Traditional Chinese medicine material freeze-drying device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a traditional Chinese medicinal material freeze-drying device and method and belongs to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicinal material drying. The traditional Chinese medicinal material freeze-drying device comprises a drying barrel, and a ceramic inner barrel can emit far infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14 mu m to activate the medicinal materials in the barrel. Meanwhile, a cooling device and a heating lamp are used to make the traditional Chinese medicinal materials be in a preset temperature environment, and then water in the medicinal materials is extracted through instantaneous vacuumization, so that the super-fast freeze-drying of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials is realized, and the active components in the traditional Chinese medicinal materials are maximally reserved on the basis of cost reduction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine drying technology, specifically to a freeze-drying apparatus and method for traditional Chinese medicine. Background Technology

[0002] Drying is an important method for preserving medicinal materials. Through drying technology, most of the moisture in the medicinal materials is removed, thereby reducing water activity, inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, and extending the storage period. Common drying methods include hot air drying, microwave drying, far-infrared drying, spray drying, superheated steam drying, and vacuum freeze drying. Different drying methods have their own advantages and disadvantages for different materials, and can be selected freely according to the actual situation.

[0003] Infrared radiation refers to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between visible light and microwaves, typically ranging from 0.77 to 1000 μm. Also known as thermal radiation, infrared radiation is emitted directly from the surface of a material and converted into heat energy for heating and drying purposes.

[0004] Existing technologies mostly utilize infrared drying technology to heat-dry medicinal materials. However, the active ingredients in medicinal materials vary, and excessively high heat treatment temperatures can lead to the loss of some active ingredients, while excessively low heat treatment temperatures can reduce the drying speed and efficiency. There is also the problem of excessively long heat treatment times leading to increased costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention provides a freeze-drying apparatus and method for traditional Chinese medicine. The freeze-drying apparatus of this invention includes a drying barrel, with a ceramic inner barrel capable of emitting far-infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14μm to activate the traditional Chinese medicine inside the barrel. Simultaneously, a cooling device and a heating lamp are used to keep the traditional Chinese medicine in a low-temperature environment. Then, by instantaneously vacuuming, the moisture in the medicinal materials is extracted, achieving ultra-fast freeze-drying of the traditional Chinese medicine, maximizing the retention of active ingredients in the traditional Chinese medicine while reducing costs.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] On one hand, the present invention provides a freeze-drying apparatus for traditional Chinese medicinal materials, including a drying drum, wherein:

[0008] The drying drum includes a metal outer drum for providing a sealed environment and a ceramic inner drum located inside the metal outer drum. The ceramic inner drum is capable of generating far-infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14μm. A heating lamp is provided between the metal outer drum and the ceramic inner drum.

[0009] The drying barrel is connected to a vacuum device, which includes a constant negative pressure barrel connected to the air outlet of the outer metal barrel and a vacuum pump connected to the constant negative pressure barrel.

[0010] The drying drum is also connected to a cooling device for keeping the drying drum in a low-temperature environment.

[0011] Preferably, the ceramic inner barrel is provided with several through holes to facilitate the diffusion of moisture in the Chinese medicinal materials through the ceramic inner barrel to the metal outer barrel, and then discharge it from the air outlet of the metal outer barrel.

[0012] Preferably, the cooling device is a hydraulic nitrogen source connected to the metal outer barrel.

[0013] Furthermore, an air dryer is connected to the air inlet of the metal outer barrel.

[0014] Furthermore, the air dryer includes at least two independent drying passages, each containing a desiccant. The air inlet of each drying passage is connected to the outside air, and the air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the metal outer barrel via a solenoid valve.

[0015] Preferably, the air dryer is equipped with a heating device for selectively heating the desiccant in the drying passage, and each drying passage is equipped with an exhaust port for discharging water vapor from the desiccant, thus enabling the air dryer to be reused.

[0016] On the other hand, the present invention provides a method for drying Chinese medicinal materials using the above-mentioned freeze-drying apparatus, comprising:

[0017] Step 1: Place the Chinese medicinal herbs to be dried into the ceramic inner container;

[0018] Step 2: Use the cooling device and heating lamp to bring the ceramic inner barrel to a preset temperature environment, and use the vacuum device to vacuum the metal outer barrel;

[0019] Step 3: Vacuum the metal outer barrel to return it to normal pressure.

