Pilot-scale freeze dryers with ice condenser capacities between 6 and 12 kg are specially designed for drying processes similar to large-scale production units. Prefreezing and drying will be realized on liquid temperature controlled shelves inside the separate drying chamber (double-chamber-system). Due to the temperature control of the stainless steel shelves (via a synthetic heat-transfer medium), these pilot systems fulfil the highest standards of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The CHRIST pilot-scale freeze dryers can be upgrated or modified to meet the individual requirements for process optimization and scale-up, e.g. with a comprehensive and flexible measurement- and control-system (e. g. lyo-resistance-control, weighing-system, process monitoring). If necessary, a decontamination with H₂O₂ is possible as well as an integration into isolator systems (glove-box).

Pilot Freeze Dryer EPSILON 1-6D resp. EPSILON 2-6D

Laboratory/- pilot-unit with a capacity of 6 kg, ice condenser temperature –55°C (1-6D) resp. –85°C (2-6D), with closed temperature control system (synthetic heat-transfer media), stainless steel chamber

Pre-freezing and drying with the drying chamber on temperature-controlled shelves:

• Up to 4+1 shelves 225 x 300 mm (W x D)

• Temperature range –40°C (1-6D) resp. -50°C (2-6D) for pre-freezing up to +50°C

• Upgradeable with comprehensive measurement- and control systems, e.g. Lyo-resistance-control, determination of the freezing point, weighing system, sample retrieving system

• H2O2- decontamination possible  

 Figure 1: EPSILON 2-6D, with 3 + 1 shelves, shelf area 0.21 m², shelf distance 73 mm,  with vial stoppering device, temperature range –50°C (freezing) to +50°C

Figure 2: EPSILON 2-6D coupled to an isolator-system (Glove-Box), mainly designed for applications with highly-efficient substances, which involve a risk for the operator especially in dried form.

Figure 3:

Isolator, air-sealed coupled to a freeze dryer to handle e. g. O₂-sensitive or toxic substances

Figure 4:

Stainless steel manifold for 12 round flasks/wide neck filter bottles in combination with a freeze dryer EPSILON 1-6D

Freeze Dryer EPSILON 2-8D resp. EPSILON 2-10D

Pilot unit with ice capacity of 8 kg (2-8D) resp. 10 kg (2-10D),

Ice condenser temperature –85°C, with closed temperaure control system via synthetic heat-transfer media, stainless steel chamber

Pre-freezing and drying with the drying chamber on temperature-controlled shelves:

• Epsilon 2-8D: up to 4 shelves 275 x 365 mm (W x D), distance 50 mm, shelf area 0.4 m²

• Epsilon 2-10D: up to 7 shelves 300 x 400 mm (W x D), distance 34 mm, shelf area 0.84 m²

• Temperature range –45°C (freezing) to +50°C

• Upgradeable with comprehensive measurement- and control systems, e.g. Lyo-resistance-control, determination of the freezing point, weighing system, sample retrieving system

• H2O2- decontamination possible

Figure 5: EPSILON 2-10D, with 5 + 1 shelves and stoppering device, shelf area 0.6 m², shelf distance 55 mm,  temperature range –45°C (freezing)  to +50°C  

Freeze Dryer EPSILON 2-12D

Pilot- and small production unit with ice capacity of 12 kg, water-cooled refrigeration system,

Ice condenser temperature –75°C, with closed temperaure control system via synthetic heat-transfer media, stainless steel chamber

Pre-freezing and drying with the drying chamber on temperature-controlled shelves:

• up to 7 shelves 350 x 450 mm (W x D)

• Temperature range –60°C (freezing) to +50°C

• Upgradeable with comprehensive measurement- and control systems, e.g. Lyo-resistance-control, determination of the freezing point, weighing system, sample retrieving system

• H2O2- decontamination possible

Figure 7: Freeze dryer EPSILON  2-12D with 7 product temperature sensors and hydraulic cylinder with stainless steel below for sealing of vials and pressure increase test

Figure 8: EPSILON 2-12D modified for clean-room-integration, connection to a H2O2-generator for decontamination of chamber and ice condenser

Figure 9 and 10:

Freeze dryer resistant against solvents with special vacuum pumps and enforced refrigeration system (approx. 1m² shelf surface area)

Figure 11: Very flexible pilot freeze dryer for galenicals (with Siemens S7 PLC, manipulator connection ("sample thief"), sealing device, variable control of vacuum)