TW201236751A - Dual vessel chemical modification and heating of wood with optional vapor containment - Google Patents

Abstract

A commercial scale system and process for chemically modifying wood and then heating the chemically-modified wood. The system/process separates the chemical modification step from the heating step by utilizing two different vessels for the modification and heating steps. The system and process can, in certain situations, include a containment room for preventing escape of vapors from a chemical wood modification reactor, a wood heater, and/or a chemically-modified bundle of wood as the bundle is transported from the wood modification reactor to the wood heater.

Description

201236751 VI. Description of the Invention: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to systems for chemically modifying 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 "sensitive" dielectric materials (such as foods and drugs) and even for heating materials having a relatively poor thermal conductivity ( Such as wood). However, the safe and efficient application of microwave energy complexity and nuances (especially on a commercial scale) has severely limited its use in several types of industrial processes. Wood is one of the most widely used building materials available due to its wide applicability to a wide range of applications, its recyclability and its relatively low cost. However, since wood is a natural product, its physical and structural properties can be substantially different not only in different species but also in different locations within different trees or even in the same wood block. In addition, wood usually absorbs the styling, and its biochemical composition makes it susceptible to insect and fungal infestation. As a result, several types of wood treatment processes have been developed to improve wood stability through modification of their chemical, physical and/or structural properties. Examples of the treatment process include impregnation treatment, coating treatment, thermal modification, and upgrading. The latter two processes typically change the properties of the wood to - more severely than in other cases, and therefore these types of processes are usually 160981.doc 201236751 involves more complex solutions and systems. For example, many chemical and thermal processing processes can be carried out under vacuum and/or in the presence of one or more processing chemicals. As a result, the commercialization of these types of technologies has been limited and many challenges have to be overcome in order to modernize such processes. Therefore, there is a need for a commercial scale system that is more efficient and more cost effective for one of chemical or heat treated wood. There is also a need for 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 is directed to a system for producing chemically modified wood, the system comprising: a chemical upgrading reactor for producing a chemically wet wood bundle, wherein The chemical upgrading reactor includes a first reactor door and defining an internal reactor volume of at least 100 cubic feet; and a microwave heater for removing one or more heat removable from the chemically wetted wood bundle At least a portion of the chemical wherein the microwave heater includes a first heater door and defines an internal heater volume of at least 100 cubic feet. The internal reactor volume is positionally different from the internal heater volume. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for producing chemically modified wood, the system comprising: a wood brewing reactor for producing a chemically wetted wood bundle Wherein the acetonitrile reactor comprises a first reactor door and defines an internal reactor volume of at least 1 cubic foot; and a heater for the chemically wetted wood bundle from the brewed Removing at least a portion of one or more thermally removable chemicals thereof is claimed 160981.doc 201236751 The heater includes a first heater door and defines at least one cubic foot of internal heater volume. The internal reactor volume is spatially distinct from the internal heater volume. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for producing a chemically modified wood comprising: a chemical upgrading reactor comprising: for chemical upgrading after chemical upgrading Discharging one of the first reactor doors of the wood bundle, a heater comprising a first heater door for receiving the bundle of wood after being discharged from the chemical modification counter; and Defining the bundle of wood through a transfer zone during transport from the first reactor door to the first heater door. The containment chamber is coupled to the chemical upgrading reactor and the heater and is operable to substantially isolate an external environment from the transfer zone during transport of the bundle of wood from the chemical upgrading reactor to the heater. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for producing a chemically modified wood, the method comprising: (a) loading a quantity of wood into a chemical conversion reforming reactor, wherein the amount The wood weighs at least 500 pounds when loaded into the reactor; (b) chemically modifying at least a portion of the amount of wood to thereby provide a quantity of chemically wetted wood, wherein the amount is turbid The wet wood comprises at least one thermally removable chemical component resulting from the chemical modification; (c) at least a portion of the amount of chemically wet wood is transported from the chemical upgrading reactor and transported to a microwave And (d) heating at least a portion of the quantity of chemically wet wood in the microwave heater to thereby vaporize at least a portion of the at least one thermally removable chemical component in the microwave heater Thereby providing a certain amount of dried and chemicalized 160981.doc 201236751 modified wood. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for producing a chemically modified wood, the method comprising: (a) chemically modifying at least a portion of a bundle of wood in a chemical upgrading reactor to thereby provide a chemically wetted wood bundle 'where the chemically wetted wood bundle comprises at least one thermally removable chemical component produced by the chemical modification; (... at least one of the chemically wetted wood bundles is modified from the chemical The reactor is conveyed through a holding chamber and transported to an additive, wherein the receiving chamber is reduced in the chemical upgrading reactor, emitted from the chemically wetted wood beam, and is present in the apparatus during the 6-hour transport period. Leaking of steam in the heater to prevent discharge to the environment outside the chemical upgrading reactor and the heater; and (4) heating at least a portion of the chemically wet wood bundle in the heater to vaporize the heat At least one of the chemical components can be removed and thereby provide a dried chemically modified wood bundle. [Embodiment] An embodiment of Kangben Maoyue provides a heating system. According to this::: The heating system configured in an embodiment may include a heat source, a heating vessel (eg, a heater), and an optional vacuum system. It is common that a heating system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be suitable for use as Independent heating of the unitary unit can be used as or in conjunction with a chemical reactor for a wide variety of processes. Referring to the drawings, a heating system configured in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention is described in detail below. Fiber LI", one of the present inventions The heating system can be used to heat the wood 1 material. The lignocellulosic material can comprise (iv) cellulosic money (if needed) such as smectin, etc. 160981.doc 201236751 material. Examples of lignocellulosic material Peel, kenaf, marijuana, sisal, coconut shell, straw and stalk shells and stems, broadleaf tree bark, corn cobs and their combinations. May include (but not limited to) wood, tree breeding, crop stalks, nuts Shell, corn straw, bagasse, conifer and other crop residues, and any of the groups thereof. In one embodiment, the wood rayon is replaced by a main t, and the red f cellulosic material can be wood. Examples of wood species suitable for a conifer or a broad-leaved tree may include, but are not limited to, pine, cedar, tv, cedar, eucalyptus, oak, maple, and beech. In one embodiment The sapphire m material may include red oak, red maple, German beech or taiping white maple. In the alternative embodiment, the wood may include a pine species 'which contains (for example, 士^.) radiata pine , European red pine, Pinus taeda, long-leaf pine, short-leaf pine or slash pine, the private and the latter four can be collectively referred to as "Southern yellow pine". By the heating system according to the invention - Fen, only the example The treated wood may be in any suitable form. Non-limiting examples of suitable forms of wood may include, but are not limited to, shredded wood, taiwan fiber, wood flour, wood chips, small wood blocks, eucalyptus shavings , wood strips and wood wool. In the case of your embodiment, the material processed in one or more of the heating systems of the present invention may include minerals, peeled trunks or branches, plates, slabs, sheets, thumbs, Age & , j, bare section, square or any other form of wood. The size of the regular 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, a dry 2x4" can have an actual size of 15 inches by 35 inches, but still 160981.doc 201236751 uses a nominal size of "2x4". The Kuli Group shall be buried, unless otherwise stated, the dimensions referred to herein are usually nominal. In the embodiment, the wood may have three dimensions: a length or a longest dimension; a width or a second long dimension; 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 one or more of the other dimensions. ^ ^ ^ According to one embodiment, the length of the wood may be at least 6 inches, at least 1 square foot, at least 3 feet, at least 4 feet, at least 6 feet, or at least 10 feet. In another embodiment, the width of the wood may be at least 0. 5 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 2 inches, at least 4 inches, at least 8 inches, at least 12 inches.戋^ 叮义至) 24 inches and / or no more than 10 feet, no more than 8 feet, no more than 6 箪圮 τι central feet, no more than 4 feet, no more than 3 feet, no more than 2 feet, no more than 丨 ^ — Wu Ji or no more than 6 inches. In yet another embodiment, the thickness of the wood may be 256 inches, at least 吋5 inches, at least 0.75 inches, at least feet, or at least 2 feet and at least 2 feet and / or no more than 4 feet, no more than 3 箪 ^ central ruler, no more than 2 feet, no more than 1 foot and / or no more than 6 inches. According to an embodiment, the wood may comprise - or a plurality of solid wood blocks, work blocks or a combination thereof. For example, if you are a woman, you can use the term "solid wood" to measure at least 10 螫 h h # j less υ cm in v dimensions but in any other way have any size = wood ( ❹, having the term "engineered solid wood" as used in the context of the foregoing description, the term "engineered solid wood" means the smallest ruler t with solid wood (eg n - one size is at least 1 〇 but formed by several bodies and at least one Wood f wood is not cloth body. Engineering solid wood small wood body can i ancient + Ding s Α τ υ 乂 乂 乂, with or without the size of the solid wood 160981.doc 201236751 or the evening of the i Non-limiting examples may include wood laminates, fiberboard, oriented flower panels, plywood, waffle boards, granule sheets, and laminated veneer lumber. As used herein, the term "bundle" refers to two or more pieces of wood that are stacked, placed, and/or fastened together in any suitable manner. According to one embodiment, a bundle may include Stacked and belted, strapped or other suitable a plurality of plates for each other. In one embodiment, the two or more pieces of wood may be in direct contact with each other or in another embodiment, the pieces of wood may be at least disposed between them. A spacer or "sticker" is at least partially spaced apart. In an embodiment t, the bundle can have any suitable size and/or shape. In one embodiment, the bundle can have at least 2 Feet, at least 4 feet, at least 8 feet, at least 1 foot, at least 12 feet, at least 16 feet or at least 20 feet and/or no more than 6 feet, no more than 4 feet or less than a total length of 25 feet Degree or longest dimension. The bundle may have at least feet, at least 2 feet, at least 4 feet, at least 6 feet, at least 8 feet and/or no 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 in height or a second long dimension. In one embodiment, the beam may have at least 1 foot, at least 2 feet, at least 4 feet 'at least 6 feet and/or no more than 20 feet, no more than 16 feet, no more than 12 inches a ruler, no more than 1 foot, no more than 8 feet, or no more than 6 feet in width or shortest size. The total volume of the bundle containing the space between the plates, if any, may be at least 5 cubic feet, At least 1 〇〇 160,981.doc 201236751 cubic feet, at least 250 cubic feet, at least 375 cubic feet, 500 cubic feet. According to one implementation, the reactor and/or heating of one or more of the heating systems of the present invention The weight of the bundle of wood (e.g., the cumulative weight of the load to be treated or the load of the plurality of loads) in the apparatus (e.g., prior to the addition or processing) may be at least -, at least 5, or at least 5,0 G. In the embodiment of the invention, the bundle can be cubic or cuboid in shape. In another embodiment, the present invention - or a plurality of heating systems may be used to chemically modify, dry and/or thermally reform the wood' to thereby produce chemically modified, dried and/or thermally modified wood. Wood that has been dried and/or thermally modified may be referred to as "heat treated" wood such that the term "heat treated wood" refers to wood that has been heated, dried, and/or thermally modified. As used herein, the term "thermically modified" means at least partially modified - or at least a portion of the chemical structure of a plurality of wood blocks without an exogenous treatment agent. In one 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 thermal modification may occur simultaneously with heating and/or drying of the wood in a wood heater and/or dryer, while in another embodiment it may be heated in a wood heater or dryer. And / or dry the wood without thermal modification. As used herein, the term "drying" means to cause or accelerate the vaporization or otherwise removal of at least a portion or one or more of the heat-removable components of one or more liquids via heat addition or other suitable form of energy. At least a portion or additionally of the plurality of liquids may be thermally removable. The thermal upgrading process can include making the wood with one or more of 160981.doc -10- 201236751 heat transfer agents (such as gas or air) or even liquid:;:: body = inert steam (such as nitrogen touch - step. Another application (such as 'heart heat oil)) is only used in the application, it can be used during thermal reforming - light material: second, = quality wood can have substantially lower than untreated wood Such as (for example... and may have enhanced physical and / or mechanical properties, such as ^) increased flexibility, higher resistance to decay and biological attack and increased dimensional stability. In an embodiment, the orbital chemically modified wood is configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term "chemical θ is at least partially = at least 3 of the wood blocks in the presence or presence of a plurality of exogenous treating agents. The chemical structure may include, but is not limited to, acetylation. And other types of acetification, epoxidation, squaring, thiolation, methylation and/or melamine treatment. Non-limiting examples of suitable treatment agents may include acid st (eg, acetic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride) , maleic anhydride, propionic anhydride or butyric anhydride). helium; ketene; carboxylic acid; cyanate; aldehyde (for example, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or difunctional route); chlorine circuit; dimethyl sulfate; Chloride; β•propene vinegar; acrylonitrile; epoxide (for example, ethylene bromide, epoxy propylene or butyl bromide); difunctional epoxide; rotten acid salt; Salt; and combinations thereof. The process for chemically modifying wood may comprise a chemical upgrading 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 may Exposed to more than $ of the source processing μ previously stated The or more exogenous treatment agents can react with at least a portion of the untreated 160981.doc 201236751 wood functional group (eg, hydroxyl groups) to thereby provide chemically modified wood. During the chemical upgrading step, One or more thermally initiated chemical reactions may occur which may or may not be initiated by an external energy source (eg, thermal or electromagnetic energy, including, for example, microwave energy). Specific details of the chemical upgrading process It varies among many types of chemical modifications, but most chemically modified woods have enhanced structural, chemical and/or mechanical properties, including lower hygroscopicity, compared to untreated wood. Higher dimensional stability, greater biohazard and insect resistance, increased resistance to decay and/or higher weatherability. In one embodiment, wood can be made in a wood acetonitrile reactor The acetylation may include replacing the hydroxyl group on the surface or near surface with an acetamidine group. In one embodiment, the treatment agent utilized during acetamization may include a concentration of at least 50 wt% 'at least 60 Wt%, at least 7〇 Wt%, at least 8% by weight, at least 9% by weight, at least 98% by weight or 1% by weight of acetic anhydride and the remainder, if any, comprises acetic acid and/or one or more diluents or acetylated Catalyst. In one embodiment, the treatment agent for acetamylation can comprise a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride having at least 8 〇: 2 〇, at least 85: 15, at least 90: 10, or at least 95: 5 a ratio of anhydride to acid. Prior to acetylation, the kiln drying method, vacuum degassing method or other suitable method may be used to dry the wood to reduce its humidity (for example, water) content to not more than 25 wt%, Not more than 2〇wt%, not more than 15 wt%, not more than η wt /〇, not more than 9 wt% or not more than 6 wt%. During the acetylation period, the wood can be made into a treatment agent by any suitable method. contact. Examples of suitable contact methods may include, but are not limited to, steam contact, spray, liquid soaking, or combinations thereof. 160981.doc 201236751. In one embodiment, the temperature of the processing vessel may be no greater than 50 ° C, no greater than 4 (^c or no greater than 30 C, and at least 25 psig, at least 25 psig, at least the time during which the wood is contacted with the treating agent. 50 psig, at least 75 psig and/or no more than 500 psig, no more than 25 psig or no more 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 〇. 〇, at least 65 〇 C, at least 80 C and/or to not more than 175 ° C, not more than 15 〇 π or not more than 120 C, while maintaining one of the pressures in the reactor at least 75 Torr, at least 1, 〇〇〇, at least 1,200 Torr or at least 2, chin rest and/or no more than 7,700 Torr, no more than 5,000 Torr' no more than 3,5 Torr or no more than 25 Torr. According to one embodiment 'Add to reaction At least a portion of the heat of the device can be transferred to the wood from a non-secret source. For example, including at least 5 〇 wt%, at least 75 wt%, at least 90 wt 〇/〇, or at least 95 wt% of one of the acetic acid vapors of Q, and the remainder comprising acetic anhydride and/or diluent. 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 no greater than ι 8 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 component that can be removed by heat and/or vaporization. As used throughout this application, the terms "chemically-wet" or "chemical-wet" are meant to include at least one of the chemical treatments or one of the modifications of 160981.doc -13-201236751. Partially presenting one or more chemical np woods in a liquid phase. A "chemically wetted" wood bundle may mean that at least a portion thereof is at least partially chemically wetted with one of the wood bundles. Some Reactants, impregnates, reaction products, or the like may be included. For example, when the wood is acetylated, at least a portion of the residual acetic acid and/or anhydride may be removed by vaporization. As used herein, the term " "Acid wetting" means wood containing residual acetic acid and/or acid needles. An "acid wetted" wood bundle means that at least a portion thereof is at least partially acid wetted with one of the wood bundles. According to an embodiment of the present invention The chemically wet or acid wet wood may comprise at least 20 Wt%, at least 30 wt%, at least 40 Wt% or at least 45 wt% and/or no more than 75 wt0/. No more than 60 wt% or no more than 50 wt% of one or more heat removable or rufiable chemicals such as, for example, acetic acid and/or acid anhydride. As used herein, the term "thermally removable" or "vaporizable" chemical component means that one component 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 from at least ΐ, θθθ, at least ΐ, 2θ θ, at least 18 〇〇 or at least 2,000 Torr and/or no more than 77 Torr, no greater than 5 〇〇〇 support is not more than 3,500 Torr, no more than 2,500 Torr or not more than 2, and one of the pressures of the chin rest is reduced to atmospheric pressure to achieve a flashing step. In another embodiment, the pressure of the reactor can be reduced from an elevated pressure (as set forth above) or atmospheric pressure to no more than 100 Torr, no greater than 75 Torr, no greater than 5 Torr, or no greater than h One of the pressures to achieve the step of vaporization. According to one embodiment, the amount (eg, chemical content) of one or more of the thermally removable chemical components remaining in the chemically wet wood after the steaming step 160981.doc -14 - 201236751 may be at least 6 wt %, at least 8 wt%, at least 10 wt%, at least 12 wt% or at least 15 wt% and/or no more than 60 wt%, no more than 40 wt%, no more than 3 wt%, no more than wt%, no More than 20 wt% or no more than 15 wt%. Ο Ο 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 heated and/or dried chemical Modified wood bundles. 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, a bundle or other item or material is referred to as "dried" for convenience only to indicate that at least the bundle has been heated by (in some embodiments) heating. A portion of at least some of the thermally removable chemicals are removed. In the embodiment, the heating step is operable to reduce the amount of one or more thermally removable chemical components present in the wood. The energy source utilized during the heating step may be suitable for heating and/or drying the wood--, conduction and/or convection energy sources. In one embodiment, the heating benefit is to use a microwave heater. In another embodiment, another source of heat may be utilized to directly or indirectly (via (for example) hot gas entanglement, a lost sleeve or heat traceable container or other means) to heat at least a portion of the granulator, such as ( For example) - or multiple side walls. In this embodiment, the sidewalls can be heated to at least 45. (:, at least hunger or to two c and / or no more than 115 < 5 (:, no more than 1 〇 5. 〇 or not greater than the price - temperature. This heating step can be carried out under any suitable conditions, including high 160981. Doc 15 201236751 Pressure at, at or near atmospheric pressure. Specific embodiments of various heating systems suitable for use in the production of chemically modified and/or thermally modified wood will be discussed in detail later. So that at least 50%, at least 65 / 〇 'at least 75% or at least 95% of the total amount of one or more of the thermally removable chemical components remaining in the chemically wet wood is removed. In one embodiment, This may correspond to removing at least 1 lb, at least 25 lbs, at least 5 lbs, or at least 10,000 lbs of total liquid. As a result of one of the heating steps, in one embodiment, based on the edges The initial (preheated) weight of the bundle, the heated or dried chemically modified wood may include no more than 5 wt%, no more than 4 wt%, no more than 3 wt〇 /, no more than 2 wt% or no more than 1 One or more of the one or more thermally removable chemicals (eg, acetic acid). Additionally, based on the The initial (preheated) weight of the material, the heated or dried chemically modified wood may have no more than 6 wt%, no more than 5 wt%, no more than 3 wt%, no more than 2 wt% or no more than 1 wt% Or a water content of not more than 0.5 wt%. In one embodiment, after the heating step, the wood may have a water content of approximately one %. In the embodiment, the chemical upgrading step and the heating step may be Occurs in a container towel in the morning. In another embodiment, the chemical modification step and the heating step can be carried out in a separate container such that the internal volume of the chemical upgrading reactor and the heater are different in position. As used herein, "internal volume" of a container means that the space as a whole encompassed by the container contains any volume defined by the door(s) of the container when closed or within the door. As used herein, The words "different in position" mean that the internal volume does not overlap. When the chemical upgrading reactor and heater comprise separate containers, it can be 160981.doc 】 6 201236751 with various types of wood conveying systems to Between two containers Wood is delivered. In one embodiment, the wheeling system can include rails (as illustrated in Figure 、), rails, skins ▼, hooks, rollers (as illustrated in Figure 3), strips, handling Cars, electrified vehicles, stackers, pulleys, turntables (as illustrated in Figure 2) and their combinations - will now be discussed in detail in Figures 1-3

