Freeze-drying system

Abstract

The freeze-drying system comprises a freeze-drying tank and a cold trap, an annular heat conduction clamping sleeve and a material sleeve are arranged in the freeze-drying tank, a plurality of heat conduction partition plates are arranged between the annular heat conduction clamping sleeve and the material sleeve, and the heat conduction partition plates are arranged in the circumferential direction of the annular heat conduction clamping sleeve at intervals; a material drying cavity is formed between every two adjacent heat conduction partition plates, the cold trap communicates with the material drying cavities, and a material guiding and homogenizing assembly is arranged between the material drying cavities and a feeding port of the freeze-drying tank and used for uniformly distributing materials into the material drying cavities. And a material blocking assembly is arranged between the material drying cavity and the material outlet of the freeze-drying tank. The drying device has the advantages that material accumulation can be avoided, and the drying effect is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of food and medicine packaging equipment, in particular to a freeze-drying system. BACKGROUND

[0002] The freeze-drying methods on the market are mainly horizontal and vertical. The horizontal freeze-drying method is to place the freeze-drying plate horizontally, and then place the material to be dried on the freeze-drying plate. The material is placed horizontally, which is not conducive to the placement and removal of the material. The freeze-drying machine generally needs to be equipped with a feeding and discharging mechanism to cooperate with the placement of the product. This not only increases the feeding and discharging time, but also requires an environment for the product to enter and exit. Therefore, the product is usually placed in a clean area, and the sterile product is generally placed in a B+A environment, and the non-sterile product is generally placed in a C-class environment to ensure that the product is not contaminated. The vertical freeze-drying method is disclosed in the application No. 201080068427.5, which uses spray freezing and stirring drying bulk freeze-drying system and method. The atomized product stream is mixed with sterilized liquid nitrogen to freeze the product. The obtained powder is freeze-dried in a container. The contents of the container are stirred to keep the product in contact with the heated container wall to prevent agglomeration. The freeze-drying system has the problem that the contents are all stacked in the container, and the drying effect and the contact effect with the container wall are difficult to guarantee. The stirring device needs to be set to scatter the contents, which has a complex structure and high cost. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a freeze-drying system which can avoid material accumulation and has good drying effect.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the following technical solutions are adopted: A freeze-drying system, comprising a freeze-drying tank and a cold trap, wherein the freeze-drying tank is provided with an annular heat-conducting jacket and a material sleeve, a plurality of heat-conducting partitions are arranged between the annular heat-conducting jacket and the material sleeve, the heat-conducting partitions are arranged along the circumferential direction of the annular heat-conducting jacket at intervals, a material drying cavity is formed between two adjacent heat-conducting partitions, the cold trap is in communication with the material drying cavity, a material guiding and uniformizing assembly is arranged between the material drying cavity and the material inlet of the freeze-drying tank, the material guiding and uniformizing assembly is used for uniformly distributing the material to each material drying cavity, and a material blocking assembly is arranged between the material drying cavity and the material outlet of the freeze-drying tank.

[0005] Further improvement of the above technical solutions: The material sleeve is arranged outside the annular heat-conducting jacket, a plurality of drying holes for air passage and material blocking are arranged on the material sleeve, and the air passage pipe of the cold trap penetrates through the side wall of the freeze-drying tank and extends to the space between the freeze-drying tank and the material sleeve.

[0006] The material guiding and equalizing assembly includes a material guiding cone, a material equalizing plate and a material guiding hopper. The material guiding cone is arranged on the annular heat-conducting jacket and is located below the material inlet. There are multiple material equalizing plates, and the multiple material equalizing plates are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the material guiding cone. The material guiding hopper is arranged at the top of the material jacket and is located below the material equalizing plate. The top of the material guiding hopper extends beyond the material equalizing plate.

[0007] The blocking assembly includes a mounting seat, which is arranged at the bottom of the freeze-drying tank. A lifting rod is slidably provided on the mounting seat. The lifting rod is passed through the freeze-drying tank and has a plug at the top for blocking the discharge of the material drying chamber. A flexible sealing member is provided between the plug and the mounting seat, and the flexible sealing member is sleeved on the outside of the lifting rod.

[0008] The discharge port is arranged obliquely and staggered with the mounting seat.

[0009] There are multiple cold traps, which are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the freeze-drying tank, and each cold trap is provided with a first isolation valve.

