An energy efficient a drying system and process using heated, dry air. The system includes an air inlet, a heat pump evaporator unit, a heat pump condenser unit, a drying unit, a heat exchanger unit, a fan, and air channels for transport of airflow from the air inlet through the system. The fan causes air to flow into the air inlet through the heat pump evaporator unit and to maintain an airflow through the system. The heat pump evaporator unit is configured to use a refrigerant to absorb heat from air that flows into the system through the heat pump evaporator unit. The heat pump condenser unit is configured to release the heat absorbed at the evaporator to the airflow. The heat exchanger unit is arranged to transfer heat from the airflow leaving the drying unit to the cold, dehumidified air flowing from the heat pump evaporator unit.

Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by drawing vacuum over heating resin material in a vessel, while periodically purging the vessel with the material therein with dry air and bathing the vacuum dried material with dry air until furnished to a processing machine.

A convection current vacuum freeze drying method and a computer software program for manufacturing a product are disclosed which include: selecting specific freeze drying settings from a Database for a specific product; loading the specific freeze drying settings into a controller for fully controlling of the convection current freeze drying process; performing the convection current freeze drying process using an ice condenser unit equipped with a plurality of elongate heat exchange tubes having radially arranged fins; determining whether the convection current freeze drying process is operated in accordance to the specific freeze drying settings using a plurality of sensors and the controller, if the specific freeze drying settings are not corrected, then readjusting the specific freeze drying settings using the controller, and if the specific freeze drying settings are correct then packaging product.

A conveyance system includes a chamber 1, a plate 7A disposed in the chamber 1, the plate 7A being used for disposing an article thereon, an in-chamber bridge 19 disposed in the chamber 1 and capable of coming into contact with the plate 7A, a moving member 3A that moves along the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A to move the article on the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A, and a sterilization device 100 that sterilizes an interior of the chamber 1, in which the chamber 1 is allowed to be tightly sealed, with the moving member 3A disposed on the in-chamber bridge 19.

A method of drying an organic material by microwave-vacuum drying below but close to the triple point of water has been determined to allow more conversion of microwaves to heat than would occur when microwave freeze-drying at lower pressures. The method comprises introducing the organic material into a microwave-vacuum dehydrator, exposing the organic material to microwave radiation in the dehydrator to dry the organic material by sublimation, and maintaining pressure in the dehydrator in the range of 0.5 Torr to 4.5 Torr. The method provides the benefits of reduced drying time, energy requirements and product temperatures, relative to dehydration done at lower vacuum pressures.

Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by drawing vacuum over heating resin material in a vessel, while periodically purging the vessel with the material therein with dry air and bathing the vacuum dried material with dry air until furnished to a processing machine.

The disclosure in some aspects relates to systems and related methods for the continuous freeze-drying of materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals) with high speed and control.

A reduced-pressure drying apparatus, for drying solution on a substrate in a chamber in a depressurized state, includes a solvent collecting unit that is a net-shaped plate configured to temporarily collect a solvent in the solution vaporized from the substrate. The solvent collecting unit is provided to face the substrate in the chamber, and the net-shaped plate has an opening ratio of 60% to 80% and a thermal capacity of 850 J/K or less per 1 m.sup.2.

The disclosure relates to a baking apparatus for secondary battery. The baking apparatus for secondary battery comprises: a feeding device, a discharging device spaced from the feeding device in a horizontal direction, a baking device disposed between the feeding device and the discharging device, and a transferring device. The baking device comprises a baking oven including a housing and a cover for connecting hermetically with the housing. The transferring device is configured to put a secondary battery to be baked, which is conveyed by the feeding device, into the baking oven, and take the baked secondary battery out of the baking oven and convey it to the discharging device.

An apparatus and method for a low pressure laundry treating appliance having a cabinet defining an interior, and a drum provided within the interior, the drum including at least an inner wall and an outer wall. Pressure differentiations and flash evaporation can enable drying without excess use of conventional heating methods.