Various Embodiments of a Wood Treatment Facility capable of producing chemically modified and/or thermally modified wood Referring now to Figure 1, an embodiment of a wood treatment facility 10 is illustrated as including a chemical upgrading system. A heating system 3, a conveying system, and a raw material storage area 60a and a finished material storage area 6〇b. The chemical upgrading system 20 includes a chemical upgrading reactor 22, a reactor heating system, and a selective reactor pressurization/depressurization system 26. The heating system 3 includes a heater 32, an energy source 34, and a heater pressurization/decompression system %. The conveyor system 40 includes a plurality of conveyor sections 42a through 42e for transporting wood between the storage areas 6a, 6b, the reactor 22 and the heater 32, as will be explained in detail below. In operation, one or more wood bundles may be removed from the stock storage area 6& via the transport section 42&; Although illustrated in the figures as including rails or rails, it should be understood that the transport section 423 can include any type of transport mechanism suitable for moving wood between the storage area 6a and the reactor 22. As shown in Figure 木材, wood can then be introduced or loaded into reactor 22 via an open reactor inlet door 28. Thereafter, the first reactor inlet door 28 can be closed to permit chemical modification of the wood disposed within the reactor 22 in accordance with one or more of the processes set forth above. 160981.doc 201236751 Once the reaction is complete, the chemically wet wood can be withdrawn from the reactor 22 and sent to the heated crucible 32. According to the embodiment, the chemically wet wood can be removed from the reactor 22 via the reactor af128 and delivered to the heater 32 via the transport section. In another embodiment, the wood can be removed via a selective reactor outlet door 29 and delivered to the heater port via delivery section 42c, as shown in the figures. Then 'the wetted wood can be introduced or loaded into the heater 32 via an open heater inlet door (4), and then the open heater inlet door 38 can be closed to thereby pass the heater inlet door 38 prior to the heating of the starting wood. A fluid seal is formed with the body of the heater 32. When there is a choice of reactor outlet door 29 and a heater outlet door 39, the outlet door "" can be located generally outside of the reactor 22 and heater 32 except for the respective reactor inlet door 28 and heater inlet door 38. On the opposite end. In various embodiments, during heating of the wood within the heater 32, the pressurization system 36 can be used to maintain a pressure within the heater 32 to no greater than 55 Torr, no greater than 450 Torr, no greater than 350 Torr, and no greater than 25 The chin rest is not more than 200 Torr, not more than 150 Torr, not more than 1 Torr or not more than 75 Torr. In one embodiment, the vacuum system is operable to reduce the pressure in the heater 32 to no more than 10 mTorr (1 〇 3 Torr), no more than 5 mTorr, no more than 2 mTorr, no more than 1 mA. Support, no more than 0.5 mTorr or no more than 毫 1 mTorr. Additionally, 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 later. Energy is introduced into the interior of the heater 3 2 thereby heating and/or drying at least a portion of the wood bundle contained therein. 160981.doc -18- 201236751 According to an embodiment, the wood treatment facility 1 may include a plurality of 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. By way of example, the wood treatment facility 10 can utilize at least one, at least two, at least three, at least five, and/or no more than ten, no more than eight, or no more than six 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 an embodiment, one or more of the reactors and/or heaters may include separate inlet and outlet doors, while in another embodiment, one or more of the reactors and/or heaters may include A single door for loading and unloading timber. In the example, 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 6〇b via the delivery section 42d. Alternatively, the wood can be withdrawn via a selected heater outlet door 39 (if present) and conveyed via section 426 to the storage area 6 sen, as illustrated in FIG. Various configurations of wood processing facilities employing multiple reactors and heaters configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described with respect to Figures 2 and 3. Turning now to Figure 2, a wood processing facility 110 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 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 one embodiment, each of the reactors 122a, 122b, 122n and each of the heaters 132a, 132b, 132n, 160981.doc -19-201236751, includes one for selectively permitting access to each container. One of the passages of wood is a single door 128a, 128b, 128n, 138a, 138b, 138n. Additionally, the wood treatment facility 110 can include a rotatable platform (illustrated as a turntable 14A). The beta metastable platform is operable to position a bundle of wood 1 〇 2 so as to be traversable in various directions (generally by arrows 19 〇 A to 190c indicate) transporting the bundle of wood between the reactors 122a, 122b, 122n, the heaters 132, 132b, 132n and a storage area 16A. Referring now to Figure 3, another embodiment of a wood processing facility 210 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 respective reactor inlet gate 228a, 228n 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 24A shown in Figure 3 includes a plurality of segments 242 &242" and 24A to 244e' that are operable to deliver wood to the reactors 222a, 222n and heaters 232a, 232b, 232n, from The reactor and the heaters transport the wood and transport 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 transport 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 complete, the chemically wetted wood can be removed from reactor 222a via reactor inlet port 22 and can then be passed through separate delivery sections μ. 160981.doc -20- 201236751 242f, 242g delivers it to one of the heaters 232a, 232b or 232n. 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 23 2a, 23 2b, and 23 2η may include a microwave heater. Once the heating step is completed, the heated and/or dried bundles can be passed through the respective inlet gates 238a, 238b, 238n or, as desired, via respective outlet gates 239a, 239b, 239n (when present) from the heaters 232a, 232b And 232η extracted. Subsequently, the end-view modified beam is removed from the heater inlet doors 238a, 238b, 238n or the heater exit doors 239a, 239b, 239n, which may be via the transport segments 242h, 242i, 242j or 244c, 244d, 244e The beam is delivered 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 50 feet, seesaw feet, at least 1 million board feet, at least 2.5 million. A commercial scale facility with one of the board feet or at least 5 million board feet per year. As used herein, the term "plate foot" means a volume of wood expressed in units of 144 cubic feet. For example, a board with 2 160981.doc • 21· 201236751, 4 inches by 36 inches in size has a volume of 288 cubic inches or 2 feet. In various embodiments, the internal volume of a single chemical upgrading reactor (ie, "internal reactor volume") and/or a single heater internal volume (ie, "internal heater volume") can be At least 100 cubic feet at least 5 feet cubic feet, at least! , 〇〇〇 cubic feet, at least, cubic feet, at least 5, 〇〇〇 cubic feet or at least 10,000 cubic feet to accommodate commercial scale operations. When P is used on a commercial scale, the chemical and/or thermal upgrading process as described in this article can also be carried out on a 1 day p Μ π π m j with a relatively short total cycle time. For example, 'in accordance with the embodiment, using one or more systems of the present invention, and/or the total cycle of the thermal upgrading process _ the time of the initial reforming step is measured until the time of completing the heating step It may 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 10 hours, 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 present invention, the wood treatment facility of the present invention may include one or more steam containment chambers and/or aeration structures for substantially isolating the external environment during transport of the wood (ie, immediately following chemical modification) Chemically modified wood with chemical wetting: The steam holding chamber and/or the venting structure can be connected to a venting system that is self-contained/ventilated At least a portion of the gaseous environment is removed 'by thereby minimizing - or a plurality of undesired vapor state chemicals are leaked into the external environment. Additional details and an embodiment of a wood treatment facility using steam to accommodate 160981.doc • 22-201236751 to and/or a venting structure will now be described in more detail with respect to Figure W4d. Figure 4a is a top plan view of one of the vapor containing chambers 360 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 an embodiment, the vapor containing chamber 36A can be coupled to a venting system (not shown in Figure 4a) operable to remove at least a portion of the steam and gas from the interior of the steam containing chamber 360, thereby reducing, Leakage of one or more of the thermally removable chemical components contained within the interior of the reactor 322, within the interior of the heater 332, and/or from the chemically modified wood bundle to the external environment is minimized or prevented. In one embodiment, the chemical upgrading reactor 322 can include a reactor inlet gate 328 for receiving a bundle of wood from an external environment and for discharging the chemical upgrading reactor 322 after chemical upgrading. One of the wood bundles reacts to the exit gate 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 door 339 for separating a bundle of wood from heater 332 from the heater inlet door. In one embodiment, the respective reactor inlet gate 328 and heater inlet gate 338 and the reactor outlet gate or heater outlet gate 339 (when present) may be positioned at one of the reactor 322 or heater 332 160981. Doc -23· 201236751 generally opposite ends such that the respective center extension axes of the reactor 322 and the heater buckle (shown as axes 37〇a, 3鸠 in Figure 4b) extend through the respective inlets 328, 338 and Out σ 329, 339. In the embodiment, reactor 322 and heater 332 are axially aligned with each other such that central elongated shafts 370a, 370b in Figure 4b are substantially aligned with one another, while in other embodiments shafts 37a, 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 axes of elongation in each of them is no more than 2 inches. . In some embodiments, the maximum acute angle of the substantially aligned container may be no greater than one. . No more than 5. No more than 2. Or = at 1. In certain embodiments, reactor 322 and heater 332 can be configured in 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. 160981 .doc •24- 201236751 Steamed Shibuya Room 360 can be configured in any suitable way. In one embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 & and Park, the 'steam containment chamber 36' includes four generally upstanding walls 342a through 342d coupled to a ceiling structure 344 and a floor (not shown), although in Figure 4a And 4b is illustrated as being generally attached to the ceiling junction 344, but for removing steam and gas from the interior of the steam containment chamber 360. 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 vapor containment chamber 3 60 will be explained in more detail later. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the walls 3423 to 342d may include at least one drum for controlling a direction of pressure release in the event of an explosion or rapid pressurization in one of the vapor containing chambers 36A. Wind panel or blast wall 343. In one embodiment, the blast plate 343 can be attached to the ceiling 344 and/or floor (not shown) of the steam containment chamber 360. The blower panel or wall 343 can be hinged, tethered, or otherwise fastened to another structure of the steam containment chamber 360 to avoid or reduce the blower panel or wall 343 from exiting the steam valley chamber 360 due to an explosion. The possibility that the direction arbitrarily bulges at an undesired speed. The blast plate or wall 343 can have a substantially solid surface (as shown in the servant) or can include a plurality of slats or slots (not shown). Typically, the wall 342a to "Μ 2 is not a section of the blast plate/wall 343 constructed of a high strength material such as, for example, a precast concrete slab, concrete block or steel plate. Although illustrated herein as having Four walls, but it should be understood that steam storage chambers having various other shapes may also be employed. As illustrated in Figure 4c, the vapor containing chamber 36A may be equipped with means for selectively permitting fluid to flow from the external environment to the vapor containing chamber 16098l.doc -25· 201236751 One or more vents 370a, 370b in the interior of the 36. In one embodiment the vents 370a, 37Gb are unidirectional vents that permit fluid to flow from the external environment to the vapor containment In chamber 360 (as indicated by arrows 38〇a, 38〇b in Figure 4c), the extension reduces, inhibits or substantially prevents fluid from being inside the vapor containing chamber 36〇 out into the external environment. 37〇a, 37〇b Flow to Steam = Examples of external fluids in the chamber 360 include ambient air or—or multiple inert gases (such as nitrogen). In one embodiment, the vents 370a, 37〇b may Configured to dimension A predetermined pressure difference between the interior of the vapor containing chamber 360 and the external environment. By maintaining a predetermined pressure differential between the interior of the vapor containing chamber 360 and the external environment, the vents 370a, 370b can be controlled from the external environment - The rate at which fluid is drawn into the vapor containing chamber 360. To maintain a relative pressure differential between the interior and exterior environment of the vapor containing chamber 36, the vents (10), POb may be equipped for ribs based on spanning vents 37a, 37 The pressure difference is used to change the vent hole 37〇a, the degree of openness of the employee—the control mechanism (for example, an electronic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or a mechanical magazine). When the pressure difference between the interiors of the steam containing chambers 36 is too high, the vent holes 37a, 370b are opened wider, and similarly, when the pressure difference is too low, the vent holes 370a, 37b are turned toward one off. Positional movement. In one embodiment, the vents 37a, 3鸠 may be loaded with a spring and offset toward the closed position such that when the pressure difference between the vapor containing chamber 36 and the external environment is below a threshold When the value is turned off The air holes 37〇a, 37〇b, but when the pressure in the steam containing chamber 360 is lower than the external environment by more than one of the threshold pressure difference, the 'holes 37Ga, 37_ are placed to allow the fluid to be extracted 160981.doc -26 - 201236751 to the steam accommodating chamber 360. Further, when the vent holes 37〇a, 37〇b are loaded with springs, the vent holes are automatically opened wider when the pressure difference is high, and when the pressure difference is low Automatically moving toward the closed position to help maintain a constant pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the vapor containing chamber. In one embodiment, the vapor containing chamber 360 is maintained at - low pressure during the pumping and is Maintain at least 0_05 water column logarithm, at least Q" water column English leaf number or to New 15 water column inch number and / or not more than 10 water column inch number, not more than water column column inch number or not more than 0 · 5 7K column The number of miles in the UK - vacuum. In an embodiment, the vents 370a, 370b are configured to permit a rate of fluid to be drawn from the vapor containing chamber 36A at least 2 exchanges per hour, at least 4 parent exchanges, or at least 5 exchanges per hour. The external environment (e.g., ambient air) is drawn into the steam containing chamber 360, wherein one exchange is equal to one volume of the steam containing chamber 36. As used herein, the term "hours of exchange 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 by the total system. Volume to calculate. In one embodiment, the vapor containing chamber 36 is sized 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 20 feet. In one embodiment, the length of the vapor containing chamber may be the same or substantially the same as the distance between the reactor 322 and the heater 332. According to one 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 1:1, at least 〇2:1, or at least 〇3:1. And / or zero 27 · 160981.doc 201236751 no more than 1:1, no more than 0.6:1 or no more than 0.5:1. When the spacing between reactor 322 and heater 332 is minimized, reactor outlet door 329 and heater inlet door 338 may be able to contact 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 can be substantially reduced and in some embodiments can substantially prevent vapor from the chemically treated wood bundle exiting heater 332 and/or steam exiting reactor 322 and/or heater 332 from escaping. To the external environment. As shown in Figure 4d, the vapor containment chamber 360 and product vapor removal system 400 can be coupled or otherwise operatively coupled to a common venting system 402. The venting system 402 is for extracting steam and gas from the vapor containing chamber 360 and/or passing it through the product vapor removal system 400. Although Figure 4d illustrates one common venting system 402 for both the vapor containment chamber 360 and the product vapor removal system 400, an individual venting system can 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 400 includes a venting shroud 404 and a venting chamber 406 disposed between the venting shroud 404 and the heater 332. The venting cap 404 and the venting chamber 406 can be coupled to a venting system 160981.doc -28-201236751 402, and the venting system 402 draws steam from the venting shroud 404 and/or the plenum 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 plenum chamber 406 can be equipped with a venting chamber outlet 408 through which the chemically modified wood material passes to a cooling location below the venting hood 404. In one embodiment, the plenum outlet 408 can be equipped with a door 409 that substantially isolates the exterior environment from the interior of the plenum 406 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 370a, 370b of the steam containing chamber 360 previously described with reference to Figure 4c. However, in another embodiment, the plenum outlet 408 is configured to continually permit fluid to pass from the external environment into the interior of the plenum 406. In this embodiment, the plenum outlet 408 can be fully open to permit free flow of fluid therethrough. Alternatively, the plenum outlet 408 may be partially covered with a flexible material (eg, a suspended VISQUEEN sheet or a VISQUEEN strip) that permits passage of chemically treated wood bundles therethrough, but at least partially inhibits The free flow of fluid through it. 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 402 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 modify 160981.doc -29-201236751 from one or more components of the vapor extracted from the vapor containing chamber 360, the venting shroud 404, and/or the plenum 406 via the vacuum generator 410. The composition of at least part of it. Examples of suitable processing means may include, but are not limited to, a scrubber, a thermal oxidizer, a catalytic oxidizer or other catalytic process and/or a precipitator. According to an embodiment, the flow director 414 is operable to direct steam flow among the steam outlet conduits 349a, 349b, 349c, for example, thereby in the steam containment chamber 360 and the product vapor removal structure (eg, a venting hood) The total venting capacity of the venting system 402 is distributed between 404 and/or the plenum 406) to adjust the total venting capacity of the vacuum generator 410. As used herein, the term "total venting capacity" refers to the maximum vapor volume that can be removed via a vacuum generator or other source system, expressed as a time based rate. For example, the distribution of the total venting capacity among the vapor containing chamber 360, the venting shroud 404, and/or the plenum 406 can facilitate the various steps of a chemical upgrading process. In one embodiment, the flow director 414 is operable to evenly distribute the total venting capacity (generally indicated as "X") such that the V3X is provided to the vapor containing chamber 360, the V3X is provided to the venting shroud 404, and the V3X is provided to Vent chamber 406. In another exemplary embodiment, the flow director 414 can distribute more venting capacity to one of the three regions (such as, for example, the vapor accommodating chamber 366) such that 2/3X is provided to The vapor containing chamber 360 provides V6X to the vent hood 404 and V6X to the plenum 406. An embodiment of the operation of the wood treatment facility 416 will now be described in detail with respect to Figure 4d. A first wood bundle (indicated by the letter "C" herein) can be loaded into the chemical upgrading reactor 322 via a reactor inlet gate 328 and chemically treated in 160981.doc -30-201236751. At the same time, the bundle (herein indicated by the letter "' can be represented by a heater door 338 to a second wood B") is introduced into the heater 332 and heated and/or (d). When the hydrazine is chemically modified and heated/dried in the chemical upgrading reactor 322 and the force, the 332, respectively, the crucible is removed from the venting chamber 406 - the third wood bundle (indicated by the letter "eight" in the text) And position it below the venting hood 404, as generally shown in Figure 4d.

Once bundle A has been sufficiently dried, it can be removed from venting hood 404 and transported to a storage area (not shown). In turn, the drain 414 can be used to adjust the distribution of the total venting capacity of the viewing system 402 such that the amount of venting capacity assigned to the steam capacity to 360 is increased, while the amount of venting capacity dispensed to the vent 404 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 any residual steam or gas present in the heater 332 may be removed and The steam accommodating chamber 36 is passed before entering the venting system 402. In one embodiment, the evacuation of the heater 332 may also include extracting an external fluid (eg, ambient air or other inert gas) through the venting cover 4〇4 and the plenum chamber 4〇6 (when present) to In the system. The external fluid can then enter the heater 332 via the heater exit gate 339 and pass through the interior of the heater 332 before exiting the heater 332 via the heater inlet gate 338 and passing through the steaming > 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 160981.doc • 31 - 201236751 200 cubic meters per hour, the number of exchanges per hour will be (200 cubic meters per hour). / (100 cubic meters) or 2 exchanges per hour. Once the external fluid and residual steam/gas have been removed from the vapor containment chamber 3 60, the bundle B can be removed from the heater 332 via the heater outlet gate 339, passed through the plenum 406 (if present), and positioned in the hood 4 Below the crucible 4 to cool and/or progressively dry the bundle B, as discussed in detail above. 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 4〇2 can be used to evacuate residual steam or gas from the interior of 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 explained above, the external fluid and any residual steam or gas may then be exchanged via steaming outlet conduit 349a at least twice per hour, at least 4 exchanges per hour, or at least 6 exchanges per hour at a rate from the steam storage chamber. 360 pulled out. Thereafter the bundle c can be removed from the chemical upgrading reactor 322 via the reactor outlet gate 329 and passed through the vapor containing chamber along the delivery path 399. In one embodiment, the 'product venting system can be used to extract gas and steam from the vapor containing chamber 36(R) during transport of the bundle between reaction (4) 2 and heater 332. It can then be passed through the heater inlet gate 338 before the heating of the starting bundle C

160981.doc The fourth bundle (not shown) loaded into the chemical upgrading reactor 322 can be reduced to the total ventilation capacity of the treatment storage chamber 36〇•32-201236751, and added to the distribution of the ventilation cover 404 to borrow This cools and/or further drys the bundle B. A fifth bundle (not shown) is assembled in the -loading zone (not shown) or in the vicinity of the reactor population door before repeating the steps mentioned above to process the new wood bundle sequence. 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 interchanged. The above sequence of steps is included merely to illustrate one exemplary method of operating wood processing system 416. 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 an embodiment of the wood treatment facility described above, the microwave force oral heat system configured according to the embodiment of the present month is also widely applicable to a wide variety of other processes. It should be understood that although the process for heating "wood" or "wood bundle" is generally described herein, the processes and systems described in this document are equally applicable to heating one or more articles therein, Object or load application. 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 ceramics and metal sintering, melting, brazing, and heat treatment of various materials. In one embodiment, the microwave heating system can include a vacuum system (eg, a sinister 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 vacuum drying of the fiber mold and vacuum drying of the chemical solution. Turning now to Figure 5, a microwave system 160981.doc-33-201236751 thermal system 420 is configured to include at least one microwave generator 422, a microwave heater 430, a microwave distribution, configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system 44 and a selected vacuum system 450 ° microwave energy produced by the microwave generator 422 can be directed to the microwave heater 43 via one or more components of the microwave distribution system 440 (^ will be discussed in detail later with respect to the microwave distribution system 44 Additional details of the components and operation. When present, the vacuum system 450 is operable to reduce the pressure in the microwave heater 430 to no more than 550 Torr, no more than 45 Torr, no more than 35 Torr, and no more than 250 Torr. No more than 2 Torr, no more 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 43 0 Up to 1 〇 milliTorr (1〇_3 Torr), no more than $mTorr, no more than 2 mTorr, no more than 丨 millitorr, no more than 〇5 mTorr or no more than 〇.1 mTorr. The components of the microwave heating system 42 are discussed in detail below. Each of the microwave generators 42 2 can be any device capable of producing or generating microwave energy. As used herein, the term "microwave energy" means having a frequency between 3 MHz and 30 GHz. Electromagnetic energy. As used herein, the term "between" and "in the context" is intended to include the recited endpoints. For example, a number "between ♦" can be "" Any value between X and y. In the embodiment, the various configurations of the microwave plus (four) system can utilize microwave energy having a frequency of 9丨5 shame or a frequency of the mail, the two frequencies It has been generally designated as an industrial microwave frequency. Examples of suitable types of microwave generators may include, but are not limited to, magnetrons, speed-adjusting heads, traveling wave tubes, and shouting tubes. In various implementations, a multi-unit 422 may be capable of Delivery (eg, with the following - maximum rotation) at least 160981.doc • 34· 201236751 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 i5 〇kW, at least 200 kW, at least 250 kW, at least 350 kW, at least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 6 00 kW, at least 750 kW or at least i,00〇1^ and/or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,500 kW or no more than i, 〇〇〇 kW. Although illustrated as including a microwave generator 422, microwave heating System 42A can include two or more microwave generators that are configured in stages 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 microwave heater 430 can be 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. Turning to Fig. 6, an embodiment of a microwave heater 530 is illustrated as including a container body 532 and access for selectively permitting and blocking access to one or more items of the interior 536 of the microwave heater 530. Or pass one of the doors. In the embodiment, the container body of the microwave heater 53() is said to be extendable along a central extension axis 535 which can be oriented in a substantially horizontal direction' as illustrated in FIG. The container body 532 can have any suitable shape

