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Microwave oven waveguide configuration
Posted Jan 17, 2013, 1:05 a.m. EST RF & Microwave Engineering, Heat Transfer & Phase Change Version 4.2a 2 Replies
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I am trying to simulate a microwave oven using COMSOL, but I'm still a bit confused about configuring the waveguide. What is the difference between Transverse Electric (TE) and Transverse Magnetic (TM) mode? I know that when using Transverse Electric, the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation, and the opposite happens when using the Transverse Magnetic mode. But what is practically happening inside the oven when using TE or TM mode? I mean how does TE or TM mode affecting the heated product?
Thank you so much in advance
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TE and TM modes will result in different standing waves pattern in the oven, hence hot spots in the heated product will be in the different locations.
Most microwaves operated in a frequency range that ensure only the lowest TE10 mode can propagate. TM modes have higher cut-off frequency as compared to the dominant TE10 mode. Multiple mode propagation may cause dispersion, distortion and erratic operation. (There is Murphy’s law for waveguides: “If a mode can propagate, it will”)
Regards,
Sergei
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