CosmoDry horizontal paddle vacuum dryer

-        Agitator profile designed to limit mechanical and thermal stress, making CosmoDry® System also the ideal solution for treating thermo-sensitive products;

-        Gradual powdering of the product Homogeneity and uniformity of dried batch thanks to peculiar configuration of the agitator, which enables continuous stirring of the product and facilitates its thermal exchange;

-        Agitator’s special features permit a reduction of product deposition to a minimum, making easy and efficient the unloading operation, for which a dedicated operation cycle has been introduced;

-        Electrically operated lump breakers allow to powder and eliminate any possible agglomerates;

-        One or two lump breaking groups can be installed inside the vacuum chamber as an option;

-        The position of the lump breakers and the agitator profile are optimized in order to obtain the maximum mixing and powdering efficiency;

-        The sealing systems guarantee absolute purity of the dried batch and perfect vacuum tightness;

-        Very high final vacuum values can be reached during product processing;

-        Further reduced drying times;

-        The ease of dismantling the agitator leads to easier access for internal cleaning and inspection, which permits a vast reduction in machine stops during the changeover from one product batch to another;

-        Very easy product unloading thanks to:

o   total absence of friction points on the product;

o   reduced gap between the agitator paddles and the wall of the drying chamber;

o   specific unloading program;

-        Total system automation capable of guaranteeing process reproducibility for all batches.

The agitator can be easily dismantled in different parts - it is an exclusive feature that makes CosmoDry® System a unique dryer of its type. CosmoDry® System ensures maximum production and cuts downtimes, thanks to the highly advanced Italvacuum technology tested in stirring solutions for vacuum drying.

The ease of dismantling the agitator paddles not only leads to better internal cleaning, but also makes it easier to access and inspect the drying chamber. A feature that allows the operator more space and more possibility of movement, thus making it easier and faster to carry out the “swab” test. Furthermore, access to the drying chamber is made easier by the large port lid and front opening.

The agitator shaft is equipped with a double mechanical seal system, conceived to guarantee perfect vacuum tightness and absolute purity of the dried batch, avoiding any risk of product contamination. The mechanical seal can be pressurized through liquid or inert gas.

Special filtering systems can be placed above the drying chamber, capable of meeting all process requirements: solutions with PTFE membrane filter bags or as an alternative filter cartridges in metal or with a PTFE membrane, the efficiency of which is guaranteed during the process by a nitrogen back-flowing automatic washing system.

For the best drying process, Italvacuum experience also indicates the use of an external heated cyclone safety filter, designed to avoid load loss and condensation phenomena, for complete protection of the vacuum line.

The cylindrical shape of the drying chamber, the rounded edges and total absence of sharp corners ensure complete and accurate internal washing.

Perfect internal washing is guaranteed to work well through the use of an efficient C.I.P. (Clean in Place) system, with a hidden rotating head, that permits washing all product involved parts and allows reaching the residual p.p.m. values required with few washing cycles. In addition, the ease with which the agitator can be dismantled in different parts also consents separate washing of individual components.

External cleaning of the CosmoDry® System is also easy. The watertight cladding of the entire machine (cGMP “particle free” configuration) covers the insulation, the electrical wiring and the hydraulic and pneumatic piping. In addition, there is no support frame in the clean room, but just the drying chamber flanged to the wall. This makes external cleaning extremely easy and efficient, preventing product friction in chinks and joints. These features, together with the “partitioning” solution, allow clean room installation, guarantee pressurization and separation of the clean room from the technical one.

CosmoDry® System presents high loading flexibility. It is manufactured with total volumes ranging from 150 to 4,400 liters. The loading capacity can vary, depending on the product to be dried and the process, from 30% to 80% of the chamber volume, thereby meeting the multiple requirements of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Maximum loading capacity is determined through tests with gradually increasing loads.

For the parts in contact with the product, CosmoDry® System is made in stainless steel AISI 316L, but other weldable materials can be used on request, such as ALLOY C-22 and AISI 904L. The walls of the chamber, the port lid and the agitator shaft are heated by diathermic fluid circulation. The internal surfaces are mirror polished or electropolished for best corrosion resistance, reduction of product friction and simple cleaning operations.

In addition to CRIOX® rotary vacuum dryer, Italvacuum can also supply components to complete the system, appropriately dimensioned to meet every process requirement:

-        Saurus939 high vacuum pump

-        Vacuum condensation group for reduction of drying times and recovery of extracted solvents

-        External safety filtering unit for powders containment

-        Heating and cooling group for system thermal regulation

-        PLC control board for total system management, equipped with software in compliance with the CFR 21 Part 11 standard, that guarantees the reproducibility of dried batches and can interface with centralized control systems.