KR200256642Y1 - Freeze dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a lyophilizer capable of efficiently and sanitizing lyophilization of materials. The lyophilizer of the present invention has a single body in which both ends of the open body are closed by doors, a partition wall having a vent chamber which divides the inside of the body into a process chamber and a condenser chamber, and communicates the process chamber and the condenser chamber, and a body. Through a shelf installed in the process chamber of the body to freeze-dry the substance, a condenser installed in the body condenser chamber to condense water vapor, a vacuum pump to exhaust air from the body condenser chamber, and a vent of the partition wall. A diffusion plate for diffusing the introduced steam into the condenser chamber, a water supply device for supplying water to the condenser, and a heater for generating steam by heating the water supplied to the condenser chamber of the body by the water supply device. According to the present invention, a single body is partitioned into a process chamber for lyophilizing by a partition and a condenser chamber for capturing water vapor so that freeze-drying of the material can be efficiently and sanitarily performed. In addition, in the condenser chamber, the steam collecting efficiency and the defrosting efficiency of the ice can be greatly improved, and the simple structure can increase productivity and make it cheap. In addition, there is an effect that can reduce the generation of waste water by minimizing the use of water for the condenser chamber and the defrost of the condenser.

Description

Freeze Dryer {FREEZE DRYER}

The present invention relates to a lyophilizer, and more particularly, to a lyophilizer capable of performing freeze drying of materials efficiently and hygienically.

Freeze-drying is widely used as a drying method for food, liquid medicine, blood, cells, etc. in food processing, pharmaceutical and biology fields, and freezes materials and co-exists water, ice, and water vapor (Water Vapor). It is carried out by sublimation to lower the triple point of water to change the ice directly to steam. That is, under low pressure of 6 millibar (mbar) or 4.6 Torr, ice in the form of ice is sublimated directly into water vapor without changing into a liquid according to the supply of thermal energy. Will remain. Thus, the dried porous material can be re-hydrated completely and quickly. Meanwhile, in the design and manufacture of a lyophilizer for freeze drying, the collection and removal of water vapor is one of important factors in determining the capacity of the lyophilizer.

Looking at an example of such a conventional lyophilizer, the body having a process chamber for performing the lyophilization of the material for the hygienic treatment of the material and the body having a condenser chamber for collecting water vapor separately. The process chamber and the condenser chamber are connected by conduits. The process chamber is equipped with Shelves that can circulate brine through the heat medium for freeze drying of the material, and the condenser chamber is equipped with a condenser to condense and freeze water vapor. The vacuum pump is configured to maintain the vacuum of the process chamber and the capacitor chamber.

Therefore, after the material is placed on the shelf of the process chamber, the brine is circulated on the shelf to lyophilize the material. Water vapor that sublimes upon lyophilization of the material enters the condenser chamber from the process chamber through a conduit and then condenses and freezes on the surface of the condenser. Ice frozen on the surface of the condenser circulates a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant called hot gas or defrosts by spraying water on the condenser. Also, in order to increase the defrosting efficiency, hot gas circulation and water injection may be used in combination.

However, since the freeze dryer of the prior art separates the process chamber and the condenser chamber separately, the structure of the freeze dryer is complicated and requires many parts, which greatly reduces productivity, and involves a lot of manufacturing costs. . And as water vapor passing through the conduit is implanted in the conduit, there is a problem of blocking the flow of water vapor by blocking the conduit or locally implanted in a condenser at a position close to the conduit, thereby greatly reducing the trapping efficiency and defrosting efficiency of the water vapor. In particular, when the collection efficiency of the water vapor in the condenser chamber is low, water vapor is introduced into the vacuum pump, causing a failure of the vacuum pump. In addition, the method of defrosting ice by spraying water on the condenser increases the operating cost of the lyophilizer due to excessive use of water and generates a large amount of wastewater.

The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a freeze-dryer that can be carried out lyophilization of the material efficiently and hygienically.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lyophilizer which can greatly improve the steam collecting efficiency and the defrosting efficiency of ice.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lyophilizer which can increase productivity and inexpensively by a simple structure in which a process chamber and a condenser chamber are provided in a single body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lyophilizer that can minimize the use of water for the defrost of the condenser.

A feature of the present invention for achieving the above object is a single body, each of which is closed by an open door at both ends; A partition wall partitioning the interior of the body into a process chamber and a condenser chamber and having a vent for communicating the process chamber and the condenser chamber; A shelf installed in the process chamber of the body to freeze-dry the substance; A condenser installed in the condenser chamber of the body to condense water vapor; A vacuum pump which exhausts air from the condenser chamber of the body to create a vacuum; Diffusion means for diffusing the water vapor introduced through the vent of the partition wall into the condenser chamber; Water supply means for supplying water to the condenser; There is a lyophilizer comprising heating means for generating steam by heating water supplied to a condenser chamber of a body by a water supply means.

