Abstract: A [lacuna] principally for loading and unloading the utility surface (3?) of the drying chamber (2) of a freeze drying system, which utility surface is located at a defined height position, the unloading position, is characterized by a carriage (8), which is disposed slightly above said utility surface and extends, during loading or unloading, transversely with respect to a movement direction (8?) and in parallel with the utility surface and which forms a movable guiding edge for the drying vessels (5), and by guides (7), which are disposed on both sides of the utility surface (3), extend in parallel with the said movement direction and form fixed guiding edges for the drying vessels (5). The carriage (8) is driven by two linear motors, the respective secondary parts (18) of which are fixedly connected to the ends of the carriage (8) on both sides and are supported on the guides (7) which at the same time accommodate the primary parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for performing heat treatments comprising at least one treatment module (10), which has a first and a second heating section (11a, 11b). Hot air (L) is introduced into the heating sections (11a, 11b) via a line connection (13). After the treatment, the hot air (L) is discharged via suction means (14). The suction means are arranged at the end faces of the heating sections (11a, 11b).

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one vessel containing a target material to be lyophilized generally includes a support panel, a central region, a perimeter region, a thermal shield, and at least one shielding cavity. The support panel has a support surface. The central region is defined by the support panel for supporting the at least one vessel. The perimeter region is also defined by the support panel and surrounding the central region. The thermal shield is positioned about the perimeter region and extends transverse to the support surface of the support panel such that the thermal shield and the support panel define a storage space for accommodating the at least one vessel. The at least one shielding cavity is defined by the thermal shield and contains a shielding material during a lyophilization process. The shielding material is distinct from the target material.

Abstract: A hygienic razor blade dryer is provided that comprises a housing having an interior, a razor blade holder disposed within the interior that is adapted to receive a razor blade, a dryer for drying a razor blade received in the razor blade holder, and a vacuum for evacuating the air within the interior to prevent moisture buildup in the air and on the razor blade and to inhibit oxidation on the blade surfaces. A sanitizer may also be provided to sanitize the razor blade before, during or after the dryer operation.

Abstract: A freeze dryer processes bulk powder products. The freeze dryer freezes the product by mixing an atomized spray of product with sterile liquid nitrogen. The resultant powder is freeze dried in a vessel, and the vessel contents is agitated to maintain product contact with heated vessel wall and to prevent agglomeration.

Abstract: A method of controlling the primary drying stage in a freeze drying apparatus having a shelf and bulk product or a number of vials in different areas on the shelf which contain product to be freeze dried. Temperature sensors are positioned in selected locations or vials which are representative of the different bulk product areas or the positions of all of the vials in different areas of the shelf. The temperature sensors are monitored and compared to determine the selected location or vial having the highest temperature while the temperature sensor therein is still in ice. The shelf temperature is controlled based on the selected location or vial with the highest temperature so long as the temperature sensor therein is still in ice. When the temperature sensor in the highest temperature selected location or vial is no longer in ice, another selected location or vial with the highest temperature and a temperature sensor therein that is still in ice is then used to control the shelf temperature.

Abstract: A bell jar includes a metallic bell jar (1), and a metallic base plate (2) on which the bell jar (1) is placed, and packing (3) seals an inside of a container. To the base plate (2), a pressure gauge (4), a gas introduction line (5), and a gas discharge line (6) are connected so as to allow monitoring of internal pressure of the bell jar (1) and introduction and discharge of a gas. A vacuum pump (7) is provided in a path of the gas discharge line (6), and the vacuum pump (7) reduces internal pressure of the bell jar so as to be lower than vapor pressure of water. The vacuum pump (7) reduces the internal pressure of the bell jar so as to be lower than vapor pressure of water, thereby efficiently removing moisture, and completing drying of the bell jar in a short time.

