Freeze drying apparatus

• US 20070022622A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BOC Group BV (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: BOC Group BV (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Renzi, Ernesto, Lanaway, Ivan
• Application Number:
  US11/189,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022622A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/92
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/066 Movable chambers, e.g. collapsible, demountable self-contained mobile devices, e.g. for agricultural produce F26B19/005
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/12 Walls or sides; Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing

Abstract

Freeze drying apparatus is described, the freeze drying apparatus comprising freezing apparatus for freezing a liquid component of a sample into a solid, a mobile drying chamber for receiving samples from the freezing apparatus, a condensation chamber comprising a condenser, a condenser conduit system comprising an outlet connected to the condensation chamber, an inlet for connection to the drying chamber, and an isolation valve for selectively isolating the inlet from the outlet, an evacuation system for evacuating the drying chamber, and a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of the samples located within the drying chamber. The drying chamber is moveable between a first location at which samples are transferred from the freezing apparatus to the chamber, and a second location at which the chamber is connected to the inlet of the condenser conduit system.

Claims

1. A freeze drying apparatus comprising a mobile drying chamber for receiving frozen samples, and a condenser, wherein the drying chamber is moveable between a first location at which frozen samples are loaded thereinto, and a second location at which the chamber is connected to the condenser.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a condenser conduit system comprising an inlet for connection to the drying chamber at the second location, and an isolation valve for selectively isolating the inlet from the condenser for conveying vapour from the drying chamber to the condenser.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a condenser isolation valve for selectively isolating the condenser from the inlet of the condenser conduit system.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an additional condenser for receiving vapour from the condenser conduit system, and an additional condenser isolation valve for selectively isolating the additional condenser from the inlet of the condenser conduit system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising freezing apparatus for freezing a liquid component of samples into a solid to form the frozen samples.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an evacuation system for evacuating the drying chamber at the second location.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the evacuation system is configured to evacuate the drying chambers through the condenser.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of the frozen samples located within the drying chamber.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the thermal control system comprises heating apparatus for heating the frozen samples located within the drying chamber to cause the solid to sublime into vapour.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heating apparatus is connectable to the drying chamber at the second location.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heating apparatus comprises a source of a heated fluid, and means for selectively conveying the heated fluid to the drying chamber.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the heated fluid comprises one of silicone oil, and a mixture of water and glycol.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the thermal control system comprises cooling apparatus for maintaining the liquid component of the samples located within the drying chamber as a solid.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cooling apparatus is connectable to the drying chamber at the first location.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cooling apparatus is connectable to the drying chamber at the second location.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises a source of a coolant, and means for selectively conveying the coolant to the drying chamber.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the coolant comprises a cooled fluid.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the coolant comprises one of silicone oil, and a mixture of water and glycol.

19. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a drying chamber pre-evacuation system for at least partially evacuating the drying chamber before the drying chamber is evacuated by the evacuation system.

20. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an evacuation system for evacuating the drying chamber at the second location.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a drying chamber pre-evacuation system for at least partially evacuating the drying chamber before the drying chamber is evacuated by the evacuation system.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the drying chamber pre-evacuation system comprises a vacuum pump, and a vacuum conduit system comprising an inlet connected to the condenser conduit system, an outlet connected to the vacuum pump, and an isolation valve for selectively isolating the inlet of the vacuum conduit system from the outlet of the vacuum conduit system.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the inlet of the vacuum conduit system is located between the inlet of the condenser conduit system and the isolation valve of the condenser conduit system.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the samples are pharmaceutical samples.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mobile chamber is mounted on wheels.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said mobile chambers.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying chamber comprises a plurality of shelves for receiving frozen samples.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying chamber is thermally insulated.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying chamber has an opening through which the samples are transferred into the chamber from the freezing apparatus.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the drying chamber comprises a door for closing the opening, the door having a slot formed therein for exposing part of the opening, and wherein the freeze drying apparatus comprises means for moving the door in a direction transverse to the opening.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the moving means comprises means for raising and lowering the door.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the drying chamber comprises a flexible screen attached to one end of the door, and a reel located beneath the opening and from which the flexible screen is unwound as the door is raised.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the moving means is located at the second location, and comprises means for releasably engaging the door.

34. A freeze drying apparatus comprising freezing apparatus for freezing a liquid component of a sample into a solid, a mobile drying chamber for receiving samples from the freezing apparatus, a condenser, a condenser conduit system for conveying vapour from the drying chamber to the condenser, the condenser conduit system comprising an inlet for connection to the drying chamber, and an isolation valve for selectively isolating the inlet from the condenser, an evacuation system for evacuating the drying chamber;

and a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of the samples located within the drying chamber;

wherein the drying chamber is moveable between a first location at which samples are transferred from the freezing apparatus to the chamber, and a second location at which the chamber is connected to the inlet of the condenser conduit system.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the evacuation system is configured to evacuate the drying chamber via the inlet of the condenser conduit system.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the evacuation system is configured to evacuate the drying chamber via the condenser.

37. A freeze drying apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile drying chambers for receiving frozen samples;

a condenser, a condenser conduit system comprising a plurality of inlets each being selectively connectable to a respective drying chamber, and a plurality of isolation valves each for selectively isolating a respective inlet from the condenser;

an evacuation system for evacuating the drying chambers; and

a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of the samples located within the drying chambers;

wherein each drying chamber is moveable between a first location at which frozen samples are transferred thereinto, and a second location at which the chamber is connected to an inlet of the condenser conduit system.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the evacuation system is configured to evacuate each drying chamber via a respective inlet of the condenser conduit system.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the evacuation system is configured to evacuate the drying chambers via the condenser.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising a drying chamber pre-evacuation system for at least partially evacuating the drying chambers before the drying chambers are connected to the evacuation system.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the drying chamber pre-evacuation system comprises a vacuum pump, and a vacuum conduit system comprising a plurality of inlets each connected to the condenser conduit system between a respective inlet of the condenser conduit system and a respective isolation valve of the condenser conduit system, an outlet connected to the vacuum pump, and a plurality of isolation valves each for selectively isolating a respective inlet of the vacuum conduit system from the outlet of the vacuum conduit system.

42. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the thermal control system comprises heating apparatus selectively connectable to each of the drying chambers to heat the samples located therein to cause the solid to sublime into vapour.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the heating apparatus is selectively connectable to each of the drying chambers located at the second location.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the heating apparatus comprises a source of a heated fluid, and means for selectively conveying the heated fluid to each of the drying chambers.

45. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the thermal control system comprises cooling apparatus selectively connectable to each of the drying chambers to maintain the liquid component of the samples located within the drying chambers as a solid.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the cooling apparatus is selectively connectable to at least one drying chamber located at the first location.

47. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the cooling apparatus is selectively connectable to each of the drying chambers located at the second location.

48. Freeze drying apparatus comprising a drying chamber having an opening formed therein for providing access to the chamber and a door for closing the opening, the door having a slot formed therein;

and means for raising the door in a direction transverse to the opening so that the slot exposes part of the opening to permit samples to be loaded into the chamber;

the drying chamber comprising a flexible screen attached to a bottom end of the door and a reel located beneath the opening and from which the flexible screen is unwound as the door is raised.