PEARL

Process Engineering
Advanced Research Lab

Microwave heating devices

Microwave fluidized bed reactor

A continuous flow MW reactor setup is developed for lab-scale experimental process evaluation. The setup consists of MW generator (2 kW, water cooled, 2.45 GHz), rectangular waveguide (WR-340), manual tuner, cavity for reactor placement, and a plunger. The cavity is carefully designed in order to assure the proper distribution of the electromagnetic field for efficient heating of the catalyst bed. The setup is equipped with power monitoring in order to determine the forward and reflected power and therefore, experimentally identify the power consumption of the studied application. A combination of radiometry and thermometry temperature measurement techniques are employed to map the temperature profile inside the catalyst bed.

Main specifications
Components: • Switching power supply MKS-SM 845
• 2-kW MW generator with isolator MKS-TI020
• Waveguide WR-340
• 3-stub tuner
• Plunger
• Quartz reactor
Manufacturer: MKS Instruments, Inc
Cavity dimension: Cylindrical cavity: D: 8.0 cm H: 15 cm
Frequency: 2.450 GHz.
Output power: 2 kW
Main features: • Adjustable output power from 10% to 100%.
• Water cooled magnetron
• Two monitor probe antenna for forward and reverse power measurement.
Applicable studies: • Gas solid catalytic reactions in fluidized or fixed beds.
• Catalysts screening
• Estimation of power consumption and energy efficiency
• Studies of wide range of operating conditions.
• Applicable for Single mode and multimode MW operation.

Customized reactor bench-size microwave devices

This type of microwave device is using for lab scale experimental studies in order to validate the proof of concept of the projects. The reactor could be customized in two models of batch and fluized bed. furthremore, it is possible to use this model for pyrolysis process and heat up diffent feedstocks. The liquid and gas products are possible to be colected by conecting the condensation units to the reactor setup.

Main specifications
Microwave power range: 100-1000W
Reactor type: Both batch and fluidized
Reactor dimensions: could be customized (considering the microwave cavity size)
Frequency: 2.450 GHz.
Main features: • Installed air cooling system
• Installed thermocouple for monitoring the temperature