Patent ID: 7607860

Claim:
A continuous process for drying a material containing an initial degree of water which comprises the steps of: (a) driving a vehicle comprising a multi-mode microwave applicator over at least a portion of said material; (b) exposing said portion of said material to said applicator having an air flow about said portion of said material; (c) exposing said portion of said material to at least two sources of microwaves, said microwaves being in non-parallel alignment to each other for a period of time sufficient to dry said portion of said material to a lower degree of water; said at least two sources of microwaves propagated from a bifurcated waveguide assembly; said introduced microwaves, being 90° out of phase to each other; said microwaves having a frequency between 915 MHz and 1000 MHz; said microwave applicator further comprising a 3-port ferrite circulator to absorb any reflected microwaves; and said bifurcated waveguide assembly having a microwave pressure window at an exit end comprising fused quartz to prevent any vapors in the applicator from returning through said waveguide.