With the continuous progress of science and technology, freeze dryer has become one of the important equipment in many industries. The lyophilizer is able to freeze the aqueous substance at a low temperature and sublimate the water in it under vacuum conditions, so as to obtain a dry substance. However, for many people, they may have a question: since the lyophilizer is operated at low temperatures, why do you need a heating function?
First of all, we need to understand the basic principles of lyophilizers. During the lyophilization process, the aqueous material is rapidly frozen and then placed in a vacuum. In vacuum, the boiling point of the substance decreases, allowing moisture to sublimate at a lower temperature. Therefore, lyophilizers usually need to provide a certain amount of heat during the formation and sublimation of ice crystals of substances during operation.
So, why is the heating function necessary in a lyophilizer? There are several main reasons:
1.Promotes heat and mass transfer: Heating can facilitate the heat and mass transfer process inside a substance. In the sublimation process, the moisture inside the substance needs to overcome the binding force between molecules, and this process needs to consume a certain amount of energy. With heating, enough energy can be provided to make it easier for moisture to sublimate. At the same time, heating also helps in the heat transfer process inside the substance, making the sublimation process more uniform.
2.Faster lyophilization: Heating can speed up lyophilization. At low temperatures, the rate of sublimation of the substance will be affected to a certain extent. With proper heating, the movement of water molecules inside the substance can be accelerated, which speeds up the sublimation process and shortens the lyophilization time.
3.Improve product quality: Proper heating can improve the quality of the product. During the sublimation process, if there are a large number of ice crystals inside the substance, it may lead to the destruction of the product structure. Through proper heating, the ice crystals can gradually melt, avoid the destruction of the product structure, and improve the quality of the product.
4.Prevent product agglomeration and foaming: During the lyophilization process, if the moisture inside the substance is not discharged in time, it may cause the product to clump and blister. With proper heating, the fluidity and air permeability of the substance can be promoted, making it easier for the moisture inside to drain out and avoid the product clumping and blistering.
To sum up, although the lyophilizer is operated at low temperatures, proper heating during operation is very necessary. Heating can promote heat and mass transfer, speed up lyophilization, improve product quality, and prevent problems such as product agglomeration and foaming. Therefore, in the design and use of the freeze dryer, it is necessary to consider the role and influence of the heating function to ensure the smooth progress of the freeze drying process and the quality of the product.