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Lyophilization/ freeze-drying and solvent recovery with air refrigeration.

Number: 0002

Author(s) : FRANK T.

Summary

In November 2019, HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH and Refolution Industriekälte GmbH retrofitted a lyophilization system from 1996 using R404a as refrigerant. The vapor compression unit was replaced by a state-of-the-art air refrigeration machine with a special hydraulic system. The air cycle refrigeration machine is completely oil free and uses an air bearing turbo-expander from Mirai Intex s.r.o. To minimize the required refrigeration units and simultaneously achieving high cooling loads during freezing, the system uses a buffer tank. The CryoBlizzard can handle the complete lyophilization process (-40°C freezing and -80°C drying) at consistent cold water and power consumption, thus reducing peak loads. Energy comparisons of the prototype and a well-established freeze dryer showed promising results for the future of air cycle refrigeration for lyophilization applications. The prototype system is up to 19% more efficient on the complete production run if compared with the old solution. Air refrigeration is a future proof technology without regulations of the refrigerant, reliable and safe for humans and the nature. In 2020 HOF extended the prototype with a plasma freezer (-70°C) and used it as a central refrigeration system and realized temperatures down to -110°C.
A further milestone in air cycle refrigeration was achieved in 2021 by developing and constructing a solvent recovery plant that can recycle up to 99% ethanol and acetone of several exhaust gas streams. It replaced an old HFC system with a climate and environmentally safe system and additionally recovers more solvent.

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Details

  • Original title: Lyophilization/ freeze-drying and solvent recovery with air refrigeration.
  • Record ID : 30028999
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Cryogenics 2021 online. Proceedings of the 16th IIR International Conference, October 5-7, 2021.
  • Publication date: 2021/10/05
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.cryo.2021.0002
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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