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating fluids from drill cuttings. Specifically, the invention relates to shakers that incorporate a vacuum system and methods of operating such systems to effect a high degree of fluid separation. The system and methods are effective across a variety of screen sizes, vacuum flows and vacuum designs.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one vessel containing a target material to be lyophilized generally includes a support panel, a central region, a perimeter region, a thermal shield, and at least one shielding cavity. The support panel has a support surface. The central region is defined by the support panel for supporting the at least one vessel. The perimeter region is also defined by the support panel and surrounding the central region. The thermal shield is positioned about the perimeter region and extends transverse to the support surface of the support panel such that the thermal shield and the support panel define a storage space for accommodating the at least one vessel. The at least one shielding cavity is defined by the thermal shield and contains a shielding material during a lyophilization process. The shielding material is distinct from the target material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method comprises cleaning a semiconductor substrate with a chemical solution, rinsing the semiconductor substrate with pure water after the cleaning, changing a liquid covering a surface of the semiconductor substrate from the pure water to alcohol by supplying the alcohol to the surface after the rinsing, guiding the semiconductor substrate having the surface wetted with the alcohol into a chamber, discharging oxygen from the chamber by supplying an inert gas into the chamber, putting the alcohol into a supercritical state by increasing temperature in the chamber to a critical temperature of the alcohol or higher after the discharge of the oxygen, and discharging the alcohol from the chamber by lowering pressure in the chamber and changing the alcohol from the supercritical state to a gaseous state. The chamber contains SUS. An inner wall face of the chamber is subjected to electrolytic polishing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the flow-through treatment of web-shaped, gas-permeable material, in particular for drying woven or non-woven fabrics, having the following characteristics: a sieving drum (5), which is rotatably supported and which is connected to a vacuum generator and which has a permeable outer circumference, wherein the material web (M) to be treated rotates around part of the outer circumference of the sieving drum (5); a treatment chamber (BH), which accommodates the sieving drum and to which the gas to be treated, preferably heated air, is supplied; inside the treatment chamber (BH), a sieving cover (SD) or corresponding flow-conducting elements, which surround the sieving drum (5) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound and by means of which the gas flowing into the treatment chamber (BH) is conducted in the direction of the sieving drum surface.

Abstract: A vacuum freeze-drying apparatus capable of rapid drying is provided. A cold trap for drying, which is arranged inside a drying chamber, is set to a low temperature of ?70 degrees Celsius or below, and heat is supplied to frozen particles on a conveyor belt to a degree such that the frozen particles do not melt. The amount of the liquid component evaporating from the frozen particles increases, and the amount of the liquid component entering the frozen particles decreases so that the time for drying the frozen particles is shortened.

Abstract: A mobile surface drying apparatus includes a vacuum fan, a blower fan, a vacuum and blower assembly and tubing. The vacuum and blower assembly includes a vacuum head powered by the vacuum fan and a blower head positioned next to the vacuum head and powered by the blower fan. The tubing connects the vacuum head to the vacuum fan and the blower head to the blower fan. The vacuum head includes an inlet that suctions moisture from a surface and the blower head includes an outlet that communicates airflow onto the surface to direct moisture toward the vacuum head to enable the vacuum head to extract the moisture from the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for freeze drying a substrate is provided. A chamber for receiving a substrate is provided. An electrostatic chuck (ESC) for supporting and electrostatically clamping the substrate is within the chamber. A temperature controller controls the temperature of the electrostatic chuck. A condenser is connected to the chamber. A vacuum pump is in fluid connection with the chamber.

Abstract: An installation for dehydrating products, the installation having an enclosure, a member for sucking out the air contained in the enclosure, and a container for products that is received inside the enclosure and that is provided with a top opening having an air- and water-permeable bottom of a cassette extending in register therewith. The cassette contains zeolites. A sealing gasket extends between a perimeter of the bottom of the cassette and an edge of the container, defining the opening.

Abstract: An electrode dryer includes a drying furnace; and a conveyance member for longitudinally conveying a band-like electrode base material coated with a coating material from an entrance to an exit of the drying furnace, the drying furnace including an air-permeable mounting member for horizontally supporting the electrode base material to be conveyed in the drying furnace; and a suction member for sucking the electrode base material through the air-permeable mounting member.

