Expert Details
Microwave Heating Technologies and Applications
ID: 734482
California, USA
Throughout his background in the microwave heating industry, Expert has successfully applied microwave heating technologies to a wide variety of applications, including semiconductor fabrication, food processing, ceramics sintering, polymer curing, waste remediation, ultra-pure fluid heating, fabric drying, and biomedical treatment (to name a few). Expert has published several technical articles describing the methodologies used in system design. Each application is unique, requiring, in many cases, a system configuration that is tailored for a specific material and process method to yield optimal performance and reliability.
A mechanical engineer with a strong background in electrical and microwave engineering, Expert, is skilled in the engineering and design of the individual components used in microwave heating systems. This specialty includes microwave generators, standard and custom waveguide features for microwave power delivery, and custom single- and multi-mode applicators for coupling microwave energy to process materials.
In the design process, Expert utilizes low-power instrumentation (e.g., vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and related technologies), high-power test equipment (microwave generators and components), microwave-compatible (fluoroptic) thermometry, 3D solid modeling with AutoCAD and SolidWorks, and computer simulation of electromagnetic fields.
Expert recently undertook a project for a significant international petrochemical producer: Delivering a microwave fluid treatment system that utilized a TM210 single-mode cavity. Expert designed and constructed this cavity in collaboration with an expert on computer modeling to meet the client's process requirements and specifications.
Expertise in the application of microwave heating technology to various processes has led to the development of novel apparatus and methods used in basic materials science and research. An example is a low-cost method using high power variable attenuators to overcome inherent operational instabilities associated with the use of low-cost magnetrons in microwave generators to heat very low loss materials.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1982 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: CA State University San Diego |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Consultant | Department: Microwave Applications Consulting |
Responsibilities:Expert is responsible for consulting services for microwave heating applications in the ISM bands (915 MHz, 2450 MHz, 5.8 GHz); the engineering and design of custom microwave heating equipment and systems; microwave applications technology education and training seminars; technical writing and editing of microwave heating equipment literature. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2015 to 2017 | Employer: Muegge-Gerling | Title: Vice President | Department: GAE |
Responsibilities:This firm was acquired from Expert in 2015 by Muegge GmbH, a leading manufacturer of microwave equipment for industrial heating and plasma processing applications. Expert remained with the company after the acquisition as VP to provide transitional and ongoing support to customers and internal operations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1997 to 2015 | Employer: Gerling Applied Engineering, Inc. | Title: Founder/President | Department: |
Responsibilities:This firm, initially founded as a consultancy, later transitioned to a manufacturer of microwave heating equipment for a variety of commercial, industrial and scientific applications. Products include standard and custom components and systems as well as engineering assistance for application development. Core competencies include applicator and waveguide component development, semiconductor applications, microwave appliances, system integration and failure analysis. Responsibilities include corporate management, business development and product development and engineering. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1998 | Employer: ASTeX/Gerling Laboratories | Title: Vice President/General Manager | Department: n/a |
Responsibilities:This wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Science & Technology, Inc. (ASTeX, now a division of MKS Instruments) was created from the purchase of assets of Expert's eponymous laboratory. This outfit served primarily as a manufacturer of microwave heating equipment for the semiconductor fabrication industry. Responsibilities included corporate management, business development and product engineering. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 1992 | Employer: Gerling Laboratories | Title: Manager | Department: Systems Division |
Responsibilities:As Manager of this manufacturer of standard and custom microwave heating equipment for commercial, industrial and scientific applications, Expert's responsibilities included manufacturing management and product engineering. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
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| International Microwave Power Institute (Board member 1991-present) Association for Microwave Power in Europe for Research and Education (AMPERE) Microwave Working Group (Founding Member) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
| Professional Appointments |
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| Industrial Program Chair, World Congress on Microwave & RF Applications International Microwave Power Institute Treasurer |
| Awards / Recognition |
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| Ricky Metaxas Pioneer Award, Global Congress on Microwave Energy Applications Industrial Program Chair, 3rd World Congress on Microwave & RF Applications |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
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| Expert has published over a dozen technical articles in peer-reviewed journals, newsletters, and magazines. Topics include microwave system configurations, criteria for component selection, performance optimization, equipment safety, microwave clothes dryers, and high power solid-state microwave generators. Expert has also co-authored and contributed to several peer-reviewed technical papers on plasma processing, waste remediation, computer simulation of electromagnetic fields, and magnetron failure analysis. Expert is listed as an inventor on three patents on microwave clothes drying apparatus and methods. |