[0010] There are multiple freeze-drying tanks, and the feed port of each freeze-drying tank is connected to the feed pipe, and the discharge port is connected to the discharge pipe. Each feed pipe is connected to a material distribution component, and the material distribution component is used to connect to the upstream feeding equipment. Each discharge pipe is connected to a collection component, and the collection component is used to connect to the downstream receiving equipment.

[0011] The freeze-drying tanks are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the material distribution assembly and the collection assembly, and the cold traps are arranged outside the circumference formed by each freeze-drying tank.

[0012] The feed pipeline includes an inclined section and a vertical section that are connected to each other. The inclined section is connected to the material distribution component, and the vertical section is connected to the freeze-drying tank. A second isolation valve is provided on the vertical section.

[0013] The material distributing component is a material distributing valve, and the collecting component is a collecting valve.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: The freeze-drying system disclosed in the present invention has multiple heat-conducting partitions arranged between the annular heat-conducting jacket and the material jacket to form multiple material drying chambers. The arrangement of the heat-conducting partitions can not only separate the products but also conduct heat, thereby increasing the contact area between the material and the heat-conducting structure, facilitating the heat-conducting structure to transfer energy to the material for sublimation, promoting the sublimation of moisture in the freeze-dried material into water vapor to be absorbed by the cold trap, and improving the drying effect. In addition, a material guiding and distributing component is provided between the material drying chamber and the feed port to evenly distribute the material to each material drying chamber, thereby avoiding material accumulation and further improving the drying effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Fig. 1 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the freeze-drying tank in the freeze-drying system of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a top view structural schematic diagram of the freeze-drying tank in the freeze-drying system of the present application (the top cover is hidden).

[0017] Fig. 3 is a perspective structural schematic diagram of the freeze-drying system of the present application.

[0018] Fig. 4 is a front view structural schematic diagram of the freeze-drying system of the present application.

[0019] In the figure, the numbers represent: 1, freeze-drying tank; 11, feeding port; 12, discharging port; 2, annular heat-conducting jacket; 3, cold trap; 31, air pipe; 32, first partition valve; 4, material sleeve; 5, heat-conducting partition plate; 6, material drying cavity; 7, material guiding and uniformizing assembly; 71, material guiding cone; 72, uniformizing plate; 73, material guiding hopper; 8, material blocking assembly; 81, mounting seat; 82, lifting rod; 83, plug; 84, flexible sealing element; 91, feeding pipeline; 911, inclined section; 912, vertical section; 92, discharging pipeline; 93, material distributing assembly; 94, upstream material feeding device; 95, collecting assembly; 96, downstream material collecting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present application will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and therefore cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0022] In addition, the terms "first", "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features referred to. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited.

[0023] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "assembly", "connection", "link", "fixation" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, can be fixed connection, can also be detachable connection, or integral; can be mechanical connection, can also be electrical connection; can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, can be internal communication of two elements or interaction relationship of two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] Figs. 1 to 4 An embodiment of the freeze-drying system of the present application is shown. The freeze-drying system of the embodiment includes a freeze-drying tank 1 and a cold trap 3. The freeze-drying tank 1 is provided with an annular heat-conducting jacket 2 and a material sleeve 4. A plurality of heat-conducting partitions 5 are arranged between the annular heat-conducting jacket 2 and the material sleeve 4. The plurality of heat-conducting partitions 5 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the annular heat-conducting jacket 2. Two adjacent heat-conducting partitions 5 form a material drying cavity 6. The cold trap 3 is in communication with the material drying cavity 6. A material guiding and uniformizing assembly 7 is arranged between the material drying cavity 6 and a material inlet 11 of the freeze-drying tank 1. The material guiding and uniformizing assembly 7 is used to uniformly distribute the material to each material drying cavity 6. A material blocking assembly 8 is arranged between the material drying cavity 6 and a material outlet 12 of the freeze-drying tank 1.

[0025] The drying process of the freeze-drying system is as follows. The pre-frozen material enters the freeze-drying tank 1 from the material inlet 11, and then is uniformly distributed to the material drying cavity 6 by the material guiding and uniformizing assembly 7 for drying. The cold trap 3 in communication with the material drying cavity 6 absorbs water vapor. After drying, the material blocking assembly 8 is opened, and the material is output through the material outlet 12, realizing fast in and fast out of the closed material, facilitating internal cleaning and sterilization, and reducing the environmental control requirements during the in and out processes.

