Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for treating dielectric material, which may be solid, liquid or gaseous, with microwaves. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical receptacle for the material and has one or more microwave antennae mounted within the receptacle for radiating microwave energy into the material to be treated. The form of the or each antennae is such that it defines a similar cylinder to the receptacle and is similarly oriented. For example, there may be a single antennae in the form of a rod or helix coaxial with the receptacle, or a plurality of rod-like antennae arranged to lie along respective generatrices of a cylinder surface coaxial with the receptacle. The or each antenna may be hollow and provided with longitudinal slots for radiating the energy. The apparatus provides uniform distribution of the energy along the length of the receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for treating dielectric material, which may be solid, liquid or gaseous, with microwaves. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical receptacle for the material and has one or more microwave antennae mounted within the receptacle for radiating microwave energy into the material to be treated. The form of the or each antenna is such that it defines a similar cylinder to the receptacle and is similarly oriented. For example, there may be a single antenna in the form of a rod or helix coaxial with the receptacle, or a plurality of rod-like antennae arranged to lie along respective generatrices of a cylindrical surface coaxial with the recpetacle. The or each antenna may be hollow and provided with longitudinal slots for radiating the energy. The apparatus provides uniform distribution of the energy along the length of the receptacle.