BULK FREEZE DRYING USING SPRAY FREEZING AND AGITATED DRYING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A freeze drying system for freeze drying bulk product by removing a liquid, comprising:
- a freezing chamber;
at least one spray nozzle directed to an interior of the freezing chamber, the at least one spray nozzle being connected for spraying the bulk product and a freezing agent, the at least one spray nozzle being configured to spray the bulk product and the freezing agent in the interior of the freezing chamber to create a spray-frozen powder;
a vacuum drying chamber;
a selectively closeable conduit connecting the freezing chamber with the vacuum drying chamber, the selectively closeable conduit having an open configuration for transferring the spray-frozen powder without using trays and shelves, the selectively closeable conduit further having a closed configuration for conducting a drying operation under vacuum in the vacuum drying chamber while conducting a different stage of freeze drying in the freezing chamber;
an agitating mechanism for agitating the spray-frozen powder in the vacuum drying chamber to move particles of the spray-frozen powder into and out of contact with a wall of the drying chamber;
a heater for heating the wall of the vacuum drying chamber;
a condensing chamber in communication with the vacuum drying chamber and comprising surfaces for condensing a vapor from exhaust gas received from the vacuum drying chamber; and
a vacuum pump in communication with the condensing chamber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A freeze dryer processes bulk powder products. The freeze dryer freezes the product by mixing an atomized spray of product with sterile liquid nitrogen. The resultant powder is freeze dried in a vessel, and the vessel contents is agitated to maintain product contact with heated vessel wall and to prevent agglomeration.
11 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A freeze drying system for freeze drying bulk product by removing a liquid, comprising:
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a freezing chamber; at least one spray nozzle directed to an interior of the freezing chamber, the at least one spray nozzle being connected for spraying the bulk product and a freezing agent, the at least one spray nozzle being configured to spray the bulk product and the freezing agent in the interior of the freezing chamber to create a spray-frozen powder; a vacuum drying chamber; a selectively closeable conduit connecting the freezing chamber with the vacuum drying chamber, the selectively closeable conduit having an open configuration for transferring the spray-frozen powder without using trays and shelves, the selectively closeable conduit further having a closed configuration for conducting a drying operation under vacuum in the vacuum drying chamber while conducting a different stage of freeze drying in the freezing chamber; an agitating mechanism for agitating the spray-frozen powder in the vacuum drying chamber to move particles of the spray-frozen powder into and out of contact with a wall of the drying chamber; a heater for heating the wall of the vacuum drying chamber; a condensing chamber in communication with the vacuum drying chamber and comprising surfaces for condensing a vapor from exhaust gas received from the vacuum drying chamber; and a vacuum pump in communication with the condensing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for freeze drying a bulk product containing a liquid, comprising:
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spraying the bulk product and a freezing agent into the freezing chamber, the freezing chamber being at a first pressure, the freezing agent intermingling with the sprayed bulk product to freeze the liquid contained in the bulk product to form a spray-frozen powder in the freezing chamber; transferring the spray-frozen powder from the freezing chamber to a vacuum drying chamber; subjecting the vacuum drying chamber to a vacuum pressure lower than the first pressure; agitating the spray-frozen powder under the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drying chamber using an agitating mechanism to bring particles of the spray-frozen powder into and out of contact with a wall of the vacuum drying chamber; during the agitating the spray-frozen powder under the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drying chamber, heating the spray-frozen powder to cause sublimation of frozen liquid to form a freeze dried product. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification