A microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process using hydrogen peroxide (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was used for the release of nutrients and the destruction of solids from secondary municipal sewage sludge. The significant factors affecting the MW/H₂O₂-AOP that would yield maximum soluble substrates were studied. Using a computer statistical software package for experimental design and data analysis, four factors including microwave heating temperature, heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and sludge solids content, were selected and examined. The initial sludge TS content and hydrogen peroxide dosage were the most significant factors for the solubilization of COD and nutrients release under the experimental conditions selected in this study. Overall, the maximum solubilization of nutrients was obtained at 2.5 % of total solids content, 2% of hydrogen peroxide by weight, 5 min. of microwave heating and 120 ºC. The effects of combination of microwave treatment and oxidative reagents on solids destruction and nutrients release were also investigated. Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes (MW-AOP), such as MW/O₃, MW/H₂O₂ and MW/H₂O₂/O₃, were conducted at 100 °C. In terms of nutrients release and solids reduction, the MW/H₂O₂/O₃-AOP yielded the best result. Subsequently, three factors including microwave heating temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and ozone dosage, were investigated. The best result, in terms of the release of phosphate and ammonia, and solids reduction, was obtained with additions of 2 % hydrogen peroxide by weight and ozone dosage of 5.09 mg/ml, and operating at 120ºC. About 95%, 32% and 78% of TP, TKN and COD were released into the solution, respectively. The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes, with and without an addition of ferrous sulfate (MW/H₂O₂-AOP and MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP), were also studied for reducing solids, and solubilizing nutrients from the secondary sewage sludge. For the MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP, the best results of solubilization, in terms of orthophosphate, ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand, were obtained at treatment temperatures of 40 ºC, the yields decreased as the temperature was increased. The highest yields of solubilization were obtained at 60 ºC for orthophosphate, and at 80 ºC for both ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand.

A microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process using hydrogen peroxide (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was used for the release of nutrients and the destruction of solids from secondary municipal sewage sludge. The significant factors affecting the MW/H₂O₂-AOP that would yield maximum soluble substrates were studied. Using a computer statistical software package for experimental design and data analysis, four factors including microwave heating temperature, heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and sludge solids content, were selected and examined. The initial sludge TS content and hydrogen peroxide dosage were the most significant factors for the solubilization of COD and nutrients release under the experimental conditions selected in this study. Overall, the maximum solubilization of nutrients was obtained at 2.5 % of total solids content, 2% of hydrogen peroxide by weight, 5 min. of microwave heating and 120 ºC. The effects of combination of microwave treatment and oxidative reagents on solids destruction and nutrients release were also investigated. Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes (MW-AOP), such as MW/O₃, MW/H₂O₂ and MW/H₂O₂/O₃, were conducted at 100 °C. In terms of nutrients release and solids reduction, the MW/H₂O₂/O₃-AOP yielded the best result. Subsequently, three factors including microwave heating temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and ozone dosage, were investigated. The best result, in terms of the release of phosphate and ammonia, and solids reduction, was obtained with additions of 2 % hydrogen peroxide by weight and ozone dosage of 5.09 mg/ml, and operating at 120ºC. About 95%, 32% and 78% of TP, TKN and COD were released into the solution, respectively. The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes, with and without an addition of ferrous sulfate (MW/H₂O₂-AOP and MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP), were also studied for reducing solids, and solubilizing nutrients from the secondary sewage sludge. For the MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP, the best results of solubilization, in terms of orthophosphate, ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand, were obtained at treatment temperatures of 40 ºC, the yields decreased as the temperature was increased. The highest yields of solubilization were obtained at 60 ºC for orthophosphate, and at 80 ºC for both ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand.

A microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process using hydrogen peroxide (MW/H₂O₂-AOP) was used for the release of nutrients and the destruction of solids from secondary municipal sewage sludge. The significant factors affecting the MW/H₂O₂-AOP that would yield maximum soluble substrates were studied. Using a computer statistical software package for experimental design and data analysis, four factors including microwave heating temperature, heating time, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and sludge solids content, were selected and examined. The initial sludge TS content and hydrogen peroxide dosage were the most significant factors for the solubilization of COD and nutrients release under the experimental conditions selected in this study. Overall, the maximum solubilization of nutrients was obtained at 2.5 % of total solids content, 2% of hydrogen peroxide by weight, 5 min. of microwave heating and 120 ºC. The effects of combination of microwave treatment and oxidative reagents on solids destruction and nutrients release were also investigated. Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes (MW-AOP), such as MW/O₃, MW/H₂O₂ and MW/H₂O₂/O₃, were conducted at 100 °C. In terms of nutrients release and solids reduction, the MW/H₂O₂/O₃-AOP yielded the best result. Subsequently, three factors including microwave heating temperature, hydrogen peroxide dosage, and ozone dosage, were investigated. The best result, in terms of the release of phosphate and ammonia, and solids reduction, was obtained with additions of 2 % hydrogen peroxide by weight and ozone dosage of 5.09 mg/ml, and operating at 120ºC. About 95%, 32% and 78% of TP, TKN and COD were released into the solution, respectively. The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation processes, with and without an addition of ferrous sulfate (MW/H₂O₂-AOP and MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP), were also studied for reducing solids, and solubilizing nutrients from the secondary sewage sludge. For the MW/H₂O₂/Fe+²-AOP, the best results of solubilization, in terms of orthophosphate, ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand, were obtained at treatment temperatures of 40 ºC, the yields decreased as the temperature was increased. The highest yields of solubilization were obtained at 60 ºC for orthophosphate, and at 80 ºC for both ammonia and soluble chemical oxygen demand. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Novel metamaterial and metamaterial-inspired structures and microwave/antenna applications thereof are proposed and studied in this thesis. Motivated by the challenge of extending the applicability of metamaterial structures into practical microwave solutions, the underlying objective of this thesis has been the design of low-cost, easily fabricated and deployable metamaterial-related devices and the development of computational tools for the analysis of those. For this purpose, metamaterials composed of tightly coupled resonators are chosen for the synthesis of artificial transmission lines and enabling antenna applications. Specifically, fully-printed double spiral resonators are employed as modular elements for the design of tightly coupled resonators arrays. After thoroughly investigating the properties of such resonators, they are used for the synthesis of artificial lines in either grounded or non-grounded configurations. In the first case, the supported backward waves are exploited for the design of microstrip-based filtering/diplexing devices and series-fed antenna arrays. In the second case, the effective properties of such structures are employed for the design of a novel class of self-resonant, low-profile folded monopoles, exhibiting low mutual coupling and robust radiating properties. Such monopoles are, in turn, used for the synthesis of different sub-wavelength antenna arrays, such as superdirective arrays. Finally, an in-home periodic FDTD-based computational tool is developed and optimized for the efficient and rigorous analysis of planar, metamaterial-based, high-gain antennas.

A dispersão e absorção das ondas eletromagnéticas que se propagam através de um material dielétrico podem ser medidas ao longo de uma ampla região do espectro que se estende desde a região de freqüências extremamente baixas até a região óptica incluindo as faixas das microondas, objeto de interesse do presente estudo. Dentre os dielétricos, incluem-se os materiais cristalinos e amorfos isolantes e semicondutores. Os vidros de composições (1-x)(60\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND.5\'.\'40\'BA\'\'O).x(\'M\'\'O\'), (1-X)(25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\').x(\'M\'\'O\') e 60\'B IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\'.30\'BA\'\'O\'.