[0020] Step 4: Determine whether the Chinese medicinal materials are dry. If yes, the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step 2.

[0021] Furthermore, in step 2, the vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, so that the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 2-10 seconds.

[0022] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for drying Panax notoginseng using the aforementioned freeze-drying apparatus for traditional Chinese medicine, comprising:

[0023] Step 1: Place the cleaned Panax notoginseng root pieces into the ceramic inner bucket;

[0024] Step 2: Cool the ceramic inner tank by introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas. The specific cooling process is as follows: Introduce nitrogen gas to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 10-20 seconds. Then turn on the heating lamp to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 30-50 seconds. Stop introducing nitrogen gas and turn off the heating lamp. Then use a vacuum pump to evacuate the metal outer tank. The vacuum level of the metal outer tank should drop below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and be maintained for 2-10 seconds.

[0025] Step 3: Vacuum release the metal outer casing to bring it back to normal pressure.

[0026] Step 4: Check if Panax notoginseng is dry. If it is, the process ends; if not, proceed to step 2.

[0027] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for drying ginseng using the above-mentioned freeze-drying apparatus for traditional Chinese medicinal materials, comprising:

[0028] Step 1: Cut the cleaned ginseng into 3.5mm thick slices and place them in the ceramic inner container;

[0029] Step 2: Cool the ceramic inner tank by introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas. The specific cooling process is as follows: Introduce nitrogen gas to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 10-20 seconds. Then turn on the heating lamp to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 30-50 seconds. Stop introducing nitrogen gas and turn off the heating lamp. Then use a vacuum pump to evacuate the metal outer tank. The vacuum level of the metal outer tank should drop below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and be maintained for 2-10 seconds.

[0030] Step 3: Vacuum release the metal outer casing to bring it back to normal pressure.

[0031] Step 4: Check if the ginseng slices are dry. If they are, the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step 2.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0033] The freeze-drying apparatus for Chinese medicinal materials of the present invention includes a drying barrel, which comprises a metal outer barrel and a ceramic inner barrel. The ceramic inner barrel can generate far-infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14μm. When these far-infrared rays irradiate the surface of the Chinese medicinal materials, the materials absorb them, causing internal water molecules to resonate and activate. This stimulates the fresh materials, increasing the content and activity of active ingredients in the freeze-dried product. Then, a cooling device and a heating lamp are used to cool the materials in stages. By instantaneously vacuuming, the gas phase inside the material is extracted, forming channels to facilitate the subsequent overflow of moisture from the materials. Repeating this process multiple times further facilitates the formation and maintenance of these channels, achieving ultra-fast freeze-drying of the Chinese medicinal materials. This process maximizes the retention of active ingredients while reducing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the freeze-drying apparatus for Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of the method for drying Chinese medicinal materials using the above-mentioned freeze-drying device for Chinese medicinal materials according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, a detailed description will be given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0037] Unless otherwise specified, all reagents and materials used in the examples and comparative examples are commercially available.

[0038] On the one hand, the present invention provides a freeze-drying apparatus for traditional Chinese medicinal materials, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes a drying drum 1, wherein:

[0039] The drying chamber 1 includes a metal outer chamber 11 for providing a sealed environment and a ceramic inner chamber 12 located inside the metal outer chamber 11. The ceramic inner chamber 12 is capable of generating far-infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14μm (preferably 8-12μm). (The ceramic inner chamber 12 can be prepared from far-infrared ceramic powder capable of emitting this specific wavelength, which is a known technology in the art and will not be described in detail here.) A heating lamp 13 is provided between the metal outer chamber 11 and the ceramic inner chamber 12.

[0040] The drying barrel 1 is connected to a vacuum device 2. The vacuum device 2 includes a constant negative pressure barrel 21 connected to the air outlet of the metal outer barrel 11 and a vacuum pump 22 connected to the constant negative pressure barrel 21. For convenient control, solenoid valves 23 and 24 can be respectively installed on the pipeline between the drying barrel 1 and the constant negative pressure barrel 21 and the pipeline between the constant negative pressure barrel 21 and the vacuum pump 22.

