Apparatus and method for continuous lyophilization

• US 10,551,122 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komline-Sanderson Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wyssmont Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Weisselberg, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US15/841,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20180106538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 34290
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/44 Freeze-drying
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/003 with fixed floors provided with scrapers F26B17/006 and F26B17/007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/005 with rotating floors, e.g. around a vertical axis, which may have scrapers F26B17/002, F26B17/006, F26B17/007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/006 the movement being imparted by oscillation or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/024 by using movable fan units
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/04 partly outside the drying enclosure F26B21/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/083 by using sorbent or hygroscopic materials, e.g. chemical substances, molecular sieves
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/00 Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat separating liquids from solids by straining B01D; replacing liquids in wet solids by other liquids, e.g. water by spirit, B01D12/00; drying by electrophoresis B01J
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/14 by applying pressure, e.g. wringing; by brushing; by wiping

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuous sublimation of a substance, the apparatus comprising:

a processing chamber containing a substantially atmospheric environment, the processing chamber having a plurality of trays vertically stacked therein for cascading therethrough a material containing a substance capable of sublimation to form a sublimate at a predetermined temperature;

a heater for supplying heated gas to the processing chamber; and

a desiccant in fluid communication with the processing chamber for maintaining a partial pressure of the substance within the environment within the processing chamber less than a vapor pressure of the substance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trays are rotatable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a plurality of fans within the processing chamber for circulating the environment therein.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desiccant is selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, phosphorous pentoxide, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, tetrathylene glycol, silica gel, and molecular sieves.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including a cooling apparatus for cooling an exhaust gas discharged from the processing chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a particulate filter arranged adjacent the cooling apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including an inlet manifold for supplying heated gas to a plurality of levels within the processing chamber.