\'10\'AL IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\' onde x é a concentração (mol%) de óxido do metal de transição \'FE\' ou \'CO\' (\'M\'\'O\'), foram escolhidos para representar o comportamento das propriedades dielétricas dos vidros óxidos, tanto na região das freqüências mais baixas (0 - 100 MHz), como na faixa de microondas (2 - 30 GHz). Os íons de metais de transição, quando ocupam posições intersticiais da rede vítrea, como ocorre com os elementos modificadores alcalinos e alcalinoterrosos atuam como compensadores de carga junto às unidades estruturais tetraédricas eletricamente carregadas, formando dipolos permanentes locais, contribuindo para a constante dielétrica do vidro. A polarização desses dipolos, quando submetido ao campo elétrico oscilatório de uma onda eletromagnética, atinge valores maiores às freqüências mais baixas decrescendo gradualmente à medida que estas atingem a região de microondas. Um novo método alternativo foi desenvolvido para a medida da temperatura da transição vítrea (\'T IND. g\') utilizando técnicas de microondas. Mostramos que a posição da inflexão do gráfico da constante dielétrica em função da temperatura do vidro 25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\' medida em 9 GHz, na faixa de temperaturas em torno de \'(270 \'+ OU -\' 10) GRAUS\' C coincidiu com o valor da \'T IND. g\' deste vidro obtida por análise térmica diferencial (DTA). Outro método também foi desenvolvido para monitorar o resfriamento do vidro em função do tempo a partir do estado liquido até a solidificação, registrando o sinal de microondas refletido sobre o material vertido no interior de um guia de ondas. Pudemos observar, também, mudanças no espectro de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (EPR) do vidro fosfato contendo níquel após ter sido irradiado com diferentes níveis de potência das microondas, por cerca de duas horas. Este efeito pode estar relacionado com mecanismos de acoplamento de spins paramagnéticos. Os espectros de transmissão de microondas das amostras de vidros fosfatos contendo diferentes concentrações de cobalto, bário, ferro e manganês, obtidos por meio de uma varredura de freqüências desde 7 até 13 GHz, mostraram a presença de uma intensa atenuação do sinal próximo de 9,7 GHz. Essa atenuação diminuiu conforme aumenta a concentração dos modificadores. / The dispersion and absorption of electromagnetic waves that propagate through a dielectric material can be measured along a wide spectral region ranging from extremely low frequency to the optical region, including microwaves one, which is the subject of interest of the present study. Among dielectrics, there are crystalline and amorphous materials that can be either insulators or semiconductors. Glasses of compositions (1-x)(60\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND.5\'.\'40\'BA\'\'O).x(\'M\'\'O\'), (1-X)(25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\').x(\'M\'\'O\') and 60\'B IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\'.30\'BA\'\'O\'.\'10\'AL IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\', where x is the concentration (mol %) of the \'FE\' or \'CO\' (\'M\'\'O\') transition metal oxide, were selected to investigate the behavior of the dielectric properties of oxide glasses in the lower frequency range (0 - 100 MHz) and in the microwave region (2- 30 GHz). When transition metal ions occupy interstitial positions in the glass matrix, as it happens with the regular alkaline and alkaline-earth modifier ions, they compensate the electrically charged tetrahedral structural units. As a consequence, local permanent dipoles are formed, contributing to the dielectric constant of the glass. The polarization of these dipoles, when submitted to an oscillating electromagnetic field, is higher at lower frequencies and decreases gradual1y as the frequency approaches the microwave region. An alternative new method was developed to measure the glass transition temperature (\'T IND. g\') using microwave techniques. It was shown that the inflexion position of the dielectric constant of the glass 25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\' measured at 9 GHz, in the temperature range about \'(270 \'+ OU -\' 10) GRAUS\' C, coincided with the \'T IND. g\' value obtained by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Another method was also developed for monitoring the melt cooling as a function of time from the liquid to the solid state, by recording the reflected microwave signal crossing the material poured inside the wave guide. We observed, also, changes in the electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of phosphate glass containing nickel after being irradiated for two hours with several microwave power levels. This effect may be related with coupling and decoupling mechanisms among the spin clusters developed in the sample. The microwave transmission spectra of the phosphate glass samples containing different concentrations of iron, cobalt, barium, manganese and barium, obtained by a frequency sweep from 7 to 13 GHz, presented an intense attenuation of the signal near to 9,7 GHz. This attenuation was found to decrease with the increase of modifier content.