Abstract: A wood kiln system and method that sequentially cures and dries layers of stacked wood during which each layer of wood is heated to 125 to 170 deg. F. as the kiln container is evacuated to approximately 13 inches of Hg for 8 to 12 hrs. After the wood has been cured, drying stage is commenced as the wood is continuously heated by evacuating the kiln container to 0.35 to 3 inches of Hg for 6 to 12 hrs. During the drying stage, a cold water bath is formed in the bottom of the kiln container. A condensation tank located between the vacuum pump and the kiln is used to continuously remove the water and water vapor from the kiln container. In one embodiment, the vacuum pump includes a primary vacuum pump serially connected to an auxiliary vacuum pump that allows the air to be continuously and gradually reduced in the kiln container.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for drying a surface of a substrate includes a proximity drying head having a head body that includes a process surface configured to be disposed opposite a surface of a substrate when present. The process surface includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The first region is defined at a leading edge of the head body and includes a cavity region that is recessed into the head body. The cavity region includes a plurality of inlet ports that are used to introduce a vapor fluid to the cavity region. The second region is disposed proximate to the surface of the substrate when present and is located beside the first region. The third region is disposed proximate to the surface of the substrate when present and is located beside the second region. A plurality of vacuum ports is defined at the interface of the second region and the third region. The third region includes a plurality of angled inlet ports that are directed toward the second region.

Abstract: A mobile surface drying apparatus includes a vacuum and blower assembly. The vacuum and blower assembly includes a vacuum head and a blower head. The vacuum head suctions moisture through an inlet of the vacuum and blower assembly, and the blower head communicates airflow through an outlet of the vacuum and blower assembly.

Abstract: A freeze-dryer and method of controlling the same is provided. The disclosed freeze-dryer includes a chamber adapted to hold material or product to be freeze-dried; one or more depressurization orifices; a gas pressurization circuit having a source of gas to pressurize the chamber to a prescribed pressure; a depressurization circuit coupled to the chamber via the one or more orifices and having a depressurizing control valve; and a control unit adapted to pressurize the chamber with the source of gas and actuate the depressurizing control valve to depressurize the chamber upon command. The ratio of total depressurization orifice area to the chamber volume is preferably between about 6×10?2 and about 4×10?4 m2/m3.

Abstract: A liquid solid separator utilizing inductive heating. An electrically conductive scroll conveyor is contained within a non-magnetic and non-conductive housing under vacuum. A moveable alternating electric coil is disposed around the housing. The scroll pulls the solids through the housing. Operation of the coil heats the scroll which heats the solids. The vacuum lowers the boiling point of the liquids, and they are vaporized at a relatively low temperature. The vapors are condensed and collected. Because of the low temperatures, the separated liquids are less likely to deteriorate during separation, facilitating recycling. Thermocouples and a computer track the internal temperature of the separator and coordinate the position of the coil to maintain the desired temperature. The housing is provided with a heat insulating outer layer and the interior of the scroll is pressurized with nitrogen. The separator surfaces exposed to the atmosphere are maintained at or below 150° F.

Abstract: A drying device comprising a titano-alumino-phosphate with thermal management for the more efficient drying of objects and appliances, and its production. Further, a drying method for obtaining dried objects and appliances, as well as a method for regeneration accompanied by the desorption of water from water-containing titano-alumino-phosphate.

