Abstract: The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Abstract: The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Abstract: The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Abstract: The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and apparati for heating a load (9) such as clothes immersed in a medium (such as water) during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load (9) and medium within an enclosure (10) by subjecting said load (9) and medium to heated air (104) originated from a conventional energy source (1); and applying heat to said load (9) and medium within the enclosure (10) via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source (2).

Abstract: A clothes dryer apparatus (99) comprising an electrically conductive, grounded, generally cylindrical rotatable drum (13) having a hollow interior adapted to contain a load (15) of wet clothes to be dried. The drum's (13) exterior surface (27) is partially indented to form one or more integral, generally ring-shaped insulated notches (10). An electrically conductive, generally flat arcuate anode (11) is positioned within each notch (10), with no physical contact between an anode (11) and its corresponding notch (10). Each anode (11) is spatially fixed with respect to the rotatable drum (13), and is electrically isolated from conductive portions of the drum (13). A source (21) of RF power (12), operating at a single fixed frequency, is coupled to each anode (11).

Abstract: A clothes dryer apparatus (99) comprising an electrically conductive, grounded, generally cylindrical rotatable drum (13) having a hollow interior adapted to contain a load (15) of wet clothes to be dried. The drum's (13) exterior surface (27) is partially indented to form one or more integral, generally ring-shaped insulated notches (10). An electrically conductive, generally flat arcuate anode (11) is positioned within each notch (10), with no physical contact between an anode (11) and its corresponding notch (10). Each anode (11) is spatially fixed with respect to the rotatable drum (13), and is electrically isolated from conductive portions of the drum (13). A source (21) of RF power (12), operating at a single fixed frequency, is coupled to each anode (11).

Abstract: A method for RF dielectric heating an object having a variable weight including a medium is provided The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including the medium into an enclosure; (B) adding an ionic substance to the medium; (C) initiating a heating process by subjecting the medium including the object to a variable AC electrical field; and (D) controlling the heating process. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature, or being heated before getting into the enclosure, to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.

Abstract: A method for RF dielectric heating an object having a variable weight including a medium is provided The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including the medium into an enclosure; (B) adding an ionic substance to the medium; (C) initiating a heating process by subjecting the medium including the object to a variable AC electrical field; and (D) controlling the heating process. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature, or being heated before getting into the enclosure, to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.