Laboratory Freeze Dryers

Laboratory Freeze Dryers - LyoBeta

New demands on R. & D. centres are related to scale-up feasability and quality of procedures and research methods. The legislative emphasis is now on the concept of GxP as a quality oversight, comprising all practices in R. & D. and production processes.

The new Series LyoBeta lyophilisers are laboratory units that have been designed specifically for advanced research centres, keeping in mind that initial development of new drugs is one of the most critical issues for its final commercial success.

The LyoBeta is a compact unit with castors, constructed in a steel stove enamelled cabinet. The equipment is supplied fully assembled, including the vacuum and refrigeration system and necessary elements, ready for operation after connecting to the utility services.

General features:

The design of this unit offers the best capabilities for R. & D. activities. It has been equipped with the appropriate components, devices and sensors to control processing conditions: temperature, pressure and time. This allows defining the process variables to achieve adequate control and reproducibility.
Optimisation of process recipes is easily performed by means of condenser valve , which allows for pressure rise testing and thermodynamic control. This valve also permits proceeding with the product loading and unloading without defrosting the condenser if it has not reached full capacity. The refrigeration system, water-cooled, is capable of reaching -80oC in the condenser and -50oC on the shelves
Heating and cooling rates of 1oC / minute achieved which are similar to Telstar's production freeze dryers.
Chamber and shelves made from AISI 316 L stainless steel and fully accessible inside for cleaning purposes. The condenser, which is also AISI 316 L stainless steel, has a rapid ice-defrosting device, which works by means of a group of external electrical resistors. Both the chamber and the condenser have transparent acrylic doors to facilitate viewing of the process.
Precise control and temperature uniformity. The unique LyoBeta thermal fluid circulation system guarantees uniform heat transfer at all the shelves. The LyoBeta has the vacuum sensor in the chamber (rather than in vacuum pump line), which makes possible monitoring and controlling the pressure which comprises the environment where the product is exposed. This allows studying and obtaining finest scale-up results.
Control system based on PLC and user friendly touch screen guarantees maximum reliability and reproducibility in the process, totally adapting the equipment to cGLP.
The system allows control of the freeze dryer functions via a graphic HMI (Human Machine Interface) user interface, which offers the following possibilities:
- displaying of information on system elements (valves, motors, indicators, etc.)
- receiving information from alarms
- acting within the parameters of the freeze dryer cycle
- eliminating the possibility of error- protecting the system from unauthorised use
- recipes development
The user interface presents information in an attractive and intelligible manner on a graphic 6" touch screen, through which different data screens can be accessed by means of touch zones
LyoLogger. Optionally the equipment can be connected to different peripherals, such as a chart recorder, printer or PC. The LyoLogger data acquisition software is recommended for better store and collection of data such as: graphs, events, alarms and history *ASCII files) through a serial port. This software can also be used to simulate a freeze drying process when it is not connected to the PLC.

Technical Data:

Model	LB 35
No. of shelves (ud.)	6 + 1
Shelves dimensions (W x D mm.)	380 x 450
Useable shelf area (square m.)	1.03
Distance between shelves (mm.)	60
Shelf temperature range:	-55oC to +80oC
Condenser capacity Kg. (of ice)	35
Final temperature in condenser	< -80oC
Nominal vacuum pump flow	18 cu.m. / hour
Basic unit weight	1,100 Kg.
Voltage (three phase)	380V - 50 Hz
Total power	9 kW
Dimensions (W x D x H mm.)	1260 x 1100 x 1975