doc -58- 201231885 Individual transmitters on the same side (for example, 844d or transmitters 844b and 844c) -3

For example, in the embodiment of the transmitters 844a and 匕 in Fig. 9b, the seven neighbors within the pair. As used herein, the terms more than one transmitter are positioned in a microwave plus no other emitters disposed in an axially adjacent microwave distribution system comprising one or two pairs of embodiments from the first pair from the first pair One of the emitters is generally on the same side thereby forming an axially adjacent emitter pair. As illustrated in Figure 9b, the microwave emitters can be defined for each of the sputum to be used for the oil-splitting circuit 2S, 丄.h ____

In the ministry. For example, in one embodiment shown in Figure 9b, the open exit is axially adjacent to the emitter (e.g., the outlets 845a, 845d of the emitters 844a, 844d and the outlets 845b, 845c of the emitters 844b, 844c) Oriented toward each other in a direction transversely parallel to one of the outer sidewalls to which the emitters are coupled (eg, sidewalls 83a of the emitters 844a, 844d and sidewalls 831b of the emitters 844b, 844c) Discharge microwave energy along the general direction. As used herein, the term "substantially parallel" means ίο in a parallel plane. Inside. In one embodiment, at least one of the open outlets 845 £1 to 845 (1 can be oriented to discharge energy substantially parallel to the axis of elongation of the microwave heater 83 (designated as line 835 in Figure 9b) According to one embodiment, at least one of the open outlets 845a through 845d can be oriented toward the axial midpoint of one of the 160978.doc • 59-201231885 heaters 830. As used herein, a container The axial midpoint" is defined by a plane orthogonal to the elongated axis 835 and intersecting the point 839 of the elongated shaft 835, as shown in Figure 9b. In one embodiment, each of the open outlets 845a through 845d One is oriented toward the axial midpoint of the heater 830 such that the open outlets 845a, 845b of the front side emitters 844a, 844b substantially face the open outlets 845c, 845d of the backside emitters 844c, 844d, as continued in Figure 9b In accordance with an embodiment 'in operation, microwave energy produced by one or more microwave generators (not shown) may be delivered to emitters 844a through 844d via waveguides 842a through 842d, and emitters 844a through 844d emit energy Up to the inside of the microwave heater 830. Not illustrated in Figure 9b, but any number or configuration of microwave generators can be used to produce microwave energy for use in the microwave heating system 820. In one embodiment, a single generator can be used to pass via the waveguide 842a to 842d and transmitter 844 supply energy to heater 83A, while in another embodiment, heating system 82A may include two or more generators. According to another embodiment, one or more microwaves may be utilized One of the generators is networked to emit microwave energy substantially simultaneously from at least one, at least two, at least three, or all four of the microwave emitters 844 & to 844 (in one embodiment) The plurality of transmitters 844a through 844d can be coupled to a single generator and the energy from the generator can be distributed among the transmitters using one or more microwave switches. In another embodiment, the transmitter 84" One or more of up to 844d may have a separate dedicated generator such that at least 75%, at least 9%, or substantially all of the microwave energy produced by the generator is routed to a single transmitter. Ua and Ub Additional details regarding specific embodiments of the microwave generator, waveguide and transmitter and their operation. The microwave energy propagated by the waveguide segments 842a through 842d can be in any suitable mode, including (for example a TMafc mode and/or a TE〇 mode, wherein α, 6, and ^ have values as previously defined. In one embodiment, waveguide segments 842a through 842d each comprise a waveguide segment, wherein the segments 842^842d is configured to penetrate sidewall 83la and segments 842b and 842c are configured to penetrate sidewall μ ib and extend radially toward elongated shaft 835 into the interior of microwave heater 830, as shown in Figure 9b . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mode of microwave energy propagating through waveguide segments 842 & 842d can be changed before (or at the same time as) being emitted into the interior of microwave heater 830. For example, in one embodiment, the TExy mode energy produced by the microwave generator (not shown in Figure 9b) may pass through one or more mode transition segments (represented as mode converter 85 in Figure 9b) ^ to 850d) is then emitted into the microwave energy as τΜα6 mode energy. The mode converter can have any suitable size and shape and any suitable number of mode converters can be used in the microwave distribution system Mo. In one embodiment One or more mode converters 850a through 850d may be disposed outside the interior space (volume) of the microwave heater 830, while in another embodiment, the mode converters 850a through 850d may be partially or integrally disposed in the microwave heating The mode converters 850a through 850d may be located in or adjacent to the side walls 831a, 83 lb' or (as illustrated in Figure 9b) may be spaced apart from the outer side walls 831a, 831b of the microwave heater 830. Mode converters 850a through 850d are partially or integrally disposed in an embodiment of 160978.doc -61 - 201231885 heater 830, which can initially enter the microwave heater in a chirp mode, and At least a portion of the energy can then be converted such that at least a portion of the energy emitted from the emitters 844a through 844d into the interior of the microwave heater 830 can be in a TM& mode. In one embodiment, the waveguide segments 842a through 842d A TE „ waveguide section operable to transfer microwave energy from the generator to the heater 830 in a TEy mode may be included. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the TE” waveguide sections 842a to 842d may be integrated into the transmitter 844a to In 844d, as depicted in Figure 9b, when energy passes through the mode converters 850a through 850d from the waveguide sections 842a through 842d, the energy is converted to a ?6 mode. Subsequently, the mode energy of the mode converters 850a through 850d is exited. It may then pass through a respective ΤΜα6 waveguide section 843a to 843d before being discharged through the ΤΜα6 open outlets 845a to 845d into the heater 830, illustrated in 9b as being integrally disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 830 and with its side wall 833 Separated. According to another embodiment illustrated in Figure 9e, the microwave heating system 820 can include one or more reflectors 890a through 890d positioned adjacent the open outlets 845a through 845d and operable to reflect or scatter from the emitter 844a The microwave energy emitted into the microwave heater 830 is up to 844d. In one embodiment, the reflectors can be fixed or stationary reflectors to reflect or scatter energy when the position of the reflector does not change. In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 9e, one or more of the reflectors 890 can be a movable reflector operable to change position to reflect or scatter microwave energy into the microwave heater 830 . Each of the movable reflectors 890a through 890d of Figure 9e has a respective reflective surface 89la through 89Id for reflecting or scattering the energy emitted from the microwave emitters 844a 160978.doc • 62· 201231885 to 844d. As shown in Figure 96, each reflective surface can be spaced apart from the outer sidewalls 831a, 83 lb and can be positioned such that the emitters 844a through 844 One or more of the respective emitter openings 845a through 845d of <1 are facing their respective reflective surfaces 89la through 89Id, which in turn are positioned to contact, direct or reflect microwave energy from the emitter openings 845a through 845d. At least part of it. In one embodiment, at least a portion or substantially all of the microwave energy emitted from the microwave emitters 844 & 844 (1) may at least partially contact the respective reflector surfaces 89la through 891d and may be at least partially reflected therefrom or Scattering. In one embodiment, one or more of reflective surfaces 891 & to 89 ld may be oriented to face one direction substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of outer sidewalls 83U, 831b. In one embodiment, The reflector surfaces 891 & to 891 (1 may be substantially planar, while in other embodiments, the one or more reflector surfaces 89^ to 891d may be non-planar. For example, in one embodiment One or more of the non-planar reflector surfaces 891a through 891d may define one of the curvatures as illustrated by the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2. The reflector surfaces 8913 to 891 (1 may be smooth or may have one or A plurality of convex bodies. As used herein, the term "convex body" refers to a region of a reflector that is operable to scatter from it rather than reflect the surface of the energy. In the embodiment, - the convex body may have a substantially convex shape, such as This is illustrated by the example of a convex body 893a, 893b as shown in Fig. 9. In another embodiment, a convex body may have a generally concave shape such as, for example, a pit or Other similar indentations. One or more reflectors 890a to 890d according to an embodiment of the invention 160978. Doc -63- 201231885 Can be a movable reflector. The movable reflector can be any reflector that is operable to change position. In one embodiment, the movable reflectors 89〇3 to 890b can be in a designated pattern (such as, for example, a substantially lower An oscillating reflector that moves in a pattern or a pattern that rotates around an axis. In one embodiment, the movable reflector can be a randomly moveable reflector that is operable to move in any of a wide variety of random and/or unplanned movements. The movable reflectors 890a through 8 90d can be movably consuming to the microwave heater 830 in accordance with any suitable method. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9A, the 'microwave heater 830 can include one of the reflector drivers for the movable reflector 89 within the interior space of the heater 830 (or Actuator) 8 99. As shown in Figure 9i, the reflector driver system 899 can include one or more support arms 892 that can securely couple the reflector 890 to an oscillating shaft 893. To cause the spindle 893 to rotate and thereby move the reflector 890 in an incoming and outgoing pattern (as generally indicated by arrow 880), a motor 898 can rotate a wheel 896 (the linear shaft 895 can be coupled to it substantially off-center) . As indicated by arrow 881, the shaft 895 can be moved in a generally downward manner as the wheel 896 rotates, thereby causing a lever arm 894 to rotate the shaft 893 about the pivot 897, as generally indicated by arrow 882. Accordingly, reflector 890 can be moved as generally indicated by arrow 880 and is operable to reflect or scatter from discharge opening 845 of microwave reflector 844 as determined at least in part by movement of reflector 890. At least a portion of the microwave energy. Yet another embodiment of a microwave heating system 920 is shown in Figures 10a through 1 Of. As illustrated in an embodiment of FIG. 1A, a microwave is heated 160978. Doc • 64· 201231885 The 930 includes a heater inlet door 938 for loading a bundle of wood 902 into the interior of the heater 930 and a heater outlet door 939 for removing the bundle 902 from the microwave heater 930. Although illustrated in FIG. 1A as including separate inlet door 938 and outlet door 939 ', it should be understood that in another embodiment microwave heater 930 may only include internal loading of wood beams from microwave heater 930. 902 and unloading the wood bundle 902 as a single door. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, heater inlet door 938 and heater outlet door 939 can be located on generally opposite sides of microwave heater 930 such that bundle 902 can be via a delivery mechanism (such as, for example, A truck (not shown) generally passes through the heater 930. Additionally, the microwave heating system 920 can include a vacuum system (not shown) for controlling one of the pressures in the heater 930. As shown in Figure 10a, the microwave heating system 92A can include a microwave distribution system 940' that includes a plurality of spaced apart emission openings 941 & defined in one of the outer sidewalls 931 of the microwave heater 93A. To 941d. Each of the firing openings 941 is operable to receive a microwave emitter (not shown) for emitting energy into the interior of the microwave heater 930. The microwave emitter can be disposed at least partially or integrally within the interior of the microwave heater 93. Particular embodiments of one or more types of microwave emitters will be discussed in more detail later. According to one embodiment, microwave energy produced by a microwave generator (not shown) may be passed through external enthalpy to TM mode converters 950a through 950d (which converts energy passing therethrough into a TMai mode) Transmission through waveguide segments 942a through 942d is performed in a one-turn mode. The resulting D]\4 heart mode microwave energy can then exit mode converters 950a through 95〇d via respective waveguide segments 942e through 942h, as shown in Fig. 160978. Doc •65· 201231885 10a illustrated. Thereafter, at least a portion of the microwave energy in the TMfl6 waveguide sections 942e through 942h can pass through the respective barrier assemblies 970a through 970d prior to entering the microwave heater 930 via the TMafc waveguide sections 942i through 9141. As used herein, the term "barrier assembly" may refer to any device that is operable to fluidly isolate a microwave heater from an external environment while still permitting microwave energy to pass therethrough. For example, in one embodiment shown in Figure 10a, the respective barrier assemblies 970a through 970d can each include at least one sealing window member 972a through 972d that can be microwave permeable, but provides each A desired degree of fluid isolation between an upstream 942e to 942h ΤΜαέ waveguide segment and each of the downstream 942i to 9421 TMafc waveguide segments. As used herein, the term "sealed window member" refers to a window member that is configured in one of the following ways: it will provide sufficient fluid isolation between the two spaces on either side of the window member to allow for crossing The window member maintains a pressure differential. Additional details regarding particular embodiments of the barrier assemblies 970a through 970d will now be discussed with respect to FIG. A barrier assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention minimizes or eliminates arcing even at high energy fluxes and/or low operating pressures. According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the barrier assemblies 970a to 970d may permit energy of at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kW, at least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW, at least 100 kW, At least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kW, at least 750 kW or at least 1,000 kW and/or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,500 kW or no greater than One of the speeds of 1,000 kW passes through its respective window members 972a to 972d, and the pressure in the microwave heater 930 can be no more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, and