ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF INDUSTRIAL MICROWAVE-OVENS USING THE FINITE-DIFFERENCE TIME-DOMAIN METHOD

The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method is applied to industri al microwave ovens used in the food industry. Theoretical and practica l aspects of FDTD analysis for this purpose are dealt with. Two differ ent open-ended applicator types are described and analyzed numerically and experimentally and their relative performance is discussed. One o f these applicators is a novel design based on low impedance TM modes which reduces edge-over-heating and load reflections. It is shown that the common belief that the heating pattern from open-ended microwave applicators can be predicted from their radiation fields alone is ofte n in err-or, and that resonances in the whole system of applicators an d food loads are of major importance.