PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FLOWABLE PRODUCTS

Abstract

A process and apparatus for heating a flowable product. The flowable product is introduced into a vessel or chamber and then heated by use of microwaves. The microwaves are generated by a microwave transmitter and introduced into the vessel at or near a bottom of the vessel via a waveguide. The introduction of microwaves near or at the bottom of the vessel allows mixing of the flowable product as the flowable product is heated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for heating a flowable material, comprising: a microwave transmitter; a waveguide; a microwave transparent barrier; a vessel; the waveguide connecting the microwave transmitter and the vessel; the vessel having sidewalls and a bottom; the waveguide substantially near the bottom of the vessel.

2. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, wherein: the waveguide has a first end and a second end; the vessel has an exterior wall and an interior wall; the second end of the waveguide does not extend passed the interior wall into an interior of the vessel; the waveguide on the bottom of the vessel.

3. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, wherein: the apparatus is configured to heat a dipolar material.

4. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 3, wherein: an arc detector is not needed.

5. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, wherein: the microwave transparent barrier is one of glass, ceramic, Teflon, Pyrex, alumina diamond or sapphire.

6. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, wherein: a plurality of waveguides is utilized to transport the microwaves to the vessel.

7. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, further comprising: a means for mixing the flowable material inside the vessel.

8. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 1, wherein: the vessel does not have a top.

9. An apparatus for heating a flowable material, comprising: a microwave transmitter; a waveguide; a microwave transparent barrier; a vessel; the waveguide connecting the microwave transmitter and the vessel; the vessel having sidewalls and a bottom; the waveguide substantially near the bottom of the vessel; the waveguide has a first end and a second end; the vessel has an exterior wall and an interior wall; the second end of the waveguide does not extend passed the interior wall into an interior of the vessel; the microwave transparent barrier is one of glass, ceramic, Teflon, Pyrex, alumina diamond or sapphire.

10. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 9, wherein: the apparatus is configured to heat a dipolar material.

11. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 9, wherein: an arc detector is not needed.

12. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 9, wherein: a plurality of waveguides is utilized to transport the microwaves to the vessel.

13. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 9, wherein: the vessel does not have a top.

14. The apparatus for heating a flowable material of claim 9, wherein: a means for mixing the flowable material inside the vessel.

15. A process for heating a flowable material, comprising the steps of: introducing microwaves into a vessel holding the flowable material; wherein the vessel has sidewalls and a bottom; the microwaves enter the vessel substantially near the bottom of the vessel.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein: the microwaves are generated by a microwave transmitter; a waveguide directs the microwaves from the microwave transmitter to the vessel.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein: the waveguide has a first end and a second end; the vessel has an exterior wall and an interior wall; the second end of the waveguide does not extend passed the interior wall into an interior of the vessel.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein: a microwave transparent barrier is at the second end of the waveguide.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein: the microwave transparent barrier is one of glass, ceramic, Teflon, Pyrex, diamond or sapphire.

20. The process of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: mixing the flowable material with a mixing means within the vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the detail of the waveguide, microwave transparent barrier, and the connection to the vessel;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the apparatus with mixing paddles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Now referring to the figures, FIGS. 1-3 show an apparatus 20 for heating a flowable product 40 or material. The apparatus 20 includes a microwave transmitter 22 or microwave generator for generating microwaves. The microwaves are directed out of the microwave transmitter 22 toward a waveguide 24. The waveguide 24 is made of material that contains the microwaves within the waveguide 24 and directs the microwaves toward a vessel 26. The waveguide 24 is connected to the vessel 26 at or near a bottom 30. Depending on the shape of the vessel 26, the connection of the waveguide 24 can be on a sidewall 31 or at the bottom 30. Additionally, the ability of the apparatus 20 to heat the flowable product 40 from the bottom 30 or substantially near the bottom 30 allows the higher temperature flowable product 40 to rise and the lower temperature flowable product 40 to fall toward the bottom 30 of the vessel 26 as shown in FIG. 1 with the arrows.

[0019] A point of entry 35 of the waveguide 24 on the vessel 26 is substantially near the bottom 30 of the vessel 26. At the point of entry 35, a microwave transparent barrier 32 allows the microwaves to exit the waveguide 24 and enter the vessel 26 holding the flowable product or material 40. In the preferred embodiment, the waveguide 24 and the microwave transparent barrier 32 are flush with the vessel 26 and do not enter the cavity created by the vessel 26.

[0020] To further describe the point of entry 35, FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the waveguide 24 and the vessel 26. The waveguide 24 has a first end 42 and a second end 44 wherein the first end 42 is connected to the microwave transmitter 22 and the second end 44 is attached to the vessel 26. The vessel 26 has sidewalls 31 with an exterior portion 46 and an interior portion 48. The second end 44 does not extend pass the interior portion 48 of the sidewall 31. It is to be understood that if the bottom 30 is flat, the second end 44 would not extend into an interior portion of the bottom. As the waveguide 24 and the microwave transparent barrier 32 are either flush with or recessed in the sidewall 31 or bottom 30, mixing paddles 50 as shown in FIG. 3 can be added to the apparatus 20 to assist in mixing the contents of the vessel 26.

[0021] The apparatus 20 can be added to existing systems and the apparatus 20 can replace certain aspects of existing systems. Furthermore, the apparatus 20 allows existing systems to become less complex as circulation occurs within the apparatus 20 without the requirement of pumps and other circulatory assisting devices. While the vessel 26 is shown with a top 28, the invention allows a vessel to be used without a top.

[0022] Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the several embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.