no more than 160,978. Doc -66· 201231885 For 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no more than 150 Torr, no more than loo or no more than 75 Torr. In one embodiment, the pressure in the microwave heater may be no greater than 10 mTorr, no greater than 5 mTorr, no greater than 2 mTorr, no greater Mi mTorr, and no greater than zero. 5 mTorr or no more than 〇. 1 mTorr. In one embodiment, microwave energy passing through the barrier assemblies 970a through 970d can be introduced to maintain the magnetic field below a threshold of arcing to thereby prevent or minimize the barrier assembly 97〇& The arc in 970d. Turning now to Figure 10b, an axial cross-sectional view of a barrier assembly 970 is provided. The barrier assembly 970 includes a first sealing window member 972a disposed in a barrier housing 973 and a second sealing window member 972b. When present, the second sealing window member 972b is operable to cooperate with the first sealing window member 972a to provide a desired between upstream (eg, inlet) ΤΜαΖ> waveguide segment 975a and downstream (eg, outlet) ΤΜα6 waveguide segment 975b The level of fluid isolation also permits at least a portion of the microwave energy to pass from the first TMflA waveguide section 975a to the second T1VU waveguide section 975b. According to an embodiment, the first TM& waveguide segment 975a and the second ΤΜαδ waveguide segment 975b may have a circular cylindrical cross section. In an embodiment, the waveguide segments 975a, 975b may be in which two ends of a single continuous waveguide of the barrier assembly 970 may be disposed, while in another embodiment, the waveguide segments may be suitably fastened or Two separate waveguide portions or components coupled to either side of the barrier assembly 970. As shown in Figure 10b, the barrier housing 973 can include a first or inlet section 973a' - a second or intermediate section 973b and a third or outlet section 973c' wherein the first sealing window member 972a is disposed The first section 973a is separated from the second section 937b and the second sealing window member 972b is disposed in the second section 160978. Doc -67· 201231885 (4) Between the third section 937c. According to one embodiment, the pressure of each of the first paragraph, the second paragraph, and the third paragraph may be different. By way of example, in one embodiment, the pressure of the first segment 973a may be greater than the pressure of the first slave 973b. The pressure of the second segment 973b may be greater than the pressure of the third segment 973c. Each of the first segment "", the second segment Μ%, and the segment 937c of the barrier housing 973 may be by any suitable fastening means such as, for example, screws, bolts, and the like (not Show) hold together. Further, the barrier assemblies 970a through 970d may also include one or more impedance transformers that alter the impedance of the microwave radiation. An example is illustrated as impedance transformation diameter stepwise changes 974a, 947b in the embodiment shown in Figure ib for maximizing from a microwave generator (not shown) to a microwave heater (not shown) The energy transfer of the load. In one embodiment, the impedance transformation diameter stepwise changes 974a, 947b may be located near the '' in the sealing window members 972a, 972b, while in another embodiment, the stepped changes 974a, 947b may be located at the inlet TMai The waveguide 975a and/or the exit ΤΜαέ waveguide 975b is defined or at least partially defined by the inlet TMa6 waveguide 975a and/or the outlet ΤΜα6 waveguide 975b as illustrated in Figures 10a and 10b, and the sealing window members 972a, 9721) may include one or more A disk. Each disc can be constructed from any material having a suitable degree of corrosion resistance, strength 'fluid impermeability, and microwave energy permeability. Examples of suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, alumina, magnesia, cerium oxide, cerium oxide, boron nitride, mullite, and/or polymers such as TEFLON. According to an embodiment, the loss tangent of the disk may be no more than 2χ1〇·4, no more than ΐχΐ〇·4, and no more than 7. 5χ10·5 or no more than 5x1〇-5. 2 60978. Doc -68 - 201231885 These discs can have any suitable profile. In one embodiment, the disk may have a profile that is compatible with the profile of adjacent waveguides 975a, 975b. In one embodiment, the disks may have a substantially circular cross section and may have at least 1/8, at least 1/4, at least 1 of the length of the dominant wavelength of microwave energy passing through the barrier assembly 970. /2 and/or no more than 1, no more than 3/4 or no more than 1/2 thickness (designated as "jc" in Figure l〇b). The diameter of the disks may be at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 90%, and/or no greater than 95%, no greater than 85%, and no greater than 70 of the diameter of one or more adjacent waveguides 975a, 975b. % or no more than 60%. Each of the sealing window members 972a through 972d can be operatively coupled to the respective barrier assemblies 970a through 970d in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, each of the sealing window members 972a through 972d can include one or more sealing devices that are flexibly coupled to the barrier housing 973 and/or the sealing window members 972a, 972b. As used herein, the term "flexibly coupled" means secured, attached or otherwise configured such that the members are held in place without direct contact with one or more rigid structures. For example, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 10b, the barrier assembly 970 can include a plurality of elastic rings 982a, 982b and 984a, 984b that are compressed in various segments 973a through 973c of the barrier housing 973. There is and is operable to flexibly couple the sealing window members 972a, 972b into the barrier housing 973. According to one embodiment, each respective upstream resilient ring 982a, 982b and downstream resilient ring 984a, 984b are operable to substantially prevent or limit the first section 973a and the second section 973b of the barrier assembly 970 and/or Or fluid flow between the second section 973b and the third section 973c. For example, when subjected to the basis of 160978. Doc -69- 201231885 One of the procedures B1, titled rSpraying Testing, published by Aicatel Vacuum Technology under the heading "Helium Leak Detection Techniques" by a Varian model No. 938-41, leak test The fluid leakage rate of the sealing window members 972a to 972d and/or the barrier assemblies 970a to 970d may be no more than 10-2 Torr·sec/sec and no more than 10 4 Torr. L / s or no more than 1 〇 · 8 Torr · liter / sec. Additionally, each of the sealing window members 972a, 972b can be individually operable to maintain or withstand a pressure differential across one of the sealing window members 972a, 972b and/or the barrier assembly 970 without breaking, cracking, damaging, or In other ways, the pressure difference is in quantity such as at least 0. 25 atm, at least 〇. 5 atm, at least 0. 75 atm, at least 0. 90 atm, at least 1 atm or at least 1. 5 atm et al. now turned to Figure 10c' to provide a cross-sectional microwave heating system 92A. The microwave heating system illustrated in Figure 1 includes a microwave distribution system 94A including at least one pair of microwave emitters (e.g., emitters 944a and 944h) disposed on generally opposite sides of a microwave heater 930. Although shown in FIG. 1c to include a single emitter pair, it should be understood that 'microwave distribution system 94' may further include one or more additional similar (or slightly different) configurations of microwave emitter pairs, In some embodiments, one emitter is from each pair disposed on substantially opposite sides of the microwave heater 930. Further, in another embodiment (not shown in Figure 10c), the microwave distribution system 94A can include two or more vertically spaced microwave emitter columns positioned on substantially the same side of the microwave heater 930. In one embodiment, each side of the microwave heater 930 can include two or more vertically spaced emitter columns such that one emitter from each of the opposing placement pairs can be located from another 160978. Doc •70· 201231885 A relative placement of one of the transmitter heights at one of the vertical heights. For example, in one embodiment 'the emitters 944a and/or 944h can be positioned at a slightly higher vertical height than that depicted in Figure 10c, and another emitter pair can be positioned such that two shots One of the devices will be positioned on the same side of the microwave heater 930 but at a substantially lower vertical height than the emitter 944a, and the other emitter will be positioned on the same side of the microwave heater 930 but in comparison Transmitter 944h is generally at a lower vertical height. Moreover, although shown as split emitters 944a, 944h, in one embodiment, the vertically spaced emitters can be any type (or combination of types) of microwave emitters as set forth herein. The microwave distribution system 94A as shown in Figure 10c includes a plurality of waveguide segments 942 coupled to at least one pair of microwave emitters 944a, 944h. For example, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 10c, the emitters 944 & can be coupled to the waveguide segments 942a, 942e, and 942i, and the emitters 944h can be coupled to the waveguide segments 942x, 942y, and 942z 'which are operable to Microwave energy is delivered to the interior of the microwave heater 930 from one or more microwave generators (not shown in Figure 10c). In one implementation, the Hessian microwave distribution system 940 can include one or more of the mode converters 947a through 947d coupled to one or more of the waveguide segments 942, as shown in FIG. According to an embodiment, the mode converters 947 & 947d are operable to change the transmission mode of the microwave energy passing therethrough from a TE^ mode to a mode (ie, a TE叮 to ΤΜ& mode converter) or A mode is changed to a mode (i.e., a τ Μ β δ to ΤΕ ^ mode converter). For example, as shown in FIG. 10C, mode converters 947a and 947c may each be operable to transmit through waveguides 942a and 942x. Microwave energy 160978. Doc •71 · 201231885 Converts the microwave energy from a ΤΕΧ>) mode to a mode when passing through the waveguides 942e and 942y. As previously discussed, the values of α, 6, X and may be the same or different and may have the values provided above. Mode converters 947b and 947d are operable to convert the microwave energy transmitted through waveguides 942e and 942i and the energy transmitted through 942y and 942z from a mode to a TE" mode, as desired. Further, in FIG. In one illustrated embodiment, at least one of the mode converters 947a through 947d can include a mode converter splitter that is operable to both change the mode of microwave energy passing therethrough and split it into two One or more separate microwave energy streams for discharge into the interior space of the microwave heater. According to an embodiment, the second mode converters 947b and 947d may each include at least partially disposed within the interior of the microwave heater mo The mode switching splitter. In another embodiment, the second mode switching splitters 947b and 947d may be integrally disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 930 and may each be part of a split transmitter 944a and 944h, respectively. Illustrated in Figure i.c. Additional details regarding split transmitters 944a, 944h will be discussed later. In accordance with the present invention, microwave distribution system 940 has one or more waves. An embodiment comprising two or more mode converters, the total electrical length between the first mode converter and the second mode converter (extending through and including any of the barrier assemblies (if present) The electrical length) may be equal to one of a non-integer half-wavelength of the competing mode of microwave energy passing therethrough. As used herein, the term "electrical length" refers to the electrical transmission path of microwave energy, expressed as along - The number of wavelengths of microwave energy required for a given path to propagate. In it, 160978. Doc • 72· 201231885 In one embodiment where the bulk transmission path comprises one or more different types of transmission media having two or more different dielectric constants, the physical length of the transmission path may be shorter than the electrical length. Thus, the electrical length depends on a number of factors including, for example, the particular wavelength of microwave energy, the thickness and type of one or more transmission media (e.g., dielectric constant). According to an embodiment, the total electrical length (extending through and including ΤΜβί) barrier assemblies 970a, 970h between the first mode converters 947a, 947c and the second mode converters 947b, 947d may be Non-integer half-wavelength equal to the competition mode of microwave energy. As used herein, the term "non-integer" means any number that is not an integer. Then, a non-integer half-wavelength may correspond to "multiplied by a distance of λ/2, where „ is any non-integer. For example, the number “2” is an integer and the number is “2. 05" is a non-integer. Therefore, corresponding to 2. A half of the electrical length multiplied by the competition mode of the microwave energy will be a non-integer half wavelength of the competition mode. As used herein, the term "competitive mode of microwave energy" refers to any mode of microwave energy that propagates along a path other than the desired or target mode of microwave energy for propagation along a given path. The competition mode can include - a single most popular mode (ie, a primary competition mode) or a plurality of different non-popular competition modes. When there are multiple competing modes, the total electrical length between the first mode converter and the second mode converter (extending through and including the electrical length of any two barrier assemblies (if present)) may be equal to One of the non-integer half-wavelength values of at least one of the competition modes, and one of the two equals one of the non-integer half-wavelength values of the main competition mode. For example, in an embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, the first mode 160978. Doc -73- 201231885 Type converters 947a, 947c include TM. A 6 mode converter operative to convert at least a portion of the microwave energy in each of the waveguide segments 942a and 942d from a τε mode to one of the waveguide segments 942b and 942e τ Μ α6 mode. However, at least a portion of the microwave energy can be converted to a mode other than the desired mode. Any mode other than the desired mode is generally referred to herein as the "competitive mode" of microwave energy. In an embodiment of the present invention in which the desired mode of microwave energy is a TMefc mode, the competition mode of microwave energy may be a TEwn mode, where „1 and w are an integer between 丨 and 5. Therefore, In one embodiment, the total electrical length of the ΤΜα6 waveguides 9426 and 942i between the first mode converter 947a and the second mode converter 947b (extending through and including the electrical length of the barrier assembly 970a) may be equal to A non-integer half-wavelength of the TEw" pattern, where "System 1 is an integer between 丨 and 5. In another embodiment, w can be 2 or 3. In one embodiment, the physical length and properties of the selected waveguide segment 942, mode converters 947a through 947d, and/or barrier assemblies 970a, 970h may minimize energy accumulation within the barrier assemblies 970a, 970h. For example, according to an embodiment, when at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kW, at least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW 'at least 1 〇〇 kw, at least 15 kW, at least 200 kW, At least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 4 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kW, at least 750 IcW or at least 1, 〇〇〇kW and/or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,5 kW or Not more than 1, at least a portion of the sealed window member (not shown in FIG. 1〇c) of the barrier assembly 970a, 970h when the energy of 〇〇〇 kW can pass through the barrier assembly 97〇a, 970h The temperature can be changed by no more than 1 (TC, no more than 5 ° c, no more than 160,978. Doc •74- 201231885 2C or no more than 1 °C. In another embodiment, as described above, the pressure differential across the at least one sealed window member and/or the pressure within the microwave heater 93 can maintain similar results. . According to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, at least one of the individual microwave emitters 944a, 944h located on substantially opposite sides of the microwave heater 930 and at least partially disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 93A A split reflector can be included that defines at least two discharge openings for emitting microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 930. Although illustrated in FIG. 1c as including a single emitter pair (eg, 'a first split emitter 94' and a second split emitter 94h), it should be understood that the microwave heater 93A can include any suitable A number of emitters or emitter pairs, as set forth herein. One embodiment of a split emitter 944 is illustrated in Figure 10. The split emitter 944 can include a single inlet or opening for receiving microwave energy. 