[0041] The drying drum 1 is also connected to a cooling device (not shown) for maintaining the drying drum 1 in a low-temperature environment. The temperature control inside the drying drum 1 is mainly achieved through the cooling device, and can also be assisted by the heating lamp 13; the present invention is essentially a low-temperature freeze drying, rather than infrared radiation drying.

[0042] The ceramic inner barrel 12 of this invention can generate far-infrared rays of a specific wavelength, which facilitates the absorption of infrared rays by the internal Chinese medicinal materials, thereby activating the internal water molecules and opening the pores on the surface of the Chinese medicinal materials. Then, through rapid cooling, the water molecules inside the Chinese medicinal materials are rapidly frozen, so that the pores on the surface of the Chinese medicinal materials remain open and do not collapse due to temperature changes. Then, a vacuum is quickly drawn, and the moisture of the Chinese medicinal materials is extracted at an ultra-fast speed, realizing ultra-fast freeze-drying of Chinese medicinal materials. This maximizes the preservation of the active ingredients in Chinese medicinal materials while reducing costs.

[0043] The 6-14μm infrared rays generated by the ceramic inner barrel in this invention are also known as reproductive rays. This wavelength of light is similar to the far-infrared rays emitted by the human body, and can resonate most effectively with water molecules in cells, transforming large water molecule clusters into smaller clusters through molecular resonance. It also possesses permeability, effectively resisting oxidation, delaying aging, and promoting a youthful state. The medicinal herbs in this invention absorb reproductive rays, which not only activate water molecules but also have a certain bactericidal effect, making it safer and more hygienic.

[0044] Preferably, the ceramic inner barrel 12 is provided with several through holes to facilitate the diffusion of moisture in the Chinese medicinal materials through the ceramic inner barrel 12 to the metal outer barrel 11, and then discharge it from the air outlet of the metal outer barrel 11.

[0045] Preferably, the cooling device is a hydraulic nitrogen source connected to the metal outer barrel 11. Liquid nitrogen has a low temperature, enabling ultra-rapid cooling of the medicinal herbs while maintaining the numerous pores created by the activation of water molecules, facilitating subsequent rapid sublimation of moisture. In practice, liquid nitrogen can be directly introduced into the metal outer barrel, or it can be used to cool the ceramic inner barrel 12 after external temperature control, thus cooling the medicinal herbs. Heating lamps 13 can be turned on to raise the temperature. This invention primarily targets freeze-drying of certain medicinal herbs that require rapid freezing at ultra-low temperatures of -50°C to -60°C. Therefore, liquid nitrogen is introduced to freeze-dry the medicinal herbs, rather than the cold storage freezing treatment of the applicant's prior art.

[0046] Furthermore, an air dryer 3 can be connected to the air inlet of the metal outer casing 11 to dry the incoming air and avoid affecting the vacuum drying effect. The air dryer 3 can include at least two independent drying passages (four drying passages g31-34 in the embodiment shown in the figure), each drying passage is equipped with a desiccant, the air inlet of each drying passage is connected to the outside air, and the air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the metal outer casing 11 via a solenoid valve 30. In use, only one drying passage needs to be selected.

[0047] Preferably, the air dryer 3 is equipped with a heating device for selectively heating the desiccant in the drying passage. Each drying passage is equipped with an exhaust port for venting the moisture in the desiccant. In this way, after a period of use, one drying passage can be selected and the desiccant inside can be heated by the heating device to vent the moisture in the desiccant, thereby restoring the drying passage to normal and allowing it to be used again, thus realizing the reuse of the air dryer 3.

[0048] On the other hand, the present invention provides a method for drying Chinese medicinal materials using the above-mentioned freeze-drying apparatus, such as... Figure 2 As shown, it includes:

[0049] Step S1: Place the Chinese medicinal materials to be dried into the ceramic inner container 12;

[0050] Step S2: Use a cooling device and a heating lamp to keep the ceramic inner barrel 12 in a low-temperature environment, and use a vacuum pump 2 to evacuate the metal outer barrel 11; the heating lamp 13 can also be turned on here to assist in temperature control.

[0051] In step S2, preferably, the vacuum device 2 is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel 11, so that the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel 11 drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 2-10 seconds.

[0052] Step S3: Vacuum release the metal outer barrel 11 to bring it back to normal pressure.

[0053] Step S4: Determine whether the Chinese medicinal materials are dry. If yes, the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step S2.

