Abstract: A continuous feed volumetric heating and convection oven for heating articles includes an oven body, a conveyor for moving the articles therethrough, a volumetric heating source for delivering microwave or other volumetric heating energy to the oven body, and a ventilation system for delivering a flow of heated air to the oven body. The ventilation system includes a heater and at least one damper associated with an exhaust whereby air may be partially recirculated and partially exhausted from the oven body. Microwave chokes and microwave suppression tunnels are provided for limiting the escape of volumetric heating energy such as microwave energy into the surrounding area and into the ventilation system.

Abstract: A dehydration plant for dehydrating food products, including a microwave kiln (2), conveyor means (3) for conveying food products through the kiln (2), circulation means (21, 6) for circulating air through the kiln (2), refrigerated dehumidification means (7, 11) for dehumidifying the air to be circulated through the kiln (2), and heating means (12, 13, 14) for heating the air to be circulated through the kiln (2) such that food products conveyed through the kiln (2) are exposed to both microwave emissions and the flow of dehumidified heated air to thereby dehydrate the food products.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dehydrating solid products containing moisture, particularly food products, includes a hot gas stream device for creating a hot gas stream over the products to be dehydrated and an ultrasonic wave emitting system for directing ultrasonic waves over the products. The dehydrating apparatus includes a closed housing and at least one conveyor mounted in the housing for transporting the products. The ultrasonic wave emitting system includes a plurality of ultrasonic diffusing plates which are connected to sound wave generators and are in direct contact with the products.

Abstract: The method and oven of the invention are able to homogeneously and continuously melt about twelve kilograms of glass per hour.A microwave oven is used with the wave being monomodal and with frequency of 915 MHz. Disposed opposite the entrance (15) of the microwaves is a piston (20) continuously oscillating so as to constantly make the position of the reflection surface (21) of the electromagnetic waves vary. Thus, all the points of the melting bath surface (9) are heated.Application for the vitrification of radioactive and toxic waste.