Freeze dryers and drying processes for materials with low water content
OwnerDale Porter, Daniel D. Nevilleinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of freeze dryers and drying processes are disclosed that can be used to dry materials with low water content (no more than 20 wt % water) and/or high sugar content (at least 20 wt % sugar). Such materials include candy, confections, and the like. In one embodiment, a drying process includes drying the materials without freezing them. In another embodiment, a drying process includes warming the materials before drying them. In another embodiment, a drying process includes drying two batches of materials with low water content sequentially without defrosting the interior of freeze dryer.
Claims40
A freeze dryer comprising:
- a chamber including one or more interior walls;
- a vacuum pump pneumatically linked to the chamber;
- a cooling system configured to cool the one or more interior walls of the chamber;
- a heating system configured to heat a material in the chamber;
- and
- an electronic controller comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory communicatively linked to the processor, the memory including instructions used by the processor to operate the freeze dryer;
- wherein the instructions comprise a drying process including:
- warming the material in the chamber at or near ambient pressure to form a warmed material;
- and
- reducing pressure in the chamber below ambient pressure to dry the warmed material.
A freeze dryer comprising:
- a chamber including one or more interior walls;
- a vacuum pump pneumatically linked to the chamber;
- a cooling system configured to cool the one or more interior walls of the chamber;
- a heating system configured to heat a material in the chamber;
- and
- an electronic controller comprising:
- a processor;
- memory communicatively linked to the processor;
- and
- a display device communicatively linked to the processor;
- wherein the electronic controller is configured to:
- display an option on the display device to warm the material;
- receive input selecting or confirming the option to warm the material;
- warm the material in the chamber at or near ambient pressure to form a warmed material;
- and
- reduce pressure in the chamber below ambient pressure to dry the warmed material.
A method for drying a material in a freeze dryer, the freeze dryer comprising:
- a chamber including one or more interior walls;
- a vacuum pump pneumatically linked to the chamber;
- a cooling system configured to cool the one or more interior walls of the chamber;
- a heating system configured to heat the material in the chamber;
- and
- an electronic controller comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory communicatively linked to the processor;
- the method comprising:
- positioning the material in the chamber of the freeze dryer;
- warming the material in the chamber at or near ambient pressure to form a warmed material;
- and
- reducing pressure in the chamber below ambient pressure to dry the warmed material.
A method for drying a material in a freeze dryer, the freeze dryer comprising:
- a chamber including one or more interior walls;
- a vacuum pump pneumatically linked to the chamber;
- a cooling system configured to cool the one or more interior walls of the chamber;
- a heating system configured to heat the material in the chamber;
- and
- an electronic controller comprising:
- a processor;
- memory communicatively linked to the processor;
- and
- a display device communicatively linked to the processor;
- the method comprising:
- displaying an option on the display device to warm the material;
- receiving input selecting or confirming the option to warm the material;
- warming the material in the chamber at or near ambient pressure to form a warmed material;
- and
- reducing pressure in the chamber below ambient pressure to dry the warmed material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.