[0054] The method of this invention achieves the drying of Chinese medicinal materials through reciprocating vacuuming. Each vacuuming cycle takes approximately 2 seconds, and the time for venting the vacuum from the outer metal container 11 is approximately 2 minutes (the venting time can be flexibly shortened or extended as needed; simultaneously with venting, the vacuum pump 22 evacuates the constant negative pressure container 21, restoring it to a vacuum / negative pressure state). This vacuuming-venting (2 seconds-2 minutes) process is repeated multiple times, with the overall drying time being approximately 2 hours, thus completing the drying of the Chinese medicinal materials. Existing technologies typically require more than 24 hours; therefore, this invention significantly improves drying efficiency and reduces costs.

[0055] The method of this invention will be described below using specific Chinese medicinal materials as examples.

[0056] Example 1

[0057] A method for freeze-drying Panax notoginseng, utilizing the aforementioned freeze-drying apparatus, requires that the moisture content of the dried Panax notoginseng be between 3-6%. The method includes:

[0058] Step 1: Place 1.0kg of cleaned Panax notoginseng root pieces into the ceramic inner bucket;

[0059] Step 2: Cool the ceramic inner tank by introducing low-temperature nitrogen / liquid nitrogen. The specific cooling process is as follows: Introduce nitrogen to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 20 seconds. Then turn on the heating lamp to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 40 seconds. Stop introducing nitrogen and turn off the heating lamp. Then use a vacuum pump to evacuate the metal outer tank. The vacuum level of the metal outer tank should drop below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and be maintained for 5 seconds.

[0060] In this step, the power of the heating lamp can be 500-1000W.

[0061] Step 3: Vacuum vent the metal outer barrel for 2 minutes to bring it back to normal pressure.

[0062] Step 4: Check if Panax notoginseng is dry. If it is, the process ends; if not, proceed to step 2.

[0063] In this step, there are several ways to determine whether Panax notoginseng is dry. For example, the surface temperature of Panax notoginseng under vacuum can be detected. When the humidity is lower than a certain value, the wet-bulb temperature will be equal to the dry-bulb temperature, indicating that there is no more moisture in Panax notoginseng to evaporate and that Panax notoginseng is completely dry. Alternatively, based on experience in drying Panax notoginseng, a resistance value can be set. If the value is reached, the Panax notoginseng is considered to be dried and the process can be stopped. If the value is not reached, the drying process continues.

[0064] The total time for steps 1-4 above is 2.1 hours, which is enough to completely dry Panax notoginseng (moisture content below 4%).

[0065] To illustrate the beneficial effects of the present invention, the following comparative examples were constructed.

[0066] Comparative Example 1

[0067] Remove the ceramic inner barrel; all other conditions are the same as in Example 1.

[0068] Comparative Example 2

[0069] Step 2 specifically involves: introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas to cool the ceramic inner barrel. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to bring the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 60 seconds; then a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, and the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 5 seconds; the remaining conditions are the same as in Example 1.

[0070] Comparative Example 3

[0071] Step 2 specifically involves: introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas to cool the ceramic inner barrel. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to bring the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 60 seconds; then a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, and the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 5 seconds; the remaining conditions are the same as in Example 1.

[0072] Comparative Example 4

[0073] Step 2 specifically involves: cooling the ceramic inner barrel by introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 20 seconds. Then, the temperature of the low-temperature nitrogen gas is adjusted to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 40 seconds. Nitrogen gas introduction is then stopped. Next, a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel. The vacuum level of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 5 seconds. The remaining conditions are the same as in Example 1.

[0074] The Panax notoginseng prepared by the methods of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-4 of this invention was compared with the relevant components of commercially available Panax notoginseng, as shown in Table 1.