New or big] t爿 face. In the embodiment, the cross-section of the container M2 is: rounded or rounded, and rounded in another embodiment. According to one embodiment, the container body has a profile such as J 16098 丨.doc • 35- 201236751 and/or the shape may vary in the direction of elongation, while in another embodiment, the shape and/or size of the profile may remain substantial. Same on 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 may be at least 3 feet, at least 5 feet, at least 丨〇 feet, at least 12 央 feet, at least 18 feet, at least 2 feet, at least 25 feet, or at least 30 feet and/or not More than 25 feet, no more than 汕 feet or no more than 15 feet. In one embodiment, the ratio of the length of the microwave heater 530 to its inner diameter (L:D) (ld) may be at least 1:1, at least 2:1, at least 3^, at least 4:1, at least 6 : 1. At least 8:1, at least 1〇:1 and/or no more than 5〇丨, no more than 40:1 or no more than 25:1. Microwave heater 530 can be constructed from any suitable material. The microwave heater 530 may comprise at least one electrically conductive and/or highly reflective material. Examples of suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, selected carbon steels, non-recorded steels, nickel alloys, alloys, and copper alloys. The microwave heater 53 can be constructed almost entirely from a single material' or various materials can be used to construct various portions of the microwave heater 530. For example, in one embodiment, microwave heating β 530 can be constructed from a first material and can then be coated or layered on at least a portion of its inner and/or outer surface. In an embodiment 160981.doc • 36 · 201236751, the coating or layer may comprise one or the other of the metals or alloys listed above and in another embodiment, the coating or layer may comprise Glass, polymer or other dielectric material. The microwave heater 530 can define one or more spaces suitable for receiving a load. For example, in an embodiment, the microwave heater 530 can be defined, configured to receive and hold one or more wood bundles (not shown in FIG. 6) - the beam receiving space <= the load ( For example, wood) can be placed in a static or dynamic manner within the interior 536 of the microwave heater 53A. For example, in one embodiment in which the load is statically positioned in the microwave heater 530, the load can be relatively inactive during heating and a static positioning device (not shown) can be used (such as, for example, a shelf, A platform, a parked truck-carrying belt or the like is held in place. In another embodiment in which the load is dynamically positioned within the microwave heater 53A, 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). Examples of dynamic positioning devices may include, but are not limited to, continuous moving belts, rollers, horizontal and/or vertical oscillating platforms, and rotating platforms, in one embodiment, one or more dynamic positioning devices may be used for a substantially continuous In the process, one or more static positioning 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 leakage of fluid and/or microwave energy into and out of container interior 536 during processing. . As illustrated in Fig. 6, the container body 532 and the door 534 may each have a respective body side sealing surface 53 1 and a door side sealing surface 533. In one embodiment, 160981 .doc • 37. 201236751 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 53 1 and the door side sealing surface 533 are in direct physical contact with each other. The door 534 is sealed against the door side sealing surface 533 and the body side sealing surface 531 at least partially compressed for fluidly isolating the interior of the microwave heater 530 from an external environment (not shown in FIG. 6). One or more resilient sealing members form an indirect seal between the door and the container body 532. 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, the procedure entitled "Spraying Testing" as set forth in the document entitled "Helium Leak Detection Techniques" issued by Alcatel Vacuum Techn〇i〇gy is subjected to the use of a VaHan Model No. 93841 detector. The direct or indirect sealing formed between the container body 532 and the door 534 during the leak test performed by B1 may cause the microwave heater 530 to have no more than 1 at or near the junction of the body 532 and the door 534. 〇-2 Torr. liters/second, no more than 1 〇·4 Torr/sec or no more than 1 〇8 Torr. In one embodiment, the 7 fluid seal may be particularly advantageous when the environment inside the microwave heater 530 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 chopper heater 530 from the container body 532 when the door 534 is closed. The energy leakage is, for example, at or near the junction of the door 534 and the container body 532). As used herein, the term "flow blocker" means _ microwave container operable 160981.doc • 38-201236751 to reduce the amount of energy leakage from the container or the escape of the container during application of microwave energy. A device or component. 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. 90% of any device. In one embodiment of the invention, the microwave choke is operable to operate with a wideband isotropic radiation monitor (300 MHz to 18 GHz) with a \3"3 1^(^〇111^ model 83 00) Allow no more than 5 〇mW/cm2 (mw/cm2), no more than 25 mW/cm2, no more than 10 mW/cm2, no more than 5 mw/cm2 or no more than 2 mW/cm2 when measuring 5 cm from the container. The microwave energy leaks from the heater through the choke. Further 'compared to a conventional microwave choke (which typically fails when subjected to low air pressure) - a microwave choke configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention Operable to substantially inhibit microwave energy leakage even under full vacuum conditions. For example, in one embodiment, a microwave spoiler as described herein can inhibit microwave energy leakage from the heater to the above The pressure in the microwave heater is not more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 2 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. In one embodiment, a microwave choke as described herein can suppress microwave energy The heater leaks to a pressure of no more than 10 mTorr〇〇-3 Torr in the microwave heater as described above, no more than 5 mTorr, no more than 2 mTorr, no more than [MTorr, no more than 〇 Further, the microwave choke can maintain a level of material leakage prevention on a large unit, such as, for example, having at least a level of no more than 0.1 mTorr. 5kw, at least 30kw, at least 50kw, 160981.doc •39- 201236751 at least 60 kW, at least 65 kW, at least 75 kw, at least i〇〇kw, at least 150 kW, at least 200 kW, at least 25〇kw, at least 35〇kw At least 400 kW, at least 500 kW, at least 600 kw, at least 75 〇kw or at least 1,000 kW and/or no more than 2,5 〇 G kW, no more than 丨' then kw or no more than 1,000 kW Microwave heater with microwave energy input rate. In one embodiment, 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), substantially absent Arcing occurs near the choke 650. As used herein, The term "arcing" refers to an undesired, uncontrolled discharge resulting at least in part by ionization of a surrounding fluid. Arcing (which can damage equipment and materials and cause a substantial fire or explosion hazard) has a lower threshold at lower pressures (especially low pressure (e.g., vacuum) pressure). Conventional systems often limit the rate of energy input to minimize or avoid arcing. However, the microwave heater configured according to an embodiment of the present invention can be operated at a pressure system of no more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, and no more than 200 Torr. 'Not greater than Torr, no more than 75 Torr, no more than 1 〇 milliTorr (10 _ 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 〇 1 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 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, 〇〇〇kW and / or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,500 kW or not Receives microwave energy at a rate greater than 1,000 kW and can introduce 160981.doc •40· 201236751 to the microwave heater (as needed, referred to as a vacuum microwave heater or a vacuum microwave dryer) at the choke There is substantially no arcing at or near the choke. Referring now to Figure 7a, one of the microwave chokes 650 for suppressing microwave energy leakage between the "microwave heater" - the 卩1 634 and the container body 632 is provided on the real door f (4). A section of an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, when the door 634 is closed and the respective door side 633 and the 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 on the door 634 and the container body. Between 632. In one embodiment, there may 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 seal member 660, when present, can be coupled to container body 632 or (as shown in Figure 7a) coupled to door 634. According to an embodiment shown in Figure 7a, the microwave choke 65 defines a first radially extending choke chamber 652, a second radially extending choke chamber 654, and the microwave heater is turned off. The gate 634 is at least partially disposed at a radially extending baffle diversion wall 656 between the first choke chamber 652 and the second choke chamber 654. 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 snugly engaged 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 160981.doc • 41 - 201236751 (not shown in Figure 7a), the second choke chamber 654 can be at least partially defined by the container body 632 such that when the door 634 is closed The two choke chamber 654 can be positioned between the vessel body 632 and the baffle diversion wall 656 such that the baffle diversion wall 656 is substantially coupled to the vessel 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 4 G%, at least 6 G%, at least 嶋, or at least 9 (%) of the total length of the second choke chamber 654 when the door 634 is closed is reliably withdrawn from 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 the figure) may be at least 1/16 of the main wavelength length of the microwave energy inside the microwave heater. Multiple, at least 1/8 times, at least U4 times and/or no more than 丨 times, no more than 3/4 times or no more than ι/2 times. The first choke chamber 652 and/or the second choke chamber 654 are at least [foot] at least -5 feet, at least 2 feet, or at least 2.5 inches, no more than 8 feet, no more than 6 feet, or no more than $ feet. As illustrated in Figure 7b, a relative extension angle 1 can be defined in the direction of extension of the first choke chamber 652 (specified by line 69A) and the direction in which the second choke chamber 6 extends (designated by line 692) )between. In various embodiments, the relative extension angle Φ can be no greater than 60. No more than 45. No more than 3 inches. Or no more than 15°. In some embodiments, the second choke chamber 654 extends in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the first choke chamber 652, as depicted in Figure h. Eight is now provided with a partial isometric section of the microwave choke, with reference to Figure 7c'. As shown in Figure 7C, the baffle diversion wall 656 can be integrally formed into the gate 634 of 16098I.doc - 42 - 201236751. According to an embodiment, the flow guiding wall 656 can include a plurality of spaced apart open ends 670 disposed circumferentially along the flow guiding wall 656. In one embodiment, the spacing between the centerlines of each of the gaps may be 〆0.5 inches, at least 丨 吋, at least 2 inches, or at least 2 $ inches and/or no greater 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 implementation, the 彳 removal portion 651 can be removably coupled to the gate 634. As used herein, the term "removably coupled" means to attach one of the portions of the choke that can be removed without substantially damaging or destroying the container body, the flow blocker and/or the door. Pick up. In one embodiment, the removable baffle portion 65A can include at least a portion or all of the flow guiding wall 656. Figure 7d illustrates a secret wave blocker having at least one removable portion 65i. In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 7d, the flow guiding wall 656 can be coupled to the removable baffle portion 651. Removable spoiler portion Q 651 can include a plurality of removable spoiler segments 653 & 653e that are each removably coupled to door 634 or container body 632 (not shown). In one 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 1 或 or no more than 8 removable choke segments 653. Depending on the embodiment in which the removable baffle portion 651 has a large annular diameter, the respective blocker segments 653 & 6536 can be removed to have a generally arcuate shape' as shown in Figure 7d. The removable baffle portion 65 1 can be secured according to any conventional method (including (for example, 160981.doc -43· 201236751) bolts, screws, or any other type of suitable removable fastening device) To the door 634 or the container body 632. In the 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 baffle portion 651 can have a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes. For example, as illustrated in Figures 7h, the removable baffle portion 651 can define a generally dome shape (as shown in Figure k), a generally J-shape or a U-shape (as shown in Figure 7f). A section of a general shape (shown in the figure) or a general shape (as shown in Figure 711). In operation, the attachment, removal, and/or subsequent replacement may be removed without removing the container body 632 and/or the portion of the door 634 or substantially mechanically securing the container body 632 and/or the door (4). The choke portion 651 recovers the normal operation of the microwave heater. For example, in one embodiment, a plurality of individually removable spoiler segments 653 & 653e can be individually and individually attached to door 634 and/or container body 632. Then one or more may individually remove the choke section 653 and/or the entire removable baffle portion 65 when one or more portions of the microwave choke become damaged or otherwise require replacement. The crucible can be detached or removed from the container body 632 or the door 634 individually and individually and with one or more new (eg, replacement) removable spoiler segments 653 and/or a new removable spoiler portion 651. replace. 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 not greater than the total number of spoiler segments 6 5 3 a to 6 5 3 e of the removable portion 615. Known wave 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 wave performance is 160981.doc -44 - 201236751 . As used herein, the term "single mode cavity" refers to a cavity that is designed and inserted to maintain the microwave energy therein as a single, specific mode pattern. Frequently, the design and nature of a single mode cavity can limit the size of the container and/or how a load can be positioned 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 half random or unguided manner. As used herein, the term "quasi-optical mode cavity" refers to a cavity or to 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. Turning back to the microwave heating system 420 illustrated in Figure 5, the microwave distribution system 440 is operable to transfer or direct at least a portion of the microwave energy produced by the microwave generator 422 into the microwave heater 430, as briefly discussed above. As schematically shown in Fig. 5, 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 440 can 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 44^, as desired. One or more of the one or more microwave switchers (not shown) ° Additional details regarding the specific 160981.doc • 45-201236751 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 cables, coated fibers, dielectric filled waveguides, or any other type of transmission line. In one embodiment, waveguide 442 can include a waveguide segment for delivering microwave energy from microwave generation 422 to one or more of the dielectrics 444a through 444c. Waveguide 442 can be designed and constructed to propagate microwave energy in a particular primary mode. As used herein, the term "r-mode" refers to a pattern of substantially solid-state profile fields of microwave energy. In one embodiment of the invention, waveguide 442 can be configured to propagate microwave energy in a TE^ mode, where $ is an integer from 3 to 5 and 3; In another embodiment of the invention, the waveguide 442 can be configured to propagate microwave energy in a singular mode, where & 〇 and b is an integer from one of the ranges of 1 to 5. It will be understood that as used herein, the above defined ranges of alpha, &, 1 and minor values when 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 "ΤΜα6" or "ΤΕ〇" components, 'for each component, α, 6, λ: and/or less Values can be the same or different. In one embodiment, the values of alpha, stone, 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 160981.doc -46 - 201236751 442 can include a τ Ε叮 waveguide having a generally rectangular cross section, while in another embodiment, at least a portion of the waveguide 442 can include TMfl6 waveguide with a generally circular cross section. According to an embodiment of the invention, the circular section waveguide may have a diameter of at least 8 inches, at least 1 inch, at least 12 inches, at least 24 inches, at least 36 inches, or at least 4 inches. In another embodiment, the rectangular section waveguide may have a short dimension of at least 丨 吋, at least 2 inches, at least 3 inches, and/or no more than 6 inches, no more than 5 inches, or no more than 4 inches. 'The long dimension 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 schematically illustrated in Figure 5, the microwave distribution system 44A can include one or more mode transition segments 446 that are operable to change the mode of microwave energy therethrough. For example, mode converter 446 can include a mode for changing at least a portion of the microwave energy from one ΤΜαδ mode to one ΤΕχ; one of modes ΤΜα6 to ΤΕ” mode converter. In another embodiment, mode conversion Segment 446 may include one of the TE^ to ΤΜαδ mode converters for receiving the TMai mode energy and converting and discharging the microwave energy in a TE^ mode. The values of α, 6, ^, and ^ may be within the ranges previously set forth. The microwave distribution system 44A can include any number of mode converters 446, and in one embodiment can include at least one, at least two, at least three, or at various locations within the microwave distribution system 44A. At least 4 mode converters. Turning again to FIG. 5, the microwave distribution system 440 can include receiving microwave energy from the generator 422 via the waveguide 442 and emitting or discharging at least a portion of the microwave energy to the interior of the microwave heater 430. One or more of the microwave emissions 160981.doc • 47· 201236751 444. As used herein, the term "microwave emitter" or "transmitter" refers to the ability to transmit microwave energy to a micro The internal heater of an apparatus according to any of. The microwave distribution system according to various embodiments of the present invention may employ at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 8, at least 1 and/or no more than 1 、, no more than (9) or no more than 25 microwave emitters. The microwave emitter can be adapted - suitable for shape and/or size and constructed from any material, including, for example, selected carbon steel, stainless steel, nickel alloys, aluminum alloys, and copper alloys. In embodiments where the microwave distribution system 440 includes two or more microwave emitters, each emitter may be made of the same material, while in another embodiment, two or more emitters may 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 a plurality of array converters 446, if any. Thereafter, the microwave energy in the waveguide 442 can be split into two or more separate microwave portions as desired before being directed to one or more microwave emitters (illustrated as (4) to 444 图 in FIG. 5 (eg, As shown in Figure 5, at least three portions) microwave transmitters 444 & to * (4) may be partially or wholly disposed within microwave heater 43A and operable to transmit via one or more spaced apart At least one portion of the microwave energy that is passed to it: introduced or launched into the interior of the heater 43, thereby heating and/or drying

Women placed in them, things, fighting, A thousand things. ° or load, including, 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 is provided a number of embodiments of a microwave heating system 160981.doc-48-201236751 configured in accordance with the present invention. 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 'guards' 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. Used in. Turning now to Figures 8 & 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. One of the 73 微波 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, and no greater than 35 Torr. , not more than 3 〇〇 不 no more than 250 Torr, no more than 20 〇 、, no more than 15 〇 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不 不Not more than 5 mTorr, not more than 2 mTorr, not more than 1 mTorr, not more than 0.5 mTorr or not more than (^ 丨 mTorr. One or more embodiments of the microwave heating system 72 下文 will be 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, the elongated wave V-emitter 760 can only extend horizontally within the interior of the microwave heater 73. As used herein, the term "substantially horizontal" means 1 in the horizontal plane. In one embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 is 160981.doc - 49-201236751 The ratio of the length to the total length of the internal space of the microwave heater 730 may be, for example, at least 0.3··· at least 〇.5:1, at least 〇75:1 or at least 〇9〇/ at-item In an embodiment, the substantially horizontally extending elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be located at an upper or lower half of the interior volume of the microwave heater and can be disposed at least partially or integrally vertically at the heating 738 and Upon selection of a heater exit door (not shown), the optional exit door (if present) is placed on the substantially opposite end of the microwave heater 73. As used herein, the terms "upper" and "lower" are used. "Volume" means the zone located in the vertical or lower vertical portion above the internal volume of the container. In the embodiment, the elongated waveguide emission n may, for example, be integrally disposed within the microwave heater 730 The uppermost third, quarter, or fifth of the volume is within, while in another embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be disposed, for example, in the total of the microwave heater 73 The lower third of the internal volume Within a quarter or a fifth. To measure the "top" or "lowest" fraction of the total internal volume as described above, from the top or bottommost wall of each container A portion of the cross-section of the container from which the central portion of the desired portion of the profile (eg, one-third, one-time, or one-fifth) extends may extend along the central axis of elongation to thereby define the "uppermost" portion of the inner container space or The "lowermost" fractional volume. As shown in Figure 8a, the microwave heater 730, which can be configured to receive and heat a bundle of wood, includes a heater inlet door 738, optionally configured to allow for a The wood bundle 702 is introduced into one of a bundle of receiving spaces 739 (not shown). Although illustrated as being in direct contact, it should be understood that the bundle 702 can also include one or more spacers disposed between the plates or "adhering I6098l.doc • 50-201236751

