Continuous freeze-drying system with rotating helical tube and continuous freeze-drying method

Abstract

A freeze-drying system includes a drying device configured for receiving frozen particles of a substance and for drying the particles. The drying device includes a rotatable tubular member having an inlet section, an outlet section and an intermediate helical section. The freeze-drying system also includes a vacuum pump system for maintaining a vacuum inside the tubular member and a temperature regulation system configured for controlling a temperature in the tubular member. Furthermore, the system includes a drive for rotating the rotating tubular member and thereby convey the particles. A control system is also provided for controlling the drive and the temperature regulation system such that the received frozen particles have been dried when arriving at and end of the outlet section. The present disclosure also relates to a freeze-drying method for performing freeze-drying of a substance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.