Japanese team develops Microwave Heating System with GaN amplifiers
Mitsubishi Electric, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ryukoku University and Microwave Chemical have announced the joint development of a microwave heating system that uses 500W-output GaN amplifier modules as heat sources.
The modules are said to consume 70 percent less energy than conventional external heating systems that use fossil fuel and improve chemical-reaction productivity by three times compared to dispersed heating systems. Practical uses will now be developed for high-level energy saving in the chemical industry.
Whereas external heating systems consume high amounts of energy because they need to heat both the equipment and the chemicals inside, the new internal heating system saves energy consumption by heating the chemicals only. In addition, the system adopts a new method that controls the microwave phases generated by the modules and thereby manages temperature distribution, leading to greater productivity in chemical-reaction.
GaN devices offer more power density and power efficiency than silicon or GaAs devices. GaN amplifier modules are expected to help reduce the size of communication equipment, radars and other equipment for general industry.
Mitsubishi produced the GaN devices and microwave GaN amplifier modules; Tokyo Institute of Technology was involved in the selection of sample chemicals, verification of chemical-reaction productivity and fundamental evaluation for improvements; Ryukoku University designed the microwave GaN amplifier modules, and undertook fundamental research to improve microwave heating system efficiency; and Microwave Chemical was responsible for increasing the size of testing reactor containing the microwave heating system, and evaluating the energy saving outcomes.
Development was conducted under a public project, named Clean Device Promotion Project / High efficiency High Power Microwave GaN Amplifiers Realising Energy-Saving Society. The project was commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an independent administrative agency of Japan.
