Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor

Continuous-flow heating systems are integral to the food, chemical, and medical industries. This study addresses a significant challenge related to the alteration of permittivity in heated materials and its consequent effect on the energy utilization rate during microwave heating processes. A novel...

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Main Authors: Wenyan Tian, Kexin Chen, Fengming Yang, Yongjia Chen, Zeyu Ma, Kun Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25011669
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author Wenyan Tian
Kexin Chen
Fengming Yang
Yongjia Chen
Zeyu Ma
Kun Bai
author_facet Wenyan Tian
Kexin Chen
Fengming Yang
Yongjia Chen
Zeyu Ma
Kun Bai
author_sort Wenyan Tian
collection DOAJ
description Continuous-flow heating systems are integral to the food, chemical, and medical industries. This study addresses a significant challenge related to the alteration of permittivity in heated materials and its consequent effect on the energy utilization rate during microwave heating processes. A novel continuous-flow heating system specifically designed is introduced to optimise heating efficiency for fluids exhibiting a range of permittivity. Our methodology employs an innovative approach based on asymmetric wave propagation, utilizing the continuous GIM equivalent of a wedge ceramic structure. This configuration facilitates the effective convergence of electromagnetic waves at the terminal end of wedge plate, thereby enhancing heating performance. The thermal behaviour of aqueous ethanol solutions with different volume ratios, as well as a range of edible liquids, were investigated through systematic experimentation. Results show an energy utilization rate consistently above 92 %. The effects of flow rate and pipeline materials on heating efficiency were also analysed, with energy utilization rates maintained above 92 %. This continuous-flow heating system is adaptable, accommodating materials with permittivity values ranging from 10 to 80 and loss tangent values between 0.1 and 1 while ensuring energy efficiencies consistently surpassing 90 %. Overall, the proposed system serves as an effective solution for practical microwave continuous-flow processing applications.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
spelling doaj-art-e5fe6da4d77843e3a4d01796400c7a662025-08-24T05:12:44ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-10-017410690610.1016/j.csite.2025.106906Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactorWenyan Tian0Kexin Chen1Fengming Yang2Yongjia Chen3Zeyu Ma4Kun Bai5College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China; Corresponding author.College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, ChinaCollege of Computer Science and Cyber Security (Pilot Software College), Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, ChinaCollege of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, ChinaCollege of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, ChinaCollege of Electronics and Information Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, ChinaContinuous-flow heating systems are integral to the food, chemical, and medical industries. This study addresses a significant challenge related to the alteration of permittivity in heated materials and its consequent effect on the energy utilization rate during microwave heating processes. A novel continuous-flow heating system specifically designed is introduced to optimise heating efficiency for fluids exhibiting a range of permittivity. Our methodology employs an innovative approach based on asymmetric wave propagation, utilizing the continuous GIM equivalent of a wedge ceramic structure. This configuration facilitates the effective convergence of electromagnetic waves at the terminal end of wedge plate, thereby enhancing heating performance. The thermal behaviour of aqueous ethanol solutions with different volume ratios, as well as a range of edible liquids, were investigated through systematic experimentation. Results show an energy utilization rate consistently above 92 %. The effects of flow rate and pipeline materials on heating efficiency were also analysed, with energy utilization rates maintained above 92 %. This continuous-flow heating system is adaptable, accommodating materials with permittivity values ranging from 10 to 80 and loss tangent values between 0.1 and 1 while ensuring energy efficiencies consistently surpassing 90 %. Overall, the proposed system serves as an effective solution for practical microwave continuous-flow processing applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25011669Microwave heatingHigh-efficiency heatingContinuous-flowEM-Metamaterial
spellingShingle Wenyan Tian
Kexin Chen
Fengming Yang
Yongjia Chen
Zeyu Ma
Kun Bai
Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Microwave heating
High-efficiency heating
Continuous-flow
EM-Metamaterial
title Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
title_full Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
title_fullStr Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
title_full_unstemmed Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
title_short Design and optimization of a high-efficiency microwave continuous-flow heating reactor
title_sort design and optimization of a high efficiency microwave continuous flow heating reactor
topic Microwave heating
High-efficiency heating
Continuous-flow
EM-Metamaterial
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25011669
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AT fengmingyang designandoptimizationofahighefficiencymicrowavecontinuousflowheatingreactor
AT yongjiachen designandoptimizationofahighefficiencymicrowavecontinuousflowheatingreactor
AT zeyuma designandoptimizationofahighefficiencymicrowavecontinuousflowheatingreactor
AT kunbai designandoptimizationofahighefficiencymicrowavecontinuousflowheatingreactor