[0075] Table 1

[0076]

[0077] As shown in the table above, the method of this invention can achieve rapid drying of Panax notoginseng, and the resulting Panax notoginseng saponin content is higher and the number of microorganisms is lower. Comparative Examples 1-4 show that removing the ceramic inner container prevents infrared activation of the medicinal materials, increasing drying time and causing some loss of saponins in Panax notoginseng. Different cooling processes (Comparative Example 2), while accelerating drying time to some extent, significantly affect the saponin content. Lower cooling processes (Comparative Example 3) result in longer drying times and saponin loss. Simply controlling the temperature with low-temperature nitrogen (Comparative Example 4) results in longer drying times and greater saponin loss. This may be because adjusting the temperature of the treatment environment by regulating the amount of low-temperature nitrogen input is a relatively long heating process. The infrared wavelength range emitted by far-infrared ceramics changes in low-temperature environments below -20℃, leading to a decrease in the activation effect of far-infrared radiation on the medicinal materials, which manifests as a decrease in saponin content and an increase in the number of microorganisms. In this invention, the first step is to treat the Panax notoginseng at a relatively low temperature of -50 to -60°C, which keeps the pores on the surface of the Panax notoginseng open and allows water molecules to initially solidify. Then, treatment at -20 to -30°C further solidifies the water molecules into a solid, facilitating direct sublimation of water during the subsequent vacuuming process. This method enables ultra-rapid drying of Panax notoginseng, reduces production costs, and minimizes the loss of active ingredients during the process.

[0078] Example 2

[0079] A method for freeze-drying ginseng, utilizing the aforementioned freeze-drying apparatus, requires the dried ginseng to have a moisture content between 4-10%. The method includes:

[0080] Step 1: Cut 500g of cleaned ginseng into 3.5mm thick slices and place them in a ceramic inner container; the initial moisture content of the ginseng slices is 77.9%;

[0081] Step 2: Cool the ceramic inner tank by introducing low-temperature nitrogen / liquid nitrogen. The specific cooling process is as follows: Introduce nitrogen to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 15 seconds. Then turn on the heating lamp to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner tank to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 40 seconds. Stop introducing nitrogen and turn off the heating lamp. Then use a vacuum device to evacuate the metal outer tank. The vacuum level of the metal outer tank should drop to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and be maintained for 2 seconds.

[0082] In this step, the power of the heating lamp can be 500-1000W.

[0083] Step 3: Vacuum release the metal outer casing to bring it back to normal pressure.

[0084] Step 4: Check if the ginseng slices are dry. If they are, the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step 2.

[0085] The total time for steps 1-4 above is 1.8 hours, which is enough to completely dry the ginseng slices (moisture content below 6%).

[0086] To illustrate the beneficial effects of the present invention, the following comparative examples were constructed.

[0087] Comparative Example 5

[0088] Remove the ceramic inner barrel; all other conditions are the same as in Example 2.

[0089] Comparative Example 6

[0090] Step 2 specifically involves: introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas to cool the ceramic inner barrel. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to bring the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -50 to -60°C and maintain it for 55 seconds; then a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, and the vacuum level of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 2 seconds; the remaining conditions are the same as in Example 2.

[0091] Comparative Example 7

[0092] Step 2 specifically involves: introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas to cool the ceramic inner barrel. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to bring the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -20 to -30°C and maintain it for 55 seconds; then a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, and the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 2 seconds; the remaining conditions are the same as in Example 2.

[0093] Comparative Example 8

[0094] Step 2 specifically involves: cooling the ceramic inner barrel by introducing low-temperature nitrogen gas. The specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen gas is introduced to first raise the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -50 to -60°C for 15 seconds, then the temperature of the low-temperature nitrogen gas is adjusted to lower the temperature inside the ceramic inner barrel to -20 to -30°C for 40 seconds, and then the nitrogen gas is stopped. Then, a vacuum device is used to evacuate the metal outer barrel, and the vacuum level of the metal outer barrel drops to below 100 mmHg within 2 seconds and is maintained for 2 seconds. The remaining conditions are the same as in Example 2.

[0095] The ginseng prepared by the methods of Example 2 and Comparative Examples 5-8 of this invention is compared with the relevant components of commercially available ginseng, as shown in Table 2.

[0096] Table 2

[0097]

[0098] As shown in the table above, the method of this invention can achieve ultra-rapid drying of ginseng slices, reduce production costs, and minimize the loss of active ingredients during the process. The prepared ginseng has a higher content of saponin Rg3 and fewer microorganisms.

[0099] In summary, the freeze-drying device for Chinese medicinal materials of the present invention includes a drying barrel. The ceramic inner barrel can emit far-infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14μm to activate the medicinal materials inside the barrel. At the same time, the cooling device and heating lamp are used to cool down in stages to keep the Chinese medicinal materials in a preset temperature environment. Then, by instantaneously vacuuming, the moisture in the medicinal materials is extracted to achieve ultra-fast freeze-drying of Chinese medicinal materials, which maximizes the preservation of active ingredients in Chinese medicinal materials while reducing costs.

