CANNABIS DRYING OVEN
Methods and apparatuses for drying, especially cannabis, are provided. One of the provided methods includes: heating the cannabis in a cavity of a variable frequency microwave oven using at least two different frequencies; measuring temperature of at least 1 cm square of the cannabis at different times during the heating; and controlling the heating based on the temperature measured so that the cannabis is kept for at least 20 minutes at temperatures above 30° C. and below 100° C.
1 - 50 . (canceled)
51 . A method of drying cannabis, comprising:
heating the cannabis in a cavity of a variable frequency microwave oven using at least two different excitation setups;
measuring temperature of at least 1 cm square of the cannabis at different times during the heating; and
controlling the heating based on the temperature measured so that the cannabis is kept for at least 20 minutes at temperatures above 30° C. and below 100° C.
52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein controlling the heating comprises controlling the total microwave power applied to the cavity based on the temperature measured.
53 . The method of claim 51 , wherein controlling the heating comprises controlling based on feedback received from at least one RF detector in or around the cavity, the feedback being indicative of a heating efficiency of each of the at least two excitation setups.
54 . The method of claim 51 , wherein controlling the heating comprises controlling so that a substantially equal amount of energy is absorbed in the cavity at each of the at least two excitation setups.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein each of said at least two excitation setup is a frequency-phase combination.
56 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising setting a value for the equal amount of energy, and controlling the heating based on the set value.
57 . The method of claim 56 , wherein setting the value comprises setting based on the measured temperature.
58 . The method of claim 57 , wherein replacing with new air comprises: circulating air inside the cavity.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the circulating the air comprises drying and cooling the air taken.
60 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising collecting residues from the cooled air.
61 . The method of claim 60 , further comprising repeatedly replacing existing air in the vicinity of the cannabis with new air, which is drier and cooler than the existing air.
62 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the cannabis is dried under atmospheric pressure.
63 . A cannabis drying oven comprising:
a cavity for receiving therein the cannabis to be dried;
a variable frequency microwave source configured to feed the cavity with microwaves of at least two different excitation setup;
a thermometer, configured to measure temperature of at least 1 cm square of the cannabis in the cavity during heating by the microwaves; and
a processor, configured to control the variable frequency microwave source based on readings received from the thermometer, to heat the cannabis to temperatures of between 30° C. and 100°.
64 . The cannabis drying apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the processor is configured to control the microwave power applied by the source to the cavity based on the temperature measured by the thermometer.
65 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 63 , wherein the cavity is sized to support at least two modes in a frequency range spanned by the at least two excitation setups.
66 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 63 , wherein the thermometer is an IR thermometer.
67 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 66 , wherein the IR thermometer has a field of view encompassing at least a quarter of the cannabis to be heated.
68 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 63 , further comprising at least one detector arranged in or around the cavity and configured to provide the processor with feedback indicative of an absorption efficiency of each of the at least two excitation setups.
69 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 63 , wherein the processor is configured to control the heating so that a substantially equal amount of energy is absorbed in the cavity at each of the at least two excitation setups.
70 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 69 , wherein the processor is further configured to set a value for the equal amount of energy, and control the heating based on the set value.
71 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 70 , wherein the processor is configured to set the value of the equal amount based on readings received from the thermometer.
72 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 63 further comprising a pump, configured to repeatedly replace existing air in the vicinity of the cannabis with new air, which is drier and cooler from the existing air.
73 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 72 , wherein the pump is configured to replace air from the vicinity of the cannabis with air from outside the cavity.
74 . The cannabis drying oven of claim 72 , wherein the pump is configured to circulate air inside the cavity, through a heat exchange and a desiccant.