Provided is a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus 1, having a drying device 3 provided with an inlet portion and an outlet portion and comprising a tubular member 31 formed of a tubular shape, a temperature adjusting means 30a to 30j provided in a plurality of regions 40a to 40j in a direction from the inlet portion to the outlet portion in a peripheral portion of the tubular member for adjusting a temperature of the plurality of regions in an outer surface of the tubular member, a temperature control unit 8 for independently controlling the temperature adjusting means, and a rotating portion 7 for rotating the tubular member, wherein the tubular member has a spiral transfer means 31a for transferring the frozen substance entering from the inlet portion sequentially to locations corresponding to the plurality of regions in the tubular member to continuously sublimate and dry the frozen substance.

A dual tumble dryer unit that includes a housing that defines an interior, a divider that extends between first and second side walls and divides the interior into first and second sections, and first and second dryer assemblies that are positioned in the first and second sections. The first and second dryer assemblies each include a basket positioned to rotate about a horizontal axis, and a blower disposed positioned to blow air on the basket. A first drying path is defined between a first entry opening defined in the first side wall, the first basket and a first exit opening defined in the second side wall, and a second drying path is defined between a second entry opening defined in the first side wall, the second basket and a second exit opening defined in the second side wall.

A continuous feed lyophilizer drying chamber that has an overall internal volume, a primly drying stage portion having a primary drying stage internal volume, a secondary drying stage portion having an internal volume, a frozen formulation feed inlet that provides frozen formulation droplets into the internal volume of the primary drying stage of the drying chamber and a dried particle outlet proximate an end of the continuous feed lyophilizer drying chamber configured to provide dried formulation droplet particles. The primary drying stage typically makes up from about 65-75% of the overall internal volume of the drying chamber and the secondary drying stage makes up from 25 to 35% of the overall internal volume of the drying chamber. The drying chamber dries frozen formulation droplets received into the primary drying stage internal volume via the frozen formulation feed inlet.

A continuous feed lyophilizer drying chamber that has an overall internal volume, a primly drying stage portion having a primary drying stage internal volume, a secondary drying stage portion having an internal volume, a frozen formulation feed inlet that provides frozen formulation droplets into the internal volume of the primary drying stage of the drying chamber and a dried particle outlet proximate an end of the continuous feed lyophilizer drying chamber configured to provide dried formulation droplet particles. The primary drying stage typically makes up from about 65-75% of the overall internal volume of the drying chamber and the secondary drying stage makes up from 25 to 35% of the overall internal volume of the drying chamber. The drying chamber dries frozen formulation droplets received into the primary drying stage internal volume via the frozen formulation feed inlet.

A multi-functional slurry processing system (“VARCOR”) and associated methods is disclosed. The present examples provide a multi-functional slurry processing system incorporating systems and methods for separating liquid and solid components in slurries. In particular the systems and methods described herein produce clean water, dried solids, and potential concentration of desirable constituents with a boiling point lower than water. At least one example of the multi-functional slurry processing system provides a self-contained processing facility configured to efficiently convert high water-content slurries into its constituent solid and liquid fractions and subsequently generating and collecting clean water and concentrating desirable constituents with a boiling point lower than water. The multi-functional slurry processing system advantageously applies thermodynamic principles in a system which may include various combinations of a preheater, a degassing unit, a dryer, a steam filter, a compressor, a concentrating tower, and a condensation unit.

A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

Provided herein are systems, methods, and processes for drying a softgel having a hydrophilic fill material and one or more active ingredients. After forming the hydrophilic softgel, for example, the softgel is dried by sequentially passing the softgel through a series of specific drying conditions, in which the first drying condition has a low temperature and low dew point. In certain examples, controlled airflow is also used to dry the softgels. By using the systems, methods, and processes, the total time to dry the hydrophilic softgel can be beneficially reduced from several days to about 24 hours without causing shriveling of the softgel.

Provided is a process for providing a flake powder characterized by a particle size of −40 mesh to +200 mesh; a Scott density of at least 1.458 g/cm.sup.3; and a flow of at least 1 g/s. The process includes introducing a milled flake powder in a solvent to a first dryer; removing the solvent at a temperature below a melting point of the solvent under a reduced atmosphere to obtain a partially dry flake powder; and introducing the partially dry flake powder to a second dryer to form flake powder wherein particles of partially dry flake powder are heated and simultaneously subjected to an uncorrelated motion relative to adjacent particles.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for concentrating a solids stream recovered from one or more process streams derived from a beer in a biorefinery by exposing the recovered solids stream to an evaporator system to remove moisture therefrom and form a concentrated, recovered solids stream.