A method of drying a green ceramic honeycomb body (20) comprising: moving the body (20) through a drying system (50) comprising interconnected microwave devices (60), wherein each microwave device (D1, D2, D3) comprises an entrance (62a, 62b, 62c) located at an upstream end and an exit (64a, 64b, 64c) located at a downstream end of the microwave device (D1, D2, D3), the ends defining a downstream direction (72) and an upstream direction (74) in each of the devices (D1, D2, D3); removing moisture from the body (20) by irradiating the body (20) with microwave radiation within each of the devices (D1, D2, D3); and flowing air against the outer peripheral wall (22) of the body (20) while the body (20) is located in each of the microwave devices (D1, D2, D3). The flowing is conducted such that one or more of a supply flow and an exhaust flow of air is adjusted in at least one of the devices (D1, D2, D3) such that the air flow in the system is at a predetermined magnitude substantially in the upstream (74) or downstream direction (72).

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for on-site processing of plant-based waste foods, such as near-end-of-shelf-life produce, into dried compositions that are suitable for human consumption. In particular, there is provided a portable apparatus and methods for on-site processing of plant-based waste food into a dried composition that is suitable for human consumption.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for on-site processing of plant-based waste foods, such as near-end-of-shelf-life produce, into dried compositions that are suitable for human consumption. In particular, there is provided a portable apparatus and methods for on-site processing of plant-based waste food into a dried composition that is suitable for human consumption.

A method of drying high sugar content food products such as honey and molasses in a vacuum microwave chamber. The method comprises loading the food product into the vacuum chamber, and exposing the food product to a vacuum pressure in the range of 45 to 250 Torr (60 to 333 mbar) in the vacuum chamber while irradiating the food product with microwave radiation. This dries the food product and forms a porous structure. The method minimizes or prevents foaming and dries the product at a temperature that prevents burning, while reducing the moisture content to a very low level.

Provided is an electromagnetic wave generator including: an electromagnetic wave generation section that generates an electromagnetic wave; a high-frequency voltage generation section that generates a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section; and a transmission line that electrically couples the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other, in which the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that electrically couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that electrically couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other, one of the first electrode or the second electrode is a reference potential electrode to which a reference potential is applied and the other is a high-frequency electrode to which a high-frequency voltage is applied, a minimum separation distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and the first conductor further includes a coil, and the coil is closer to the first electrode than the transmission line.

Provided is an electromagnetic wave generator including: an electromagnetic wave generation section that generates an electromagnetic wave; a high-frequency voltage generation section that generates a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section; and a transmission line that electrically couples the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other, in which the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that electrically couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that electrically couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other, one of the first electrode or the second electrode is a reference potential electrode to which a reference potential is applied and the other is a high-frequency electrode to which a high-frequency voltage is applied, a minimum separation distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and the first conductor further includes a coil, and the coil is closer to the first electrode than the transmission line.

Provided is an ink jet printer including: an electromagnetic wave generator that includes an electromagnetic wave generation section, a high-frequency voltage generation section generating a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section, and a transmission line coupling the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other in which the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other, a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and the first conductor includes a coil, and the coil is disposed at a position closer to the first electrode than the transmission line; a carriage that reciprocates in a width direction of a recording medium; and an ink jet head, in which a thin ink film of the ink discharged from the ink jet head and attached to the recording medium is dried by the electromagnetic wave generator.

Provided is an ink jet printer including: an electromagnetic wave generator that includes an electromagnetic wave generation section, a high-frequency voltage generation section generating a voltage applied to the electromagnetic wave generation section, and a transmission line coupling the electromagnetic wave generation section and the high-frequency voltage generation section to each other in which the electromagnetic wave generation section includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a first conductor that couples the first electrode and the transmission line to each other, and a second conductor that couples the second electrode and the transmission line to each other, a minimum separation distance between the first conductor and the second conductor is 1/10 or less of a wavelength of an output electromagnetic wave, and the first conductor includes a coil, and the coil is disposed at a position closer to the first electrode than the transmission line; a carriage that reciprocates in a width direction of a recording medium; and an ink jet head, in which a thin ink film of the ink discharged from the ink jet head and attached to the recording medium is dried by the electromagnetic wave generator.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing solid dry manure. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise disposing solid manure on a first conveyor operably coupled to a microwave radiation source. Such methods further comprise, using the first conveyor, conveying the solid manure past the microwave radiation source, and during the conveying, exposing the solid manure to microwave radiation emitted from the microwave radiation source to produce solid dry manure. Also provided are apparatuses that find use, e.g., in practicing the methods of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing solid dry manure. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise disposing solid manure on a first conveyor operably coupled to a microwave radiation source. Such methods further comprise, using the first conveyor, conveying the solid manure past the microwave radiation source, and during the conveying, exposing the solid manure to microwave radiation emitted from the microwave radiation source to produce solid dry manure. Also provided are apparatuses that find use, e.g., in practicing the methods of the present disclosure.