A dispersão e absorção das ondas eletromagnéticas que se propagam através de um material dielétrico podem ser medidas ao longo de uma ampla região do espectro que se estende desde a região de freqüências extremamente baixas até a região óptica incluindo as faixas das microondas, objeto de interesse do presente estudo. Dentre os dielétricos, incluem-se os materiais cristalinos e amorfos isolantes e semicondutores. Os vidros de composições (1-x)(60\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND.5\'.\'40\'BA\'\'O).x(\'M\'\'O\'), (1-X)(25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\').x(\'M\'\'O\') e 60\'B IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\'.30\'BA\'\'O\'.\'10\'AL IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\' onde x é a concentração (mol%) de óxido do metal de transição \'FE\' ou \'CO\' (\'M\'\'O\'), foram escolhidos para representar o comportamento das propriedades dielétricas dos vidros óxidos, tanto na região das freqüências mais baixas (0 - 100 MHz), como na faixa de microondas (2 - 30 GHz). Os íons de metais de transição, quando ocupam posições intersticiais da rede vítrea, como ocorre com os elementos modificadores alcalinos e alcalinoterrosos atuam como compensadores de carga junto às unidades estruturais tetraédricas eletricamente carregadas, formando dipolos permanentes locais, contribuindo para a constante dielétrica do vidro. A polarização desses dipolos, quando submetido ao campo elétrico oscilatório de uma onda eletromagnética, atinge valores maiores às freqüências mais baixas decrescendo gradualmente à medida que estas atingem a região de microondas. Um novo método alternativo foi desenvolvido para a medida da temperatura da transição vítrea (\'T IND. g\') utilizando técnicas de microondas. Mostramos que a posição da inflexão do gráfico da constante dielétrica em função da temperatura do vidro 25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\' medida em 9 GHz, na faixa de temperaturas em torno de \'(270 \'+ OU -\' 10) GRAUS\' C coincidiu com o valor da \'T IND. g\' deste vidro obtida por análise térmica diferencial (DTA). Outro método também foi desenvolvido para monitorar o resfriamento do vidro em função do tempo a partir do estado liquido até a solidificação, registrando o sinal de microondas refletido sobre o material vertido no interior de um guia de ondas. Pudemos observar, também, mudanças no espectro de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (EPR) do vidro fosfato contendo níquel após ter sido irradiado com diferentes níveis de potência das microondas, por cerca de duas horas. Este efeito pode estar relacionado com mecanismos de acoplamento de spins paramagnéticos. Os espectros de transmissão de microondas das amostras de vidros fosfatos contendo diferentes concentrações de cobalto, bário, ferro e manganês, obtidos por meio de uma varredura de freqüências desde 7 até 13 GHz, mostraram a presença de uma intensa atenuação do sinal próximo de 9,7 GHz. Essa atenuação diminuiu conforme aumenta a concentração dos modificadores. / The dispersion and absorption of electromagnetic waves that propagate through a dielectric material can be measured along a wide spectral region ranging from extremely low frequency to the optical region, including microwaves one, which is the subject of interest of the present study. Among dielectrics, there are crystalline and amorphous materials that can be either insulators or semiconductors. Glasses of compositions (1-x)(60\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND.5\'.\'40\'BA\'\'O).x(\'M\'\'O\'), (1-X)(25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\').x(\'M\'\'O\') and 60\'B IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\'.30\'BA\'\'O\'.\'10\'AL IND. 2\'\'O IND. 3\', where x is the concentration (mol %) of the \'FE\' or \'CO\' (\'M\'\'O\') transition metal oxide, were selected to investigate the behavior of the dielectric properties of oxide glasses in the lower frequency range (0 - 100 MHz) and in the microwave region (2- 30 GHz). When transition metal ions occupy interstitial positions in the glass matrix, as it happens with the regular alkaline and alkaline-earth modifier ions, they compensate the electrically charged tetrahedral structural units. As a consequence, local permanent dipoles are formed, contributing to the dielectric constant of the glass. The polarization of these dipoles, when submitted to an oscillating electromagnetic field, is higher at lower frequencies and decreases gradual1y as the frequency approaches the microwave region. An alternative new method was developed to measure the glass transition temperature (\'T IND. g\') using microwave techniques. It was shown that the inflexion position of the dielectric constant of the glass 25\'LI IND. 2\'\'O\'.25\'NA IND. 2\'\'O\'.50\'P IND. 2\'\'O IND. 5\' measured at 9 GHz, in the temperature range about \'(270 \'+ OU -\' 10) GRAUS\' C, coincided with the \'T IND. g\' value obtained by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Another method was also developed for monitoring the melt cooling as a function of time from the liquid to the solid state, by recording the reflected microwave signal crossing the material poured inside the wave guide. We observed, also, changes in the electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of phosphate glass containing nickel after being irradiated for two hours with several microwave power levels. This effect may be related with coupling and decoupling mechanisms among the spin clusters developed in the sample. The microwave transmission spectra of the phosphate glass samples containing different concentrations of iron, cobalt, barium, manganese and barium, obtained by a frequency sweep from 7 to 13 GHz, presented an intense attenuation of the signal near to 9,7 GHz. This attenuation was found to decrease with the increase of modifier content.

