Patent ID: 8136538

Claim:
A processing system comprising: a processing vessel including a heater, and configured to accommodate an object to be processed in a processing space; a process-fluid generating part configured to generate a process fluid of a predetermined temperature; a main duct connected to the process-fluid generating part, the main duct being configured to guide the process fluid supplied from the process-fluid generating part; a process-fluid supply duct arranged on a downstream side of the main duct via a switching valve, the process-fluid supply duct being configured to introduce the process fluid into the processing vessel so as to supply the process fluid to the processing space in the processing vessel; a process-fluid bypass duct arranged on the downstream side of the main duct via the switching valve, the process-fluid bypass duct being configured to guide a process fluid, which is not introduced to the process-fluid supply duct, so as to bypass the processing space; and a discharge duct configured to discharge process fluid from the processing space in the processing vessel and process fluid guided by the process-fluid bypass duct, wherein the main duct includes a flow-rate adjusting mechanism for adjusting a flow rate of the process fluid flowing through the main duct, the discharge duct is provided with a flow-rate adjusting valve for adjusting a flow rate of the process fluid flowing through the discharge duct, a joining point of the process-fluid bypass duct to the discharge duct is located on the upstream side of the flow-rate adjusting valve, and the process-fluid bypass duct passes through the processing vessel so that the process fluid in the process-fluid bypass duct is heated by the heater.