Radio Frequency Company, Inc., industrial RF processing systems for rapid heating and drying of materials

How RF Heating Works

In a radio frequency heating system the RF generator creates an alternating electric field between two electrodes. The material to be heated is conveyed between the electrodes , where an alternating energy field causes polar molecules in the material to continuously reorient them to face opposite electrodes much like the way bar magnets move to face opposite poles in an alternating magnetic field. Friction resulting from this molecular movement causes the material to rapidly heat throughout its entire mass.

The illustration below depicts a radio frequency drying system with material between the electrodes. Polar molecules within the material are represented by the spheres with plus (+) and minus (-) signs connected by bars.

The amount of heat generated in the product is determined by the frequency, the square of the applied voltage, dimensions of the material and its the dielectric loss factor which are essentially measures of the ease with which the material can be heated by radio frequency waves.

Response of Polar Molecules in an Electric Field

The very rapid and precisely controllable RF heating process offers the advantages of reduced processing times, consistent quality, and simplified process control. To obtain more specific information, click on Applications.