Quick and continuous procedure of freezing and subsequent liofilization of a liquid that contains solids, and apparatus for the realization of this procedure. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

摘要

Fast and continuous procedure of freezing and subsequent lyophilization of a liquid containing solids, characterized by comprising the steps of: continuous freezing of said liquid in the form of a thin continuous layer of frozen material, of a thickness of approximately 1.6 mm to 12 7 mm; continuous breaking of said layer of frozen material to form fragmented individual fragments; continuous reduction of the size of said fragments to form individual disintegrated particles of frozen material, so that at least 80% of them are of size less than about 6 meshes; separation of all the fragments having a size greater than about 6 meshes; continuous conduction of the remaining frozen particles along a vibratory path in a chamber substantially free of air and in which the vacuum has been made, the speed of advance of said frozen particles being along said vibratory path of such magnitude that the particles remain inside said chamber, on said path, for a period of time from 25 to a maximum of 90 minutes; continuous supply of energy to the frozen particles moving on said vibratory path, to produce the sublimation of the ice contained therein forming water vapor, said energy being supplied from above said vibratory path; continuous cooling of said vibratory path at a temperature below the freezing point of said frozen particles; continuous maintenance of a condensing surface in the vicinity of the sides of said vibratory path and adjacent thereto, the temperature of said condensing surface being in the order of approximately -45 to -73º c; continuous extraction of the frozen and subsequently lyophilized material from said vibratory path and said chamber in which the vacuum has been made; and periodically separating the ice that forms on said condensation surface, as well as removing it from said chamber in which the vacuum has been made. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)