System for freeze granulation
US6170269A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D3/127
- WIPO fieldFood chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for freeze granulation of a medium such as a biopharmeceutical product. The medium is put into a chamber and mixed using a pair of counter rotating agitators. The agitators have angled blades or paddles on them in order to induce motion in the medium parallel to the axis of the agitator shafts. A set of liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide nozzles are attached to the chamber. The liquid nitrogen nozzles spray a mist of liquid nitrogen into the medium. The liquid carbon dioxide nozzles spray carbon dioxide snow into the chamber. The liquid nitrogen and the carbon dioxide can be sprayed into the chamber at the same time or alternately.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.