The general process of heating by microwave irradiation is based on the remote energy transfer to materials via dielectric heating by microwaves. This phenomenon is directly related to the ability of irradiated materials to absorb microwave energy and to convert it to heat. The electrical component of the electromagnetic field of microwave irradiation induces the heat through two main mechanisms: Dipolar Polarization and Ion Conduction. On irradiation with microwave frequencies, the dipoles or ions contained in the material become aligned in the applied field. This field oscillates and, since the dipole or ion field attempts to realign itself with the alternating electrical field, energy is released in the form of heat as a result of molecular actions known as “molecular friction” and “dielectric loss”.

Despite the undisputed elegance of engineering design for microwave apparatuses, the range of industrial applications for conventional Microwave-Enabled technologies is seriously hampered due to a simple reason: Direct microwave irradiation of materials in continuous flow is incapable of generating the necessary temperatures needed for most chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental applications that require intense heat. In order to generate uniformly distributed heat under microwave irradiation most materials should possess microwave-active fluids such as water, uniformly distributed throughout the material. Even so, the brief residence time within the device, often measured in seconds, makes it very hard for materials to achieve substantial temperatures of 100 ºC or more.

Mikroen Technology successfully overcomes this problem through deployment of a Microwave Sensitized Element (MSE), a new semi-conductive “element” that generates the necessary energy needed for the device under microwave irradiation conditions.

a) MSE alters the thermodynamic properties of the system under microwave irradiation, by unleashing an abundant amount of latent energy stored in semiconductive and conductive materials. The heating efficiency of the system being increased severalfold, results in fast generation of uniformly distributed heat within the body of the reactor.

b) The principle of this approach is dependent upon a carefully orchestrated balance between the composition of MSE and the power of microwave irradiation. This way by simply increasing or decreasing microwave power, a reliable quantification of heat generated in the device is guaranteed.

The concept of MSE removes the uncertainty associated with generation of heat in irradiated heterogeneous materials in flow format. MSE is typically defined as a cluster of composite materials consisting of several elements with semi conductive properties (including a thin metallic film that increases exponentially the rate of heat generation) that under microwave irradiation become fully conductive, unleashing profuse amounts of heat in the process.

Ultra High temperatures of over 1000° C can be achieved within seconds, while the energy consumption is kept at only a fraction of power, normally needed by similar conventional, high energy consumption apparatuses. In this regard Mikroen Technology is among the greenest on the planet: Mikroen Devices can be highly independent of the power grid as their portability can be supported comfortably by solar power modules or efficient fuel generators.