FD5.5 Pilot Freeze Dryer
The FD5.5 is the smallest freeze dryer produced by Cuddon Freeze Dry, and is a popular pilot scale model often used for research and development in laboratories or larger commercial operations.
The FD5.5 is lightweight, totally enclosed, vertical in design, and is mounted on castor wheels to enable easy manoeuvrability. The small footprint of the FD5.5 freeze dryer requires a minimum space of only 900mm(W) x 900(D) x 2000(H).
The FD5.5 offers accessible entry and coupled with Cuddon Freeze Dry's buyback programme, reduces risk and capital outlay for organisations wishing to develop their own freeze drying capability.
FD5.5 Specification Summary
Turn-Key Service
- Unless otherwise specified, Cuddon Freeze Dry sales include CIF freight to your nearest international seaport, installation/commissioning/staff-training by Cuddon engineers, and a full 12-month warranty.
Capacity and Cycle Time
- Cuddon Freeze Dry's quality acceptance test is to sublimate and condense the vapour condenser capacity of ice within 24 hours. For the FD5.5, this equates to 5.5kg of ice.
General
- The chamber is mounted within an enclosed steel frame with castors for easy manoeuvrability. The vacuum pump, refrigeration unit and the pipe work are all mounted within the enclosed frame. The plant is pre-wired and is comprehensively tested in our factory before delivery.
Chamber
- 0.475m diameter x 0.56m long, fabricated from T304 stainless steel.
Heating Plates/Shelves
- Plates fabricated from T304 stainless steel, allowing an even internal distribution of the heating or cooling medium. Shelf spacing can be factory set during manufacture to suit individual loading. Two sets of T304 stainless steel product trays are supplied as standard.
Vapour Condenser
- Manufactured from T304 stainless steel tube. The assembly is bolted as a permanent fixture inside the vacuum chamber. Refrigeration of the coil is by direct expansion via a thermostatic valve.
Defrosting
- Defrosting ice from the vapour condenser after a product cycle is by water. Hot water is recommended to assist in rapid defrosting.
Refrigeration
- The FD5.5 has one refrigeration unit which controls the stainless steel vapour condenser temperature, and the glycol heat exchange temperature. Refrigeration condenser is air cooled.
Vacuum System
- The vacuum pump has a capacity of about 10m3 per hour and is connected to the chamber. A valve located above the vacuum pump is a two-position valve and either allows a vacuum break to vent the chamber, isolating the pump, or connection to the chamber for freeze-drying. The pump features an automatic isolating valve to hold the chamber pressure in the event of power failure.
Heating System
- The heating fluid is glycol based and is pumped by a centrifugal pump through a circuit which allows heated or cooled fluid to be circulated through the plates on demand of the electronic temperaturecontroller.
Instrumentation
- Edwards 503 vacuum gauge, Shimaden SR93 temperature controller, Omron H7ET run hour meter, Telemecanique panel switches.
Contact us with your industrial freeze drying equipment enquiries.
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