Direct Process Heating: Microwave and Radio Frequency

Dielectric heating uses electromagnetic waves and fields of varying frequencies to heat materials uniformly rather than applying heat from the outside. This means that the operation is more efficient. The most common use of dielectric heating is the domestic microwave oven. In a dielectric oven, heat is generated when high frequency microwaves or radio frequency (RF) electric fields interact with the molecules within the product, causing them to move. The oscillations of the waves trigger oscillations in the molecules of the material, which causes a release of energy that heats the product. The heating occurs throughout the product rather than the heat needing to penetrate the material from its surface.