Double chamber system

In the design developed by CHRIST, the ice condenser is placed directly below the drying chamber. Through the large opening ideal cross section are created for the dissipation of the water vapour.

A high pressure difference between drying and ice condenser chamber can only be avoided if sufficient cross-sections are available during drying to cope with enormous vapour quantities. With this in place the efficiency and economic operation of the unit is greatly increased. Temperature-sensitive materials can be dried safely with this optimized design.

Advantages of the CHRIST double-chamber-system

  • Ice condenser control and access through the chamber door
  • Simple cleaning of drying and ice ice condenser chamber
  • Minimization of sealings to facilitate service and maintenance works
  • Large cross-section between drying chamber and the ice condenser chamber, water vapour dissipation to the ice condenser is optimized
  • Short distances for the water vapour, therefore high efficiency and economic operation of the unit
  • Reduced pressure difference between ice condenser and drying chamber, therefore sensitive as well as low eutectic substances can be dried
  • Full automatic sterilzation process (SIP) with 121°C or 134°C including cooling and vacuum test, filter integrity test
  • Clean-In-Place (CIP) available as on option
  • Flexible measurement and control system

Figure 1

Principle of the double-chamber-system. A comprehensive range of double-chamber-systems is available, starting with 12 kg ice condenser capacity up to more than 500 kg and shelf areas from 0.63 m2 to > 40 m2.

Figure 2

The compact mounting of all components on a skid (if the room dimensions on site allows that) simplifies the installation on site and reduces the SAT effort.

Figure 3

View into the ice condenser chamber of the freeze dryer with redundant cooling system and CIP tubing.

Figure 4

EPSILON 2-220 D with 18 m2 shelf surface and lateral arranged ice condenser. The large dimensions of the intermediate valve provide a fast freeze drying process and a good opportunity for inspections of the condenser.

Figure 5

Production freeze dryer with hydraulic sealing device
left side: EPSILON 2.220 DS with 14,4 m2 shelf surface. hydraulic cylinder from the bottom right side: EPSILON 2-400 DS with 29,8 m2 shelf surface, hydraulic cylinder on the top

Figure 6

Freeze dryer with slot door ("Pizza-door"), sealing of vials/shelf movement from top, thus a constant loading level of the shelves is realised

Figure 7

Professional loading of a production type freeze dryer with an ice condenser capacity of 500 kg and 40 m2 self surface.

Figure 8

Control cabinet of a production freeze dryer with Siemens S7 PLC, industrial PC an 32-channel-printer (during mounting phase) .

Figure 9

Christ-Software LPC 32 Win ("Lyophilization Process Control")