1 is a view schematically showing the overall configuration of the lyophilizer according to the present invention,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a body, a diaphragm, a shelf, a condenser and a diffusion means of the freeze dryer according to the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a process chamber of the lyophilizer according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a condenser chamber of the freeze dryer according to the present invention.

♣ Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ♣

10: body 10a: process chamber

10b: condenser chamber 20: partition wall

22: vent 30: lathe

40: condenser 50: vacuum pump

60: diffusion plate 70: water supply

74: injection pipe 80, 82: drain pipe

84: water pipe 90: heater

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the lyophilizer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lyophilizer of the present invention is provided with a cylindrical body (Body: 10) is open at both ends constituting the appearance, the body 10 is installed horizontally. The body 10 may be made of stainless steel, and the cross section of the body 10 may be made in a rectangular shape. Both ends of the body 10 are provided with doors 12 and 14 for sealing the body 10, respectively, and the doors 12 and 14 are observation windows 12a and 14a for observing the inside of the body 10. ) Is configured.

1 to 3, the lyophilizer of the present invention includes a process chamber 10a for lyophilizing a material and a condenser chamber 10b for capturing water vapor sublimed from the material. The partition wall 20 which partitions is provided. The partition wall 20 is vertically installed at approximately two-thirds of the body 10, and a vent for connecting a process chamber 10a and a condenser chamber 10b to a center of the partition wall 20 to form a passage for water vapor. (Vent: 22) is formed. The process chamber 10a of the body 10 is provided with a hollow shelf 30 capable of circulating the brine with a heat medium for freeze drying of the material. The condenser chamber 10b of the body 10 is provided with a condenser 40 capable of circulating a refrigerant for condensing water vapor, for example, HCFC (Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbon), and the condenser 40 is coiled. Consists of. In addition, an exhaust pipe 52 of the vacuum pump 50 for exhausting air from the condenser chamber 10b to establish a vacuum of the process chamber 10a and the condenser chamber 10b is connected to the condenser chamber 10b of the body 10. The exhaust line 54 connected to the exhaust pipe 52 is equipped with a solenoid valve 56 that opens and closes the exhaust line 54.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the partition wall 20 facing the condenser chamber 10b of the body 10 has a hemispherical diffusion plate as a diffusion means for diffusing water vapor passing through the vent 22 into the condenser chamber 10b. 60 is provided. The spherical surface 62 of the diffusion plate 60 is disposed toward the vent 22 to induce the flow of water vapor through the entire condenser chamber 10b, and the diffusion plate 60 is partitioned by a plurality of legs 64. It is fixed to 20.

1, 2 and 4, a water supply pipe 72 of a water supply device 70 for supplying water to the upper portion of the condenser chamber 10b of the body 10 is provided, and the water supply pipe 72 has a condenser. A plurality of injection pipes 74 for injecting water into the 40 are connected. The solenoid valve 78 is attached to the water supply line 76 of the water supply device 74. The solenoid valve 78 may be connected to a well-known heating device such as a hot water boiler or a heater to supply hot water. A visor blocking the upper side of the vent 22 to prevent the water supplied from the water supply device 70 from flowing into the vent 22 at an upper portion of the barrier 20 adjacent to the vent 22. 66) is attached.

In addition, drain pipes 80 and 82 for draining water are connected to the lower portion of the process chamber 10a and the condenser chamber 10b of the body 10, and drain lines 80a and 82a of the drain pipes 80 and 82. ) Is equipped with a manual valve (80b, 82b). The water stored in the lower portion of the process chamber 10a and the condenser chamber 10b by opening the manual valves 80b and 82b can be completely drained through the drain pipes 80 and 82.

An overflow pipe 84 is connected to maintain a constant water level of the water collected in the lower portion of the condenser chamber 10b, and the manual valve 84b is connected to the drain line 84a of the water pipe 84. ) Is connected. Each of the drainage lines 80a and 82a of the drainage pipes 80 and 82 and the drainage line 84a of the work water pipe 84 is connected to the drainage line 86a of the drainage pump 86. The exhaust line 54 of the vacuum pump 50 and the drain line 86a of the drain pump 86 are connected through the connection line 88, and the exhaust line 54 and the connection line 88 are manual valves ( 88a). A plurality of heaters 90 are installed in the lower part of the condenser chamber 10b as heating means for heating the collected water to generate steam.

The following describes the operation of the lyophilizer according to the present invention having such a configuration.

1 and 2, the door 12 is opened to open the process chamber 10a of the body 10, the material for freeze drying is placed on the shelf 30, and then the door 12 is closed. The process chamber 10a of the body 10 is closed. When the brine of low temperature is supplied to the shelf 30, the material placed on the shelf 30 is frozen. Low temperature brine can be supplied through a refrigeration cycle consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. Since the construction and operation of the refrigeration cycle is well known, a detailed description of the construction and operation is omitted.

Next, when the air of the condenser chamber 10b is exhausted by the driving of the vacuum pump 50, the air of the condenser chamber 10b is exhausted and is formed in a vacuum. The air of the process chamber 10a is exhausted through the vent 22 and the condenser chamber 10b of the partition wall 20, and the process chamber 10a and the condenser chamber 10b are formed together in a vacuum. At this time, when the manual valves 80a, 82b and 84b of the drainage lines 80a, 82a and 84a and the manual valves 88a of the connecting line 88 are opened, the exhaust line 54 and the drain line 86a are opened. Since it is connected by the connection line 88, the composition of the vacuum by the drive of the vacuum pump 50 can be carried out quickly and efficiently.

When the process chamber 10a is vacuumed by driving the vacuum pump 50, and high temperature brine is supplied to the shelf 30, moisture having an ice form from the material is absorbed by heat energy of the brine. Sublimates with water vapor depending on the supply. The sublimed water vapor leaves a myriad of spaces in the material, and the material is dried by the sublimation of water vapor. High temperature brine can be supplied through a heating system consisting of well-known heaters, heat exchangers, and the like. Since the configuration and operation of the heating system are well known, a detailed description of the configuration and operation is omitted.

In addition, water vapor sublimed by lyophilization of the material is introduced into the condenser chamber 10b from the process chamber 10a through the vent 22 of the partition wall 20. At this time, the spherical surface 62 of the diffusion plate 60 induces the flow of water vapor passing through the vent 22 to diffuse into the entire condenser chamber 10b. Accordingly, water vapor is trapped while being uniformly distributed throughout the condenser chamber 10b. When a low temperature refrigerant is supplied to the condenser 40 through a refrigerating cycle, water vapor trapped in the condenser chamber 10b freezes while condensing on the surface of the condenser 40.

1, 2 and 4, when a high temperature / high pressure refrigerant called hot gas is supplied to the condenser 40 from the compressor of the refrigeration cycle, the ice frozen on the surface of the condenser 40 is condenser 40. It is defrosted by condensation and liquefaction of hot gas circulating). When the solenoid valve 78 of the water supply device 70 is opened in parallel with defrost by hot gas, water is injected into the condenser 40 through the water supply line 76, the water supply pipe 78, and the injection pipe 74. . Thus, ice is effectively defrosted from the surface of the condenser 40. That is, when water is sprayed by the operation of the water supply device 70 at the time when the ice starts to melt by the hot gas supplied to the condenser 40, the ice is quickly removed from the surface of the condenser 40 and removed. As shown in FIG. 4, the water supplied by the water supply device 70 supplies only the water level maintained by the water pipe 84. Thus, the amount of water supplied for defrosting the ice can be minimized.

On the other hand, water generated by the defrost of the water and ice supplied from the water supply device 70 is stored in the bottom of the condenser chamber (10b). The solenoid valve 78 is closed to stop the water supply, and when the water stored in the bottom of the condenser chamber 10b is heated by the operation of the heater 90 to generate steam, the condenser chamber 10b is generated by the steam. ) And ice frozen in the condenser 40 can be removed quickly and efficiently. Therefore, the ice making efficiency of the freeze dryer can be greatly improved, and the operation rate of the freeze dryer can be increased by shortening the time required for ice making.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of one embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be appropriately changed within the scope of the claims. For example, the shape and structure of each component specifically shown in the embodiment of the present invention can be modified.

As described above, according to the lyophilizer according to the present invention, a single body is partitioned into a process chamber for lyophilizing by a partition and a condenser chamber for capturing water vapor so that freeze-drying of materials can be efficiently and sanitarily performed. have. In addition, in the condenser chamber, the steam collecting efficiency and the defrosting efficiency of the ice can be greatly improved, and the simple structure can increase productivity and make it cheap. In addition, there is an effect that can reduce the generation of waste water by minimizing the use of water for the condenser chamber and the defrost of the condenser.

Claims (3)

A single body each of which is open at both ends thereof by a door; A partition wall partitioning the interior of the body into a process chamber and a condenser chamber and having a vent communicating the process chamber with the condenser chamber; A shelf installed in the process chamber of the body to freeze-dry the material; A condenser installed in the condenser chamber of the body to condense water vapor; A vacuum pump for evacuating air from the condenser chamber of the body to create a vacuum; Diffusion means for diffusing water vapor introduced through the vent of the partition wall into the condenser chamber; Water supply means for supplying water to the condenser; And a heating means for heating the water supplied to the condenser chamber of the body by the water supply means to generate steam. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffusion means comprises a diffusion plate having a spherical surface facing the vent of the partition wall, wherein the water supply means has a plurality of injection pipes for injecting water into the condenser, and the heating means includes a plurality of heaters. Lyophilizer, characterized in that consisting of. The water supply pipe according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a water pipe for maintaining a constant water level of the water collected in the lower portion of the condenser chamber and draining water, wherein water supplied from the water supply means flows into the vent of the partition wall. A lyophilizer, characterized in that it further comprises a visor that can be blocked.