[0026] The freeze-drying system is provided with a plurality of heat-conducting partitions 5 between the annular heat-conducting jacket 2 and the material sleeve 4, forming a plurality of material drying cavities 6. The arrangement of the heat-conducting partitions 5 not only separates the products, but also conducts heat, increasing the contact area of the material and the heat-conducting structure, which is beneficial to the heat-conducting structure to transfer energy to the material for sublimation, promoting the sublimation of water in the freeze-dried material into water vapor to be absorbed by the cold trap 3, improving the drying effect. Moreover, the material guiding and uniformizing assembly 7 is arranged between the material drying cavity 6 and the material inlet 11, which uniformly distributes the material to each material drying cavity 6, avoiding material accumulation, and further improving the drying effect.

[0027] Further, in the embodiment, the material sleeve 4 is arranged outside the annular heat-conducting jacket 2. The material sleeve 4 is provided with a plurality of drying holes for air passage and material blocking. The air passage pipe 31 of the cold trap 3 penetrates through the side wall of the freeze-drying tank 1 and extends between the freeze-drying tank 1 and the material sleeve 4. The cold trap 3 absorbs water vapor through the drying holes (not shown in the figure) on the material sleeve 4. The material sleeve 4 is arranged outside, which is convenient for the arrangement of the cold trap 3 and reduces the interference of the annular heat-conducting jacket 2 on the cold trap 3.

[0028] Further, in the embodiment, the material guiding and distributing assembly 7 comprises a material guiding cone 71, material distributing plates 72 and a material guiding hopper 73. The material guiding cone 71 is arranged on the annular heat conducting jacket 2 and below the material inlet 11. The material distributing plates 72 are arranged in plurality and are arranged along the circumference of the material guiding cone 71. The material guiding hopper 73 is arranged on the top of the material sleeve 4 and below the material distributing plates 72. The top of the material guiding hopper 73 extends out of the material distributing plates 72. The material entering from the material inlet 11 falls on the material guiding cone 71. The material guiding cone 71 is separated by the material distributing plates 72 on the material guiding cone 71 to avoid material accumulation and to play a role of material distribution. Then the material guiding hopper 73 below blocks and guides the material falling in an inclined manner to each material drying cavity 6 to realize material guiding and distributing.

[0029] Further, in the embodiment, the material blocking assembly 8 comprises a mounting seat 81 arranged on the bottom of the freeze-drying tank 1. A lifting rod 82 is slidably arranged on the mounting seat 81 and penetrates into the freeze-drying tank 1. A plug 83 for blocking the material outlet of the material drying cavity 6 is arranged on the top of the lifting rod 82. A flexible sealing element 84 is arranged between the plug 83 and the mounting seat 81 and surrounds the lifting rod 82. The lifting rod 82 drives the mounting seat 81 and the plug 83 on the mounting seat 81 to lift and lower to realize the opening and closing of the material outlet. The flexible sealing element 84 seals the lifting rod 82 to reduce the influence of the transmission member on the cleanliness.

[0030] Further, in the embodiment, the material outlet 12 is arranged in an inclined manner and is staggered with the mounting seat 81 to avoid interference with the material blocking assembly 8 and facilitate material discharging.

[0031] Further, in the embodiment, the cold trap 3 is arranged in plurality and is arranged along the circumference of the freeze-drying tank 1. Each cold trap 3 is provided with a first blocking valve 32. When one cold trap 3 enters the defrosting cycle, the other cold traps 3 can quickly enter the freeze-drying cycle to save waiting time.

[0032] Further, in the embodiment, the freeze-drying tank 1 is arranged in plurality. The material inlets 11 of the freeze-drying tanks 1 are connected with a material feeding pipeline 91. The material outlets 12 are connected with a material discharging pipeline 92. Each material feeding pipeline 91 is communicated with a material distributing assembly 93. The material distributing assembly 93 is connected with an upstream material feeding device 94. Each material discharging pipeline 92 is communicated with a material collecting assembly 95. The material collecting assembly 95 is connected with a downstream material collecting device 96. The material distributing assembly 93 distributes the material to each freeze-drying tank 1 for drying. Then the material collecting assembly 95 collects the dried material to the downstream material collecting device 96 to improve the drying efficiency.

[0033] Further, in the embodiment, the freeze-drying tank 1 is arranged along the material distributing assembly 93 and the material collecting assembly 95. The cold traps 3 are arranged outside the circumference formed by the freeze-drying tanks 1. The structure is compact.

