Continuous drum dryer and methods of use thereof
AssigneeContinuus Pharmeceuticals, Inc.
InventorsStephen C. Born, Joshua Dittrich, Bayan T. Takizawa, Salvatore Mascia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides for a continuous drying apparatus and a method of using the apparatus in the preparation of dried solids from slurries. The methods and apparatus are useful for the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, particularly using Integrated Continuous Manufacturing (ICM), but can also be integrated with other manufacturing processes, such as batch and semi-continuous processes.
Claims21
A continuous drying apparatus, comprising:
- a pair of rotatable drums 1101 arranged in parallel to their axes of rotation, separated by a gap 1410, and having drum roller drive assembly 1200, said pair of rotatable drums 1101 comprising:
- an evaporative surface 1110 for receiving a slurry;
- and
- at least one heating element 1102;
- a drum gap adjustment assembly 1400 comprising a load cell sensor and a controller configured to continuously adjust said gap 1410 during operation to maintain a constant pressure between the surfaces of said pair of rotatable drums 1101, thereby controlling particle size;
- a pair of scrapers 1301 for removing a dried solid from said evaporative surface 1110 of said rotatable drums 1101;
- a housing 1600 capable of operation at a reduced pressure;
- an outlet 1610;
- and
- a slurry inlet 1607.
A method of continuously drying a slurry using a continuous drying apparatus comprising:
- providing a slurry comprising a solid and a carrier liquid to a slurry inlet 1607 of a continuous drying apparatus comprising:
- a pair of rotatable drums 1101 arranged in parallel to their axes of rotation, separated by a gap 1410, and having drum roller drive assembly 1200, said pair of rotatable drums 1101 comprising
- an evaporative surface 1110 for receiving a slurry and at least one heating element 1102;
- a pair of scrapers 1301 for removing a dried solid from said evaporative surface 1110 of said rotatable drums 1101;
- a housing 1600 capable of operation at a reduced pressure;
- an outlet 1610;
- and
- a slurry inlet 1607;
- heating said pair of rotatable drums 1101 to a first temperature;
- rotating said pair of rotatable drums 1101 at a rotation rate;
- drying said slurry to produce a cake and an evaporate;
- scraping said cake from said pair of rotatable drums 1101;
- collecting said cake as a dried solid;
- and
- passing said dried solid through said outlet 1610.
A method of drying/wet granulation using a continuous drying apparatus comprising:
- providing a slurry comprising a solid and a carrier liquid having a dissolved polymer to a slurry inlet 1607 of a continuous drying apparatus comprising:
- a pair of rotatable drums 1101 arranged in parallel to their axes of rotation, separated by a gap 1410, and having drum roller drive assembly 1200, said pair of rotatable drums 1101 comprising
- an evaporative surface 1110 for receiving a slurry and at least one heating element 1102;
- a pair of scrapers 1301 for removing a dried solid from said evaporative surface 1110 of said rotatable drums 1101;
- a housing 1600 capable of operation at a reduced pressure;
- an outlet 1610;
- and
- a slurry inlet 1607;
- heating said pair of rotatable drums 1101 to a first temperature;
- rotating said pair of rotatable drums 1101 at a rotation rate;
- drying said slurry to produce a granulated dried material;
- collecting said granulated dried material;
- and
- passing said granulated dried material through said outlet 1610.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.