Microwave Defrosting Food in Russia: Prospects, Problems and Solutions

An industrial plant for intensive microwave heating of grain products has been developed. The installation operates at frequency of 915 MHz and microwave power up to 25 kW. The working chamber of the installation was designed in the form of coordinated load with the basic mode type and on the basis of a rectangular waveguide of increased cross-section. This design of the chamber made it possible to provide intensive heating of grain at a rate of more than 5 deg/sec. Completed tuning and research of the working chamber showed high efficiency of microwave energy transfer to the grain product. Studies of the operation of the plant at a high power level have shown the possibility of starch micronization in a grain product. To improve the performance of the installation and increase the degree of starch micronization, it is proposed to preheat the grain product with superheated steam. Conducted research on various modes of the unit with pre-heating showed an increase in the efficiency of starch micronization in a grain product and an increased plant performance.