Ο物". 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 73 8 of the microwave heater 730. When the microwave heater 730 includes a separate heater exit gate 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 gate 73 8 . Reference to "inlet" and "outlet" doors in this embodiment is not limiting, and bundle 702 can be loaded via door 739, through microwave heater 730, and unloaded via door 738, as desired. Moreover, in another embodiment, when, for example, no exit door 739 is selected, the bundle 702 can be loaded (inserted) from the entry door 738 and unloaded (removed) from the entry door 738. In one embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 76 can be positioned in the microwave heater 730 in the mass below the beam 7〇2 (not shown) or above such that when the beam 702 passes to the heater 73 It is not necessary to move, remove, withdraw or otherwise reposition the elongated emitter when the interior of the heater 73 is driven out and/or through the interior of the heater 73. Referring now to Figure 8b', an elongated waveguide emission is provided - a partial detail, etc., depending on the ®. In an embodiment, the elongated waveguide emitter 760y is substantially hollow and includes - or a plurality of sidewalls. The "or multiple sidewalls" are configured in a variety of ways such that the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can have a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes. For example, in one embodiment, an elongated waveguide emitter can have a single sidewall with an m-shaped circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape. In another embodiment, the waveguide emitter 760, which is not elongated as shown in Figure 8b, can include four substantially planar sidewalls 764Q 764d that are configured to be - generally rectangular laterally (or 160981.doc • 51 - 201236751 In another embodiment, a square) profile configuration imparts a transmitter to the elongated waveguide transmitter 760 that can be configured to propagate in any suitable mode (including cardiac and/or cardiac modes) and/or The microwave energy is emitted as previously discussed in detail; the elongated waveguide transmitter 76 can comprise an elongated TExy transmitter 'and in an embodiment, a commercially available rectangular waveguide size can be implemented, Such as WR284, WR43 (^WR34〇. The specific dimensions of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be any suitable size, and can be custom made in the two embodiments. As illustrated, the elongation One or more sidewalls of the waveguide emitter 76(s) may define a plurality of emission openings for discharging or emitting microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 730. Although illustrated in FIG. End - big The plurality of elongated slots 7673 to 767e' of the rectangular shape may have any suitable shape for the firing opening 767e. Each of the elongated slots 7673 to 76 may define a length (specified in Figure 8b) "L") and - width (designated as "w" in the figure). In one embodiment, the length to width (L:W) ratio of the elongated groove 76 or even 767e may be (for example, At least 2:1, at least 3:1, at least or at least 5: 1. Additionally, as shown in the ribs, the elongated grooves 767 & 76 can be oriented at various angles relative to the horizontal plane. In one embodiment The elongated grooves 767a to 767e may be, for example, at least 1 〇, at least 20, at least 30, and/or, for example, not more than 8 〇, not more than %, relative to the horizontal plane. Not more than 60. One of the angular extensions. In one embodiment, each of the elongated grooves 767a through 767e can have the same shape, size, and/or orientation. In one embodiment, the individual is elongated The groove 76 is up to the shape of 767e, the size of 160981.doc •52-201236751 is small and/or the orientation can be different β