951, and a single (not shown) or two or more discharge openings or outlets 945a, 945b for emitting microwave energy therefrom. In one embodiment, a single split emitter microwave energy inlet pair discharge The ratio of the outlets may be: 丨, at least 1:2, at least 1:3 or at least 1:4. According to one embodiment, the mode of microwave energy introduced into the inlet 951 may be via the discharge openings 945 & The modes of the emitted microwave energy are the same, while in another embodiment, the modes may be different. For example, in the embodiment in which the split transmitter 944 includes a mode switching splitter 949, To - one of the microwave heaters - Microwave energy in a single inlet of one of the side walls may undergo a mode conversion and be divided into at least two separate microwave energy portions, which may then be sent to the interior of the heater in a different mode as needed. For example, in (7) d in the 160978. Doc • 75· 201231885 In one embodiment of the presentation, the 'split emitter 944 may include a ΤΜβ6 waveguide section 942, one or two or more ΤΕ" waveguide sections 943a, 943b, and a Dinghe River disposed therebetween TE^ mode conversion splitter 949. In operation, the microwave energy introduced in a mode via the waveguide section 942 is at a single exit 945a, 945b from the waveguides 943a, 94 at one or two or more separate microwave energy fractions. The mode passes through the mode switching splitter 949 before or at the same time. When the transmitter 944 includes a single discharge opening, the mode switching splitter 949 can be used only for mode converters that change the mode of microwave energy passing therethrough. 949 (not a splitter). For example, in an embodiment in which the emitter _ includes a single discharge opening (not shown in FIG. 1D), the emitter 944 includes a single TM& waveguide segment, a A single τ ε" waveguide segment and a ΤΜ & mode converter 949 disposed therebetween. The mode converter can be located outside of the microwave heater, partially inside the microwave heater or entirely inside the microwave heater. In operation, the microwave energy introduced in the 波导βΖ mode via the inlet waveguide section can pass through the mode converter 949 before being discharged in the ΤΕ〇 mode. The discharge opening of a single open emitter may be oriented at any suitable angle relative to the horizontal plane or may be substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the energy discharged from a single open emitter can be oriented at least 20 from the horizontal. At least 3 baht. At least 45. Or at least 6 weeks. And / or no more than 100. No more than 9 inches. Or no more than 8 inches. One corner. When there are multiple discharge openings, each of the discharge openings 945a, 945b of the split emitter 944 can be oriented relative to one another such that the path of the microwave energy discharged therefrom is defined - a relative discharge angle of 0, as shown in the figure just . In an I60978. The relative discharge angle between the paths of the microwave energy discharge openings 945a, 945b in the embodiment of doc-76-201231885 may be at least 5. At least 15. At least 30. At least 4 5 . At least 60. At least 90. At least 115. At least 135. At least 140. And/or no more than 180° and no more than 170. No more than 165. No more than 16 inches. , no more than 140 °, no more than 12 〇. No more than 1〇〇. Or no more than 9 inches. . In one embodiment, the orientation of the 'discharge openings 945a, 945b can also be illustrated relative to the orientation of the path of microwave energy discharged therefrom relative to the axis of extension 948 of the waveguide section 942. In one embodiment, each of the discharge openings 945a, 945b can be configured to have respective first and second discharge angles (φ i and q»2) with the extension axis 948 of the ΤΜαδ waveguide segment 942. Discharge microwave energy. In one embodiment, % and φ2 may be substantially equal, as generally illustrated in Figure 〇d, or in another embodiment, one of the two corners may be larger than the other. In various embodiments, φι and/or (P2 may be at least 5, at least 10, at least 15, at least 3, at least 35, at least 55, at least 65, at least 70, and/or not More than 110., no more than 100°, no more than 95°, no more than 80., no more than 7〇, no more than 60° or no more than 40°. In one embodiment, the split emitter 944 can be vertical. Directional split transmitter 'This transmitter 944 includes at least one upwardly directed discharge opening (e.g., 945a) configured to emit microwave energy at an upward angle to the horizontal plane and configured to emit microwave energy at a downward angle to the horizontal plane At least one downwardly oriented discharge opening (e.g., 945b). Although illustrated in Figures 1ac to include vertically oriented splitting emitters 944a, 944h configured to discharge energy at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, In another embodiment, one or more of the split emitters 944a, 944h of the microwave heater 930 can be watered 160978. Doc-77-201231885 is oriented so that the split emitter as explained above has been rotated 90° » In another embodiment, one or more split emitters 94, 944h can be rotated by zero. An angle between 90°. In one embodiment (not shown), a microwave heater can include two or more vertically spaced horizontally oriented split emitter rows on one side of the heater and another general body in the same heater Two or more vertically spaced horizontally oriented split emitter columns on opposite sides. According to this embodiment, the vertically spaced emitter columns may comprise a single open emitter, a horizontally oriented split emitter, a vertically oriented split emitter, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 10c, the microwave heater 93A can include one or more (or at least two) movable reflectors up to 99 〇d, which are positioned within the microwave heater 930. The location is and configured to rasterize microwave energy emitted from one or more of the microwave emitters 94, one or more of the 944h discharge openings 945a through 945d into the interior of the microwave heater 93A. The reflectors 990a through 990d can have any suitable configuration, such as, for example, a configuration that includes one or more of the features previously described with respect to Figures 9f through 9h. Further, although generally illustrated as including four movable reflectors 99A & 990d, it should be understood that the microwave heater 93A can include any suitable number of movable reflectors. In an embodiment, including "split emitters" - the microwave heater may comprise at least 2 / 10 movable reflectors. In another embodiment, a microwave heater may employ a total of four movable reflectors Each of them defines a reflector surface extending substantially along the length of the microwave heater 93A such that two or more axially adjacent emitters "share" one or more reflectors or reflective surfaces. 160978. Doc •78· 201231885 Regardless of the specific number of reflectors employed, each of the reflectors 99〇a to 990d is operable to rasterize exiting the emitters 944a, 944h into the microwave heater 930 via the discharge openings 945a to 945d. At least a portion of the microwave energy 'by thereby heating and/or drying at least a portion of the bundle or other article, article or load. As used herein, the term "rasterizing" means directing, projecting or aggregating energy onto an area. Rasterization energy involves a large degree of intentional guidance or aggregation compared to conventional reflection or scattering energy, which can be achieved by utilizing the quasi-optical properties of microwave energy. Rasterization does not involve the use of a stationary reflective surface or a conventional mode agitation device (e.g., a fan) as compared to conventional means. In an embodiment, the microwave heater may comprise a plurality of split emitter pairs (eg, two or more transmitter pairs), wherein each pair includes two emitters having substantially similar configurations (eg, The article explains). In one embodiment, one of each pair of emitters can be positioned on substantially the opposite side of the microwave heater or on the same side as previously discussed in detail with respect to Figures 9c and 9d. According to one embodiment, one or more movable reflectors 990a through 990d may be positioned (and/or positioned to face) one or more of the discharge openings of each of the microwave emitters 944. In one embodiment in which the first emitter 944a and the second emitter 94411 each comprise a split microwave emitter defining respective upwardly directed discharge openings 945a and 945c and respective downwardly oriented discharge openings 94A and 945d At least one movable reflector can be positioned adjacent one or more of the discharge openings 945a-945d to rasterize at least a portion of the microwave energy discharged from the split emitters 944a, 944h into the interior of the microwave heater 9 = 2 (eg , two or more separate TE^ mode microwave sections). One of the implementations illustrated in Figure 10c. Doc-79-201231885 In the example, the microwave heater 930 can include at least four movable reflectors each defining a respective reflective surface and positioned adjacent the respective discharge openings 945a-945d of the split emitters 944a, 944h. As illustrated in Figure 10c, the movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be located at the bottom left quadrant of the microwave heater 930 (e.g., reflector 990a), the top left quadrant (e.g., reflector 990b), the top right quadrant (e.g., Reflector 990c) and bottom right quadrant (eg, reflector 990d). When the emitters 944a, 944h are horizontally oriented split emitters or a single open emitter, there may also be two or more of the reflectors 990a through 990d, as previously detailed. The movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be configured in two vertically spaced pairs (eg, reflector 990a is paired with reflector 990b and reflector 990c is paired with reflector 909d) and/or configured in two The horizontally spaced pairs (e.g., reflector 990b is paired with reflector 990c and reflector 990a is paired with reflector 990d). As illustrated in Figure 10c, vertically spaced reflector pairs (e.g., reflector pairs 990a, 990b and 990c, 990d) can be positioned adjacent to split emitters 944a, 944h to position a movable reflector at the emitter Near each of the discharge openings 945a through 945d of 944a, 944h (e.g., 'discharge openings 945a through 945d face respective movable reflectors 990a through 990d). As illustrated in FIG. 10C, the movable reflectors 990b and 990c can be positioned at a vertical height higher than the respective movable reflectors 99A and 990d such that the split emitters 944a, 944h can be vertically positioned. Between vertically spaced pairs of reflectors (e.g., emitter 944a is positioned vertically between pairs of vertically spaced reflectors 990a, 990b and emitter 944h is positioned vertically between vertically spaced reflectors 990c, 990d) ). In one embodiment, it is movable 160978. Doc -80· 201231885 The reflector 990 is positioned such that the reflector surface 991 opens toward one of its corresponding microwave emitters (not shown). In another embodiment, the one or more movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be positioned to align with the central elongated axis of the microwave heater 93A or positioned to face the central elongated axis of the microwave heater 93(Fig. Not shown in 10c). The movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be coupled, directly or indirectly, to one or more of the side walls of a microwave heater and can be moved or actuated in any suitable manner. One or more of the reflections § 990a through 990d may move along a pre-programmed (planned) path or may cause one or more to move in a random or non-repeating pattern. When multiple reflectors 990a through 990d are present, in one embodiment, two or more reflectors 990a through 990d may have the same or similar moving pattern, while in the same or another embodiment, two Or more than two reflectors 990a through 990d may have different movement patterns. According to one embodiment, at least one of the reflectors 990a through 990d can move over a generally curved path and can pass through various segments or "zones" of the total path at a certain speed and/or residence time. The size and number of zones and the speed at which the reflector moves through each zone or the residence time of the reflector in each zone depends on a variety of factors such as, for example, the size and type of the east, the type of wood, and the initial And the preliminary and expected characteristics of the last bundle. In one embodiment, the reflectors 99〇3 to 99〇 (each of 1 may be individually driven or actuated according to one or more embodiments set forth herein, while in another embodiment Two or more reflectors may be coupled to a common drive mechanism (e.g., a rotary shaft to be actuated simultaneously). One of the drive mechanisms for moving a reflector 990 using the actuator 960 is shown in Figure 10e. Real 160978. Doc • 81 - 201231885 Examples. Actuator 960 can be a linear actuator having a fixed portion 961 coupled to one of side walls 933 of the microwave heater and an extendable portion 963 coupled to a movable reflector 990. According to one embodiment illustrated in Figure 10e, at least a portion of the fixed portion 961 can extend through the outer sidewall 933 and into a bellows structure 964 whereby the actuator 96 is sealingly coupled to the sidewall 933. In one embodiment, the bellows structure 964 is operable to reduce, minimize, or nearly prevent fluid flow into and out of the position where the actuator 96(R) extends through the side wall 933. As shown in FIG. 1A, the movable reflector 990 further includes a support arm 980 that is pivotally coupled to one of the side walls 933 of the microwave heater. As used herein, the term "pivotally coupled" means that two or more items are attached, fastened, or otherwise associated such that at least one of the items can be generally wrapped around a Move or pivot. In operation, the extendable portion 963 of a driver 97 moves in an ingress and egress type, as indicated by head 971. The extendable portion 963 of the linear actuator 960 allows the movable reflector 990 to move in a generally arcuate pattern, as indicated by arrow 973. The drive 97 can be controlled in any suitable manner, including, for example, using one or more programmable automatic control systems (not shown). According to one embodiment of the invention, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of unoccupied, unobstructed or open volume defined within the interior of a microwave heater. As used herein, the term "total open volume" refers to the total volume of space within the interior of the container that is not occupied by the physical barrier when a bundle of wood is not placed in the container. In an embodiment of the invention, the total volume of the bundle of wood (including the space between individual pieces of wood) is open to the microwave heater 160978. Doc -82· 201231885 The ratio of the volume can be at least 2〇, at least 〇25, at least 〇3〇, at least 0. 