Journal Article

IMPULSE-2024-00142

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Design of a pilot-scale microwave freeze dryer for in situ neutron imaging

Hilmer, M. (Corresponding author) ; Gruber, S. ; Kis, Z. ; Schulz, M.MLZ* ; Foerst, P.

2024
American Institute of Physics [Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar]

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1063/5.0213685

Abstract: The gentle yet cost-effective drying of sensitive products in the food and pharmaceutical industries is becoming increasingly important. To maintain sensitive ingredients, color, structure, and viability of micro-organisms, often freeze-drying is the only possible way to preserve the product. As many products come in as bulk material, they are dried on heated shelves resulting in poor heat and mass transport through the bed. Resulting in a very time and cost intensive process. Therefore, efforts are being made to improve the mass and heat transport of the process. The outer mass transport through the bulk can be improved by continuous mixing of the pellets, facilitating the removal of water vapor from the condenser. In addition, the issue of limited heat transport can be addressed by using volumetric energy input from microwaves. This process is called dynamic microwave freeze-drying. As dynamic microwave freeze-drying is a combined drying and mixing process, with particle properties continuously changing during drying, it is necessary to gain a more detailed insight into the process. For this purpose, a drier is designed that is capable of in situ neutron imaging, a method sensitive to a material’s hydrogen content. This paper presents the design of a pilot-scale microwave freeze dryer for in situ neutron imaging and shows the first images taken during the dynamic microwave freeze-drying of bulk particles at the Center for Energy Research, Budapest Neutron Center in Budapest, Hungary.

Keyword(s): Health and Life (1st) ; Industrial Application (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. ANTARES (ANTARES)
2. METHODS (METHODS)

Experiment(s):

1. Measurement at external facility

Appears in the scientific report 2024

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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