The shape, size, and/or orientation of the grooves 767a to 767e of the heart elongation can be changed by the distribution of the energy emitted by the waveguide emitter 760. The answer sheet A 〇 1 丄 is shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b as uncovered, but one or the guest gamma & 4 multiple launch openings 767 may be substantially adjacent to the launch opening or Covered by a cover structure (not shown), the - or a plurality of overlays, σ, can be known to prevent the flow of fluid into and out of the opening 767 but allow microwave energy to be discharged therefrom. 0 as shown in Figure 8b. The emission openings 767 767a to 767e may be at least partially or wholly bounded by one or more of the elongated waveguide emitters 76 侧壁 76 or 764d. In one embodiment, the thickness of the emission openings 767a to 767e Up to 50%, at least 75%, at least 85%, or at least 9% (for example) may be defined by one or more of the side walls 764 & 764d. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 发射 'emitter opening 767 & to 7676 may be at least partially or wholly defined by two substantially upstanding sidewalls 764a, 764c. As used herein, the technique ecr is substantially erected" means 30 in the vertical plane. Inside. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 764a through 764d of the elongated emitter 760 can be relatively thick. In other embodiments, the sidewalls 76 乜 to 764 £1 can be relatively thin. For example, the average thickness of the sidewalls 764a to 764d (designated as λ: in Fig. 8b) may be at least ι/32 (〇. 〇3 125) inches, at least 1/8 (0. 125) miles, at least 3/16 (0'1875) miles and/or (for example) no more than 1/2 (0. 5) English leaves, no more than 1/4 (0. 25) Miles, no more than 3/16 (0. 1875) English 11 inches or no more than 1/8 (0. 125) Miles. According to an embodiment in which one or more sidewalls of the elongated waveguide emitter 760 are relatively thin, the elongated waveguide emitter 760 can be at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 160981. . Doc -53· 201236751 One of the 95% microwave emission efficiencies transmits microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 730. As used herein, the term "microwave emission efficiency" can be defined by converting the result of the following equation into a percentage: (total energy introduced into the emitter - total energy emitted from all openings in the emitter Μ introduced to The total energy in the transmitter). The transmit openings 767a through 767e can be configured along the elongated waveguide emitter 760 in accordance with any suitable configuration or configuration. In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 8b, the emission openings 767a through 767e can include a set of first emission openings (e.g., emission openings 767a, 767b) disposed on one side of the emitter 760 and disposed in the 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 emission openings and the second set of emission 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 the pair 780b are not axially aligned with each other. Although illustrated in Figure 8b as having only two pairs of emitter openings 780a, 780b, it should be understood that any desired number of pairs of emitter openings can 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, openings 767a, 767c and 160981 are disposed on opposite sides of the elongated waveguide emitter 760. Doc - 54 - 201236751 The openings 767b, 767d may be axially aligned, while in another embodiment, the relatively spaced apart openings 767a, 767c and the openings 767b, 767d may form a plurality of "near neighbor" pairs (eg, The pairs 780a, 780b include "near neighbors" openings 767a, 767e and openings 767b, 767d), respectively. By way of example, in one embodiment, 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 an embodiment, the separate opening may be open at one end, such as the end opening 767e shown in Figure 8b. According to an embodiment in which the pair of emitter openings 767a to 767d of the pair of emitters 780a, 780b of the embodiment 780a, 780b includes a pair of adjacent pairs of openings may be configured to offset as close to the neighbor pair 780a, At least a portion of the other transmit openings 767ap67d of 780b are reflected back to at least a portion of the microwave energy in the space within the waveguide 760. For example, the microwave energy reflection caused by opening 767a of 780a can be at least partially, solidly, or substantially offset by the configuration of another opening MU of 78〇&. The microwave energy reflection caused by the opening 767 in a similar manner can be offset by v-grounding, substantially or almost entirely by the configuration of the other opening 767d. Further, in the embodiment, when the emission openings 767 & 767d are disposed close to the adjacent pair, the self-opening σ pair 78() a, the emission opening of the 鸠 to the 767d is transmitted to the microwave heater 73 〇 The total amount of energy in (4) may be equal to a fraction of the total amount of microwave energy introduced into the emitter 76, and the emitter includes an N-pair emission opening and a single-ended opening. In the 'from each launch opening pair (and, or not paired open 16098 丨. The distribution of microwave energy emitted by doc -55- 201236751 mouth or single-ended opening can be expressed by the following formula: 1/(N+1). Thus, the total amount of energy emitted by each of the pairs 78〇a, 780b may be equal to the introduction to the elongated waveguide emitter 760, according to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8b (where N=2). 1/(2+1) or 1/3 of the total energy in the middle. Similarly, in this embodiment, the energy emitted from an unpaired emission opening (e.g., single-ended opening 767e in Figure 8b) can be expressed by the formula 1/(N+1). Thus, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8b, the emission opening 767e can also emit approximately 1/3 of the total energy introduced into the elongated waveguide emitter 760. Another embodiment of a microwave heating system 820 is provided in Figures 9a through 9h. The microwave heating system 82A shown in Fig. 9a includes a microwave heater 82A and a microwave distribution system 84 that is 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 83 to a pressure below atmospheric. As shown in Figures 9 &, the microwave heater 830 can include a heater inlet door 838 for introducing a bundle of wood (or other load) into the interior of the heater 83 0 . The microwave heater 830 can include a heater outlet door (not shown in Figure 9a) disposed on the end of the heater 830 that is generally opposite 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 84 la illustrated in Figure 9a, 84 lb of their launch openings). The emission openings 841a, 84 lb 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. 160981. Doc-56-201236751 Additional details regarding the microwave distribution system 84A will now be discussed in more detail with respect to Figures 9b through 9h. Turning to Fig. 9b' provides a top cross-sectional view of one of the microwave heaters 830, specifically illustrating a plurality of microwave emitters that are directly or indirectly coupled to opposite sidewalls 831a' 831b of the microwave heater 83A. 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 "to 845d, as shown in the figures. Although illustrated in Figure 9b to include four Transmitter 844 & to 844d, but it should be understood that microwave heater 83A can include any desired number of emitters. In one embodiment (not shown), microwave heater 83A can include axial positioning to Figure 9b. The transmitters 844a, 84 flutter to the left and/or to the two additional transmitters on the right side of the transmitters 844c, 844d. The additional transmitters (not shown) may face the same direction and/or different directions. For example, In one embodiment, shown in Figure 9b, the emitters are shown in the opposite direction. Moreover, in one embodiment (not shown) the microwave heater 830 can include four additional transmitters configured in a manner similar to the transmitters 84A through 844d illustrated in the figures, as explained further below. Microwave transmitter 844 can be positioned along microwave heater 830, within microwave heater 830, or near microwave heater 83, according to any suitable configuration. In an embodiment, the microwave transmitter 844 can be configured to include two transmitter pairs. The individual emitters in the pair can be located generally 160981 of the microwave heater 83. Doc • 57· 201236751 on the same side (eg 'the pair includes transmitters 844a and 844d and the other pair includes transmitters 844b and 844c) or on the generally opposite side of the microwave heater 83〇 (eg, the pair includes microwave emissions) The other pairs 844a and 844b include 844c and 844d). As used herein, the terms "substantially opposite side" or "opposite side" are used to position two emitters such that the radial alignment angle defined therebetween is between at least 90. To 180. In the scope. The "radial alignment angle (β)" is defined as the angle formed between the two straight lines drawn from the center of each emitter to the center axis of the container. For example, 'FIG. 9 (showing exemplary emitters 845 and 846a defining a radial alignment angle B1 therebetween. The radial alignment angle between two emitters positioned on substantially opposite sides of a container may be At least 120., 150, at least 165, and/or no greater than 180. or approximately 180. In one embodiment, 'two emitters can be positioned on substantially opposite sidewalls, as shown in Figure 9b. In another embodiment, two oppositely disposed emitters may be located at or near a vertical top or bottom of a heater (not shown). One or more pairs of emitters are included in a microwave In an embodiment of the individual emitters on substantially opposite sides of the heater (eg, emitters 844b and 844a or emitters 844 (: and 844d) in Figure 9b, the individual emitters within the pair are also Axial alignment. As used herein, the term axial alignment refers to an axial alignment angle in which two emitters define a range from 〇 to 45. As used herein. "Axial alignment angle" can be between the centers of each emitter The shortest straight line system (which is also the elongate axis of the intersecting valleys) of 160,981 to draw the line perpendicular to the elongate shaft. The definition of the angle between the formation of doc -58- 201236751. In Fig. 9d, the 'axial alignment angle α is formed between the line 850 drawn between the centers of the exemplary emitters 845 and 846 and the line 852 perpendicular to the elongated axis 83 5a. In one embodiment, the axially aligned emitters can define at least 0° and/or, for example, no more than 3 inches. Or no more than 15. One of the axial alignment angles. In another embodiment, the 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 two emitters have a radial alignment angle ββ in a range from at least or equal to 0° to 90°. The exemplary emitters 845 and 846b are located on substantially the same side of the microwave heater because of the radial alignment angle defined therebetween (eg, the beta system is no greater than 9 inches. In one embodiment, 'is placed in one The two emitters on the same side of the microwave heater may define at least 0. and/or no greater than 60., no greater than 3 〇, and no greater than 15. or one of the radial alignment angles of approximately 0°. Or an embodiment in which a plurality of transmitter pairs comprise individual transmitters (e.g., transmitters 844a and 844d or transmitters 844b and 84A in 圊9b) on substantially the same side of a microwave heater, such The individual emitters within the pair may also be adjacent to each other in axial B. As used herein, the term "axially adjacent" means that two or more emitters are positioned on the same side of a microwave heater to cause No other emitters on the side are placed between the axially adjacent emitters. According to one embodiment of a microwave distribution system comprising two or more relatively positioned microwave emitter pairs, one of the emitters from the first pair is disposed on substantially the same side as the emitter from the second pair On the 'by forming an axial her neighbor transmitter pair. 160981. Doc-59-201236751 As illustrated in Figure 9b, each of the microwave emitters 844a through 844d can define a respective open outlet 845a through 845d for emitting microwave energy into the interior of the microwave heater 830. The open outlet can be positioned to emit energy into the interior of the microwave heater 830 in any suitable pattern or in any suitable orientation. 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 to face each other in a direction substantially parallel to an outer sidewall to which the emitters are coupled (eg, sidewall 83 la of emitters 844a, 844d and sidewalls 83 lb of emitters 844b, 844c) He discharges microwave energy in the general direction. As used herein, the term "substantially parallel" means within 10 degrees of the parallel plane. In one embodiment, at least one of the open outlets 845a through 845d can be oriented to discharge energy substantially parallel to the extended axis of the microwave heater 830 (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 an axial midpoint of one of the heaters 830. As used herein, the "axial midpoint" of a container is defined by a plane that is orthogonal to the elongated axis 835 and intersects the point 839 of the elongated shaft 835, as shown in Figure 9b. In one embodiment, each of the open outlets 845a through 845d is oriented toward an axial midpoint of the heater 830 such that the open outlets 845a, 845b of the front side emitters 844a, 844b substantially face the back side emitter 844c 844d open outlets 845c, 845 (1, as depicted in Figure 9b. According to one embodiment, in operation, microwave energy produced by one or more microwave generators (not shown) may be via waveguide 842a Delivered to launch at 160981. Doc • 60· 201236751 The mouthpiece 844 & 844d 'transmitter (4) to the purchase of energy into the inner cavity of the microwave heater 830. Although not illustrated in Figure 9b, any number or configuration of microwave generators can be used to produce microwave energy for use in the microwave heating system 8 2 . In an embodiment, a single generator can be used to supply energy to the heater 83A via the waveguides 842a through 842d and the transmitter 844, while in another embodiment, the heating system 82 can include two or two More than one generator. According to another embodiment, one or more microwave generators may be utilized to network such that at least one, at least two, at least three, or all four of the microwave emitter stacks are substantially simultaneously Launch microwave energy. In one embodiment, one or more of the transmitters 844 & 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, one or more of the transmitters 84A through 844d may have a separate dedicated generator such that at least 75%, at least 9%, or substantially all of the microwave energy to be produced by the generator Route to a single transmitter. Additional details regarding specific embodiments of microwave generators, waveguides and transmitters, and their operation are provided later with respect to Figures 11a and Ub. The microwave energy propagating from the waveguide segments 842a through 842d can be in any suitable mode, including, for example, a ΤΜαί) mode and/or a TE々 mode, where α, ό, χ, and less have values as previously defined. . In one embodiment, waveguide segments 842a through 842d each include a waveguide segment, wherein segments 842a & 842d are configured to penetrate sidewall 83 la and segments 842b and 842c are configured to penetrate sidewall 831b and toward the elongated axis 835 extends radially into the interior of the microwave heater 830, as shown in Figure 9b. 160981. Doc -61 · 201236751 According to an embodiment of the invention, the mode of propagation of microwave energy through waveguide segments 842 & to 842 (1 may be changed before (or at the same time as) being emitted into the interior of microwave heater 830. In one embodiment, ΤΕλ;) produced by a microwave generator (not shown in Figure 9b); mode energy can pass through one or more mode transition segments (represented as a mode converter in Figure 9b) 85〇a to 8 50d) are then emitted into the microwave energy as 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 84A. In one embodiment, one or more mode converters 850a through 850d may be disposed outside the interior space (volume) of the microwave heater 830. In another embodiment, the mode converters 850a through 850d may be partially or It is integrally placed inside the microwave heater 83. Mode converters 850a through 850d may be located in or adjacent to side walls 831a, 831b, or (as illustrated in Figure 9b) may be spaced apart from outer sidewalls 831a, 83b of microwave heater 83'. According to an embodiment in which the mode converters 850a through 850d are partially or integrally disposed within the heater 830, the microwave energy can initially enter the microwave heater in a τ υ mode, and then at least a portion of the energy can be converted At least a portion of the energy emitted from the emitters 844a through 844d into the interior of the microwave heater 83A can be in a "mode. In an embodiment, the waveguide segments 842a through 842d can include an operable to press - 'mode The microwave energy is transmitted from the generator to the TE" waveguide section of the heater 83. In the embodiment, the TE" waveguide sections 8A to 842 (at least the portion of 1 can be integrated into the emitters 844a to 844d, such as Figure 9bt shows that when the energy is converted from the waveguide segment to the pattern just after the mode transition _85Ga to the graph, the energy is converted into a ^ 160981. Doc -62· 201236751 mode. Subsequently, the Dinghe mode energy exiting the mode converters 850a through 850d can then pass through a respective TM& waveguide segment 843a through 843d, in 9b, before being discharged into the heater 830 via the 出口αί) open outlets 845a through 845d. The illustration is shown as being integrally disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 830 and spaced from its sidewall 833. According to another embodiment illustrated in Figure 9e, the microwave heating system 82A 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 84. The microwave energy is transmitted to the microwave heater 830. In one embodiment, the reflectors may be fixed or stationary reflectors such that energy is reflected or scattered 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 89A & 890d of Figure 9e has a respective reflective surface 89la to 89 Id for reflecting or scattering the energy emitted from the microwave emitters 844a through 844d. As shown in Figure 9e Each reflective surface may be spaced apart from the outer sidewalls 831a, 831b and may be positioned such that the emitters 844a-844 (1 of each of the emitter openings 845 & 845 (one or more of the 1 facing its respective reflective surface) 891 a to 89 Id, reflective surface 89la to 89Id Also positioned to contact, direct or reflect at least a portion of the microwave energy from the emission openings 845a through 845d. In one embodiment, at least a portion or substantially all of the microwave energy emitted from the microwave emitters 844 & At least partially contacting the respective reflector surfaces 89 la to 89 Id and at least partially reflecting or scattering therefrom. In one embodiment, one or more of the reflective surfaces 89 la to 89 Id 160981. Doc -63- 201236751 Yes,. . The direction of the yaw is in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of elongation of the outer side walls Μ 1 a, Μ 1 b . In an embodiment, the reflector surfaces 891a through 891d may be substantially planar, while in other embodiments, - or the plurality of reflector surfaces 891 may be non-planar. For example, in an embodiment, one or more non-planar reflector surfaces 8913 to 891 (1 may define a curvature as illustrated by the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9h. Reflector surface_to The coffee may be smooth or may have - or a plurality of convex bodies. As used herein, "protrusion" refers to a region of a reflector that is operable to scatter from it rather than reflect energy. In the embodiment, the convex body may have a generally convex shape as illustrated by the examples of the convex bodies 893a, 893b shown in Figures 9f and 9g. In another embodiment The convex body can have a generally concave shape such as, for example, a dimple or other similar indentation. According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more reflectors (10) to a movable reflector can be viewed. The movable reflector can be any reflector that is operable to change position. In one embodiment, the movable reflector is hidden to 89〇b can be in a specified pattern (such as, for example, a substantially lower Oscillating reflection of a pattern or a pattern of rotation around an axis In one embodiment, the movable reflector can be a randomly movable reflector that is operable to move in any of a wide variety of random and/or unplanned movements. The movable reflectors 890a through 890d can be The microwave heater 830 is movably coupled according to any suitable method. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in Figure 9i, the microwave heater 830 can be included within the heater 83 16 16098 丨. Doc -64 - 201236751 A reflector drive system (or actuator) 899 for one of the movable reflectors 890. 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), the motor 898 can cause a wheel 896 (the linear shaft 895 can be pivoted to the center in a manner that is substantially off-center) Turn. As indicated by arrow 881, the shaft 895 can be moved in a generally lower manner as the wheel 896 rotates, thereby causing a lever arm 894 to pivot about the pivot 897 as indicated generally by arrow 882. Accordingly, reflector 890 can be moved as generally indicated by arrow 880 and is operable to be reflected or scattered from emission opening 845 of wave reflector 844 by at least partially determining a pattern 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 10F. As illustrated in an embodiment of FIG. 1A, a microwave heater 930 includes a heater inlet door 938 for loading a wood bundle 9〇2 into the interior of the heater 93〇 and for One of the bundles 9〇2 heater exit gate 939 is removed from the microwave heater 930. Although illustrated in FIG. 1A as including a separate inlet door 938 and outlet door 939, it should be understood that in another embodiment the microwave heater 930 may only include internal packaging for use from the microwave heater 93. Plant a bundle of wood 902 and unload the bundle of wood 9 〇 2 single door. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, heater inlet door 938 and heater outlet door may be located on generally opposite sides of microwave heater 930 such that bundle 902 may be via a transport mechanism (such as, for example, ) A van (not shown) generally passes through 160981. Doc •65- 201236751 Heater 930. Additionally, the microwave heating system 92A 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 941 (1. 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 emitters may be at least partially or integrally disposed in the microwave A particular embodiment 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) can be worn. The external TE^ to ΤΜα6 mode converters 950a through 950d (which convert the energy passing therethrough into a ΤΜαδ mode) are transmitted through the waveguide segments 942a through 942d in a ΤΕ〇 mode. The resulting mode microwave energy can be followed by Mode converters 950a through 950d are exited via respective waveguide segments 942e through 942h, as illustrated in Figure 10a. Thereafter, at least a portion of the microwave energy in TM& waveguide segments 942e through 942h may be Passing through the respective barrier assemblies 97〇3 to 97 (M. The term "barrier assembly" as used herein may refer to being operable to fluidly) before the έαέ waveguide segments 942i through 9421 enter the microwave heater 930. Isolating the microwave heater from an external environment while still permitting microwave energy to pass through any of the devices. For example, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 1a, the respective barrier assemblies 970a through 970d may Each includes at least one sealing window member 972a to 972d that is microwave permeable, but provides each upstream 942e to 942h 波导αΖ) waveguide segment and downstream 942i to 9421 TM& waveguide segment each 160981. Doc -66· 201236751 A desired degree of fluid isolation between the two. As used herein, the term "seal window member" means a window member 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 spanning This window member maintains a pressure differential. Additional details regarding the particular embodiment of the barrier assemblies 970a through 970d will now be discussed with respect to Figure 10b. 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 97〇a to 97〇d 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 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 600 kW, at least 750 kW or at least 1,000 kW and/or no more than 2,500 kW a rate of no more than i, 500 kW or no more than 1,000 kW passes through its respective window members 972a to 972d, and the pressure in the microwave heater 930 may be no more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, and no more than 350 Torr. No more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Torr, no more than 15 Torr, no more than 100 Torr 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 Torr, no greater than 2 mTorr, no greater than 1 mTorr, and no greater than zero. 5 mTorr or no more than 〇·ι. 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 97A to 970d. The arc in the middle. Turning now to Figure 1 Ob, an axial cross-sectional view of a barrier assembly 970 is provided. The barrier assembly 970 includes a first sealing window structure disposed in a barrier-like body 973. Doc • 67· 201236751 piece 972a 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 position between the upstream (eg, inlet) ΤΜαέ waveguide segment 975a and the downstream (eg, outlet) ΤΜαέ waveguide segment 975b The quasi-fluid isolation also permits at least a portion of the microwave energy to pass from the first ΤΜαΖ) waveguide segment 975a to the second ΤΜαό waveguide segment 975b. According to an embodiment, the first ΤΜαδ waveguide section 975a and the second ΤΜαΖ) waveguide section 975b may have a circular cylindrical cross section. In one 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, an optional second or intermediate section 973b, and a third or outlet section 973c, wherein the first sealing window member 972a is disposed A first sealing window member 972b is disposed between the first section 973a and the second section 937b and is disposed between the second section 973b and the third section 937c. According to an embodiment, the pressure of each of the first segment 973a, the second segment 937b, and the third segment 937c may be different. For example, in one embodiment, the pressure of the first section 973a may be greater than the pressure of the second section 973b, and the pressure of the second section 973b may be greater than the pressure of the third section 973c. Each of the first segment 973a, the second segment 937b, and the third segment 937c of the barrier housing 973 can be by any suitable fastening device such as, for example, a screw, a bolt, and the like (not shown) Hold together. In addition, barrier assemblies 970a through 970d may also include one or more impedance transformers that alter the impedance of the microwave radiation. An example illustration is shown in Figure 1 Ob. Doc-68-201236751 The impedance transformation diameter stepwise change 974a, 947b in the illustrated embodiment is used to maximize energy transfer from a microwave generator (not shown) to a load in a microwave heater (not shown). In one embodiment, the impedance transformation diameter stepwise changes 974a, 947b may be located adjacent at least one of the sealing window members 972a, 972b, while in another embodiment, the stepwise changes 974a, 947b may be located at the inlet ΤΜαδ waveguide The 97Sa and/or exit TM is defined adjacent to the waveguide 97^ or at least partially by the inlet TMa6 waveguide 975a and/or the outlet ΤΜβ6 waveguide 975b. As illustrated in Figures 10a and 10b, the sealing window members 972a, 972b can include one or more disks. Each disk can be constructed of 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, silica dioxide, oxidized wrinkles, boron nitride, mullite, and/or polymers such as Teflon. According to an embodiment, the loss tangent of the disk may be no more than 2ΧΗΓ4, no more than lxl〇-4, no more than 7 5χ1〇-5 or no more than 5xl (T5. The disks may have any suitable profile. In an embodiment, the disk may have a cross section that is compatible with the profile of the adjacent waveguides 975a' 975b. In one embodiment, the disks may have a substantially circular cross section and may have an equal passage through the barrier assembly 97. 0 The wavelength of the main wavelength of the microwave energy is at least 1 / 8, at least 1/4, at least 1/2 and / or not greater than 丨, not greater than 3 / 4 or not greater than one thickness of i / 2 (in Figure l〇 Designated as "Xj" in b. The diameter of the disks may be at least 5%, at least 6%, at least 75%, at least 90°, and/or one or more adjacent waveguides 975a, 97% of the diameter. Not more than 95%, not more than 85%, not more than 160,981. Doc -69- 201236751 70% 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, one of the procedures B1 entitled "Spraying Testing" as described in the document entitled "Helium Leak Detection Techniques" issued by Alcatel Vacuum Technology under the use of a Varian model No. 938-41. In the helium 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, no more than 1〇_4 Torr·L/sec or no greater than 1〇_8托. l / sec. Additionally, each of the sealing window members 972a, 972b can be individually operable to maintain or withstand a pressure across the sealing window members 972a, 972b and/or the barrier assembly 970. Doc -70- 201236751 Force difference without breaking, cracking, destroying or otherwise failing, the pressure difference is in quantity such as at least 0. 25 atm, at least at 5 atm, at least 〇 atm, at least 〇·9〇 atm ' at least 1 atm or at least 1. 5 atm and so on. Turning now to Figure 10c, a cross-sectional microwave heating system 920 is provided. The microwave heating system illustrated in FIG. 1C includes a microwave distribution system 94A including at least one pair of microwave emitters disposed on substantially opposite sides of a microwave heater 930 (eg, emitters 944a and 944h) ). Although shown in FIG. 1C as including a single emitter pair, it should be understood that the microwave distribution system 94A 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), the microwave distribution system 94A can include two or more vertically spaced microwave emitters positioned on substantially the same side of the microwave heater 930. Column. 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 opposing placement pair can be positioned opposite from the other. One of the heights of one of the emitters is at a vertical height. For example, in one embodiment, the emitters 944& and/or 944h can be positioned at a vertical height that is one of the heights shown in Figure 10c and the other emitter pair can be positioned such that two One of the emitters 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 At a substantially lower vertical height than the emitter 944h. Moreover, although shown as split emitters 944a, 944h, in one embodiment, the contours are 160981. Doc -71 - 201236751 Directly spaced emitters can be any type (or combination of types) of microwave emitters as described herein. As shown in Figure 10c, microwave distribution system 940 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 emitter 944a can be coupled to the waveguide segments 942a, 942e, and 942i, and the emitter 944h can be coupled to the waveguide segments 942x, 942y, and 942z, which are operable to microwave It can be delivered to the interior of the microwave heater 930 from one or more microwave generators (not shown in Figure 10c). In one embodiment, microwave distribution system 940 can include one or more of mode converters 947a through 947d coupled to one or more of waveguide segments 942, as shown in Figure 10c. According to an embodiment, the mode converters 947a to 947d are operable to change the transmission mode of the microwave energy passing therethrough from a TE^ mode to a TMw mode (ie, a TE〇 to TM& mode converter) or A TMai mode is changed to a TE" mode (ie, a TM& to TE mode converter). For example, as shown in FIG. 10C, mode converters 947a and 947c can each be operable to self-use the microwave energy from a TEY mode as it passes through the waveguides 942a and 942x. Convert to a ΤΜαί) mode. As previously discussed, α, 6, and: The values of <: 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 ΤΜαδ mode to a TE^ mode, as desired. Further, in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10c, at least one of the mode converters 947a to 947d may include a mode converter sub-160981.doc-72-201236751 splitter operable The mode of microwave energy passing therethrough is changed and split into two 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 comprise a mode switching splitter at least partially disposed within the interior of the microwave heater. In another embodiment, the second mode switching splitters 947b and 947d may be integrally disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 93A and may each be part of a split emitter 944a and 944h, respectively, as shown in FIG. Illustrated. Additional details regarding split transmitter 94 private, 944h will be discussed later. According to an embodiment of the invention in which the microwave distribution system 940 includes two or more mode converters in one or more waveguide segments, the total electrical length between the first mode converter and the second mode converter (Electrical length extending through and including any of the barrier assemblies (if present) 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 the number of wavelengths of microwave energy required to propagate along a given path. In one embodiment where the physical transmission path comprises - or a plurality of different types of transmission media having two or more different dielectric constants, the physical length of the transmission path can 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 a lean embodiment, the total mode length between the first mode converter 94, 947c and the second mode converter 947b, 947 (1 extends (and extends through and includes the TMfli barrier assembly 97A, 970h) The total electrical length can be equal to the competition of microwave energy 160981.doc -73- 201236751 ¥'s non-integer half-wavelength of the pattern. As used herein, the term "non-integer" means any number that is not an integer. A non-integer half-wavelength may correspond to a distance of π times λ/2, where „ is any non-integer. For example, the number “2” is an integer, and the number “2〇5” is a non-integer. The half-wavelength corresponding to the electrical length of 2.05 multiplied by the competition mode of microwave energy will be a non-integer half-wavelength of the competition mode. As used herein, the term "competition mode of microwave energy" means The mode of microwave energy used to propagate along a path other than the expected or target mode of microwave energy propagating along a given path. The competition mode may include - the earlier most popular mode (ie, 'primary competition mode') or plural Different non-popular competitions exist in the township m silk - a mode converter and the second mode converter < the total electrical length (extending through and including any of the electrical lengths of the barrier assembly (if present)) may be equal to a value of a non-integer half wavelength of at least one of the plurality of competing modes, And in the embodiment, it may be equal to one of the non-integer half-wavelength values of the main competition mode. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, the converters 947a, 947c include a swell-up mode, which is operable to purchase individual waveguide segments 9 At least part of the microwave energy, the mode is converted into the waveguide segments 942b and 942e - % ^: at least - part of the microwave energy can be converted into the desired two! The nuclear type. In addition to the desired mode - the mode is usually in this article: wave: it, the competition mode. In the preferred embodiment of the microwave energy of the present invention, the competing mode of microwave energy can be passed through, where read, 1 and (7) are - integers between. 160981.doc •74· 201236751 The total electrical length of the 'TMai) waveguides 942e and 942i between the 'first mode converter 947a and the second mode converter 947b' in one embodiment (extending through and including the barrier) The electrical length of the assembly 970a may be equal to a non-integer half-wavelength of the TEW mode, where "system 1 and the calendar is an integer between 1 and 5. In another embodiment, m may 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. In accordance with an embodiment '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, 〇〇〇kW and / or no more than 2,500 kW, no more than 1,500 kW or no more than 1, 〇〇〇kW At least one sealing window structure in the barrier assembly 970a, 970h when the energy can pass through the barrier assembly 97〇a, 97〇h The temperature of at least a portion of the component (not shown in Figure 1) may vary by no more than 1 (TC, no greater than 5. 〇, no greater than 2 ° C or no greater than 1 ° C. In another embodiment, as above It is stated that the pressure differential across the at least one sealing window member and/or the pressure within the microwave heater 930 can maintain similar results. According to one embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, the microwave heater 930 is generally At least one of the individual microwave emitters 944a, 944h on the opposite side and at least partially disposed within the interior of the microwave heater 93A can include a split reflector defined to emit microwave energy to the microwave heater 930 At least two discharge openings in the interior. Although illustrated in Figure i〇c, 160981.doc -75 - 201236751 includes a single emitter pair (eg, first split emitter 944a and first split emitter) 944h) 'But it should be understood that the microwave heater 93A can include any suitable number of emitters or emitter pairs, as set forth herein. One embodiment of the non-split emitter 944 is depicted in Figure i. Split transmitter 944 can include Receiving a single inlet or opening 951 of microwave energy, and for single (not shown) or two or more discharge openings or outlets 945a, 945b for emitting microwave energy therefrom. In an embodiment, one The ratio of the enthalpy wave energy inlet to the discharge outlet of a single split emitter may be 1:1, at least to 1.3, or at least 1:4. The mode of microwave energy introduced into the inlet 951 according to one embodiment may be The modes of the microwaves emitted by the openings h, 945b are the same, while in another embodiment, the modes may be different. For example, in an embodiment in which the split emitter 944 includes a mode switching splitter 949, the microwave energy introduced into the single inlet of one of the first sidewalls of the microwave heater may undergo a mode conversion and be Divided into at least two separate microwave energy portions, which can then be launched into the interior of the heater in a different mode as desired. For example, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 1D, the 'split emitter 944 can include a ΤΜα6 waveguide segment 942, one or two or more TE, y waveguide segments 943a, 943b, and a female A ΤΜαί) to TE" mode switching splitter 949 interposed therebetween. In operation, microwave energy introduced in a ΤΜαδ mode via waveguide section 942 is self-guided at one or two or more separate microwave energy fractions The respective outlets 945a, 945b of 943a, 94 pass through the mode switching splitter 949 before or at the same time in a ΤΕχν mode. When the transmitter 944 includes a single discharge opening, the mode switching splitter 160981.doc • 76- 201236751 949 may be only one mode converter 949 (not a splitter) for changing the mode of microwave energy passing therethrough. For example, where emitter 944 includes - a single discharge opening (not shown in Figure 10d) In one embodiment, the transmitter 944 can include a single TMfl0 waveguide section, a single TE^ waveguide section: a TMw-to-mode converter 949 disposed therebetween. The mode converter can be located outside the microwave heater, The ground is located inside the microwave heater or completely inside the microwave heater. In operation, the microwave energy introduced in the TMafc mode via the inlet waveguide section can pass through the mode converter 9 before being discharged in the _ΤΕ叮 mode. 4. 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 emitted from a single open emitter may be oriented to the horizontal plane. At least 20, at least 30, at least 45, or at least 6 〇 and/or no greater than 100, no greater than 90, or no greater than 8 〇. One corner. When there are multiple discharge openings, the split emitter 944 Each of the discharge openings 945a, 945b can be oriented relative to one another such that the path of microwave energy discharged therefrom defines a relative discharge angle, as shown in Figure 〇d. In one embodiment, 'microwave energy' The relative discharge angle between the paths of the discharge openings 945a, 945b may be at least 5., at least 15, at least 30, at least 45, at least 60, at least 90, at least 115, at least 135, at least 14 〇 and/or no more than 180°, no more than 170, no more than 165, no more than 16〇, no more than 140°, no more than 120, no more than 100, or no more than 9〇. In an embodiment, the orientation of the discharge openings 945a, 945b may also be illustrated relative to the orientation of the path of microwave energy discharged therefrom relative to the axis of extension 94 8 of the TMa0 waveguide section 942. In one embodiment, the discharge opening 945a, Each of the 945bs 160981.doc • 77· 201236751 can be configured to discharge microwave energy at respective first and second discharge angles (φ 1 and Φ 2 ) with the extension axis 948 of the TMa6 waveguide section 942. In one embodiment, φ! and φ2 may be substantially equal' as generally illustrated in Figure 10d, or in another embodiment, one of the two angles may be larger than the other. In various embodiments, φι and/or φ2 may be at least 5°, at least 10. At least 15. At least 30. At least 35. At least 55°, at least 65. At least 70. And / or no more than 110. No more than 100° and no more than 95. No more than 8 inches. No more than 70. No more than 60° or no more than 40. . In one embodiment, 'split emitter 944 can be a vertically oriented split emitter'. This emitter 944 includes at least one upwardly directed discharge opening configured to emit microwave energy at an upward angle to the horizontal plane (eg, 945a) And at least one downwardly directed discharge opening (e.g., 945b) configured to emit microwave energy at a downward angle to the horizontal. Although shown in Figures i〇c* as including vertically oriented splitting emitters 944a, 944h configured to discharge energy at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, in another embodiment, splitting emitter 944a of microwave heater 930 One or more of 944h may be oriented horizontally such that the split emitter as set forth above has been rotated 90°. In another embodiment, one or more split emitters 94, 944h may be rotated. With 90. An angle between. 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 horizontal turns on opposite sides transmit the benefit to the y-crack. According to this embodiment, the vertically spaced emitter columns may comprise a single open emitter, a horizontally oriented split emitter, a vertical orientation 160981.doc • 78· 201236751 split emitter or any combination thereof. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1C, the microwave heater 930 can include one or more (or at least two) movable reflectors 99〇& to 99〇d, which are positioned for microwave heating. Various locations within the 930 are configured and rasterized to radiate microwave energy from the one or more of the one or more microwave emitters 944a, 944h or the plurality of 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 illustratively, four movable reflectors 99A & 990d are included, but it should be understood that the microwave heater 93A can include any suitable number of movable reflectors. In one embodiment, a microwave heater comprising "split emitters" can include at least 2 movable reflectors. In another embodiment, a microwave heater can employ a total of four movable reflectors, each of which extends across the length of the microwave heater 930 by one of the reflector surfaces to enable two or more An axially adjacent emitter "shares" one or more reflectors or reflective surfaces. Regardless of the particular number of reflectors employed, each of the reflectors 99a through 990d is operable to raster at least a portion of the microwave energy exiting the emitters 944a, 944h into the microwave heater 930 via the discharge openings 945a through 945d. 'To thereby heat and/or dry at least a portion of the bundle or other article, article or load. As used herein, the term "rasterizing" means capable of guiding, projecting, or focusing on an area. Rasterization energy involves a large degree of intentional guidance or aggregation compared to conventional reflection or scattering energy I, which can be achieved by utilizing the quasi-optical properties of microwave energy. Compared with conventional means 160981.doc •79- 201236751 than 'rasterization' does not include the use of stationary reflective surfaces or conventional mode agitation devices (such as fans). In an embodiment, the microwave heater may comprise a plurality of split emitter pairs (eg, two or more transmitter pairs), wherein each turn includes two emitters having substantially similar configurations (eg, Explained). In the 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. One or more movable reflectors 990a to the side may be positioned (and/or positioned to face) one or more of the discharge openings of each of the microwave emitters 944, in accordance with an embodiment. In one embodiment in which the first emitter 944a and the second emitter 944h each comprise a split microwave emitter defining respective upwardly directed discharge openings 945a and 945c and respective downwardly oriented discharge openings 945b and 945d, At least one movable reflector can be positioned adjacent one or more of the discharge openings 9453 to 945 (1) to rasterize at least a portion of the microwave energy discharged from the split emitters 944a, 944h into the interior of the microwave heater 93() For example, two or more separate τελ>) mode microwave portions). In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 10c, the microwave heater 930 can include at least four movable reflectors each defining a respective reflective surface and positioned for split emitters 944a, 94 to emit respective emissions Near the openings 945a to 945d. As illustrated in Figure i c, the movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be located at the bottom left quadrant of the microwave heater 93A (e.g., reflector 990a), the top left quadrant (e.g., reflector 990b), the top right quadrant (eg, reflector 99〇c) and bottom right quadrant (eg 'reflector 990d'). When the emitters 944a, 944h are horizontally oriented slitting emitters or a single open emitter, there may also be two or more of the reflectors 99〇3 to 160981.doc •80· 201236751 990d' as previously detailed set forth. 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 990d) and/or configured to be separated by two levels 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 near 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 99〇1 and 99〇c can be positioned at a height higher than the respective movable reflectors 990a and 990d such that the split emitters 944a, 944h Vertically positionable between vertically spaced pairs of reflectors (e.g., emitter 944a is vertically positioned between pairs of vertically spaced reflectors 990a, 990b and emitter 944h is positioned vertically perpendicular to vertically spaced reflectors 990c, 990d) Between the two). In one embodiment, the movable reflector 990 is positioned such that the reflector surface 991 opens toward one of its corresponding microwave emitters (not shown). In another embodiment, one or more of the movable reflectors 990a through 990d can be positioned to align with the central elongated axis of the microwave heater 930 or positioned to face the central elongated axis of the microwave heater 930 (FIG. 10c Not shown). 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 reflectors 990a through 990d may move along a path that is pre-programmed (planned) 160981.doc • 81 · 201236751, 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 bundle, the type of wood, and the initial And the preliminary and expected characteristics of the last bundle. In one embodiment, each of the reflectors 990a through 990d may be individually driven or actuated according to one or more embodiments set forth herein, while in another embodiment, two or two The above reflectors can be coupled to a common drive mechanism (eg, a rotating shaft to be actuated simultaneously). An example of a drive mechanism for moving a reflector 99 使用 using the actuator 960 is shown in Figure 1A. 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 the embodiment of Fig. 1(e), at least a portion of the (iv) portion 961 can extend through the side wall 933 and into the bellows structure 964, thereby sealingly coupling the actuator_ to the side wall 933. In one embodiment, the bellows structure 964 is operable to reduce, minimize, or nearly prevent fluid flow into and out of the actuator_extending through the lateral soil 933. As shown! (9) _ shown, removable 16098].doc -82- 201236751

