EN
The freeze dryer (also called lyophilizer) is a device that dehydrates a product by freezing it and then directly turning the frozen water into vapor- no liquid phase is involved whatsoever. This is referred to as sublimation, which is a process that maintains the original structure, color, flavor and nutritional value of the product years without refrigeration. Freeze drying is extremely diverse to the conventional dehydration which involves the use of heat and may cause damage to sensitive compounds. We have more than 20 years of experience of making freeze drying equipment at Jiangsu Bolaike Refrigeration Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. The following is a full introduction of freeze dryer machines.
1. How a Freeze Dryer Works: The Three Stages
A freeze drier is run in three specific steps. First, freezing: the product is frozen below its eutectic point (usually -40°C or colder), and all moisture is frozen into solid ice crystals. Second, primary drying (sublimation): the frozen product is put in a vacuum and a low heat is applied. The ice is converted directly to water vapor and sucked out of the chamber by the vacuum system-no liquid water is ever produced. Third, secondary drying (desorption): a slightly increased temperature is used to dry the product, removing any final bound water molecules and leaving behind 1-4% moisture in the product. This low moisture level inhibits the growth of microbes and chemical reactions and gives a freeze dried product a shelf life of 20-30 years without preservatives.
2. Key Components of a Freeze Dryer Machine
All freeze dryers, be it domestic or industrial, have four basic systems. The fridge system freezes the product and captures water vapor on condenser coils (cold). Sublimation takes place at low temperatures in the chamber that is empty of air. The heating system supplies regulated, even heat to propel sublimation without a melting product. The control system measures temperature and pressure during the cycle and automatically varies the parameters to achieve the best results. Each of these systems is designed to be energy efficient and reliable by Jiangsu Bolaike engineers. Our industrial models are made of stainless steel chambers, industrial grade compressors and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to be fully automated.
3. Types of Freeze Dryers for Different Applications
There are several sizes of the freeze dryers to accommodate various users. Household freeze dryers are small counter top devices used to preserve foods in the home- perfect for garden foods, fruits, meats and even complete meals. Laboratory freeze dryers are benchtop or floor-mounted devices with tight temperature control, designed to be used in research, pharmaceutical development, and small batch nutraceutical manufacturing. Pharmaceutical freeze dryers Pharmaceutical freeze dryers are large sterile devices that can be used to produce vaccines, antibiotics, and injectable drugs on a GMP compliant scale. Food freeze dryers are large-volume production industrial machines of freeze dried coffee, instant meals, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and herbs. Jiangsu Bolaike produces all the four, including small household units, and large production lines with 200+ square meters of shelf space.
4. What Products Can Be Freeze Dried
Freeze drying is very versatile. It also preserves coffee, fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, dairy and entire ready to eat meals in the food industry. In pharmaceuticals, it stabilizes pharmaceutical vaccines, antibiotics and diagnostic kits. It stores probiotics, enzymes, herbal extracts and dietary supplements in the nutraceutical industry. Freeze dried are biological samples (blood plasma, tissues) and even flowers, to preserve them over a long period of time. The important thing is that the structure of the product will not be altered when it is frozen. Vegetables, fruits, coffee, flowers, herbal extracts, seafood, nutraceuticals, and biological and chemical products have been frozen in Jiangsu Bolaike freeze dryers-relied upon by customers worldwide in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Conclusion
A freeze dryer is used to remove water by freezing and sublimation, which maintains the color, nutrition, and flavor over decades. It works in three phases (freezing, primary drying, secondary drying) and is equipped with a refrigeration system, a vacuum system, heating system and control system. Various scales are used in the production of households, laboratories, pharmacy and food. Jiangsu Bolaike has more than 20 years of experience, ISO9001 and CE certifications, and 56+ national patents to provide efficient, energy saving freeze dryers. Today, contact us to identify the suitable freeze dryer to use with your product or pay us a visit in the factory in Changzhou, China.