The combination of artificial intelligence (AI) with microwave heating technology is offering a unique and specialized potential, leading to significant transformations across numerous sectors. This novel device integrates artificial intelligence technology with environmentally sustainable microwave heating, offering the potential to decrease human labour, improve precision, minimize expenses, and promote efficiency. Furthermore, it makes a substantial contribution towards achieving environmental objectives via the reduction of carbon emissions and the conservation of energy. This research investigates the economic viability of an innovative microwave heating system that utilizes artificial intelligence technology. Additionally, it evaluates the system's competitive strengths when compared to established industrial heating systems. Key insights are identified via the use of qualitative research methods, namely through the implementation of semi-structured interviews with a sample size of six industry specialists. Thematic analysis is employed to analyse the collected data. The VRIO framework is used to identify the competitive advantages of the decentralized AI microwave heating system. The results of the study demonstrate that this technological innovation not only effectively mitigates carbon emissions but also resonates with environmentally aware individuals, hence fostering the principles of sustainability. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) not only improves the overall user experience but also provides autonomous monitoring capabilities, hence significantly increasing energy efficiency. From an economic standpoint, the implementation of decentralized AI microwave entities results in a reduction of transportation costs, hence enhancing their economic viability. Nevertheless, the achievement of effective commercialization requires meticulous examination of market dynamics, consumer trends, operational capabilities, supply chain optimization, and maintenance preparedness.

In this work I have evaluated a measurement method for glucose concentration in aqueous solutions and developed a system that performs the measurement and presents the result on a computer screen. The method is based on the dielectric properties of glucose and the varying phase shift of a microwave resonance cavity. The phase shift is measured using homodyne detection. The measurement system can measure the concentration of glucose in aqueous solutions in real time. I have tested concentrations from 0 to 3000 mg/dl. / I detta arbete har jag undersökt en metod för att mäta glukoskoncentration och med denna metod konstruerat en mätutrustning som visar glukoskoncentrationen för ett prov på en datorskärm. Mätningen baseras på radiovågor och permittiviteten för glukoslösningar. För att mäta permittiviteten används en mikrovågsresonanskavitet och homodyn detektering. Det gör det möjligt att mäta även mycket små prov, och detta utan att vara i direkt kontakt med provet. Mätsystemet kan mäta koncentrationen på vattenlösningar av glukos i realtid. Jag har testat systemet på koncentrationer mellan 0 och 3000 mg/dl.

This thesis is an examination of one of the main technologies to be developed on the path to Space Solar Power (SSP): Wireless Power Transfer (WPT), specifically power beaming. While SSP has been the main motivation for this body of work, other applications of power beaming include ground-to-ground energy transfer, ground to low-flying satellite wireless power transfer, mother-daughter satellite configurations, and even ground-to-car or ground-to-flying-car power transfer. More broadly, Wireless Power Transfer falls under the category of radio and microwave signals; with that in mind, some of the topics contained within can even be applied to 5G or other RF applications. The main components of WPT are signal transmission, propagation, and reception. This thesis focuses on the transmission and propagation of wireless power signals, including beamforming with Phased Array Antennas (PAAs) and evaluations of transmission and propagation efficiency. Signals used to transmit power long distances must be extremely directive in order to deliver the power at an acceptable efficiency and to prevent excess power from interfering with other RF technology. Phased array antennas offer one method of increasing the directivity of a transmitted beam through off-axis cancellation from the multi-antenna source. Besides beamforming, another focus of this work is on the equations used to describe the efficiency and far field distance of transmitting antennas. Most previously used equations, including the Friis equation and the Goubau equation, are formed by examining singleton antennas, and do not account for the unique properties of antenna arrays. Updated equations and evaluation methods are presented both for the far field and the efficiency of phased array antennas. Experimental results corroborate the far field model and efficiency equation presented, and the implications of these results regarding space solar power and other applications are discussed. The results of this thesis are important to the applications of WPT previously mentioned, and can also be used as a starting point for further WPT and SSP research, especially when looking at the foundations of PAA technology.