The step 990 of the reflector 190 includes a frame-axis coupling to the support arm 98A of the side wall 933 of the microwave heater. As coined herein, the term "in a frame-axis manner" means that two or more than two items are attached 'tightly or otherwise associated such that at least one of the items can generally surround two Fixed point movement or pivoting. In operation, a driver 97 causes the linearly actuated crying extended portion 963 to move in an ingress and egress type motion, as indicated by the arrow ' 'linear actuator _ the extendable portion 963 allows the movable reflector _ A generally curved pattern moves as indicated by arrow 973. The drive 97 can be controlled in any suitable manner, including, for example, using - or a plurality of programmable automatic control systems (not shown). It may be advantageous to minimize the amount of unoccupied, unobstructed or open volume defined within the interior of a microwave heater in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 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 one embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the total volume of the wood bundle (including the space between the individual wood pieces) to the total open volume of the microwave heater may be at least 0.20, at least 〇25, at least 〇3〇, at least 0.35 In some of the above embodiments, the ratio is also no greater than 0.75, no greater than 〇.7〇 or no greater than 〇65. In the example, the microwave heater can define an unobstructed beam receiving space for receiving a bundle of wood. The unobstructed beam receiving space can also be configured to receive at least a portion of the microwave ray b that is emitted to heat and/or dry one or more of the articles (or bundles). The unobstructed beam receiving station of the microwave heater 93 is indicated as 951 in Figure 10c. As used herein, the term "unshielded 16098I.doc -83 - 201236751 impeding the receiving space" means defined in a microwave heater. The interior is capable of receiving and holding a space in the coffin bundle. In one embodiment, the unobstructed beam receiving space can define a volume having a similar shape and within π% of the volume occupied by the largest size wood bundle that can be loaded and/or processed within the microwave heater 930. For example, if the maximum beam size can be accommodated by the microwave heater! , _ cubic feet, then the unarmed beam receiving space will have a U00 cubic foot (in one embodiment) volume and one shape (e.g., cuboid) similar to the bundle processed in heater 930.束! The bundle receiving space may be "unobstructed" because it may not contain any physical obstructions (eg, waveguides, emitters, emitters, etc.) that are permanently disposed therein * in one embodiment of the invention The microwave heater may comprise a circular cross-sectional shape, and the unobstructed beam receiving space 951 may define a cuboidal volume and/or be configured to receive a bundle of wood having a cuboid shape, in an embodiment, microwave heating The ratio of the total open volume of the vessel 930 to the volume of the unobstructed bundle receiving space may be at least Q 2G, at least (10),

To v 0.30 'at least 〇·35. In some of the above embodiments, the β-Hail ratio is also no greater than 75.75, no greater than ^, or no greater than. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the unobstructed beam receiving space 95 1 is defined between two or more "obstructions" t, 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 the heater. The volume of space within the volume. 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 160981.doc * 84 - 201236751 At least a portion of the barrier receiving space 951 can be defined between the two oppositely disposed doors. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure i〇c, either of the emitters 944a, 94411 or the movable reflectors 99〇& to 99〇d (which are examples of obstructions) are not placed 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 ❹ (and 7 or bundle (when present)) may be at least 55 ft, at least 1 inch, at least 2 inches, at least 6 inches, at least 8 inches 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 does not come into 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 in general reference to the process of heating a bundle of wood. However, it should be understood that one or more of the heating processes set forth herein may also be suitable for use in the process of heating other items, such as, for example, those previously described. 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, methods and/or processes detailed below, including with respect to FIG. 1 and their embodiments and variations thereof. 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 as set forth above. In one embodiment, the bundle may have a basis weight of at least 100 pounds, at least 250 shards, at least 375 shards, or at least 500 shards prior to heating and/or drying (eg, at Before heating). Once loaded, the vacuum system (if present) can then be used to reduce the pressure of the heater to no more than 550 Torr, no more than 450 Torr, no more than 350 Torr, no more than 300 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 200 Support, no more than 150 Torr, no more than 100 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. While maintaining the low pressure in the microwave heater, one or more microwave generators can then be operated to initiate introduction of microwave energy into the interior of the vessel to thereby heat and/or dry 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 above, almost at or below atmospheric pressure. According to an embodiment, during the heating step, the pressure inside the microwave heater may be at least 350 Torr, at least 450 Torr, at least 650 Torr, at least 75 Torr, at least 9 Torr, or at least 12 Torr. In another embodiment, the pressure in the microwave heater may be no more than 35 Torr, no more than 250 Torr, no more than 2 Torr, no more than 15 Torr, no more than 1 Torr or no more than 75 Torr. . The total generator capacity or energy rate introduced into the interior of the microwave heater during heating and/or drying of the wood may be 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 35 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, not 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 20, no more than 15 160981.doc -86 - 201236751, no more than 12 or no More than 10 individual sequential heating cycles. Each plus, ",#裒 can contain (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 10 minutes, at least 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) can be at least 小时5 hours, at least 2 hours, at least 5 hours, or at least 8 hours and/or no more than % hours, no more than 30 hours, no more than 24 hours, no More than 18 hours, no more than 16 hours, no more than 12 hours, no more than 丨0 hours, no more than 8 hours or no more than 6 hours. In an embodiment wherein the total heating process comprises two or more individual heating cycles, one or more subsequent individual heating cycles may differ from the pre-cycle by one of the microwave energy input rates and/or with the previous cycle Different - pressure implementation. For example, in one embodiment, subsequent individual heating cycles may be performed at a lower microwave energy input rate than the previous cycle and/or one pressure lower than the previous cycle. In another embodiment, one or more subsequent individual heating cycles may be performed at a higher microwave energy input rate than the previous cycle and/or one pressure higher than the previous cycle. In yet another embodiment, one or more subsequent cycles may be performed at one of a lower microwave energy entrainment rate than one or more previous individual heating cycles and one pressure higher than one or more previous individual heating cycles, Ge 160981. Doc •87- 201236751 A microwave energy entrainment rate that is higher than one or more previous individual heating cycles and one pressure lower than one or more previous individual heating cycles. When the total heating process comprises two or more individual heating cycles, like some embodiments, one or more of the second (or later) cycles may be implemented as described above: in other embodiments ...the same or almost the same house and ': wave month b input rate is implemented for two or more cycles. / The embodiment - the total heating process may comprise - a - sequential heating cycle % followed by a second heating cycle, t the second heating cycle is one of the microwave energy inputs lower than the first heating cycle The rate, which is lower than the first heating cycle, or lower than the first heating cycle, is also performed at a lower rate than the first heating cycle. Further, in the embodiment where the total cycle includes three or more heating cycles, the microwave energy input rate and/or pressure of each subsequent cycle (other than the first cycle) may be lower than before A cycle of microwave energy input rate and / or pressure. For example, in one embodiment, the "individual heating cycle may be lower than the first _" two heating cycles - the microwave energy input rate, one pressure lower than the first heating cycle, or both " One of the lower individual heating cycles, the microwave energy input rate is also implemented at a lower pressure than the individual heating cycle. During the first individual heating cycle, a first maximum microwave energy input rate can be introduced into the microwave heater. As used herein, the term "maximum microwave chirp 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 3 kW, to 160,981. Doc -88- 201236751 50 kW less, 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 75 kW or at least 丨 '000 kw and / or (for example) no more than 25 〇〇 kw, no • greater than! , 5 〇〇 kW, no more than 1, 〇〇〇 kW or no more than 500 kw. Subsequently, a second individual heating cycle can be implemented such that the second maximum input rate (eg, the second maximum microwave energy input rate) that introduces microwave energy into the microwave heater during the second individual heating cycle can be In an embodiment, for example, at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 7%, and/or, for example, no greater than 98%, no greater than 94° of the maximum input rate achieved during the first heating cycle. /〇 or no more than 90%. Similarly, when the heating process includes three or more individual heating cycles, the maximum microwave energy input rate of the first individual heating cycle (eg, 'third or fourth cycle') may be in one embodiment (for example ??? at least 25%, at least 5%, at least 7%, and/or, or, for example, no greater than 98%, no greater than 94% of the maximum input rate during the (eg, previous) individual heating cycle. , no greater than 9〇% or no greater than 850/〇〇• In the embodiment, the second (or subsequent) individual heating cycle may be performed at a lower pressure than the first (or previous) individual heating cycle. In one embodiment wherein low pressure or vacuum pressure is utilized during the heating cycle, the lowest pressure reached during the first heating cycle may be at least 25 Torr. Subsequently, a second individual heating cycle may be implemented to The lowest pressure reached during the second cycle/month (for example, the highest vacuum pressure achieved)

In the embodiment of the method, for example, at least 25%, at least 50%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80% of the minimum pressure of 160981.doc -89 - 201236751 during the first heating cycle is reached. And/or in one embodiment, for example, no greater than 98%, no greater than 94%, or no greater than 90%. Similarly, when the heating process includes three or more individual heating cycles, the pressure of the π individual heating cycle may, in one embodiment, for example, be at least the minimum pressure reached during the individual heating cycle. 25%, at least 50%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80°/. And/or no more than 98%, no more than 94%, no more than 90% or no more than 85% of the lowest pressure achieved. Table 1 below summarizes the broad, intermediate, and narrow ranges of microwave energy rates (expressed as a percentage of the maximum generator output) and successive first, second, third, and "individual heating cycles" in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure (to express). 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. Table 1: Microwave energy rate and pressure for individual heating cycles Individual microwave energy rate (% of maximum value) Pressure (Torr) Ring number width Middle narrow width 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 According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the one or more individual heating cycles may comprise: a heating cycle (eg, a first, second or π plus 160981.doc -90 - 201236751 Ο Ο thermal cycle in which microwave energy is introduced into the heater; and a selectable sleep cycle (eg, - first, second or a "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 sufficient to heat and/or at least partially dry and wet. Or an input rate of at least a portion of the chemically wetted wood bundle is introduced into the microwave heater, and the microwave energy introduced into the microwave heater during the sleep cycle The rate may, in one embodiment, be no more than 25%, no more than 100/0, no more than 5%, or no more than 1% of the maximum microwave energy input rate introduced during the add-on period. In a cycle-term embodiment, each cycle may include one or more heating cycles and one or more sleep cycles. For example, when two separate sequential heating cycles are utilized, the first individual heating cycle may include at least one a first heating cycle and a first-sleep cycle, and the second individual heating cycle may include at least two heating cycles and a second sleep cycle. Alternatively, the second twisting cycle may follow the first heating cycle, wherein There is no temporary sleep cycle. In each of the 'heating cycles, in the embodiment, at least 5 minutes, at least 10 minutes, at least 15 minutes, at least 30 hours, and/or (for example) No more than 6G minutes, no more than 40 minutes, no more than two minutes, or no (four) minutes - duration. In the implementation - the sleep cycle may have, for example, at least 5 minutes, at least Μ minutes or at least 2: Minutes and / or (lift For example, no more than 9 〇 minutes, no more than 4 〇 minutes - duration. In the - item embodiment, _ individual; heat (four) heating cycle length for the length of the sleep cycle) at least 〇.5: 1, at least 1:1, to w hands (example eight 25) or at least 2:1 and / or (160981.doc -91 - 201236751 no more than 2.5:1 or not greater than the case) no more than 5: i, no more than 3:1 1.5:1. Microwave energy can be introduced into the microwave heater in any suitable manner during each of the heating cycles. For example, in one embodiment, microwave energy can be emitted from one or more emitters in a substantially continuous manner throughout the duration of the heating cycle. In one embodiment, energy may be emitted from a single transmitter at a time, while in another embodiment, energy may be emitted from two or more transmitters simultaneously. An automatic control system can be used to control the amount, timing, duration, coordination, and synchronization of microwave energy emitted from each of the X-states. This switching can also be controlled by the control system when discharging energy into the microwave heater to include switching between two or more transmitters, as discussed in detail later. According to the embodiment, energy can be introduced into the microwave heater such that the Si phase can comprise two or more different heating modes (also known as fruit, discharge or heating). Medium, = different microwave energy gates are emitted from one or more transmitters during every two-segment period. In the -th embodiment, during the -first heating phase, the -the transmitter emits a high rate - The rate is from "::shoot", and during the second heating phase, the ratio can be: the first: the rate of one of the emitters is high - the rate is emitted from the second emitter, one Or a plurality of emitters can emit microwave energy into the microwave heater, and - or a plurality of emitters can be operatively placed into the microwave heater, thereby causing the reader to be in different positions. Each - separate W to the wood bundle (or other precursors can be implemented in the early heating stage (ie, 1 160981.doc -92 - 201236751 has a duration of time) (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 9 minutes, no more than 60 minutes, no more than 45 minutes, or no more than one cycle of one minute. One or two separate heating stages may be followed by The sleep period is selected for at least 2 minutes, at least 4 minutes, or at least ό minutes and/or no more than 15 minutes, no more than 12 minutes, or no more than 1 〇 minutes. When the microwave heater includes four or more emitters The microwave distribution system can be configured such that each emitter emits microwave energy into the microwave heater in a separate heating or discharging phase depending on the position of the one or more microwave switches. For example, in which The microwave heater includes one or two or more microwave switchers in one embodiment of the first, second, third, and fourth microwave emitters (♦, eg, a first and a second microwave switcher) ) can be configured to Thereby enabling microwave energy to be emitted primarily from each emitter in a respective first, second, third and fourth heating stages. In one embodiment, two or more emission stages can be implemented substantially simultaneously It is possible to prevent two or more discharge stages from being carried out substantially simultaneously. Additional details regarding the operation of a microwave heater utilizing a heating cycle comprising alternating discharge stages will now be discussed in detail below with reference to Figures 11 & and 1 lb. Turning to Figures 11a and 11b' provides a schematic top view of one of the microwave heating systems 1020 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The microwave heating system 1020 is illustrated as including at least four microwaves for producing microwave energy. Generators 1022a through 1022d and for directing at least a portion of the microwave energy to one of microwave heaters 1030. Microwave distribution system 1040 also includes operable to emit at least a portion of the microwave energy to Microwave 160981.doc • 93- 201236751 A plurality of spaced apart microwave emitters in the interior of heater 1040 from 1〇4牦 to 104h (which may be packaged in one embodiment) One or more split transmitters. Each of the microwave transmitters 1044a through 1044h can be operatively coupled to a plurality of (first to fourth) microwave switchers 〇46a through l in this figure One or more of 〇46d are shown in Figures 113 and 111. Microwave switchers 1046a through 〇46d are operable to route microwave energy to one or more of transmitters 1044a through 1044h in any suitable mode. Including, for example, a TM& mode and/or a TExy mode, as discussed in detail above. In one embodiment, the energy propagating through the microwave distribution system 1 can be discharged to the microwave heater 1030. Change the mode at least once before. 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 below with reference to Figures Ua and Ub. Each of the microwave switches 1046a through 1 〇 46d_ is operable to direct, control or distribute the flow of microwave energy to two or two positioned on substantially the same side or substantially opposite sides of the microwave heater 丨〇3〇 Each of the plurality of microwave emitters 1044a through 104h. For example, in one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 ia, each of the 'microwave switchers 1046a through 1046d can face an axially adjacent pair of microwave emitters (eg, transmitter 1〇44& And 1044b, transmitters l〇44c and 1044d, transmitters 1044e and 1044f, and transmitters 1044g and 104h), denoted as transmitter pairs 1050a through 1050d. In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1b, each of the microwave switches i〇46a through 1046d can be coupled to an axially aligned pair of microwave emitters (eg, transmitters 1044a and 1044h, Transmitter 1044b and 104g, transmitters 1044c and 1044f, and transmitters 1044d and 1044e) are shown as transmitting 160981 .doc -94 - 201236751 pairs 1050e to 1050h. The microwave switchers 1046a through 〇46d can be any suitable type of microwave switcher and in one embodiment can be a rotary 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 104d may include TE" switches, while in another embodiment, the microwave switchers 46a through 46d may include ΤΜ?ί) switches. Any additional suitable components (such as one or more mode converters, barrier assemblies or components discussed elsewhere in this application but not shown in Figures 1 and 11b) may be located in the microwave switcher 1 〇 46a to 1 〇46d upstream or downstream. In operation, the microwave switchers 46a through 464 can be selectively switched between a first heating (or discharging) phase and a second heating (or discharging) phase. Less energy can be emitted or emitted from one or more microwave emitters during the first heating phase and 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 of the microwave emitters. In one embodiment 'during the first heating phase, each of the microwave switches 1046a through 1046d may be configured to primarily route microwave energy to a first microwave emitter group (in Figures 11a and 11b) One or more transmitters labeled "A" Transmitter 160981.doc • 95· 201236751) are not primarily routed to a second microwave transmitter group (labeled as an rB in Figures 11a and lib) Group) - or multiple transmitters. During the second emission phase, in each of the respective emitter pairs 1050a to 1050d and l〇5〇e to i〇50h in FIGS. na and nb, the microwave switching states 1 046a to 1 〇 46d Each can be configured to route microwave energy to one or more of the second group (eg, "B" transmitters) without being primarily routed to the first group (eg, "A" Transmitter) - or multiple 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 the transmitter. No more than 5% of the microwave energy received by the switch is routed to the transmitter γ. In one embodiment, energy can be, for example, at least 75%, at least 9%, to > '95/. All of the primary routes are routed to the transmitter X, and the energy (for example, 5) is no more than 25%, no more than 1%, no more than 5%, or substantially no energy is routed to the transmitter γ. In one embodiment, the microwave heating system 1 〇 3 〇 may further include a control system 1060 for controlling the operation and configuration of the microwave switchers 16a to 1046d. The control system 1060 is operable. To configure each of the switches 1046a through 104d to be in the first emission phase such that all "A" transmitters (eg, transmitters 1〇44a, 1〇4乜, 1044e, l〇44g) ) The microwave energy is emitted into the microwave heater 1〇3〇, and all the “B” emitters (such as 'transmitter 1〇4 servant, i〇44d, i〇44f, 1 044h) will have a smaller amount. Or substantially no microwave energy can be emitted into the interior of the microwave heater 1030, as illustrated in Figures 11a and Ub by the microwave heaters 160981.doc -96 - 201236751. Subsequently, the control system is then operable to configure each of the switchers 104 "to 10 offsets to be in the second emission phase" such that all "A" transmitters (eg, transmitters 1044a, i) 〇44c, difficult e, 1〇44g) 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 104 servant, l (M4d, Hmf, (10)) emits microwave energy into the microwave heater 1〇3〇 (not shown in Ua and Ub). According to an embodiment, the control system 1060 is also operable to be based on a predetermined schedule. A set of parameters (including, for example, cycle time, total energy discharged, and the like) to control switching of the microwave switchers 1〇46& to 104d between the first discharge phase and the second discharge phase. In one embodiment, the control system 1060 is operable to configure each of the microwave switches 1〇46& to 1046d to the first emission phase substantially simultaneously such that it can simultaneously be "A" Each of the emitters i〇44a, 1〇44c, 1044e, l〇44g emits microwaves Up to a time period. In another embodiment, the control system 1060 is operable to include a time delay or lag between configuring one or more of the switches 1〇46& to i〇46d to the first emission phase Therefore, the microwave energy emitted from one or more "A" or "B" transmitters may be delayed or staggered relative to the emission energy from one or more other "A" or "B" emitters. In an example, the control system 1060 can be configured to allow one or more of the switches 1046a through 104d to be in a first discharge phase, and one or more other switches 1046a through 104d are in a second discharge phase, So that 160981.doc -97-201236751 microwave energy can be simultaneously transmitted from one or more "A" transmitters and one or more "B" transmitters. In one embodiment of the invention, the control system 丨060 is also Operates to at least partially prevent pairs of emitters from direct relative (eg, pairs 1044a and 104h, pairs 1044b and 1044g, pairs i〇44c and 1044f, pairs 1044d, and 104e) and/or axial bit neighbors Yes (for example, for i〇44a and 1044b, for 1044c and l〇44d, for 1044e) Simultaneous energy discharge of 1044f, i〇44g and 104h). A heating system configured and/or operated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be used to heat an object or load more efficiently than conventional heating systems. In particular, the heating system configured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is operable to handle large commercial scale loads. In one embodiment, the heating system as described herein can be heated to have at least 100 pieces, at least One or more loads of 500 pieces, at least 1,000 pounds, at least 5,000 pounds, or at least 10,000 pounds of accumulated, preheated (or pretreated) weight. In various embodiments, a wood bundle may be heated and/or dried such that the total volume of the wood is no greater than, for example, 2%, no more than 1%, no more than 5%, and no more than 2 degrees/ 〇 can reach a temperature not exceeding one of the upper limit temperatures. In the same or other embodiments, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% of the total volume of the wood. /. And at least 98% (for example) can reach a temperature not exceeding the threshold temperature. The lower threshold temperature and the upper threshold temperature may be relatively close to each other and may, for example, be at 110 of each other. Inside, 1〇5. Within 匚, 〇〇〇c, 9 (within rc, within 75 ° C or within 50 ° C. In various embodiments, the upper threshold temperature may be at least 190 ° C, at least 20 (TC or at least 22 CTC and / or not greater than 275. (:, not greater than 260. (:, not greater than 250. (: or not greater than 225 ° C. In another embodiment, the lower temperature can be at least 115 ° C, at least 12 〇 t, at least 16098 l.doc -98 - 201236751 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, the total volume of wood At least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, and at least 98% may be at least 130 ° C, at least 145 ° C, at least 150 ° C, or at least 160. (: and / or no greater than 250. (:, no greater than 240 °C, no more than 225 ° C, no more than 21 (TC or not more than 200 ° C maximum temperature. Therefore 'has at least 1 mash, at least 5 、, at least 1,000 lbs or at least 5,000 lbs An initial (for example, preheating or pretreatment) 之一 weight of the wood bundle (if desired, a chemically wetted wood bundle) may be no more than 48 hours, no more than 36 hours, no more than 24 hours, no more than 1 8 Heating, no more than 16 hours, no more than 12 hours, no more than 10 hours 'no more than 8 hours or no more than 6 hours. Various aspects of the invention are further illustrated and illustrated by the following examples. However, it should be understood that unless There are other specific instructions, which are included for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Example Example 1: Deconstruction of wood in a double container system This example illustrates A pilot scale experiment of acetylated and heated wood in a dual vessel system. As shown herein, the use of separate vessels for the acetylation step and the heating step allows for the production of dried, acetonitrile in a short period of time. Wood. Construct a test scale acetonitrile reactor with a diameter of 10 inches and a length of 9 feet. Dry the kiln to a humidity between 6 wt% and 8 wt% 160981.doc -99· 201236751 Several southern yellow pine boards containing strontium are loaded into the acetylation reactor and the reactor door is closed and sealed. The pressure in the acetonitrile reactor is reduced to 40 Torr and 7 using a vacuum system. The vacuum is maintained between 0 torr for 2 to 45 minutes to remove residual air and/or water from the wood. After the holding cycle, the internal volume of the reactor is filled with acetic anhydride at room temperature and in the reactor. The pressure is increased between 80 psig and 90 psig to thereby maximize the impregnation of the acetic anhydride against the wood. After 40 minutes, the fluid is drawn from the reactor and the pressure is increased to 1,500 Torr by means of warm nitrogen. The reactor steam jacket was used to increase the temperature to 140 ° C, and once all the fluid was drawn from the reactor, the hot acetic acid was steamed / iw into the vessel to contact the wood 'to thereby catalyze the reaction. After 6 minutes, the hot steam injection was stopped and allowed to occur at an increased reactor pressure for a period of between 1.5 hours and 3 hours. Thereafter, the pressure in the reactor is reduced to flash vaporize residual acetic acid and/or anhydride thereby at least partially drying the acetified wood. The pressure in the reactor was then further reduced to 60 Torr to 80 Torr, whereby the panels were dried to a chemical moisture content between 1 〇 wt% and 20 wt%. Nitrogen is injected to lower the temperature in the reactor. Once cooled, the 'acetified plate is removed, wrapped in plastic to minimize the therapeutic vapor emission to the external environment' and delivered to a hood where the plates are introduced into a microwave heater It was previously cut to a length of 16 to 18 inches. A microwave heater with a diameter of 19 inches and a length of 43 inches utilizes a 3.5 kW, 2450 MHz microwave generator model pWAVEVAC0350 vacuum microwave dryer (available from Schwanewede, Germany) , Germany) Piieschner Microwave Power 160981.doc -100- 201236751