Abstract: Vacuum concentrator, comprising a vacuum chamber with a closure which may be sealed in an airtight manner, a centrifuge rotor arranged in the vacuum chamber with at least one receiver for at least one vessel for samples to be dried, a drive motor arranged outside the vacuum chamber for driving the centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber, a tempering device associated with the vacuum chamber for tempering the at least one sample in the vacuum chamber, a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum chamber for detecting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and an electrical control and evaluating device which is connected to the drive motor, the vacuum pump, the tempering device and the pressure sensor, for detecting the end point of the vacuum concentration by means of the pressures detected by the pressure sensor in the vacuum chamber and terminating the vacuum concentration when the end point is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the vacuum drying of capillary porous bulk materials. The method involves preheating of the material, its loading into the vacuum drying chamber having heating elements followed by cycle-by-cycling heating of the material and vacuum creation in the rapid vacuum impulse action mode with stage-by-stage single or multiple reduction of pressure in the range from 0.1 MPa to 0.0001 MPa followed by the exposure to vacuum unless the material temperature is stabilized. Said cycles axe repeated unless the required material moisture is achieved. Cooling of the material is performed in the same drying chamber by alternating cooling in spouted bed and vacuum impulse action. The device comprises two vacuum chambers cone-shaped at their bases with heaters mounted inside them, material loading/unloading system, one or several receivers with pumps connected in parallel to them and connected via vacuum pipeline system with quick-acting valves to the drying chamber inlet.

Abstract: A coalescing dryer passes air downwardly through items to be dried in a container. The air can be diverted to change direction following passage of the air through the items to be dried. The moving air causes liquid on the surface of items to be dried to coalesce and travel downwardly and from the items being dried. A vacuum dryer applies a vacuum to the container of items to be dried when placed in a vacuum chamber after pre-drying by the coalescing dryer so as to evaporate liquid in the items to be dried that has not been removed by the coalescing dryer.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and device for drying materials of plant and animal origin. The method includes heating a material to a temperature that does not cause denaturation of the original properties thereof, high-speed pulse vacuuming, maintaining the vacuum tor a period of time, and relieving the vacuum until atmospheric pressure is reached. The material is heated in a drying chamber and the vacuum is relieved using a dried air or gas heat earner with a temperature of up to 300° C. A device comprises two drying chambers with hermetically sealing doors, which are connected by pipes haying fast-acting valves to a receiver tank, heat exchangers and condensate receivers, a vacuum pump and a device for heating and delivering a heat carrier, which is situated in a separate thermally insulated chamber and is connected to the inlet of each drying chamber by means of thermally insulated air delivery conduits with valves.

Abstract: A low impact belt dryer is presented for drying pellets while minimizing high-energy pellet collisions that may create pellet dust or cause pellets to fracture. The dryer includes a vacuum chamber having multiple air knife assemblies that direct high velocity drying fluid towards the pellets and though a liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt to a vacuum port. The low impact dryer may also include a centrifugal dryer for dewatering the pellets before they pass though the vacuum chamber. The conveyor belt of the dryer may transport the pellets through multiple desiccation chambers where low velocity air is directed upwards though the belt to both dry and levitate the pellets above the belt. The dryer may also include a cleaning chamber for removing debris from the liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt.

Abstract: This dry cleaning method for a plasma processing apparatus is a dry cleaning method for a plasma processing apparatus that includes: a vacuum container provided with a dielectric member; a planar electrode and a high-frequency antenna that are provided outside the dielectric member; and a high-frequency power source that supplies high-frequency power to both the high-frequency antenna and the planar electrode, to thereby introduce high-frequency power into the vacuum container via the dielectric member and produce an inductively-coupled plasma, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a gas including fluorine into the vacuum container and also introducing high-frequency power into the vacuum container from the high-frequency power source, to thereby produce an inductively-coupled plasma in the gas including fluorine; and by use of the inductively-coupled plasma, removing a product including at least one of a precious metal and a ferroelectric that is adhered to the dielectric member.

Abstract: Resin molding work is efficiently carried out in accordance with a consumption amount of resin pellets of a resin molding machine by sequentially supplying small amounts of dried resin pellets in short period of time. When changeover of a molded product is carried out, attached remaining resin pellets can be removed by simple work in a short period of time, thereby carrying out efficient changeover work. An interval of taking out dried resin pellets that are heated and dried in a decompressed state is shortened by sequentially moving a plurality of pellet containers that contain small amounts of resin pellets.

