Coupled electromagnetic and thermal analysis of microwave batch sterilization of water

An efficient numerical simulation scheme, based on a one-dimensional model, has been implemented for predicting the dissipated power and transient temperature profiles within a water layer exposed to microwaves. Computed results indicate that under two-sided irradiation 2-inch thick water samples can be sterilized with the temperature ondulation of 15/spl deg/C. Also, more than a three-fold heating time reduction can be obtained if continuously optimized impedance matching tuners are employed.