Systems speaks). The outer wall of the heater is electrically warmed to prevent condensation of acetic acid and/or acetic anhydride during the heating/drying cycle. Prior to loading into the microwave heater, a hole was drilled near the center of each of the acetonitrile plates and a NEoPTI(R) fiber optical temperature sensor was inserted into the hole to monitor the temperature during heating. The plates are then placed on a turntable located at the center of the microwave heater, which also contains a system for monitoring weight data during heating. Close and seal the door on the heater and purify the chamber with nitrogen. A mode agitator positioned on the upper wall 〇 of the chamber is turned on and a vacuum pump is used to reduce the pressure in the interior of the heater to between 20 Torr and 60 Torr. The microwave generator is then turned "on" and set to emit 400 W of energy into the heater. Within a few minutes, the temperature of the plates increased between 17 〇 and 190 °C. The weight and temperature data are monitored during the duration of the heating process and a programmable logic controller (PLC) is used to cycle the generator on and off until the target panel temperature is reached. The plates are maintained at the target temperature for between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, and after the heating cycle is completed, the vacuum pump is stopped and the chamber is returned to atmospheric pressure. The door of the microwave heater is then opened and the dried plate is removed. The average final chemical moisture content of the dried, acetated plates is less than 5 wt%. Example 2: - 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 a gravity distribution curve which will then be correlated in Prophetic Example 3 to predict the chemical humidity profile of the wood heated on a commercial scale. I60981.doc -101 - 201236751 A microwave heater similar in height to one of the heaters illustrated in Figures l〇a, l〇c, 10d and l〇e is constructed with an outer diameter of 12 feet and a diameter of 16 feet. A total length. The heater includes an inlet door for loading and unloading the bundle from the container. Four split microwave emitters similar to the split microwave emitters illustrated in Figures 10c and 10d are configured in two oppositely disposed pairs and connected to a FERRITE 75 kW 9 1 5 MHz microwave via one of the οιο waveguide systems Generator (available from Ferrite Microwave Technologies, lnc., Nashua, 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 1 〇c. 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 energy emitted by the respective upward and downwardly directed discharge openings of the emitter is rasterized into the interior of the microwave heater. Each reflective surface is rotated in a generally arcuate shape by utilizing a shaft of an external drive. Details of the motion of the movable reflector will be elaborated later. Allow approximately 1 5,000 pounds of acetylated radiata pine to equilibrate in the ambient atmosphere so that the average water content of the wood is 2 wt% to 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 12). The composite bundle (shown in Figure I) is represented as bundle 1304) having a nominal size of 4 feet wide by 8 feet high and 16 feet long. Stack I60981.doc -102- 201236751 Each of stacks A through C has a width of 6 inches, and stacked stacks have a width of one second of 2.5 feet. The composite bundle 1304 is introduced into the microwave heater and the door is closed and fastened prior to the initial 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 1^| to the first diagonal relative transmitter pair in a manner similar to that discussed previously with respect to transmitter group "A" of Figures lu and ub. Next, after 10 minutes, the generator is stopped and the microwave switcher is reconfigured to route energy from the first 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. Alternatively, the sequence of emission energy from the axially staggered emitter continues in a 10 minute increment for a total of 8 minutes (eg, 1 〇〇 kwhr) e during each heating mode by controlling the movable reflector The motion and position of each of the fibers radiates energy discharged from each of the microwave emitters into the interior of the microwave heater. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is configured 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 move at the same speed, but the movement of one of each pair begins before the other, thereby preventing the two reflectors from moving synchronously. Table 2 below summarizes the boundaries of each of the eight zones of the movement, such as the 'start and end positions' and the total length and the reflector speed of each of the top and -P reflector pairs. The time spent in each zone (10) such as 'residence time' is expressed as the ratio of the total reflector cycle time. Note that Table 2 only outlines one of the curves of each reflector—each reflector pair moves through a zone as described below to 8, and every two: the emitter then proceeds in the -reverse mode, _ begins And 1 „ W main area 160981.doc -104 - 201236751 ο ο 璲 wn some β 飨 b: κ bottom reflector 5? ? 余 g 〇rn cn cn ri in 〇 \ ο ^Ti speed (〇 / s) 〇c><N 00 H <N oq <N oq r*H <N oo TH (N o 顶部 Top reflector S: ^ SB ^ 〇\ 〇m CN oooo (N Ο speed (°/s ) &o <N 00 r*H (N 00 t-H (N 00 i-H (N OO t—4 >r> (N o ο path length (%) 0.31% 12.19% 12.50% 12.50 % 12.50% 25.00% 12.50% 12.50% Path length (°) 1—Η ON rn o 〇qo 00 o ¥ Ο inch · End position (.) O o 00 0 01 H o H oo oo <N Ο CN m Starting position (°) ο ο t—H qo oo o (NH o 'O o ο oo <N tel) Η (N inch in 00 160981.doc -105- 201236751 Once the entire heating cycle is completed, the shutdown is generated And transporting the heated composite bundle to a holding zone having a wide angle mirror One MIKRON 7500 model camera is positioned approximately 10 feet from one of the elongated sides of the heated bundle. Stack A (the outermost panel stack shown in Figure 12; is removed from the composite bundle) to thereby expose One of the internal surfaces of stack B (designated B' in Figure 12). The camera records the thermal image of surface β| at a rate of one image every 5 seconds, and after 20 seconds, removes the stack from the composite bundle The camera then begins recording a thermal image of the inner surface of one of the stacks C (designated as surface C' in Figure 12.) After 20 seconds, the stack c is removed from the bundle, thereby exposing the interior surface of stack D ( Designated as surface D, in Figure 12. The camera records the thermal image of surface D' for 2 seconds and then stops. To analyze the resultant temperature distribution of the volume of the bundle, use the MikroSpecTM professional thermal imaging software ( Version 4〇5, available from Metrum, Berkshire, UK), introduces pixel-by-pixel temperature data obtained from representative areas of each of the surface and D, to a trial In the table. The graph " shows a cumulative frequency histogram incorporating one of the internal surfaces B of the self-synthesizing beam to the thermal data obtained by D1. Less than 2% by volume of the bundle has a temperature below 42 〇c as shown in Figure 13 or above 521. This type of energy distribution results in a predicted chemical moisture content curve as described in the predictive example 3 when associated with a dry, acetified wood bundle. Example 3 (predictive) Calculation of Chemical Humidity Content in the G-Trained Beam This predictive example is similarly configured using the experimental energy distribution obtained in Example 2, 160981.doc * 106 - 201236751 A dry acetalized wood or a plurality of thermally removable materials to predict the chemical and humidity curves for heating and/or drying in a commercial scale microwave heating system as previously described in Example 2 (eg, within the total volume) $ and distribution of a school). One of the dimensions of approximately 101 inches high X52 inches wide by 16 feet long is loaded with a bundle of acetylated wood into a microwave heater having an internal diameter of one foot u feet of 7 inches and a length between one flange of 17 feet . The pressurizable heater includes a relatively disposed inlet and outlet opening. Each can be used with a full diameter.

Disc door seal. 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 2. In addition, a vacuum system was used to maintain the internal pressure of the heater at 6 Torr. After 8 minutes, the microwave generator was turned off and the beam was removed and the thermal image of the interior surface of the beam was taken in the manner previously described in Example 2. The predicted temperature distribution resulting from the accumulated thermal data is provided in FIG. As shown in Figure 14, the predicted temperature profile of the acetylated wood bundle has an average peak temperature of 165 °C and the total volume of the bundle is less than 3%.3% with less than 11 5 C or w at 235. (:--temperature. According to previously obtained empirical data relating the wood temperature to the chemical moisture content, the temperature in Figure 14 is 160981.doc -107 - 201236751. The distribution is treated as described above. The wood beam is predicted as shown in Table 3. The chemical moisture content curve is shown in Table 3. Table 3: Estimated chemical moisture content of dried acetylated wood The temperature of the wood bundle is predicted by the moisture content T < 115 ° C 0.3% ~ 2 wt % Humidity 115〇C<T<135〇C 2.2% 〜1 wt% Humidity T>235〇C 0.3% Charred 115〇C<T<235〇C 99.4% Dry 135〇C<T<235〇C 97.2% The overall goal of drying the heated and/or dried acetalized wood is to remove residual acetalized chemicals (eg, by minimizing the chemical moisture content of the dried bundle) without excessive drying or charring of the treated wood. As shown in Table 3, less than 0.3% of the total volume of the acetonitrile bundle is insufficiently dry (eg, having a moisture content of 2 wt% or more) or subjected to scorching (eg, having greater than 235) °C average temperature), in addition, the bundle Less than 2.2% of the total volume has a moisture content of 1% or more. Therefore, at least 97.2% (and up to 99.4%) of the total volume of the acetonitrile bundle is heated or dried to less than 1 wt% to 2 wt. °/〇 One of the chemical moisture content while minimizing the amount of charred wood. Example 4: Use of sequential heating cycles with different microwave energy levels This example illustrates how the method of applying heat to a wood bundle affects the Heating the temperature distribution of the wood. Performing several tests comprising one or more individual heating cycles of various durations, pressures and/or energy levels to determine the effect on the temperature of the beam during the heating cycle and the charred wood 160981.doc -108- 201236751 Constructs a microwave heating system similar to the one illustrated in Figures 9a, 9b and 9e and which comprises coupling to a vacuum microwave heater FERRITE via a series of 1010 waveguides 75 kW, 915 MHz microwave generator (available from Ferrite Microwave Technologies, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire). Three rotating microwave switches are configured to self-generate microwave energy Optionally routed to one of four microwave emitters located in the interior of the microwave heater. Each emitter is designed to receive energy in a TE10 mode 'but contains the interior of the vessel for energy emission Convert it to a TM01 mode one mode converter before it reaches the heater. The vacuum heater (which has a diameter of 6.5 feet and a total length of 8 feet) contains one of the woods for loading and unloading on one end. Single door. The system also includes a mechanical, dry (eg, non-oil sealed) vacuum pump for controlling the pressure within the heater as needed during the heating step (available from Edwards Limited of Tewksbury, MA). Got). For each of the test runs A to ,, six acetylated radiative slabs with a nominal size of 6 吋 6 吋 英尺 英尺 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置 放置a fiber optic temperature sensor in the drilled hole. The plates equipped with the sensor are placed to contain a total of 26 layers. 156 of the acetylated radiata pine plates are adhered to the bundle. Column 13. The bundles are then fastened together and loaded into the vacuum heater. During each run a to Η, the bundle is exposed to different heating and/or pressure curves. For each operation, for each shipment The peak average and peak maximum fiber optical temperature and weight (to calculate evaporation loss) and total energy input before and after heating are measured for each cycle. The key characteristics and each of each bundle are summarized in Tables 4a and 4b below. Details of a heating curve. 160981.doc •109- 201236751

璲电癍ο/nw?厚β铋^^WK«HV^^: 5 啭 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 Force (to) - 350 350 350 350 200 200 300 350 Dry weight of the bundle (M___ 1553 1833 1528 1800 1630 1592 1566 1836 Average moisture content (%) 2.55 2.04 2.18 2.10 2.70 2.45 2.72 1.95 Operation < PQ UQ ω Ρη ο X

(赞)鲮电癍名菡 single ^l;±i'^wn^v^lF : q inch< fourth heating cycle sleep (minutes) 1 1 1 1 III time (minutes) 1 1 1 1 III %ι | ^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 I (Ν Third heating cycle 1 1 Meaning 1 1 1 I Time (minutes) <N (N 1 1 Ό m 〇〇(Ν ^1, 1 (Ν (Ν 1 οα ( Ν Second heating cycle 1 inch 1 〇 \ 1 00 < Ν Ο time \ (minutes) \ 1 ο 沄Ο ο 1 (N (N < Ν (Ν (Ν CN ΟΟ 00 宕 first heating cycle sleep (minutes 1 沄沄沄宕cn Poverty: 3⁄4 ro 〇Ο ίη Ο <Ν <Ν ο 00 Ο ο <Ν ^1, CN in (Ν in (Ν (ΝRun < 0Q υ QW |jt ο W 160981.doc •110 201236751 Upon completion of each run, the bundle is removed and each of the panels is visually inspected for scorch marking, which is defined as a quarter or larger black or Coking mark. Calculate the evaporation (humidity) loss by comparing the weight of the bundle before and after heating (with the known dry weight of each plate). Calculate the energy density based on the total energy input and the initial weight and moisture content of the wood ( Dry per pound Wood). Table 5 below summarizes the results of Run A to Η, which includes the average and maximum peak temperatures achieved during heating and the number of burnt plates. Table 5: Summary of Results from Operation Α to Η Operation Results Energy Density (kW/lb dry wood) Average branch temperature CC) Maximum peak temperature (V) Burnt plate (#) A 0.0094 116 159 0 B 0.0107 119 161 0 C 0.0107 139 184 7 D 0.0109 116 179 0 E 0.0148 136 154 19 F 0.0155 123 137 0 G 0.0125 113 193 0 Η 0.0168 142 192 10 As shown in Table 5, for similar energy densities (for example, running C and D and running Ε and F), use at lower energy levels and / Or the operation of more individual cycles (eg, running D and F) performed in a shorter duration than using fewer individual cycles at higher energy levels and/or over a longer duration ( For example, running C and Ε) is more likely to avoid scorching. In addition, as illustrated by the operating ,, the initial cycle is performed at a high energy level and/or over a long period of 160981.doc -111 - 201236751. Energy and / or duration In this case, even operation with multiple cycles with reduced energy levels can result in burns, and, therefore, τ inference - the number and duration of individual cycles within the total heating cycle and each of these individual cycles The level of energy and/or force has an effect on the average and maximum peak temperature of the wood and the number of plates burned during the heating cycle. Example 5: & Effect of less energy heating cycle on beam temperature distribution This example illustrates the use of two or more individual heating cycles.

(Each - all at - lower microwave energy level and / or - lower pressure) Simulation results of the effect of heating a wood bundle.

Synthetic modeling data was used to predict the temperature profile of a theoretical wood bundle with a nominal size of 52 inches, 101 inches x 15 inches, exposed to several different simulated heating curves. An HFSSTM software (available from Ansys, Cannonsburg, PA) for predicting the electromagnetic field distribution under each heating curve is used on an i-inch grid and used to predict one of the center vertical planes of the beam (eg The matlab software for the temperature distribution within the "central block" (available from Mathworks, Natik, MA) was used for five simulations (eg 'Simulation A to E'). Details of each of the simulated heating curves for each of the simulations A through E are summarized below in Table 6. 160981.doc •112· 201236751 ο ο

婼电癍矣wqY Lixiong·6-3^ν^鹚蛘:9啭The third heating cycle 1 1 f 1 1 1 End of the end B Between (minutes) 1 1 1 1 1 1 m (N o Energy (kW ) 1 1 1 1 1 1 18.75 Second heating cycle sleep (^M) End and end time 沄 time (minutes) in ΓΟ m 〇cn (N o Energy (kW) i〇56.25 in 卜 ^ m First heating cycle sleep ( Minutes) Ο 沄沄 time (minutes) cn mom <NO energy (kW) in in in simulation < nu Q 160981.doc •113 201236751 Importing simulated temperature data from MATLAB into a spreadsheet and performing a statistical analysis By determining (1) the maximum peak temperature during the heating cycle and (2) the percentage of the total volume of the "cut" that will be charred (ie, will reach a temperature above 240 °C). The results of simulations A to E are listed in 7. Table 7: Peak temperature and simulated beam volume for simulated A to E Simulated peak temperature (°C) Charred volume (%) A 289 1.30 B 279 0.92 C 269 0.64 D 270 0.59 E 239 0.00 Although the total amount of power added during each total heating cycle is the same (for example, 87.5 kW-h r), but the timing, duration and level of energy applied to the load affect the maximum peak temperature and scorch level for each simulation. For example, by simulating the peak temperatures of A and E and the burnt volume It was confirmed that allowing the wood to "sleep" between two energy applications (eg, individual sequential heating cycles) resulted in a lower total peak temperature and less scorching than when the dormant cycle was not used. When used in a subsequent cycle When the maximum microwave energy level is lower than the previous cycle, the expected peak temperature and charring amount are also lower, as confirmed by comparing simulations B and C. Further, when using three (or more than three) During subsequent cycles (each of which is at a lower energy level than the previous one), an even lower peak temperature and/or charring amount can be obtained, as shown in Simulation D. The preferred forms of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only, and the scope of the present invention is not to be construed as being limited to the scope of the present invention. Easily as described above The exemplified embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and the present invention is intended to be construed as an equivalent of the The literal category is invented 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. One of the wood bundle systems; FIG. 2 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 turntable system of wood bundles of a plurality of wood heaters; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the wood treatment systems configured in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, which in particular illustrates the transport of a plurality of chemistries Roller system of one of a wood bundle of a reforming reactor and a plurality of wood heaters; Figure 4a is suitable for use in the production of chemically modified wood and configured to pass through a wood according to an embodiment of the present invention A top view of a processing system 'specifically illustrating a chemical upgrading reactor and a wood heater' that includes a separate axially aligned double door container and is contained in the opposite A steam containing chamber between the heater and the heater vessel; 160981.doc -115- 201236751 Figure 4b is an isometric view of one of the through-wood processing systems of Figure 4a, specifically illustrating one of the steam holding chambers Blowing plate/wall; Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of the vapor containing chamber illustrated in Figures 讣 and ,, specifically illustrating the flow of fluid (e.g., air) from the external environment to the vapor containing chamber In the present - an exemplary one-way vent pair; Figure 4d is a side view of the mosquito-passing wood treatment system, but also illustrates the extraction into the steam storage chamber and the inflow into the heater outlet - Vapor and gas-gas venting system for product vapor removal structure; Figure 5 is a schematic view of a microwave heating system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, specifically illustrating that it is equipped with a vacuum system and via a The microwave distribution system receives one of microwave energy microwave heaters from a microwave generator; FIG. 6 is suitable for use as a double door of a chemical upgrading reactor and/or a microwave heater according to various embodiments of the present invention, An isometric view of one of the over-type containers, which in particular illustrates the shape and size ratio of the container; Figure 7a is a configuration of one of the microwave heaters with a container flange and a container flange in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a partial cross-sectional view of a junction, 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 Figure 7a A partial cross-sectional view of the microwave choke of one of the chokes shown therein, but the microwave choke has a choke chamber extending at an acute angle relative to each other; Figure 7c is equipped with the microwave illustrated in Figure 7a One of the baffle configurations is a cross-sectional isometric view of one of the door flanges of the microwave heater, which in particular illustrates the shape of the I60981.doc •116·201236751 in the diversion wall of one of the chokes Circumferentially spaced end opening slots or gaps; Figure 7d is equipped with a configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention -

• «I removes one of the microwave chokes on one of the microwave heaters. One of the open doors is a side view. It specifically illustrates that the removable portion of the microwave choke includes a plurality of individually removable And an alternative choke section, FIG. 7e is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the rG"-shaped removable choke previously illustrated in FIG. 7d;

Figure 7 f is a configuration according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention

—I— I

A cross-sectional view of a G or "U" shaped removable choke portion; Figure 7g is a cross-sectional view of one of the "B" removable spoiler portions configured in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention Figure 7h is a cross-sectional view of one of the dome-shaped removable spoiler portions configured in accordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8a is a configuration of a microwave in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; A cross-sectional isometric view of the heater, in particular the heater is illustrated as being equipped with an elongated waveguide emitter having staggered emission openings on opposite sides of the emitter; Figure 8b An enlarged partial view of one of the waveguide emitters illustrated in Figure 8a, which illustrates the configuration of the emission opening and the thickness of the emission opening; Figure ～ is configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention - Microwave heating system • i 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 纟 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; - a top-down view, which will be The wave distribution system is illustrated as a τ M "transmitter pair on one side of the microwave heater and a second TMw emitter pair on the opposite side of the microwave heater; Figure 9C is illustrated by The term "opposite side" & "the same side" means one of the contents; Figure 9d is a diagram illustrating one of the contents indicated by the term "axial alignment"; Figure 9e is based on 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, which in particular illustrates a month similar to the emission system illustrated in Figure 9b but also includes Microwave emitter associated with a movable reflector-emissive system; Figure 9 f is an isometric view of one embodiment of a reflector suitable for use in a microwave heating system as described herein Specifically, the reflector is illustrated as having a non-planar reflective surface with one of the recesses of a first configuration; FIG. 9 g is suitable for use in one of the microwave heating systems described herein - reflection Isometric view of another embodiment of the device, In particular, the reflector is illustrated as having a non-planar reflective surface with one of the recesses of a second configuration; Figure 9h is suitable for use in a microwave heating system as described herein - a reflector A side elevational view of one embodiment, which specifically illustrates the curvature of the reflector surface; Figure 9 is a prior view of the microwave emitter and reflector pair 160981.doc -118 - 201236751 An enlarged cross-sectional isometric view, in particular illustrating an actuator system for providing oscillating movement of a reflector; FIG. 1 is a configuration of one of the microwave heating systems in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention A side view, in particular, illustrates a microwave distribution system equipped with a plurality of τΜβέ barrier assemblies; FIG. 1〇b is one of one of the τΜαδ barrier assemblies illustrated in FIG. A cross-sectional view, in particular, the barrier assembly is illustrated as having two floating sealing windows and an impedance-converting diameter stepped near the junction of the barrier assembly and the waveguide to which the barrier assembly is coupled Change; Figure 1 〇c An end view of the microwave heating system illustrated in FIG. 1A, wherein a bundle of wood is received in the interior of the microwave heater, the figure specifically illustrating the microwave heater as being equipped with the opposite of the heater a split-wave transmitter on the side and a movable reflector for rasterizing the microwave energy emitted from the split emitters; Figure 1〇d is an amplification side of one of the split emitters illustrated in Figure 10c 〇 (4) 'Specifically illustrates the emission angle of two separate microwave energy fractions emitted from the split emitter; the graph is used to make the - reflector move - the system - the enlarged view of the embodiment In the case of 疋, an actuating thief for causing oscillation of the reflector and a bellows for suppressing fluid leakage at a position where the actuator penetrates the wall of the microwave heater are illustrated; Inventive - One of the schematic top views of a microwave heating system, the same as the second __β', the brother and the $. Ra routes from the flying city to A plurality of microwave switches of the same type as the microwave transmitter 160981.doc • 119·201236751; Figure lib is a schematic diagram of one of the microwave heating systems according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, which in particular illustrates the heating system Illustrated as comprising a plurality of microwave switches for routing microwave energy to different microwave emitters in an alternating manner; Figure 12 is a schematic representation of one of the wood bundles, specifically illustrated in the determination as in Example 2. The configuration utilized for the internal surface temperature is illustrated; Figure 13 is a cumulative frequency histogram incorporating the thermal data from the surface of the composite beam shown in Figure 12; and Figure 14 is illustrated by an example One of the three methods described in Figure 3 produces a cumulative frequency histogram of one of the predicted temperature distributions from the estimated thermal data of the acetylated wood bundle. [Main component symbol description] 10 20 22 24 26 28 29 30 32 34 36 160981.doc Wood treatment facility chemical upgrading system Chemical upgrading reactor Reactor heating system using reactor pressure / pressure reducing system reactor inlet door / The first reactor inlet door is selected as the reactor outlet door heating system heater energy selection heater pressure / decompression system -120- 201236751

38 Open heater inlet door 39 Select heater outlet door 40 Conveying 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 Timber bundle 110 Wood treatment facility 122a Reactor 122b Reactor 122n Reactor 128a Door 128b Door 128n Door 132a Heater 132b Heater 132n Heater 138a Door 138b Door 138n Door 160981.doc -121 - 201236751 140 Rotatable Platform/Rotary Table 160 Storage Area 210 Wood Treatment Facility 222a Chemistry Modification reactor 222n Chemical upgrading reactor 228a Reactor inlet door 228η Reactor inlet door 229a Reactor outlet door 229n Selected reactor outlet door 232a Heater 232b Heater 232n Heater 238a Heater inlet door 238b Heater inlet Door 238n heater inlet door 239a heater outlet door 239b heater outlet door 239n heater outlet door 240 conveyor system 242a section 242b section 242c section 242d section 242e section 160981.doc -122 - 201236751

242f Section 242g Section 242h Section 242i Section 242] Section 244a Section 244b Section 244c Section 244d Section 244e Section 322 Chemical Modification 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 344 Ceiling structure 349 Steam outlet pipe 349a Steam outlet pipe 349b Steam outlet pipe - 123 - 160981.doc 201236751 349c Steam outlet pipe 360 Steam storage chamber 361 Transfer zone 370a Center extension axis / Vent 370b Center Extension Shaft/Ventilation 343 Blast Plate or Blast Wall 399 Transport Path 400 Product Vapor Removal System or Structure 402 Ventilation System 404 Vent Hood 406 Vent Chamber 408 Vent Chamber Exit 409 Door 410 Vacuum Generator 412 Processing Unit 414 Drain 416 Wood Treatment Facility / Wood Treatment System 420 Microwave Heating System 422 Microwave Generator 430 Microwave Heater 440 Microwave Distribution System 442 Waveguide 444a Microwave Transmitter 444b Microwave Transmitter 160981.doc 124· 201236751 444c Microwave Emission 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 G 535 Center Extending Shaft 536 Microwave Heater Interior 631 Body Side Sealing Surface 632 Container Body 633 Door Side Sealing Surface 634 Door 650 Microwave Rejector 651 〇 Removable Portion 652 First Radially Extended Resistor Chamber 653a Removable Slipper Segment 653b Removable Slipper Segment 653c Removable Resistor Flow section 653d Removable flow block section 653e Removable flow blocker section 654 Second radially extended baffle cavity 656 Radially extended baffle diversion wall 160981.doc -125- 201236751 660 Fluid seal selected The member 670 is separated by an open gap 690. The direction of the extension of the first choke chamber is 692. The direction of extension of the second choke chamber is 702. Wood bundle 720 Microwave heating system 730 Microwave heater 738 Heater inlet door 739 Space/selector heater exit door 740 microwave distribution system 760 elongated waveguide emitter 764a substantially planar sidewall 764b substantially flat Side wall 764c substantially planar side wall 764d substantially planar side wall 767a elongated groove/emission opening 767b elongated groove/emission opening 767c elongated groove/emission opening 767d elongated groove/emission opening 767e elongated groove/ Launch opening 780a launch pair or opening pair 780b launch pair or opening pair 820 microwave heating system 830 microwave heater 160981.doc -126- 201236751

83 1 outer side wall 831a side wall 831b side wall 835 extension shaft 835a extension vehicle 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 ΤΜα6 waveguide section 843b ΤΜαδ waveguide section 843c ΤΜα6 waveguide section 843d ΤΜα6 waveguide section 844 Microwave transmitter 844a Microwave transmitter 844b Microwave transmitter 844c Microwave transmitter 844d Microwave transmitter 845 Open outlet/launch opening 160981.doc -127- 201236751 845a open exit/launch opening 845b open exit/launch opening 845c open exit/launch 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 movable reflector 890b movable reflector 890c movable reflector 890d movable reflector 891a reflective surface 891b reflective surface 891c reflective surface 891d Shooting surface 892 Support arm 893 Oscillation shaft 893a Projection 893b Projection 160981.doc -128- 201236751 894 Lever arm 895 Linear shaft 896 Wheel 897 Pivot 898 Motor 899 Reflector drive system / Actuator 902 Wood beam 920 Microwave heating system 928 928 entrance door 930 microwave heater 931 outer side wall 933 side wall 938 heater inlet door 939 heater outlet door 940 microwave distribution system 941a emission opening 941b separated by a separate opening 941c through a separate opening 941d Emission opening ' 942 waveguide section 942a upstream ΤΜαδ waveguide section 942b upstream ΤΜαδ waveguide section 942c upstream ΤΜαέ waveguide section 942d upstream ΤΜ& waveguide section 160981.doc -129- 201236751 942e upstream TM& waveguide section 942f upstream TMai) waveguide section 942g upstream waveguide section 942h upstream ΤΜαδ waveguide section 942i downstream ΤΜαέ waveguide section 942j downstream ΤΜαδ waveguide section 942k downstream ΤΜαέ waveguide section 9421 downstream ΤΜα& waveguide section 942x waveguide section 942y waveguide section 942z waveguide section 943a TEy waveguide section 943b TEy waveguide section 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 947d mode converter 160981.doc -130- 201236751 948 extension axis 949 ΤΜαί) to TE" mode conversion splitter 950a external to ΤΜαδ mode converter 950b external ΤΕ" to ΤΜα6 mode converter 950c external TExy to ΤΜα6 mode converter 950d external ΤΕ" to ΤΜα6 mode converter 951 inlet or opening / unobstructed beam Receiving space 960 Actuator O 961 Fixed portion 963 Extendable portion 964 Telescopic bladder structure 970 Barrier assembly 970a Barrier assembly 970b Barrier assembly 970c Barrier assembly 970d 〇 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 973b using second or intermediate section 160981.doc -131 - 201236751 973c third or outlet section 974a impedance transformation diameter step change 974b impedance transformation straight Step change 975a first ΤΜαδ waveguide section 975b second ΤΜαδ 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 microwave generator 1022d microwave generator 1030 microwave heater 1040 microwave distribution system 1044a microwave transmitter 160981.doc -132- 201236751 1044b microwave Transmitter 1044c Microwave Transmitter 1044d Microwave Transmitter 1044e Microwave Transmitter 1044f Microwave Transmitter 1044g Microwave Transmitter 1044h Microwave Transmitter 1046a Microwave Transducer 〇 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 Transmitter Pair '1060 Control System A First Microwave Transmitter Set / Stack B Second Group wave transmitter / C stack D stacked stacking 160981.doc -133- 201236751 1304 interior surface of the composite beam B, C an interior surface, an interior surface D '160981.doc • 134 ·

Claims (1)

201236751 VII. Patent application scope: 1. A system for producing chemically modified wood, the system comprising: a chemical upgrading reactor for producing a chemically wet wood bundle, wherein the chemical upgrading reaction The apparatus includes a first reactor door and defining an internal reactor volume of at least 100 cubic feet; and a microwave heater for removing at least one or more thermally removable chemicals from the chemically wetted wood bundle A portion wherein the microwave heater includes a first heater door and defines an internal helium heater volume of at least 1 cubic foot, wherein the internal reactor volume is positionally distinct from the internal heater volume. 2. A system for producing chemically modified wood, the system comprising: a wood acetylation reactor for producing an acetylated chemically wet wood bundle, wherein the acetylation reactor comprises a first reactor door defining at least 100 cubic feet of internal reactor volume; and a heater for recovering from the acetylated chemically wetted wood beam or cherish heat removable chemistry At least a portion of the article, wherein the heating benefit includes a first heater door and defining an internal heater volume of at least 100 cubic feet, wherein the internal reactor volume is positionally distinct from the internal heater volume. 3. A system for producing chemically modified wood, the system comprising: a chemical upgrading reactor comprising: one for discharging the wood bundle from the chemical upgrading reactor after chemical upgrading Reactor door; 160981.doc 201236751 Heat thief comprising a first heater door for receiving one of the wood bundles after being discharged from the chemical upgrading reactor; and a gluten to define the wood bundle from a first reactor door is passed through the one transfer zone during the first heater door, wherein the 5 Habyna chamber is coupled to the chemical upgrading reactor and the heater and is operable to self-steel the bundle The chemical upgrading reactor substantially isolates an external environment from the transfer zone during delivery to the heater. 4. The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein the heater is a microwave heater. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reactor and the heater each define an internal volume of at least 500 cubic feet. 6. As requested! The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of providing includes supplying microwave energy to one or more of the microwave generators at a rate of at least 50 kW and operable to apply pressure to the heater Reduce the vacuum system to one of less than 350 Torr. 7. The system of claim 1 or 3, wherein the chemical upgrading reactor is an acetonitrile reactor. 8. The system of claim 3, wherein the chemical upgrading reactor defines an internal reactor volume and the heater defines an internal heater volume, wherein the internal reactor volume is different in position from the internal heater volume . The system of any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the internal reactor volume and the internal heater volume are separated from each other by at least 2 feet and no more than 50 feet. The system of any of claims 2, 8 or 8, further comprising 160981.doc 201236751 one or more microwave generators operable to supply microwave energy to the heater at a rate of at least 150 kW And a vacuum system operable to reduce the pressure in the heater to a pressure less than 25 Torr, wherein the internal reactor volume and the internal heater volume are each at least L000 cubic feet, and the internal reaction The volume of the internal heater is spaced apart from each other by at least 4 feet and no more than 30 feet. 11. The system of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 8, wherein the first reactor door is a reactor outlet door and the first heater door is a heater inlet door, wherein the reactor Further comprising a reactor inlet door and the heater further comprising a heater outlet door, wherein the reactor inlet door and the reactor outlet door are located on substantially opposite sides of the reactor and the heater inlet door and the heater An outlet door is located on a generally opposite side of the heater 'where the reactor defines a central elongated shaft extending through the reactor inlet door and the reactor outlet door, wherein the heater defines an extension through the heater inlet gate And a central axis of elongation of the heater outlet door 'where the elongated axis of the reactor and the heater are substantially parallel. 12. The system of any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 8, wherein the first reactor door is for loading and unloading a single door of the wood bundle from the reactor, and the first heater door It is the only door used to load and unload the bundle of wood from the heater. 13. The system of claim 2, wherein the reactor and the heater are positioned in a side-by-side configuration. 14. The system of claim i, further comprising a containment chamber defining the chemically wet wood bundle passing through the first reactor door to the 160981.doc 201236751 a heater door A transfer zone 'where the containment chamber is sealingly coupled to the reactor and the heater and operable to substantially isolate the external environment from the transfer zone during transport of the bundle of wood from the reactor to the heater. 15. The system of claim 2, further comprising a containment chamber defining a transfer zone through which the chemically wetted wood bundle passes during the time from the first reactor door to the first heater. Wherein the containment chamber is sealingly coupled to the reactor and the heater and is operable to isolate the external environment from the transfer zone when the bundle of wood is transported from the reaction H to the heater period. The system of any one of claims 3, 14 or 15, wherein the accommodating chamber includes a venting system for permitting fluid to flow from the external environment to one of the accommodating chambers or a venting hole A one-way vent for permitting fluid to flow from the external environment into the containment chamber but inhibiting fluid from flowing out of the containment chamber into the external environment. 17. The system of claim 3, wherein the transfer to the chambers is for the extraction of gases and vapors from the containment chamber. 1 8. If you want to kiss! The system of claim 7, wherein the first heater door, the heater inlet door, wherein the heater comprises a heater separate from the heater inlet door and located on a side of the heater opposite the heater inlet door - the ',, ... exit door' the system further includes a product in the sputum removal structure 接近 located near the heater outlet 1 , the venting system comprising - a plurality of vacuum generators having a total venting capacity, Wherein the venting system 160981.doc 201236751 adjusts the utilization of the total venting capacity between the accommodating chamber and the sterilizing structure.邝移 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the change or change via the # ventilation system includes an effective transfer of the gas removed from the containment chamber by the overnight system and • "," /Ίι or one of the components of the treatment device. 20. - A method for producing chemically modified wood, the method comprising: (4) chemical modification in the -chemical upgrading reactor has at least 5 continuation One of 〇=weight-at least a portion of the bundle of wood to thereby provide a layer of pre-wetting wood, wherein the chemically wet wood bundle comprises at least one thermally removable chemical component resulting from the chemical modification; (b) transferring at least a portion of the chemically wetted wood bundle from the chemical upgrading reactor to a microwave heater; and (0 heating the chemically wet wood bundle in the microwave heater) At least a portion to thereby vaporize at least a portion of the at least one thermally removable chemical component in the microwave heater to dry the chemical wetting; thereby providing a dried chemically modified wood 21. A kind of used for the production of chemically modified A method of wood, the method comprising: • (a) chemically modifying at least a portion of a bundle of wood in a chemical upgrading reactor to thereby provide a chemically wetted wood bundle, wherein the chemically wetted wet wood bundle comprises The chemically modified at least one thermally removable chemical component; (b) transporting at least a portion of the chemically wetted wood bundle from the chemical upgrading reactor through a containment chamber and rotating to a heater, Wherein the storage chamber suppresses steam present in the chemical modification reaction 160981.doc 201236751, steam emitted from the chemically wet wood bundle, and/or steam present in the heater to be discharged during the conveyance And (C) heating at least a portion of the chemically wet wood bundle to vaporize at least a portion of the at least one thermally removable chemical component in the environment of the chemical upgrading reactor and the exterior of the heater; Thereby providing a dried chemically modified wood bundle. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the heater is a microwave heater and the heating of step (c) comprises applying microwave energy 23. The method of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the chemical upgrading reactor is an acetonitrile reactor and the chemical upgrading comprises acetylation. The method of item, wherein the heating of step (c) is carried out at a pressure of less than 350 Torr and comprises introducing microwave energy into the heater at a rate of at least 5 〇 kw. 25. Claims 20 to 22 The method of any of the preceding, wherein the reactor and the heater are separated from each other by at least 2 feet and no more than 5 feet, wherein each of the reactor and the heater has at least 5 cubic feet The method of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the chemical modification of step (4) comprises a thermal initiation reaction, wherein the initiation of the thermal initiation is not initiated by microwave heating a reaction in which the thermal initiation chemical reaction is initiated by injecting hot steam into the chemical upgrading reactor to thereby heat at least a portion of the wood bundle, wherein the chemical reaction is injected into the chemical upgrading reactor At least a portion of the isothermal steam condenses on the wood _ At least a portion of the points. The method of any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein the wood bundle has an initial weight of at least 1,000 pounds and each of the reactor and the heater has at least 1, An internal volume of one thousand cubic feet, wherein the chemically wet wood bundle comprises at least 8 wt% of the at least one thermally removable chemical component prior to step (b), wherein the dried chemically modified wood bundle Included is no more than 3 wt% of the at least one thermally removable component, wherein the method dries the chemically wet wood bundle to produce the dried wood bundle in a time period of no more than 12 hours. The method of claim 20, wherein the vapor present in the chemical upgrading reactor is inhibited by sealingly fitting to the reactor and one of the heater holding chambers during the conveying of the step (b) The vapor emitted from the chemically wet wood beam and/or the steam present in the microwave heater escapes into an environment outside the reactor and the heater. 29. The method of claim 21 or 28, further comprising extracting gas and steam from the holding chamber using the venting system during the transporting of step (b), wherein the rate is performed at a rate of at least 2 exchanges per hour The gas and steam are extracted from the holding chamber. 3. The method of claim 29, further comprising transporting the dried chemically modified wood bundle from the heater and delivering it to and/or under a product vapor removal structure and using the ventilation The system extracts gas and steam that is poured into the 00 retort removal structure; the method further includes using the venting system to extract gas and steam from the accommodating chamber during the transfer from the chemical upgrading reactor to the heater And using a flow diverter to adjust how the total venting capacity of the 160981.doc 201236751 venting system is distributed between the containment chamber and the product vapor removal structure. 31. The method of claim 21 or 28, wherein the pressure of the containment chamber is maintained below atmospheric pressure during the delivering of step (b). 32. The method of claim 21 or 28, further comprising extracting the vapors and gases from the chemical upgrading reactor after the chemical upgrading of step (a) and prior to the heating of step (c) The extraction into the holding chamber and the extraction of the steam and gas from the chemical upgrading reactor simultaneously draws air from the external environment into the chemical upgrading reactor. 33. The method of claim 21 or 28, further comprising extracting the steam and gas from the heater after the chemical modification of step (a) and before the heating of step (c) Air is drawn from the external environment into the heater simultaneously with the extraction of the steam and gas from the heater. 160981.doc