Abstract: A method for drying a wet semiconductor substrate includes the steps of immersing the substrate in a drying liquid in a drying chamber; removing the substrate from the drying liquid within the drying chamber; purging the drying chamber with inert gas; exposing the substrate to vacuum pressure within the drying chamber; and backfilling the drying chamber with the inert gas to substantially achieve atmospheric pressure. A system for drying a semiconductor substrate includes a drying chamber, a drying liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the drying chamber, a liquid pump, an inert gas supply in fluid communication with the drying chamber, and a vacuum pressure source in fluid communication with the drying chamber.

Abstract: The method of timber drying including the blowing of timber with heating medium operation at atmospheric pressure and heating the timber to average volume temperature 80-100° C., impulsive (quick) vacuum treatment operation at pressure not more than 50 mm Hg during time not more than 10 s with pressing-out of free moisture from timber without water to vapour transition to reach stable constant value of limber temperature, vacuum relief to atmospheric pressure using heat recuperating air with temperature 150-300° C., and at manometer pressure not more than 0.07 MPa. The apparatus for timber drying comprises two drying chambers connected through pipelines with quick-response valves to cooled receiver, which is placed in series to the second one and connected to vacuum pump through pipeline with vacuum lock. The first receiver is equipped with spiral-shaped guide devices for vapour-and-drop flow direction, which are installed at a tangent to inner diameter of receiver body.

Abstract: A portable moisture trap for use with a vacuum pump includes: a housing; a cooling chamber positioned at least partially within the housing including a first inlet port and a second outlet port; a lid that sealably attaches to a top portion of the cooling chamber to seal the cooling chamber; a heat sink residing under the cooling chamber; a thermoelectric device having an upper cooling side and a lower heat generating side residing between the cooling chamber and the heat sink; a fan oriented to blow air upwardly toward the heat sink; and a baffle extending downwardly in the cooling chamber from a location proximate the lid to a location proximate an inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber, with the baffle configured to define a physical barrier to urge air received through the first port to flow down toward the inner bottom surface of the cooling chamber before exiting through the second port, to thereby remove moisture from air traveling through the cooling chamber in response to a vacuum pump in fluid

Abstract: A wood kiln system and method that sequentially cures and dries layers of stacked wood during which each layer of wood is heated to 125 to 170 deg. F. as the kiln container is evacuated to approximately 13 inches of Hg for 8 to 12 hrs. After the wood has been cured, drying stage is commenced as the wood is continuously heated by evacuating the kiln container to 0.35 to 3 inches of Hg for 6 to 12 hrs. During the drying stage, a cold water bath is formed in the bottom of the kiln container. A condensation tank located between the vacuum pump and the kiln is used to continuously remove the water and water vapor from the kiln container. In one embodiment, the vacuum pump includes a primary vacuum pump serially connected to an auxiliary vacuum pump that allows the air to be continuously and gradually reduced in the kiln container.

Abstract: A suitable container for plasma lyophilization has been designed for lyophilization (lyo-bag), storage, reconstitution and administering of blood products. A rigid support frame for use with a lyo-bag with sidewalls was designed as an external removable supportive system, which provides the necessary stability for the flexible container during lyophilization. A removable bottom wall support sheet was designed for use with any flexible container for lyophilization.

Abstract: Movement of a slot door of a freeze dryer is driven by a rack and pinion actuator. The actuator is easily sanitized and includes internal elements that are accessible to sanitizing sprays. The pinions are driven by pinion shafts that pass through a seal separating an aseptic area from a non-aseptic area where the drive train is positioned. Only rotary motion is transferred across the aseptic barrier, reducing the need for a bellows or sliding covers, which are difficult to sanitize.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system includes a cryogenic heat exchanger system adapted for vaporizing a liquid cryogen and using the gaseous cryogen to cool heat transfer fluid and a heat transfer cooling circuit that cools the lyophilization chamber as well as the condenser. The disclosed heat transfer cooling circuit includes a primary recirculation loop adapted for cooling the lyophilization chamber with the heat transfer fluid, a secondary recirculation loop adapted for cooling a condenser with the heat transfer fluid, and one or more valves operatively coupling the cryogenic heat exchanger system, the primary recirculation loop, and the secondary recirculation loop.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a freeze-drying apparatus and a freeze-drying method, which are capable of increasing a drying efficiency of frozen particles. [Solving Means] The freeze-drying apparatus 100 includes a freezing chamber 10 into which a raw material fluid F is injected. During the injection of the raw material fluid F, after the injection of the raw material fluid F, or for a time period covering the start to the termination of the injection of the raw material fluid F, a shelf 16 is vibrated in a horizontal direction due to an actuation of vibration generators 31. With this, the frozen particles deposited on the shelf 16 are evenly diffused on the shelf 16 in such a manner that a deposition thickness thereof becomes smaller or a single layer thereof is formed. With this, a freezing efficiency and the drying efficiency of individual particles are promoted.