35. In some of the above embodiments, the ratio is also not greater than zero. 75, not more than 〇 7 〇 or not more than 〇 In the embodiment, the microwave heater can be defined for receiving a bundle of wood, . , hinder the beam to accept space. The unobstructed beam receiving space can also be configured to receive at least a portion of the microwave device that is emitted to heat and/or dry therein (or a plurality of microwaves). The unobstructed beam receiving space of the microwave heater 93 Indicated as 951 in Figure 1〇c. As used herein, the term "unobstructed beam receiving space" means a space that can be received and held in the interior of a microwave heater - a bundle of wood - in - item In an embodiment, the unobstructed beam receiving space can define a volume having a similar shape and within 10% of the volume occupied by the largest size wood bundle that can be loaded and/or processed within the microwave applicator 930. For example If the maximum beam size that can be accommodated by the microwave heater is 1 〇〇〇 cubic feet, then the unoccupied beam receiving space will have a volume of U00 cubic feet (in one embodiment) and with the heater 930 The inner bundle is similar to one of the shapes (eg, the cuboid bundle receiving space may be "unobstructed" because it may not contain any physical obstructions permanently placed therein (eg, waveguide, launch) In one embodiment of the invention, the microwave heater may comprise a circular cross-sectional shape, and the unobstructed beam receiving space 95 may define a cuboid volume and/or be configured to receive A wood bundle having a cuboid shape. In one embodiment, the ratio of the total open volume of the microwave heater 930 to the volume of the unobstructed beam receiving space may be at least 〇. 2〇, at least 〇 25, at least 0. 30. At least 〇·35. In some of the above embodiments, 160978. Doc • 83 - 201231885 The ratio is also not greater than 0 75, not greater than 〇 7〇 or not greater than 〇 65. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the unobstructed beam receiving space 951 can be defined between two or more "obstructions" including, for example, on the same or generally opposite sides of the microwave heater 930. Two or more emitters, reflectors, waveguides, or other items that occupy a physical space within the internal volume of the heater. In one embodiment in which the microwave heater 93A includes two oppositely disposed doors (eg, one of the inlet doors 928 and one of the outlet doors disposed on substantially opposite ends of the microwave heater 93A), the unobstructed beam is received At least a portion of the space 951 can be defined between the two oppositely disposed doors. In one embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, either of the emissive states 944a, 944h or the movable reflectors 990a through 990d (which are examples of obstructions) are not disposed within the unobstructed beam space 951 . In an embodiment wherein at least a portion of the unobstructed beam receiving space is defined between two or more obstructions (eg, waveguides, emitters, reflectors, etc.), the outermost of the one or more obstructions The minimum clearance between the edge and the unobstructed beam receiving space (and/or beam (when present)) may be at least 5 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 2 inches, at least 6 inches, at least 8 inches吋 and / or no more than 18 inches, no more than 10 inches or no more than 8 inches. In one embodiment, one of the obstructions is not in contact with the entity when the bundle is loaded into the heater 93. One or more embodiments of the operation of a microwave heating system in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to a general reference for heating a wood. However, it should be understood that one or more of the elements of the heating process described herein may also be suitable for use in the process of heating other items (e.g., for example, previously described herein. Doc -84- 201231885 and other procedures) use. In addition, it is to be understood that one or more of the above-described embodiments of the microwave heating system can be operated using at least some or all of the operational steps, 5 methods, and/or forward steps detailed below, including with respect to FIG. The embodiments and their variations discussed in the 1st. To initiate heating of a bundle of wood, the wood may first be loaded into a microwave heater that can be configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention previously described. In one embodiment, the bundle may have a total initial weight of at least 100 pounds, at least 250 pounds, at least 375 pounds, or at least 500 pounds prior to heating and/or drying (eg, once loaded prior to heating, then Use a vacuum system (if present) to reduce the pressure of the heater to no more than 55 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 300 Torr, no more than 25 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no greater than 15 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. While maintaining the low pressure in the microwave heater, one or more microwave generators can be operated to begin introducing microwave energy into the interior of the container to borrow This heats and/or dries at least a portion of the bundle. During introduction of microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater, the pressure within the vessel can be higher, almost at or below atmospheric pressure* according to an embodiment 'in the heating step The pressure inside the microwave heater may be at least 35 Torr, at least 45 Torr, at least 650 Torr, at least 750 Torr, at least 9 Torr, or at least ι, 2 Torr, while in another embodiment 'Microwave heater The pressure in the medium may be no more than 35 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 2 Torr, no more than 150 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. Introduced during heating and/or drying of the wood The total generator capacity or energy rate into the interior of the microwave heater can be at least 5 kw to 160978. Doc -85· 201231885 30 k\V less, at least 50 kW, at least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW, at least loo kW, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW At least 500 kW, at least 600 kW, at least 750 kW or at least 1,000 kW and / or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,500 kW or no more than 1,000 kW. According to one embodiment, the process of heating a bundle of wood may include a plurality of individual sequential heating cycles. The total heating process may include at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6 and/or no more than 2, no more than 15, no more than 12 or no more than 10 individual sequential heatings cycle. Each heating cycle can include (as needed at low pressure) the introduction of microwave energy. In one embodiment, microwave energy can be introduced into the microwave heater at a pressure of no more than 350 Torr, while in other embodiments, the pressure in the microwave heater can be at least 350 Torr. According to an embodiment, each of the one or more individual heating cycles may be implemented (eg, having a duration of at least 2 minutes, at least 5 minutes, at least 1 minute, at least 20 minutes, at least 30 minutes and / or no more than 180 minutes, no more than 12 minutes or no more than 9 minutes. In general, the entire length of the heating process (eg, 'total cycle time') may be at least 〇5 hours, at least 2 hours, at least 5 hours, or at least 8 hours and/or no more than 36 hours, no more than 30 hours, no more than 24 hours, Not more than 18 hours, no more than j6 hours, no more than 12 hours, no more than 1 hour, no more than 8 hours or no more than 6 hours. In embodiments where the total heating process includes two or more individual heating cycles, one or more subsequent individual heating cycles may be followed by the previous cycle 160978. Doc -86 - 201231885 One of the different microwave energy input rates and/or one of the pressures different from the previous cycle is implemented. For example, in one embodiment, the subsequent individual heating cycle may be one of the microwave energy input rates lower than the previous cycle and/or one of the lower pressures than the previous cycle. In another embodiment, one or more subsequent individual heating helium rings may be performed at a microwave energy input rate of one of the previous cycles and/or one of the pressures of the previous cycle. In yet another embodiment, one or more subsequent cycles % may be implemented at one of a microwave energy input rate lower than one or more previous individual heating cycles and one pressure higher than one or more previous individual heating cycles, or One or more of the previous individual heating cycles are one of the microwave energy input rates and one pressure lower than one or more previous individual heating cycles. When the total heating process comprises two or more individual heating cycles, according to certain embodiments, one or more of the second (or later) cycles may be implemented as set forth above. In other embodiments, two or more cycles may be performed at the same or nearly the same pressure and/or microwave energy input rate. According to an embodiment, the total heating process may comprise a first sequential heating cycle followed by a second heating cycle, wherein the second heating cycle is at a lower microwave energy input rate than the first heating cycle of 6 The first heating is performed at a pressure lower than or lower than the first heating cycle, and the microwave energy input rate is also lower than the first heating cycle. Further, in an embodiment when the ~cycle includes two or more heating cycles, the microwave energy input rate and/or pressure j of each subsequent m (except the first cycle) may be lower than before A cycle of microwave energy input rate and / or pressure. For example, in the example, the "individual heating cycle can be lower than the first heating cycle - the microwave energy input rate is higher than the first heating cycle 160978. Doc •87- 201231885 One of the loop lower pressures or one of the lower than the individual heating cycles is also one of the lower microwave energy input rates than the first individual heating cycle. A first maximum microwave energy input rate can be introduced into the microwave heating during the first individual heating cycle. As used herein, the term "maximum microwave energy input rate" refers to the highest rate at which microwave energy can be introduced into a heater during a heating cycle. In various embodiments, the maximum microwave energy input rate (eg, the first maximum microwave energy input rate) introduced during the first individual heating cycle may be, for example, at least 5 kW, at least 30 kW, at least 50 kW, At least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kW, at least 100 kW, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kW, at least 750 kW or at least l , 〇〇〇 kW and / or (for example) no more than 2,5 kW, no more than 1,500 kW, no more than l, 〇〇〇 kW or no more than 5 kW. Subsequently, a second individual heating cycle can be implemented such that the second maximum input rate (eg, the first maximum microwave energy input rate) that introduces microwave energy into the microwave heater during the second individual heating #%· can be at some In some embodiments, for example, at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 70%, and/or, for example, no greater than 98%, no greater than 94% of the maximum input rate achieved during the first heating cycle. Or no more than 90% 〇 Similarly, when the heating process includes three or more individual heating cycles, the maximum microwave energy input rate of the wth individual heating cycle (eg, the third or fourth cycle) can be implemented in one implementation. In the example, for example, at least 25%, at least 5%, at least 7 〇〇/◦, and/or (for example) of the maximum input rate during an individual heating cycle. Not more than 98% 'not more than 94%, not more than 9〇% or; large 160978. Doc • 88 - 201231885 at 85%. In an embodiment, the second (or subsequent) individual heating cycle can be performed at a lower pressure than the first (or previous) individual heating cycle. For example, in one embodiment where low pressure or vacuum pressure is utilized during the heating cycle, the minimum pressure reached during the first heating cycle can be at least 25 Torr. Subsequently, a second individual heating cycle can be implemented such that the lowest pressure reached during the second cycle (eg, the highest vacuum pressure level achieved) can be, for example, in the first heating in one embodiment At least 25%, at least 50% 'at least 7%, at least 75%, at least 80%, and/or in one embodiment, for example, no greater than 98%, no greater than 94, of the minimum pressure reached during the cycle. % or not greater than 90% β Similarly, when the heating process includes three or more individual heating cycles, the pressure of the individual heating cycles may be tied to an individual in an embodiment (for example) At least 25%, at least 5%, at least 7%, at least 75%, at least 80%, and/or no greater than 98%, no greater than 94%, no greater than 9%, or at least the minimum pressure reached during the heating cycle The lowest pressure is no more than 85 %. Table 1 below summarizes the broad, intermediate, and narrow ranges of microwave energy rates (expressed as a percentage of the maximum generator output) and continuous first, first, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Second, the third and the „the pressure of the individual heating cycle To prop expression). As used herein, the term "maximum generator output" refers to the maximum value of the combination on the entire array resulting from the accumulation of all microwave generators in a heating system. In one embodiment, the maximum microwave energy input rate for one or more heating cycles can also be expressed as a percentage of the maximum generator output, as shown in Table 1. 160978. Doc •89· 201231885 Table 1: Microwave energy rate and pressure for individual heating cycles Individual cycle microwave j II rate (% of maximum value) Pressure (Torr) Number width narrow in the middle % narrow _ 1 60-100% 70-100% 80-100% <250 <200 20-100 2 40-100% 50-95% 60-90% <250 <200 20-100 3 20-80% 25-75% 30-70% <250 <150 20-100 η 5-60% 10-50% 15-40% <150 <100 10-75 In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each of the one or more individual heating cycles may include: a heating cycle (e.g., a first, second, or „heating cycle), wherein Introducing microwave energy into the heater; and selecting a sleep period (eg, a first, second, or „sleep cycle) in which a reduced amount of microwave energy or substantially no microwave energy is introduced into the heater . For example. During the heating cycle, the microwave energy may be introduced into the microwave heater at an input rate sufficient to heat and/or at least partially dry at least a portion of the wet or chemically wetted wood bundle, and during the sleep cycle, to the microwave heating The microwave energy input rate in the device may be, in one embodiment, no more than 25%, no more than (10), no more than 5%, or no more than 1% of the maximum microwave energy input rate introduced during the heating cycle. In the individual-added money-item embodiment, each _cycle may include - ❹ one plus _ period