[0100] The above are preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for drying ginseng using a traditional Chinese medicine material freeze-drying device, characterized in that, The Chinese medicinal material freeze-drying device comprises a drying barrel, wherein: The drying barrel comprises a metal outer barrel for providing a closed environment and a ceramic inner barrel located in the metal outer barrel, the ceramic inner barrel is capable of generating far infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14 mu m, and a heating lamp is arranged between the metal outer barrel and the ceramic inner barrel; The drying barrel is connected with a vacuumizing device, the vacuumizing device comprises a constant negative pressure barrel connected with a gas outlet of the metal outer barrel and a vacuum pump connected with the constant negative pressure barrel; The drying barrel is also connected with a cooling device for enabling the drying barrel to be in a low-temperature environment; a plurality of through holes are arranged on the ceramic inner barrel; The method comprises: Step 1: placing cleaned ginseng roots into the ceramic inner barrel; Step 2: filling low-temperature nitrogen to cool the ceramic inner barrel, and the specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen is introduced, the temperature in the ceramic inner barrel is first lowered to-50 to-60 DEG C, the time for maintaining is 10-20 s, then the heating lamp is turned on to change the temperature in the ceramic inner barrel to-20 to-30 DEG C, the time for maintaining is 30-50 s, the nitrogen introduction is stopped, and the heating lamp is turned off; then the metal outer barrel is vacuumized by the vacuumizing device, the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel is lowered to below 100 mmHg within 2 s, and the vacuum degree is maintained for 2-10 s; Step 3: vacuum decompression is performed on the metal outer barrel to change the metal outer barrel back to normal pressure; Step 4: detecting whether the ginseng is dried, if yes, the process is ended, and if no, the process is turned to step 2.

2. A method for drying ginseng using a Chinese herbal medicine freeze-drying apparatus, characterized by, The Chinese medicinal material freeze-drying device comprises a drying barrel, wherein: The drying barrel comprises a metal outer barrel for providing a closed environment and a ceramic inner barrel located in the metal outer barrel, the ceramic inner barrel is capable of generating far infrared rays with a wavelength of 6-14 mu m, and a heating lamp is arranged between the metal outer barrel and the ceramic inner barrel; The drying barrel is connected with a vacuumizing device, the vacuumizing device comprises a constant negative pressure barrel connected with a gas outlet of the metal outer barrel and a vacuum pump connected with the constant negative pressure barrel; The drying barrel is also connected with a cooling device for enabling the drying barrel to be in a low-temperature environment; a plurality of through holes are arranged on the ceramic inner barrel; The method comprises: Step 1: placing cleaned ginseng roots into the ceramic inner barrel; Step 2: filling low-temperature nitrogen to cool the ceramic inner barrel, and the specific cooling process is as follows: nitrogen is introduced, the temperature in the ceramic inner barrel is first lowered to-50 to-60 DEG C, the time for maintaining is 10-20 s, then the heating lamp is turned on to change the temperature in the ceramic inner barrel to-20 to-30 DEG C, the time for maintaining is 30-50 s, the nitrogen introduction is stopped, and the heating lamp is turned off; then the metal outer barrel is vacuumized by the vacuumizing device, the vacuum degree of the metal outer barrel is lowered to below 100 mmHg within 2 s, and the vacuum degree is maintained for 2-10 s; Step 3: vacuum decompression is performed on the metal outer barrel to change the metal outer barrel back to normal pressure; Step 4: detecting whether the ginseng is dried, if yes, the process is ended, and if no, the process is turned to step 2.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cooling device is a hydraulic nitrogen source connected with the metal outer barrel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, An air dryer is connected with the gas inlet of the metal outer barrel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The air dryer comprises at least two independent drying channels, each of which is provided with a drying agent, and the air inlet of each drying channel is connected with the outside air, and the air outlet is connected with the air inlet of the metal outer barrel through an electromagnetic valve.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The air dryer is provided with a heating device for selectively heating the drying agent in the drying channel, and each drying channel is provided with a steam outlet for discharging the water vapor in the drying agent.

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