[0034] Further, in the embodiment, the feeding pipe 91 comprises an inclined section 911 and a vertical section 912 connected with each other, the inclined section 911 is communicated with the distributing assembly 93, the vertical section 912 is communicated with the freeze-drying tank 1, and the vertical section 912 is provided with a second cut-off valve. The inclined section 911 facilitates the communication with the distributing assembly 93 and improves the feeding speed, the vertical section 912 eliminates the oblique acceleration of the material on the inclined section 911, so that the material can enter the feeding port 11 vertically and avoid the accumulation and drying of the material due to the oblique acceleration, and the second cut-off valve can eliminate the influence of the oblique acceleration on the feeding direction of the material to the greatest extent, so that the material can be gradually static in the vertical section 912 and then the second cut-off valve is opened to discharge the material.

[0035] Further, in the embodiment, the distributing assembly 93 is a distributing valve, and the collecting assembly 95 is a collecting valve. The structure is simple and the cost is low.

[0036] Although the present application has been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present application, can make many possible changes and modifications to the disclosed technical content of the present application, or modify equivalent embodiments with equivalent changes. Therefore, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present application, without departing from the content of the present application, shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A freeze-drying system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a freeze drying tank (1) and a cold trap (3), wherein an annular heat-conducting jacket (2) and a material jacket (4) are provided in the freeze drying tank (1), a plurality of heat-conducting baffles (5) are provided between the annular heat-conducting jacket (2) and the material jacket (4), the plurality of heat-conducting baffles (5) are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the annular heat-conducting jacket (2), a material drying chamber (6) is formed between two adjacent heat-conducting baffles (5), the cold trap (3) is communicated with the material drying chamber (6), a material guiding and equalizing assembly (7) is provided between the material drying chamber (6) and the feed port (11) of the freeze drying tank (1), the material guiding and equalizing assembly (7) is used to evenly distribute the material to each material drying chamber (6), and a material blocking assembly (8) is provided between the material drying chamber (6) and the discharge port (12) of the freeze drying tank (1).

2. The freeze-drying system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material jacket (4) is sleeved on the outside of the annular heat-conducting jacket (2), and a plurality of drying holes for ventilation and blocking materials are provided on the material jacket (4). The ventilation pipe (31) of the cold trap (3) passes through the side wall of the freeze-drying tank (1) and extends between the freeze-drying tank (1) and the material jacket (4).

3. The freeze-drying system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The material guiding and equalizing assembly (7) includes a material guiding cone (71), a material equalizing plate (72) and a material guiding hopper (73). The material guiding cone (71) is provided on the annular heat-conducting jacket (2) and is located below the material inlet (11). A plurality of material equalizing plates (72) are provided, and the plurality of material equalizing plates (72) are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the material guiding cone (71). The material guiding hopper (73) is provided on the top of the material jacket (4) and is located below the material equalizing plate (72). The top of the material guiding hopper (73) extends to the outside of the material equalizing plate (72).

4. The freeze-drying system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blocking assembly (8) includes a mounting seat (81), the mounting seat (81) is arranged at the bottom of the freeze-drying tank (1), a lifting rod (82) is slidably provided on the mounting seat (81), the lifting rod (82) is passed through the freeze-drying tank (1), and a plug (83) is provided on the top for blocking the discharge of the material drying chamber (6), a flexible sealing member (84) is provided between the plug (83) and the mounting seat (81), and the flexible sealing member (84) is sleeved outside the lifting rod (82).

5. The freeze-drying system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The discharge port (12) is arranged obliquely and staggered with the mounting seat (81).

6. The freeze-drying system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: There are a plurality of cold traps (3), which are spaced apart along the circumference of the freeze-drying tank (1), and each cold trap (3) is provided with a first isolation valve (32).

7. The freeze-drying system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The freeze-drying tank (1) is provided with a plurality of them, and the feed port (11) of each freeze-drying tank (1) is connected to the feed pipe (91), and the discharge port (12) is connected to the discharge pipe (92). Each feed pipe (91) is connected to a material distribution component (93), and the material distribution component (93) is used to be connected to an upstream feeding device (94). Each discharge pipe (92) is connected to a collection component (95), and the collection component (95) is used to be connected to a downstream receiving device (96).

8. The freeze-drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The freeze-drying tanks (1) are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the material distribution assembly (93) and the collection assembly (95), and the cold traps (3) are arranged outside the circumference formed by each freeze-drying tank (1).

9. The freeze-drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The feed pipe (91) comprises an inclined section (911) and a vertical section (912) connected to each other, the inclined section (911) being in communication with the material distribution assembly (93), the vertical section (912) being in communication with the freeze-drying tank (1), and a second isolating valve being provided on the vertical section (912).

10. The freeze-drying system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The material distribution component (93) is a material distribution valve, and the collecting component (95) is a collecting valve.

Images