New philosophy of vacuum
drying
PLANEX System® (Patent N° US 5,857,264) is a
new concept
multi product dryer, developed for vacuum drying of
wet powders obtained from centrifuge or filter press,
and it is based on an innovative philosophy of working,
especially suitable for the production of Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients, Fine Chemicals and Intermediates.
PLANEX System® consists of a fixed cylindrical chamber
with an eccentric agitator
inside with
two independent movements, able to rotate
on its own axis and tangentially to the cylindrical
chamber as well. The double
combined rotation allows an optimal
mixing of the product, continuously renewing the surface
of the mass exposed to evaporation, covering all the
volume of the vessel. In this way solvents release is
facilitated and drying times are significantly reduced
compared to conventional systems.
The peculiar configuration of the agitator, characterized
by a diameter much smaller than the one of the drying
chamber, and the double rotation not only allow the
continuous revolution of the product but also limit
the mechanical and thermal stress, preventing local
overheating due to friction. This enables to treat even
more delicate and thermo sensitive products, as it preserves
their purity, avoiding degradation of the dried batch.
It must be remarked that the mechanical stress on the
product is about three times less than the one obtained
with traditional dryers that are provided with concentric
agitator Consequently the unwanted overheating of the
product, deriving from mechanical action, results considerably
lower [1].
Furthermore the reduced gap between the agitator profile
and the wall of the drying avoids deposition of the
product and makes the unloading operation extremely
easy and effective, being also foreseen a specific program
automatically managed.
PLANEX System® is absolutely safe
for the personnel, the environment and the product,
being designed and manufactured in compliance with the
ever more severe cGMP
and ATEX
rules.
[1] Analysys of "Politecnico
di Torino" University – Material Science
and Chemical Engineering Department.
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