Abstract: A device for storing a material to be lyophilized includes a support panel, a sidewall, an opening, a cover, and at least one lifter device. The sidewall and the support panel define a storage space for accommodating a material. The opening is defined by a rim of the sidewall. The cover is removably disposed adjacent to the rim of the sidewall for closing the opening. The lifter device is disposed between the support panel and the cover and includes a reservoir and at least one movable wall. The reservoir defines a sealed cavity containing a fluid. The movable wall is in operable communication with the fluid in the sealed cavity and engaging the cover to displace the cover away from the rim when the lifter device is subject to an ambient pressure that is less than the pressure of the fluid in the sealed cavity.

Abstract: A vacuum kiln apparatus and method of using same are disclosed for use in drying corn, other grains, seeds and legumes. The vacuum kiln apparatus can include a support base, a wall, a vacuum pump system, a pressure valve, a top hatch, a machinery access hatch, an anti-overload baffle, a conveyor system, a motor, a chamber vent valve, an air outlet manifold and an air compressor. The wall defines an internal chamber for receiving the grain. The vacuum pump system is used to draw down the pressure within the internal chamber which drives moisture out of the corn while maintaining the integrity of the corn, i.e., drying the corn with little or no cracking. The air outlet manifold along with the air compressor are used to flush high pressure air through the piles of corn to strips off any residual water that may be clinging onto the exterior of the corn grains.

Abstract: A puddle eliminating system and a puddle eliminating method are provided. The puddle eliminating system includes a main body, a moving wheel set, a water absorbing unit, at least one water sensor, a water-storage tank and a fan unit. The main body has a control unit, which the moving wheel set disposed at the bottom of the main body and the fan unit are electrically connected to. The water absorbing unit having the water sensor therein and being electrically connected to the control unit is disposed at the main body. The water-storage tank communicates with the water absorbing unit. The moving wheel set shifts and the absorbing unit absorbs and transmits puddle to the water-storage tank. The water sensor detects in a predetermined period whether there is puddle in an environment whereat the puddle eliminating system is placed or not and transmits detecting signals to the control unit.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a freeze-drying apparatus capable of achieving an increase of a processing capacity without causing a variation of a particle diameter. [Solving Means] A freeze-drying apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a freezing chamber 10 forming a vacuum chamber; and an injector 25. The injector 25 includes a tube member 29 provided to the vacuum chamber, and a nozzle 9 including a plurality of injection holes 92 open to an inside of the tube member 29. The injector 25 injects a raw material fluid F, which is fed to the tube member 29, from the nozzle 9 into the vacuum chamber. The respective injection holes 92 are each formed so as to be open to the inside of the tube member 29, and hence the raw material fluid F is injected through the respective injection holes 92 at the same injection pressure. With this, it is possible to achieve the increase of the processing capacity without causing the variation of the particle diameter.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a freeze-drying apparatus and a freeze-drying method, which are capable of increasing a collection rate of a raw material without a need for providing a member such as a baffle plate or the like. [Solving Means] The freeze-drying apparatus 100 includes: a container 4 to store a raw material fluid F; a freezing chamber 10 being a vacuum chamber; a vacuum pump 1 to exhaust the freezing chamber 10; and an injection mechanism 25 to inject the raw material fluid F stored in the container 4 into the freezing chamber 10. The cold trap 20 is arranged within the freezing chamber 10, and hence a phenomenon that the raw material is discharged to the outside of the vacuum chamber together with a vapor as in the past can be prevented. With this, the collection rate of the raw material can be increased. Further, it becomes unnecessary to provide the baffle plate or the like for preventing the phenomenon in vicinity of an exhaust port of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A device for large-scale lyophilization of pharmaceutical solutions in medical hollow bodies, includes a lyophilization device and at least one camera. Images of at least one pharmaceutical solution to be lyophilized are recorded by the at least one camera. The images may be used for controlling and/or monitoring the lyophilization process.

