JPH0710231Y2 - Lyophilizer condenser - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a condenser of a freeze-drying apparatus.

(Prior Art) In general, freeze-drying is a well-established drying method whereby, for example, drugs such as vaccines, vitamin drugs, antibiotics and the like are dried and stored. The water-soluble product undergoing drying is frozen in place and goes directly from ice to steam without any intermediate liquid stage. If a large amount of such sublimation water vapor is condensed in the oil of the vacuum pump and adversely affects the vacuum device, it is collected by the adsorbent filled in the condenser main body.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the sublimation steam generated from the frozen sample during freeze-drying is collected by the adsorbent.

The adsorbent of the conventional means is formed into a thin pipe shape, and a condenser is configured by packing a large number of them in the condenser body, or an adsorption chamber is formed and adsorption particles are filled in the adsorption chamber to configure a condenser. Therefore, the structure becomes complicated and the work of filling the adsorbent is troublesome. In addition, after the saturated state due to the trapping, water is evaporated for regeneration, but there is a problem that evaporation is difficult and regeneration takes time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a condenser of a freeze-drying device having a simple structure, good workability, and good adsorption efficiency.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in this invention, an inlet communicating with the drying chamber and an outlet communicating with the suction side of the vacuum pump are provided. Inside the main body of the condenser, which has a plurality of cylindrical adsorbents with different diameters, are arranged concentrically in a plan view, while separating the adsorbents from each other and adsorbing the central adsorbent from the outer adsorbent. A partition wall is provided which forms a continuous adsorption passage flowing toward the agent.

(Operation) According to the condenser of the freeze-drying apparatus, the adsorbent is installed concentrically in the condenser body, whereby the adsorbent installation work is completed quickly. In addition, the adsorption passages flowing from the outer adsorbent toward the central adsorbent provide a wide adsorption area and a simple structure.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the figure, 1 denotes a drying chamber in which a frozen sample can be set, 3 denotes a vacuum pump, and 5 denotes a condenser arranged between the drying chamber 1 and the vacuum pump 5.

A main body 7 of the condenser 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an upper portion of the condenser main body 7 is sealed by a lid 9. The lid 9 on the upper side of the condenser body 7 is provided with the drying chamber 1 and the switching valve 11
An intake port 13 that communicates with the vacuum pump 3 is provided on the lower side of the bottom face 15, and an intake port 17 that communicates with the suction side of the vacuum pump 3 is provided.

In the condenser body 7, an adsorbent 19 such as a molecular sieve is arranged and set concentrically when seen in a plan view.

The adsorbent 19 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the inner adsorbent 19 has a smaller diameter than the outer adsorbent 19. The central adsorbent 19 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a triple structure.

A first adsorption passage 23 is formed between the outer adsorbent 19 and the inner adsorbent 19 by a partition wall 21 formed in a cylindrical shape. Also, the inner adsorbent 19 and the central adsorbent 19 are bottom surfaces.
A second adsorption passage 25 is formed by the outer peripheral wall 27a of the recess space 27 integrally formed by recessing 15 into the condenser main body 7 in a ring shape. In addition, the recess space 27
A third adsorption passage 29 is formed by the inner peripheral wall 27b of
The central adsorbent 19 is disposed and set in the third adsorption passage 29.

The first and second adsorption passages 23 and 25 are provided with spacers 31 provided at the bottom.
And the first adsorption passage 23 is connected to the intake port 13
The third adsorption passage 29 communicates with the outlet 17.

A thermo valve 33 is provided above the partition wall 21,
During regeneration, that is, when the heating element to be described later is activated, the steam in the partition wall 21 escapes from the discharge port 11a of the switching valve 11 to the outside.

Further, an inner heating element 35 wound in a coil shape is provided in the central recess space 27 of the condenser main body 7, and an outer heating element 37 wound in a coil shape is provided on the outer peripheral surface.
The inner and outer heating elements 35, 37 are made of a material such as nichrome wire or ceramics, and are connected to a power source via a control unit (not shown). As a result, the inside and outside heating elements 35, 37 are controlled by the control unit to have a prescribed heating temperature. According to the condenser of the freeze-drying apparatus configured as described above, freeze drying is performed by vacuuming the inside of the drying chamber 1 by the vacuum pump 3, and the sublimation steam generated during freeze-drying is ,
When passing through the third adsorption passages 23, 25, 29, they are collected by the adsorbent 19. At this time, since the condenser main body 7 has a cylindrical shape, it is possible to reduce the thickness, which is advantageous for vacuum pressure.

Next, when the adsorbent 19 becomes saturated, heat is applied to the adsorbent 19 by the inner and outer heating elements 35 and 37. At this time, since the adsorbent 19 has an independent cylindrical shape, it is efficiently evaporated.

Further, the replacement work of the adsorbent 19 is simply completed by removing the lid body 9 and then arranging the adsorbent 19 concentrically in the condenser main body 7. Since the partition wall 21 may be assembled at the same time, the structure is simple.

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the condenser of the freeze-drying apparatus of the present invention, since the adsorbent is formed into a cylindrical shape so as to correspond to the condenser body, these adsorbents are condensed into the condenser body. The workability is extremely good because the work of inserting it inside is sufficient. Moreover, the structure is simplified and the adsorption efficiency is improved due to the large adsorption area formed by the continuous adsorption passages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the condenser of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an adsorbent and a partition wall. 7 …… Condenser body 11 …… Inlet 17 …… Outlet 19 …… Adsorbent 21 …… Partition wall 23,25 …… Suction passage

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cylindrical adsorbent having different diameters is concentrically seen in a plane inside a condenser body having an inlet communicating with a drying chamber and an outlet communicating with a suction side of a vacuum pump. Freeze-drying is characterized in that while a plurality of adsorbents are arranged in a line, a partition wall is provided to partition between the adsorbents and to form a continuous adsorption passage flowing from the outer adsorbent toward the central adsorbent. Equipment condenser.