One sleep cycle. For example, ## individual sequence plus 'the first individual heating cycle may include at least a -first-and-first sleep cycle' and the second individual heating cycle may include at least a first-heat cycle and a second sleep cycle. Alternatively-selecting the second J period may follow the first heating period with no temporary sleep period. ',', in one embodiment, each of the heating cycles may have a right, for example, at least 5 minutes, at least 1Q minutes' (with a knife clock, at least 30 minutes 160978.doc 201231885 And/or (for example) no more than 60 minutes, no more than 4 minutes, no more than 30 minutes, or no more than 20 minutes of duration. In one embodiment, the dormant period can have (for example) At least 5 minutes, at least 1 minute or at least 20 minutes and/or, for example, no more than 9 minutes, no more than (10) minutes, or no more than 40 minutes. In one embodiment, one The ratio of the length of the heating cycle of the heating cycle to the length of the dormant period may be, for example, at least 0.5:1, at least 1:1, at least 丨25:1 or at least 2:1 and/or, for example, no greater than 5 : 1, no more than 3:1, no more than 2 5:1 or no more than 1.5: 1. Microwave energy can be introduced into the microwave heater in any suitable manner during each of the heating cycles. In one embodiment, the entire duration of the heating cycle can be passed through a substantial Continuously transmitting microwave energy from one or more emitters. In one embodiment, energy can be emitted from a single emitter at a time, while in another embodiment, it can be emitted from two or more simultaneously. Energy 4 (4) - Automatic control system to control the amount, timing, duration, coordination and synchronization of microwave energy emitted by each of the emitters. When discharging energy into a microwave heater, it is contained in two or more The switching can also be controlled by the control system when switching between transmitters, as discussed in more detail later. A according to the 'Examples' can introduce energy into the microwave heater so that each heating cycle can contain two or two Different heating modes (also referred to as row mode, discharge stage or heating stage). In one embodiment, different microwave energy rates can be emitted from one or more emitters during the parent-heating phase, for example, Embodiment _, during the -th heating phase 160978.doc 201231885, may emit energy from a first emitter at a rate higher than a rate of transmission from a second emitter, and During a second heating phase, energy may be emitted from the second emitter at a higher rate than the rate from the first emitter - according to the embodiment or the plurality of emitters, microwave energy may be emitted to the microwave heater +, and - or multiple emitters may not substantially emit energy into the microwave heater, thereby concentrating energy to different locations of the wood bundle (or other item). Each individual heating stage may be implemented (also That is, having a duration of, for example, at least 2 minutes, at least 5 minutes, at least 12 minutes, at least 15 minutes, and/or, for example, no more than minutes, no more than 60 minutes, no more than 45 minutes, or no One or more cycles of one to two minutes. One or two separate heating stages may be followed by at least 2 minutes, at least 4 minutes or at least 6 minutes and/or no more than 15 minutes, no (four) minutes or no more than (10) minutes. Sleep cycle. When the microwave heater includes four or more emitters, the microwave distribution system can be configured such that each emitter is microwaved in a separate heating or discharging phase depending on the position of the one or more microwave switches Can be launched into microwave heating. For example, in the microwave heater comprising a first, first, second and fourth tree: an embodiment of a wave emitter, two or more microwave switches (such as 'one first And a second microwave switcher) can be configured such that microwave energy can be emitted primarily from each of the emitters during the respective first, second, third, and fourth heating stages. In one embodiment, two or more discharge stages may be performed substantially simultaneously, while preventing two or more discharge stages from being performed substantially simultaneously. Additional details regarding the operation of a microwave heater utilizing heating 160978.doc-92-201231885 cycles containing alternating discharge stages will now be discussed in detail below with reference to Figures Ua and lib, now to Figures 11a and lib, provided in accordance with the present invention. One embodiment configures a schematic top view of one of the microwave heating systems 1020. The microwave heating system 1020 is illustrated as including at least four microwave generators 1022a through 1022d for producing microwave energy and for directing at least a portion of the microwave energy to one of the microwave heaters 1030. The microwave distribution system 1040 also includes a plurality of spaced apart microwave emitters 1-4 that are operable to emit at least a portion of the microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 1040 (which is in an embodiment) One or more split transmitters may be included. Each of the microwave transmitters 1044a through 104h may be operatively coupled to a plurality (in this figure, a first through fourth) microwave switcher One or more of 1〇46& to 1〇46d, as shown in Figures 11a and 11b. Microwave switchers 1046a through 1046d are operable to route microwave energy to transmitters 1044&1 to any suitable mode. One or more of 4411, including, for example, a TMafc mode and/or a TE^ mode, as discussed in detail above. In one embodiment, the energy propagating through the microwave distribution system can be Discharge into microwave heater 1030 The mode is changed at least once. The various configurations and methods of operating the microwave heating system 1020 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 11a and hereinafter. Microwave switchers 1046a through 104d Each of them is operable to direct, control or distribute the flow of microwave energy to two or more microwave emitters 1044a through 1044h positioned on substantially the same side or substantially opposite sides of the microwave heater 1〇3〇 For example, in one embodiment illustrated in Figure Ua*, each of the 'microwave switchers 1〇46& to 1〇46d may be 160978.doc •93· 201231885 An axial wit neighboring microwave transmitter pair (eg, transmitters 1 〇 44a and 1044b, transmitters 1044c and 1044d, transmitters 1〇4乜 and 1〇44f, and transmitters 104a and 44h and 44h) are indicated as Transmitter pair i 〇 5 〇 a to 1050 d. In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 11 b, each of microwave switchers 1 〇 46a through 1046d can be coupled to an axially aligned microwave emission Pair (eg, transmitters 1044a and 1044h, transmitter 10441) and 1〇44g, transmit 1044c and 1044f and transmitters 104a and 104e), shown as transmitter pairs 1050e to 1050h » Microwave switchers 1046a through 1046d may be any suitable type of microwave switcher and in one embodiment may be Rotate the microwave switcher. A rotary microwave switch can include an outer casing, an inner routing element disposed therein, and an actuator for moving the inner routing element within the housing. In an embodiment, the internal routing element can be rotatably coupled to the outer casing and the actuator is operable to selectively rotate the internal routing element relative to the outer casing to thereby switch or guide through Its direction of flow of microwave energy. Other types of suitable microwave switchers are also available. In one embodiment, the microwave switchers 1046a through 16d may include TE^ switches, while in another embodiment the 'microwave switchers 46a through 46b' may include any additional suitable components of the TMu switcher ( For example, one or more mode converters, barrier assemblies, or components discussed elsewhere in this application but not shown in FIGS. 113 and 111, may be located upstream or downstream of microwave switches i0463 through 046d. In operation, the microwave switches 1046a through i〇46d are selectively switchable between a first heating (or discharging) phase and a second heating (or discharging) phase. During the first heating phase, more energy may be emitted from one or more of the microwave emitters, while less energy is emitted from one or more other microwave emitters. Similarly, during the second heating phase, more energy may be emitted or emitted from one or more other microwave emitters, while less energy may be emitted or emitted from one or more microwave emitters. In one embodiment, during the first heating phase, each of the microwave switches 1046a through 1046d can be configured to primarily route microwave energy to a first microwave transmitter group (in Figures 11a and lib) One or more of the transmitters identified as "a" transmitter group) and not primarily routed to one or more of the second microwave transmitter groups (labeled as a "B" transmitter group in Figures 11a and lib) A launcher. During the first-discharge phase, in each of the respective emitter pairs 1050a to 1050d and 1050e to l〇5〇h in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the microwave switcher 10 4 6 a to 10 4 Each of 6d can be configured to route microwave energy primarily to one or more of the second group (eg, "B" transmitters) without being primarily routed to the first group (eg, "A" transmitter) One or more transmitters. As used herein, reference to "major" routing microwave energy to transmitter X and "not primarily" routing to transmitter gamma means routing at least 50% of the microwave energy received by a switch to transmitter X, No more than 50% of the microwave energy received by the switch is routed to the transmitter. In one embodiment, at least 75%, at least 9%, at least 95%, substantially all of the energy may be routed primarily to the emitter X, but the energy may be, for example, not More than 25%, no more than 1%, no more than 5%, or substantially no energy routed to the transmitter. In one embodiment, the 'microwave heating system 1' can further include one of the controls and systems for controlling the operation and configuration of the microwave switches 1046a through 1046d 160978.doc-95-201231885 1060. In an embodiment, the control system is operable to configure each of the switches 1046a through 1046d to be in the first emission phase such that all "A" transmitters (eg, transmitter 1) 〇44a, 1〇44〇, 1044e, l〇44g) all emit microwave energy into the microwave heater 1〇3〇 and all “B” emitters (for example, transmitter 1〇4 servant, 1〇44d, 1) 〇44卜l〇44h) will emit a small amount or substantially no microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 1030, as shown in Figures 11a and Ub by the microwave heater 1 〇 3 各 respective shadows and no The shaded area is illustrated. Subsequently, the control system 丨〇6〇 is then operable to configure each of the switches 1〇 463 to 104 to be in the second emission phase such that all "A" transmitters (eg, transmitter 1044a) , 1044c, l〇44e, i〇44g) all emit a small amount or substantially no microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 1〇3〇, and all "B" emitters (for example, the transmitter 1044b, L〇44d, 1044f, l〇44h) all emit microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 1030 (not shown in Ua and Ub). According to an embodiment, the control system 1〇6〇 is also operable to control the microwave switcher 1〇46&1 to 1 based on a predetermined set of parameters including, for example, cycle time, total energy discharged, and the like. The switch 46d is switched between the first discharge phase and the second discharge phase. For example, in one embodiment, the control system 1060 is operable to configure each of the microwave switches i 〇 46a through 〇 46d into the first emission phase substantially simultaneously such that simultaneously Each of the "A" transmitters 104a, i〇44c, l〇44e, 1044g emits microwave energy for a period of time. In another embodiment, the control system 1060 is operable to include a time delay between one or more of the switches 1〇46& to (7) and the state to the 160978.doc-96·201231885 one emission phase Or lag. Thus, microwave energy emitted from one or more "A" or "B" transmitters may be delayed or staggered relative to emissions from one or more other "A" or "B" transmitters. In one embodiment, control system 1060 can be configured to allow one or more switches 1046a through 1046d to be in a first exhaust phase while one or more other switches 1046a through 1046d are in a second exhaust phase, So that microwave energy can be emitted from one or more "A" emitters and one or more "B" emitters simultaneously. In one embodiment of the invention, the control system 1 〇 6 〇 is also operable to at least partially prevent pairs of directly opposing transmitters (eg, pairs 1044a and 104h, pairs 1044b and 1044g, pairs l 44c) And l〇44f, pair 1044d and l〇44e) and/or axially adjacent pairs (for example, i〇44a and 1044b, pair 1044c and l〇44d, pair l〇44e and 1044f, pair l〇44g and l 〇44h) simultaneous energy emissions. A heating system configured and/or operated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is operable to heat an item or load more efficiently than conventional heating systems. In particular, heating systems configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention are operable to handle large commercial scale loads. In one embodiment, the heating system as set forth herein can heat accumulated preheating having at least 100 pounds, at least 5 mash, at least 1,000 pounds, at least 5,000 pounds, or at least 1 pound. (or pre-treat) one of the weight of the wood bundle or other load. In various embodiments, a bundle of wood can be heated and/or dried such that the total volume of the wood is no greater than, for example, 20%, no greater than 1%, no greater than 5%, and no greater than 2% Do not exceed one of the upper temperature limits. In the same or other embodiments, at least 8〇%, at least 〇%, at least 160978.doc •97· 201231885 95%, and at least 98% (for example) of the total volume of the wood can reach no more than a threshold temperature. One of the temperatures. The lower threshold temperature and the upper threshold temperature may be relatively close to each other and may, for example, be within ll 〇 ° C of each other, within 105 ° C, within 100 ° C, within 90 ° C, within 75 ° C Or within 50 °C. In various embodiments, the upper threshold temperature can be at least 190 ° C, at least 200 ° C or at least 220 ° C and/or no greater than 275. (:, no more than 260 ° C, no more than 250 ° C or no more than 225. In another embodiment, the lower threshold temperature may be at least 115 ° C, at least 12 (TC, at least 125 ° C, at least 130 °C and/or no more than 150 ° C, no more than 145 ° C or no more than 135 ° C. According to one embodiment, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% and at least 98% of the total volume of wood may Achieve at least 13 〇. (:, at least 145 ° C, at least 150 ° C or at least 160 ° C and / or no more than 250 ° C, no more than 240 ° C, no more than 225 ° C, no more than 210 ° C or not Greater than 200. (: one of the maximum temperatures. Therefore, one of the initial (eg, pre-heated or pre-treated) weights of at least 100 pieces, at least 500 pieces, at least 1,000 pounds, or at least 5,000 pounds (as needed) Chemically wetted wood bundles) may be no more than 48 hours, no more than 36 hours, no more than 24 hours, no more than 18 hours, no more than 16 hours, no more than 12 hours, no more than 1 hour, no more than 8 hours or no Heating greater than 6 hours. Various aspects of the invention are further illustrated and illustrated by the following examples. However, it should be understood The examples are included for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Example 160978.doc • 98- 201231885 Example 1: Microwave Rejector This example illustrates the substance A microwave choke that minimizes and/or prevents energy leakage from the interior of a microwave heater. A comparative microwave heater that does not include a microwave choke and is similar to that illustrated in Figures 7a through 7h. One of the inventors of the choke is an inventive microwave heater that is each modeled using HFSSTM software (available from Ansys, Cannonsburg, Pa.). Simulated at and near the junction of the door and the container body. The electric field strength is calculated in the interior of each container ("internal region") and the average intensity of the resulting electric field for both the region of the door flange ("flange region") that is just outside the container. Table 2 below summarizes the average field strength for each of these regions of the comparative and inventive microwave heaters. Table 2: With and without a microwave choke Comparison of the average electric field strength of the wave vessel simulated area container choke? Average electric field strength (kV/cm) Internal 0.25 to 0.39 Flange No 0.25 to 0.39 Internal 0.25 to 0.39 Flange is <0.03 As shown in Table 2 As illustrated in the figure, the average electric field strength of the inner side and the outer side of the comparative heater (which does not use a microwave choke) is substantially the same, indicating that the microwave energy is significantly leaked from the inside of the container. In contrast, the inventive microwave heating The average intensity of the electric field outside of the device (which employs one of the microwave chokes as described herein) is an order of magnitude lower than the average intensity of the electric field within the inventive heater, indicating that the microwave energy remains intact inside the container without leaking. This further illustrates the visual results of the simulations presented in Figures 12a and 12b by 160978.doc • 99· 201231885. Thus, it is inferred that the use of a microwave choke as described herein can substantially reduce, minimize or substantially eliminate leakage of microwave energy from a microwave container. Example 2: Use of a heated heating loop in a sequence of different microwave energy levels This example illustrates how the method of applying heat to a wood bundle affects the temperature distribution of the heated wood. A number of tests are performed comprising one or more individual heating cycles having various durations, pressures and/or energy levels to determine the effect on the temperature of the beam and the amount of charred wood during the heating cycle. Constructing a microwave heating system similar to the one illustrated in Figures 9a, 9b and 9e and comprising a FERRITE 75 'kW, 915 MHz microwave generator coupled via a series of TE10t leads to a vacuum microwave heater (available from Ferrite Microwave Technologies, Nne., Nashua, New Hampshire, purchased). The three rotating microwave switches are configured to selectively route microwave energy from the generator to one of four microwave emitters located within the interior of the microwave heater. Each emitter is designed to receive energy in a TE10 mode 'but contains the interior of the container for converting it into a TM (n mode one mode converter) before the energy is emitted into the heater. It has a diameter of one of 6.5 feet and a total length of 8 feet. It contains a single door for loading and unloading wood on one end. The system also includes pressure for controlling the pressure inside the heater during the heating step as needed. A mechanical, dry (eg, non-oil sealed) vacuum pump (available from Edwards Limited of Tewksbury, MA). 160978.doc •100· 201231885 For test run A to Η In one case, six acetylated radiation slabs with a nominal size of 6 inches of "foot" are equipped with fiber optic temperature sensing placed in a hole drilled at the center of each plate. The boards equipped with the sensors are placed to contain a total of 156 of the acetylated radiata pine sheets, which are disposed in 26 layers, and are adhered to the column 13. The bundle is then fastened together. And loaded to the true In an empty heater, the beam is exposed to different heating and/or pressure curves during each run A to 。. For each run, the peak average and peak of the beam before and after heating are measured for each cycle. Maximum fiber optic temperature and weight (to calculate evaporation loss) and total energy input. Details of each of the key characteristics and each heating curve are summarized below in Tables 3 & and 31. 160978.doc 201231885 婼电癍矣英Single ^l; M-<wnttHv^ tree:

Total circulation data energy density (kW/lb dry wood) 0.0094 0.0107 0.0107 0.0109 0.0148 0.0155 0.0125 0.0168 Total power input (kW-hr) 26.2 30.7 26.0 30.7 37.0 36.0 32.0 41.3 Li (350) 〇yr\ m L-350 — —— ——1 350 1 200 1 200 1 300 1 350 )hnr Dry weight 1553 1833 1528 1800 1630 1592 1566 1836 Average humidity content (%) 2.55 2.04 2.18 2.10 2.70 2.45 2.72 1.95 Operation < ϋ A Η α S Fourth Heating cycle sleep (minutes) 1 1 I 1 II 1 1 Time (minutes) 1 1 1 1 III Energy rate (kW) 1 1 1 1 1 1 I Third heating cycle sleep (minutes) 1 1 1 1 1 1 I Time \ (minutes)\ 1 沄1 ν〇m 00 CN Energy rate (kW) <Ν <Ν 1 CN <Ν 1 fN Sleep (minutes) 1 1 OS 1 00 (Ν 〇 second heating time ( Minutes 1 Ο <Ν ο 宕沄Ο 〇 Energy rate (kW) 1 CN <Ν fS <Ν (Ν (Ν 00 οο First heating cycle sleep (minutes) 1 沄宕νη m Time (minutes) Ό Ο κη Ο S ο 〇ο Energy rate (kW) <Ν νη CN m <Ν \Ti (Ν (Ν (Ν 00 ≪η(Ν操作< U Ο Μ Ο 160978.doc 102· 201231885 Upon completion of each run, the bundle is removed and each of the panels is visually inspected for scorch marking, this definition Black or coking mark for a quarter size or larger. Calculate evaporation (humidity) loss β based on total energy input by comparing the weight of the bundle before and after heating (with the known dry weight of each plate) And the initial weight and moisture content of the wood to calculate the energy density (dry wood per crush) „ Table 4 below summarizes the results of running Α to η, which includes the average and maximum peak temperatures achieved during heating and the number of burnt plates Table 4: Summary of results from operation Η to 运行 Operation results Energy density (kW/lb dry wood) Average peak temperature CC) Maximum peak temperature (Ό Charred, plate (#) A 0.0094 116 159 〇BCD 0.0107_ 119 161 0 a 0.0107 139 184 7 — 0.0109 116 179 〇E 0.0148 136 154 19 FG —0.0155 123 137 0 0.0125 113 193 〇Η 0.0168 142 192 10 ~ As shown in Table 4, for similar energy densities (eg, transport And running E and F) 'using more individual cycles of operation at lower energy levels and/or for shorter durations (eg, running D&F) than at higher energy levels / or the operation of fewer individual cycles (for example, running C and E) performed over a longer duration is more likely to avoid charring. In addition, as illustrated by the operating enthalpy, the energy and/or duration of the initial cycle is performed at a high energy level and/or over a long duration, even with a reduced energy level A cycle of operation can also result in charring. Therefore, it can be inferred that the number of individual cycles in a total heating cycle is 160978.doc -103 - 201231885 and the duration and the level of energy and / or pressure of each of the individual cycles are average and maximum for wood. The peak temperature and the number of plates burned during the heating cycle have an effect. Example 3: - Determination of the energy distribution curve within the beam This example provides actual data obtained from a pilot scale microwave heater used to heat and/or dry an acetonitrile bundle. The thermal image is used to construct an energy profile which will then be correlated in Prophetic Example 4 to predict the chemical humidity profile of the wood heated on a commercial scale. A microwave heater similar to the horizontal extension of the heater illustrated in Figures 10a, lOd, and l〇e is constructed with an outer diameter of one foot 12 feet and a total length of one foot 16 feet. The heater includes an inlet door for loading and unloading the bundle from the container. Four split microwave emitters similar to the split microwave emitter illustrated in Figures 1 〇c and 10d are configured in two oppositely disposed pairs and connected to a FERRITE 75 kw 91 5 MHz microwave via one of the 〇ι〇 waveguide systems A generator (available from Ferrite Microwave Technologies, Inc. of NasJlua, Nh.). The three microwave switches are configured to route energy from the generator to one of two pairs of each pair, as explained in detail below. The microwave heater also includes four movable reflectors similar to the movable reflector illustrated in Figure 10c. Each reflector defines a continuous reflective surface that extends substantially along the length of the heater. Each of the four split emitters is vertically positioned between a pair of movable reflectors such that the reflective surface by each of the four quadrants disposed within the interior volume of the heater will split from each The emission openings of the emitters are directed upwards and downwards. I60978.doc •104· 201231885 The emitted energy is rasterized into the interior of the microwave heater. Each reflective surface is rotated in a generally arcuate shape by utilizing one of the shafts of the external drive. Details of the motion of the movable reflector will be elaborated later. Allowing approximately 1,500 pounds of acetylated radiata pine to be equilibrated in an environment such that the average water content of the wood is between 2 wt% and 3 wt%. The wood is then bundled into a composite bundle comprising one of four individually fastened stacks (e.g., stacks A through D shown in Figure 13). The composite beam (shown as bundle 1304 in Figure 13) has a nominal size of 4 feet wide by 8 feet high by xi 6 feet long. Each of stacks A through C has a width of 6 inches and stack D has a width of 25 feet. The composite bundle 13 04 is introduced into the microwave heater and the door is closed and fastened prior to the start of the heating cycle. First, the microwave switcher is configured such that energy from the generator will be routed simultaneously to two diagonally opposite (eg, relatively placed, axially staggered) emitters, while the remaining two diagonally opposite emitters remain idle. . Next, the generator is activated and set to deliver 75 kw to the first diagonally opposite pair of emitters in a manner similar to that discussed previously with respect to the emitter group "A" of Figures 11a and lb. Next, after 1 minute, the generator is stopped and the microwave switcher is reconfigured to route energy from the opposite active diagonal to the emitter group to the idle diagonal relative emitter group during the second heating mode. The generator is then restarted at 75 kW and the microwave energy is again discharged into the heater. After another 10 minutes, the generators are stopped so that the switches can be returned to the original configuration, thereby rerouting the energy back to the first diagonally opposite pair of transmitters. This sequence of discharge energy instead of axially staggered emitters continues in a 10 minute increment for a total of 80 minutes (e.g., 1 〇〇 kW hr). 160978.doc •105- 201231885 During each heating mode, the energy and position of each of the microwave emitters is rasterized to the microwave heater by the motion and position of each of the (4) movable reflectors An internal programmable logic controller (PLC), ''to' to use a servo motor to rotate each reflector through various portions (or zones) of its total arcuate path at various speeds. The top and bottom reflector pairs are programmed to follow the same speed (four), but the movement of each pair of reflectors is started before the other to prevent the two reflectors from moving synchronously. Table 5 below summarizes the boundaries of each of the eight zones of motion (eg, start and end positions) and the total length and reflector speed of each of the top and bottom reflector pairs and in each zone The time spent (9) such as 'residence time' is expressed as a percentage of the total reflector cycle time. Note that Table 5 only summarizes one-half of the curve of each reflector; once each reflector pair moves through the zone 8 to 8 as explained below, each reflector then proceeds in a -reverse pattern, and the zone 8 begins Move back to zone 160978.doc -106 · 201231885 Bottom reflector retention time (% of cycle) 〇rn rn vo CN On 59.0 Speed (°/s) 0.05 0.05 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 0.26 0.04 Top reflector retention time (cycle /.) Os ο 23.3 Ο ρ q 1»^ o CN 48.0 Speed (°/s) 0.07 0.10 ! _! CN οο 1.82 1.82 1.82 0.25 0.04 Path length (%) 0.31% 12.19% 12.50% 12.50% 12.50 % 25.00% 12.50% 12.50% Path length (°) Os ΓΟ ρ Ο — Ο · · o 00 oo — End position (°) τ-Η Ο Seven ο ό 12.0 16.0 24.0 28.0 32.0 Starting position (°) Ο ο ρ — Ο οο 12.0 16.0 24.0 28.0 <Ν m inch in v〇00 160978.doc -107- 201231885 Once the entire heating cycle is completed, the generator is turned off and the heated composite beam is transported to a holding zone with one One of the wide-angle lenses MIKRON 7500 model camera positioning Elongated side of the heat from the beam through the mouth of one of the forces of approximately 10 feet. Stack A (the outermost panel stack shown in Figure 13) is removed from the composite beam to thereby expose one of the internal surfaces of stack B (designated B' in Figure 13). The camera records surface B, thermal image ' at a rate of one image every 5 seconds, and after 20 seconds, removes stack b from the composite beam. The camera then begins recording a thermal image of one of the internal surfaces of the stack C (designated as surface C' in Figure 13). After 20 seconds, the stack c was removed from the bundle, thereby exposing the inner surface of the stack D (designated as surface D in Fig. 13). The camera records the thermal image of the surface D· for 20 seconds and is then stopped. To analyze the synthetic temperature profile across the volume of the bundle, use 1^1〇*〇81) Shen 1^ professional thermal imaging software (version 4·〇.5, available from Metrum, Berkshire, UK) The pixel-by-pixel temperature data obtained in the representative region of the focus of each of the