Abstract: A hygienic razor blade dryer is provided that comprises a housing having an interior, a razor blade holder disposed within the interior that is adapted to receive a razor blade, a dryer for drying a razor blade received in the razor blade holder, and a vacuum for evacuating the air within the interior to prevent moisture buildup in the air and on the razor blade and to inhibit oxidation on the blade surfaces. A sanitizer may also be provided to sanitize the razor blade before, during or after the dryer operation.

Abstract: Infrared drier installation (1) for a passing web (2), which installation ( ) has gas-heated infrared radiant elements (5), arranged one next to the other so as to form a unit (4). Each unit comprises at least two adjacent rows (8) of gas-heated infrared radiant elements (5) stretching out in he transversal?(9) direction of the web (2) substantially over the entire with of the web (2). The infrared drier installation comprises means to recycle, at least partially, the said combustion gases. The drier installation as subject of the present invention is characterized in that the infrared drier comprises means (16) to avoid the suction of cold air between two adjacent rows of radiant elements (5).

Abstract: A material drying apparatus for removing moisture from material positioned in an envelope interior. The apparatus comprises an inlet structure, an air removal assembly to remove air from the interior, and a moisture removal assembly for removing moisture from gases from the interior. The assembly comprises a first moisture removal structure, a second moisture removal structure, and a heat pump for transferring heat in a selected direction between the first and second moisture removal structures. The heat pump alternately heats a heat exchanger of one moisture removal structure and cooling a heat exchanger of the other moisture removal structures. The apparatus comprises a control apparatus for controlling operation of the first and second moisture removal assemblies and the heat pump. The control apparatus is configured to sense a condition of the apparatus and reverse operation of the heat pump upon detecting that the condition has passed a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method for treatment of organic matter, and inorganic matter that has been biologically contaminated, such as human cadavers, animal carcasses and clinical waste, to prepare the matter for burial or other disposal is disclosed. The method involves freeze-drying the size-reduced organic matter whilst subjecting the partially-dehydrated remains to a series of vacuum-pressure cycles. Process conditions are chosen so as to favour microbial inactivation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray freeze dryer apparatus and method of using same for use in drying or concentrating a raw material which at ambient conditions has a solid and an aqueous portion. The dryer includes a chamber and a chamber pressure reduction device; an inlet nozzle or nozzles through which the raw material is injected into the chamber; and a collection surface or surfaces which collect a frozen portion of the raw material. The chamber is kept at a pressure below the triple-point pressure of the aqueous portion of the raw material. Several additional features are described to control the thickness of the layer on the collection surface.

Abstract: A material to be dried is frozen and is efficiently freeze-dried in a short time, thereby increasing production efficiency. A freeze-drying apparatus includes a vertical tube (2) having an inner circumferential surface formed with a frozen surface (2a), a liquid-supply device (5) for supplying a liquid material to be dried (47) onto the frozen surface (2a), a freezing device (10) arranged around the vertical tube (2) and intended for cooling the frozen surface (2a), a pressure-reduction device (12) which puts an interior area of the vertical tube (2) into a state of vacuum, and an internal heating device (41) in the vertical tube (2). The internal heating device (41) is arranged in the vertical tube (2) along a center axis thereof, and has an outer surface formed with a vertically long circular-cylindrical radiation surface (43).