Ridged Waveguide Applicators for Uniform Microwave Heating of Sheet Materials

This paper contains an analysis of wave propagation in ridged rectangular waveguides used as single pass applicators for treating thin dielectric sheet materials with microwave power. Two waveguide configurations with double-tapered and double-inclined ridges symmetrically placed about the center, and loaded with lossy dielectric webs are investigated. The variation of the attenuation coefficient and specific microwave power absorption is illustrated as a function of angle of tapering or inclination. The computed results are given for the standard heating frequency of 2.45 GHz.