surfaces Βι to D is introduced into a trial spreadsheet. A cumulative frequency histogram of the thermal data obtained from all internal surfaces B of the self-synthesizing beam, up to D', is shown in FIG. As shown in Figure 14, less than 2% by volume of the bundle has a temperature below d or at a temperature of 52 C. This type of energy distribution results in a predicted chemical moisture content curve when correlated with a dry, acetified wood bundle, as set forth in Prometric Example 4. Example 4 (pre-invariant): Calculation of the chemical moisture content curve in an acetonitrile bundle This pre-inferior example uses the experimental energy distribution obtained in Example A 160978.doc •108· 201231885 to predict The chemical humidity profile of the brewed wood heated and/or dried in a commercial scale microwave heating system is configured similarly to the system previously described in Example 3 (eg, one or more heat removable within the total volume) The amount and distribution of chemicals). One of the dimensions of approximately 101 inches high X52 inches wide by 16 feet long is loaded into the microwave heater with one of U-foot 7 inch internal diameter and 17 foot one flange length. . The pressurizable heater includes an oppositely disposed entry and exit opening, each of which may be sealed by a full diameter disc door. The total internal volume of the heater is 26 〇 5 ft., and the ratio of the total volume of the wood bundle to the total open (e.g., unoccupied) volume in the microwave heater is 0.29:1. The bundle has a "chemical moisture content" of about 10 wt% to 15 wt% (i.e., containing, for example, one or more of the acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and combinations thereof) before being heated in the microwave heater. One of the chemicals). During the heating of the bundle, microwave energy was introduced into the microwave heater in a similar manner as previously described in Example 3. In addition, a vacuum system was used to maintain the internal pressure of the heater at 60 Torr. After 8 minutes, the microwave generator was turned off, the beam was removed and the thermal image of the interior surface of the beam was taken in the manner previously described in Example 3. The predicted temperature distribution resulting from the accumulated thermal data is provided in FIG. As shown in Figure 15 -, the predicted temperature profile of the acetified wood bundle has an average peak temperature of 165 ° C and the total volume of the bundle is less than 〇 3% having less than 115 ° C or higher than 235 eC temperature. Based on previously obtained empirical data relating wood temperature to chemical moisture content, the temperature in Figure 15 is 160978.doc •109·201231885. The distribution is as described above. One of the dried acetylated wood bundles is predicted as shown in Table 6. One of the chemical moisture content curves outlined in the paper. Table 6: Estimated chemical moisture content curve of dried acetalized wood Temperature percentage of wood bundle predicted moisture content T<115°c 0.3% ~2 wt% humidity 115°C <T<135〇C 2.2% ~ 1 Wt% Humidity T>235〇C 0.3% Charred 115°C <T<235〇C 99.4% Dry 135〇C <T<235〇C 97.2% Drying and/or drying the total of acetified wood The target is to remove residual acetamidine chemicals (eg, 'by minimizing the chemical moisture content of the dried bundles) without excessive drying or charring of the treated wood. As shown in Table 6, less than 〇·3% of the total volume of the acetonitrile bundle is insufficiently dry (for example, having a moisture content of 2 wt0/. or 2 wt% or more) or subjected to scorching ( For example, having an average temperature of more than 235 C), and additionally less than 22% of the total volume of the bundle has a moisture content of 1% or more. Thus, at least 97.2% (and up to 99.4%) of the total volume of the brewed bundle is heated or dried to less than 1 wt% to 2 wt% of one chemical moisture content while minimizing the amount of charred wood. The preferred forms of the invention described above are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the scope of the invention. Obvious modifications to the illustrative embodiments described above can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The inventors hereby state that it is intended to rely on the principle of equivalence to determine and estimate the reasonable scope of the invention in relation to any device without substantially deviating from the literal scope of the invention described in the following patent application. Or outside the literal scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the wood treatment systems configured to deliver a chemical upgrading reactor and a wood heater in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the wood treatment systems configured in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrating the transport of a plurality of chemical upgrading reactors and A system of wood bundles of a plurality of wood heaters; Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the wood treatment systems configured in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrating the transport of a plurality of chemical modifications a roller system of a reactor and a plurality of wood heaters; FIG. 4a is suitable for use in the production of chemically modified wood and configured according to the embodiment of the present invention - through-wood From a top view of the system, the material is illustrated as a chemical & mass reactor and a wood heater comprising a separate axially aligned double door vessel and comprising a reactor and heating a steam containing chamber between the containers; Figure 4b is an isometric view of the through-wood processing system of Figure 4a, in particular illustrating one exemplary blasting plate/wall of the vapor containing chamber; Figure 4c is attached A cross-sectional view of the vapor containing chamber illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, in particular illustrating an exemplary one-way vent pair for allowing fluid from the external environment (e.g., air) to flow into the κ holding chamber 160978.doc •111· 201231885 Figure 4d is a side view of the through-wood treatment system of Figure 4a, but also illustrates the product steam for pumping into the steam holding chamber and into the outlet of the heater. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one of the microwave heating systems configured to be equipped with a vacuum system and via a microwave distribution system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A microwave heater that receives microwave energy from a microwave generator; Figure 6 is suitable for use as a double door, through a chemical modification reactor and/or a microwave heater in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention An isometric view of one of the containers, which specifically illustrates the shape and size ratio of the container; Figure 7a is a configuration of one of the door flanges of a microwave heater and a container flange in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; A partial cross-sectional view of a face, in particular, illustrating a microwave choke that is cooperatively formed by a door and a container flange and having two chambers that are parallel to each other and that are extended together; Figure 7b is similar to that depicted in Figure 7a A partial cross-sectional view of one of the microwave chokes of the illustrated baffle, but the microwave choke has a choke chamber extending at an acute angle relative to each other; Figure 7c is equipped with the microwave choke shown in Figure 7a One of the door flanges of the microwave heater is a cross-sectional isometric view, specifically illustrating a plurality of circumferentially spaced end opening slots formed in a flow guiding wall of the choke Or a gap; Figure 7d is a side view of one of the open doors of a microwave heater having one of the microwave blockers having one of the removable portions configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in particular Graphically illustrating the movable of the microwave choke Department 160978.doc •112· 201231885 and replaceable spoiler section; one of the “G” shaped removable choke sections includes a plurality of individual removable parts. Figure 7e is previously drawn in Figure 7 (1) Figure 7f is a cross-sectional view of one of the """ or "U"-shaped removable spoiler portions configured in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7g is in accordance with the present invention A second alternative embodiment configures one of the "^" shaped removable blocker sections to be a cross-sectional view; FIG. 7h is a configuration of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view of a portion of the flow device; Fig. 8a is an isometric view of one of the microwave heaters configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the heater is illustrated as being equipped with an elongated Waveguide emission H' the elongated waveguide emitter has staggered emission openings on opposite sides of the emitter; Figure 8b is an enlarged partial view of one of the waveguide emitters illustrated in Figure 8a, specifically illustrating the emission opening Configuration and defining the thickness of the sidewall of the emission opening; Figure 9 a is based on this One embodiment of the invention configures a side view of one of the microwave heating systems, specifically illustrating a microwave distribution system for delivering microwave energy to a microwave heater; Figure 9b is a microwave depicted in Figure 9a A top cross-sectional view of the heater, in particular illustrating the microwave distribution system as a ΤΜα6 emitter pair on one side of the microwave heater and a second ΤΜβ6 emission on the opposite side of the microwave heater Figure 9c is a diagram illustrating one of the contents of I60978.doc - 113· 201231885 by the terms "opposite side" and "same side"; Figure 9d is illustrated by the term "axial alignment" Figure 9e is a partial cross-sectional isometric view of a microwave emission and reflection or scattering system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrated similar to Figure 9b The transmitting system shown therein also includes one of the movable reflectors associated with each of the microwave emitters; Figure 9f is adapted to be used in one of the microwave heating systems as described herein. An isometric view of one embodiment of the ejector, which in particular illustrates the reflector as having a non-planar reflective surface with a first-configured recess; Figure 9g is suitable for use herein An isometric view of another embodiment of a reflector used in the __microwave plus (four) system, which in particular illustrates the reflector as having one of the recesses with a second configuration Planar reflective surface; Figure 9h is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a reflector suitable for use in one of the microwave heating systems described herein, in particular illustrating the curvature of the reflector surface; 9ι is an enlarged cross-sectional isometric view of one of the pair of microwave emitters and reflectors previously illustrated in Figure 9e, which in particular illustrates an actuator system for providing oscillatory movement of the reflector; a is a side view of one of the microwave heating systems configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrating a microwave distribution system equipped with a plurality of TMu barrier assemblies; 160978.doc • 114- 201231885 Figure 10b is in Figure 10a An axial cross-sectional view of one of the άβά barrier assemblies, which in particular illustrates the barrier assembly as having two floating sealing windows and coupled to the barrier assembly The impedance transformation diameter step change near the junction of the waveguide of the barrier assembly; FIG. 1A is an end view of the microwave heating system illustrated in FIG. 10a, wherein a wood bundle is received in the interior of the microwave heater, The microwave heater is illustrated as being specifically a splittable microwave emitter equipped on opposite sides of the heater and a movable reflector for rasterizing the microwave energy emitted from the split emitters; Figure 10d An enlarged side view of one of the split emitters depicted in Figure 10c, which specifically illustrates the emission angle of two separate microwave energy fractions emitted from the split emitter; Figure 10e is used to make one An enlarged view of an embodiment of a system for reflector movement, in particular illustrating an actuator for causing oscillation of the reflector and for inhibiting the wall of the actuator from penetrating the microwave heater Location One of the fluid leaks is a bellows; Figure 11a is a schematic top view of one of the microwave heating systems configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which in particular specifically illustrates the heating system for inclusion in a A plurality of microwave switches that alternately route microwave energy to different microwave emitters; FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram of one of the microwave heating systems configured in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrating the heating system Illustrated as comprising a plurality of microwave switches for routing microwave energy to different microwave emitters in an alternating manner; 160978.doc -115- 201231885 Figure 12a presents a gate that predicts proximity to one of the microwave containers that does not include a microwave choke And the result of a computer simulation of the electric field strength at the flange of the body; Figure 12b shows the result of a computer simulation predicting one of the microwave vessels of one of the microwave vessels not including a microwave choke and the electric field strength at the flange of the body, In particular, the flow blocker is illustrated to prevent or substantially minimize the ability of the microwave to leak from the container; Figure 13 is a schematic representation of one of the wood bundles, The configuration utilized in determining the internal surface temperature as set forth in Example 3 is illustrated; Figure 14 is incorporated into the surface b of the composite bundle as shown in Figure 13, to one of the obtained thermal data. Cumulative frequency histogram; and Figure 15 illustrates a cumulative frequency histogram of one of the predicted temperature profiles produced by the speculated thermal data of the acetylated wood bundle as illustrated in Example 4. [Main component symbol description] 10 20 22 24 26 28 29 30 32 34 160978.doc Wood treatment facility chemical upgrading system Chemical upgrading reactor Reactor heating system using reactor pressure / pressure reducing system reactor inlet door / A reactor inlet door is selected as the reactor outlet door heating system heater energy 201231885 36 is selected heater pressure / decompression system 38 open heater inlet door 39 is selected heater outlet door 40 conveyor system 42a conveying section 42b conveying section 42c conveying section 42d conveying section 42e conveying section 60a raw material storage area 60b finished material storage area 102 wood bundle 110 wood processing facility 122a reactor 122b reactor 122n reactor 128a door 128b door 128n door 132a heater 132b heater 132n heater 138a door 138b Door 160978.doc · 117- 201231885 13 8η 140 160 210 222a 222η 228a 228η 229a 229η 232a 232b 232η 238a 238b 238n 239a 239b 239n 240 242a 242b 242c 242d Door Rotatable Platform/Rotary Table Storage Area Wood Treatment Facility Chemical Modification Reactor Chemical upgrading reactor reactor inlet Door reactor inlet door selection reactor outlet door selection reactor outlet door heater heater heater heater inlet door heater inlet door heater inlet door selection heater outlet door selection heater outlet door selection heater outlet door conveying system Segment segment 160978.doc -118- 201231885 242e segment 242f segment 242g segment 242h segment 242i segment 242j segment 244a segment 244b segment 244c segment 244d segment 244e segment 322 chemical upgrading reactor 328 reactor inlet gate 329 reactor outlet gate 332 heater 338 Heater entrance door 339 Heater exit door 342a Upright wall 342b Upright wall 342c Upright wall 342d Upright wall 343 Blasting or blast wall 344 Ceiling structure 349 Steam outlet pipe 160978.doc -119- 201231885 349a Steam outlet pipe 349b Steam Outlet conduit 349c Steam outlet conduit 360 Steam containment chamber 361 Transfer zone 370a Center extension shaft / vent 370b Center extension shaft / vent 399 Delivery path 400 Product vapor removal system or structure 402 Vent system 404 Vent 406 Vent chamber 408 Vent chamber Out 409 door 410 vacuum generator 412 processing device 414 drain 416 wood processing facility / wood processing system 420 microwave heating system 422 microwave generator 430 microwave heater 440 microwave distribution system 442 waveguide 444a microwave transmitter 160978.doc -120- 201231885 444b Microwave Transmitter 444c Microwave Transmitter 446 Microwave Mode Converter/Mode Converter 450 Vacuum System 530 Microwave Heater 531 Body Side Sealing Surface 532 Container Body 533 Door Side Sealing Surface 534 Door 535 Center Extending Shaft 536 Inside of Microwave Heater 631 Body Side Sealing Surface 632 Container Body 633 Door Side Sealing Surface 634 Door 650 Microwave Rejector 651 Removable Portion 652 First Radially Stretched Restrictor Cavity 653a Removable Slipper Segment 653b Removable Slipper Segment 653c Removable spoiler section 653d Removable spoiler section 653e Removable spoiler section 654 Second radially extended choke chamber 160978.doc -121 - 201231885 656 Radial extension 660 Select fluid 670 Separated 690 first choke 692 second choke 702 wood bundle 720 microwave plus 730 Microwave heating 738 Heater into 739 beam receiving space 740 Microwave distribution 760 Elongated 764a substantially flat 764b substantially flat 764c substantially flat 764d substantially flat 767a elongated 767b elongated 767c elongated 767d elongated 767e Elongated 780a Emission Pair or 780b Emission Pair or 820 Microwave Heating Restrictor Diversion Wall Sealing Member Open End Gap Chamber Extending Direction of Directional Chamber Chamber System Door / Selecting Heater Exit Door System Waveguide Emitter face side wall side wall side wall side wall slot / launch opening slot / launch opening slot / launch opening slot / launch opening slot / launch opening opening pair opening pair - 122 - 160978.doc 201231885 830 microwave heater 831 outer side wall 831a side wall 831b side wall 835 extension axis 835a extension axis 838 heater inlet door 839 midpoint 840 microwave distribution system 841a spaced apart emission opening 841b spaced apart emission opening 842a waveguide/waveguide section 842b waveguide/waveguide section 842c waveguide / waveguide section 842d waveguide / waveguide section 843a ΤΜβδ waveguide section 843b ΤΜα6 waveguide section 843c TMa6 waveguide section 843d TMaZ) waveguide section 844 microwave transmitter 844a microwave transmitter 844b microwave transmitter 844c microwave transmitter 844d microwave transmitter 160978.doc -123- 201231885 845 open exit/launch opening 845a open exit / Launch opening 845b open exit/emitter opening 845c open exit/transmit opening 845d open exit/transmit opening 846 transmitter 846a transmitter 846b transmitter 850a mode converter 850b mode converter 850c mode converter 850d mode converter 890 reflector 890a Moving reflector 890b movable reflector 890c movable reflector 890d movable reflector 891a reflecting surface 891b reflecting surface 891c reflecting surface 891d reflecting surface 892 supporting arm 893 oscillating rotating shaft 893a convex portion 160978.doc - 124- 201231885 893b convex portion 894 Lever arm 895 Linear shaft 896 Wheel 897 Pivot 898 Motor 899 Reflector drive system / Actuator 902 Wood beam 920 Microwave heating system 928 Entrance door 930 Microwave heater 931 External side wall 933 Side wall 938 Heating Inlet door 939 heater exit door 940 microwave distribution system 941a emission opening 941b separated emission opening 941c separated emission opening 941d separated emission opening 942 waveguide section 942a upstream TM& waveguide section 942b upstream ΤΜαί) waveguide section 942c upstream ΤΜαί) waveguide section 160978.doc -125- 201231885 942d upstream TMa6 waveguide section 942e upstream TM& waveguide section 942f upstream TM& waveguide section 942g upstream ΤΜαΖ) waveguide section 942h upstream ΤΜαΛ waveguide section 942i downstream waveguide section 942j downstream TMai) waveguide Segment 942k downstream TMflfc waveguide segment 9421 downstream ΤΜαί) waveguide segment 942x waveguide segment 942y waveguide segment 942z waveguide segment 943a TEy waveguide segment 943b TEy waveguide segment 944 split emitter 944a first split emitter 944h second split emitter 945a discharge opening 945b discharge Opening 945c discharge opening 945d discharge opening 947a mode converter 947b mode converter 947c mode converter 160978.doc -126· 201231885 947d mode converter 948 extension sleeve 949 TMa6 to TEy mode conversion splitter 950a external TEy to ΤΜα6 mode conversion 950b external to ΤΜαΑ mode converter 950c external to TMa6 mode converter 950d external TE" to ΤΜαέ mode converter 951 inlet or opening/unobstructed beam receiving space 960 actuator 961 fixed portion 963 extendable portion 964 bellows structure 970 Barrier assembly 970a Barrier assembly 970b Barrier assembly 970c Barrier assembly 970d Barrier assembly 970h Barrier assembly 972a Sealing window member 972b Sealing window member 972c Sealing window member 972d Sealing window member 973 Barrier housing 973a first or inlet section 160978.doc -127- 201231885 973b second or intermediate section 973c selected third or outlet section 974a impedance transformation diameter stepwise change 974b impedance transformation diameter stepwise change 975a first TMw waveguide section 975b Second ΤΜα6 waveguide section 980 support arm 982a elastic ring 982b elastic ring 984a elastic ring 984b elastic ring 990 movable reflector 990a movable reflector 990b movable reflector 990c movable reflector 990d movable reflector 991 reflector surface 1020 Microwave heating system 1022a microwave generator 1022b microwave generator 1022c micro Wave generator 1022d microwave generator 1030 microwave heater 1040 microwave distribution system 160978.doc -128- 201231885 1044a microwave transmitter 1044b microwave transmitter 1044c microwave transmitter 1044d microwave transmitter 1044e microwave transmitter 1044f microwave transmitter 1044g microwave transmitter 1044h microwave transmitter 1046a microwave switcher 1046b microwave switcher 1046c microwave switcher 1046d microwave switcher 1050a transmitter pair 1050b transmitter pair 1050c transmitter pair 1050d transmitter pair 1050e transmitter pair 1050f transmitter pair 1050g transmitter pair 1050h launch Pair 1060 Control System 1304 Synthetic Beam A First Microwave Transmitter Set / Stack B Second Microwave Emitter Set / Stack 160978.doc -129· 201231885 B, Internal Surface C Stack C, Internal Surface D Stack D, Internal Surface 160978 .doc

Claims (1)

201231885 VII. Patent Application Range: 1. A system for producing chemically modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood, the system comprising: a microwave heater comprising a container body and for selectively Allowing and blocking a wood beam to pass through a door of the interior of the microwave heater, wherein the door and the container body have respective door side and body side sealing surfaces at the door and the container body when the door is closed Forming a fluid seal directly or indirectly, wherein the door cooperates with the container body to form at least a portion of a microwave choke that effectively suppresses microwave energy between the door and the body of the bar when the door is closed a bubble in the microwave heater, wherein the microwave choke includes a first radially extending choke chamber, a second radially extending choke chamber, and is at least partially disposed at the gate when the door is closed a radially extending choke deflector wall between the choke chamber and the second choke chamber, wherein at least a portion of the second choke chamber is placed against the first when the door is closed Blocking Extending at least a portion of the cavity. 2. A system for producing a chemically modified 'dry and/or thermally modified wood, the system comprising: a microwave heater comprising a cylindrical container body, a door and a microwave choke, wherein The microwave heater is configured to receive and heat a bundle of wood, wherein the microwave choke is operable to substantially prevent 160978.doc 201231885 when the door is closed, the microwave energy is between the door and the container body Leakage in the microwave heater, wherein the microwave choke includes a removable choke portion that is removably coupled to the container body or the door. 3. The system of claim 6, wherein the microwave choke includes a first radially extending choke chamber, a second radially extending choke chamber, and when the door is closed to the ground A radially extending baffle diversion wall disposed between the first choke chamber and the second choke chamber. 4. The system of claim 1 or 3, wherein - the relative extension angle is defined between the direction in which the first eight-chamber cavity extends and the direction in which the second choke chamber extends; wherein the relative extension angle is less than 6〇 . . 5. The system of claim 1 or 3, wherein at least 4% of the total length of the second choke chamber when the door is closed is extended by the first choke chamber. The system of claim 1 or 3, wherein the flow guiding wall comprises a plurality of spaced apart open ends circumferentially disposed along the flow guiding wall. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow blocker comprises a removable flow blocker portion removably coupled to the louver or the container body. 8. The system of claim 3 or 7, wherein the removable choke portion comprises the weir. 9. The system of claim 2, wherein the removable baffle split is removably coupled to the door. 10. The system of claim 2, wherein the removable baffle portion comprises a complex:: cocoa individually removes the choke segment 'where the individually removable choke segments have a generally arcuate shape . The system of any one of claims 1 to 3 or 7, wherein the microwave heater further comprises an elastic sealing member for fluidly isolating the interior and exterior environments of the microwave heater, wherein The sealing member is compressed between the door and the container body when the door is closed. 12. The system of any of claims 1 to 3 or 7, further comprising a vacuum system operable to reduce the pressure in the microwave heater to no more than 350 Torr. The system further comprises One input rate of at least 50 kW provides microwave energy to at least one microwave generator of the microwave heater 'where the microwave heater has an internal volume of at least 100 cubic feet" 13. As claimed in claims 1 to 3 or 7 A system further comprising a chemical upgrading reactor for chemically modifying at least a portion of the wood bundle and operable to deliver the wood bundle from the chemical upgrading reactor to one of the microwave heaters System 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the chemical upgrading reactor is for acetylating an acetonitrile reactor of at least a portion of the wood bundle. 15. A method for producing a chemically modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood. The method comprises: (a) loading a bundle of wood into a microwave heater through an open door of the microwave heater (b) closing the door of the microwave heater to thereby form a fluid seal between the door of the microwave heater and a container body; (c) maintaining no more than 35 Torr in the microwave heater a pressure; (d) simultaneously with step (c), heating the wood bundle by means of microwave energy introduced into the microwave heater 160978.doc 201231885; and (e) simultaneously with step (d), using a microwave resistor The flow device prevents at least a portion of the microwave energy from exiting the microwave heater at the junction of the door and the container body. 16. A method for producing a chemically modified, dried and/or heat treated wood, the method comprising: (a) attaching a removable baffle portion to a door or a container of a microwave heater (b) heating a bundle of wood by means of microwave energy introduced into the microwave heater; and (c) simultaneously with step (b), using a microwave choke to prevent at least a portion of the microwave energy from being at the gate The waved heat thief is exited from a junction with the container body, wherein the 5 hp microwave blocker includes the removable damper portion. 17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein substantially no arcing occurs near the microwave choke during the heating. 18. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the microwave energy is introduced into the microwave heater at an input rate of at least 5 kW during the heating, the method further comprising the microwave during at least a portion of the heating The heater is maintained at a pressure of no more than 250 Torr. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein no more than 50 milliwatts per square meter per square meter through the microwave choke is leaked from the heater during the heating. 20. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the microwave energy is introduced into the microwave heater at an input rate of at least 2 kW during the heating, the method further comprising 160967.doc 201231885 A pressure of no more than 100 Torr is maintained in the microwave heater during at least a portion of the heating, and wherein no more than 10 milliwatts per square meter of microwave energy during the heating is leaked from the heater through the microwave choke. 21. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a removable flow blocker portion to the door or the container body of a microwave heater prior to the loading of the wood bundle. 22. The method of claim 16 or 21, further comprising removing the removable choke portion from the door or the container body. 23. The method of claim 16 or 21, wherein the removable baffle portion comprises a plurality of individually removable spoiler segments, wherein the attaching of the removable baffle portion comprises At least a portion of the individual removal choke segments are individually attached to the door or the container body. The method of claim 23, further comprising removing at least a portion of the removable baffle portion and replacing the at least one portion of the removable baffle portion with a replacement choke portion, wherein The at least a portion of the removable choke portion removed and replaced includes less than all of the individually removable spoiler segments. Wherein the heating, wherein the heating is in the heating, wherein the method of any one of the items 15'16 or 21, the wood bundle weighs at least 500. 26. The method of any one of claims 15, 16 or 21, wherein at least a portion of the bundle of wood has been chemically modified. 27_ The method of any one of claims 15, 16 or 21, wherein at least a portion of the bundle of wood has been smashed. 160978.doc