A freeze dryer removes water from frozen materials via sublimation (solid ice → vapor, no liquid) under vacuum, preserving products color, structure, biological activity, flavor, and nutrients.

The most crucial technical parameter of a freeze dryer is its shelf area (㎡), which effectively reflects the size and processing capacity of the machine. Shelf area vs. processing capacity: The international standard is: 1㎡ = 10kg

Freeze drying (lyophilization) works on the core principle of sublimation - turning ice directly into water vapor without melting into liquid water.

The time required varies depending on the manufacturer and the machine's performance. Even within the same manufacturer, different types of machines have varying performance. The time required also differs depending on the product being processed. Furthermore, the time required varies depending on the size of the same product. Setting different heating temperatures also affects the production time. Here are some examples for reference only:
1. Candy: 2-4 hours
2. Indian rice: 8-12 hours
3. Sliced ​​fruit: 18-24 hours
4. Probiotics: 48-72 hours

Product cooling: Below the eutectic point temperature, typically -20°C to -40°C.
Cold trap cooling: Below the product temperature by 10°C, typically -30°C to -50°C.

In addition, -70°C option is available.

Standard vacuum levels for freeze drying
• Food: 20–100 Pa (faster)
• Pharma/Bio: 1–20 Pa (ultra‑low)
• General working range: 20–80 Pa (most common)

CIP stands for Clean In Place. It's a function that automatically cleans the shelves of a freeze dryer without requiring an external movable water hose.

SIP means Sterilization in Place. It is a function of sterilization by high temperature and high pressure steam inside the freeze dryer chamber; It is used for freeze drying viruses and bacteria. Steam SIP is not available for option.

Cold trap: called vapor condenser, one component, two names; it's one of the core components inside the freeze dryer chamber. It is used to condense vapor sublimated from frozen products and protect vacuum pump.

Food freeze dryer: Large capacity, fast production, 304 stainless steel, high efficiency, low energy consumption. 
Pharma freeze dryer: SIP sterilization, precise control, CIP, GMP, FDA, 316L steel, data logs, high energy consumption. 

Silicone oil is only used in freeze dryers with in-situ freezing function. It requires the shelf to have both freezing and heating functions. Water freezes at 0°C, no fluidity, and it cannot transfer cold energy. Silicone oil has a wide temperature range: -80°C to 150°C, and is non-corrosive to most materials.

Based on fresh products feeding capacity kg per batch or shelf area (m²) . The shelf area (m²) is more accurate to describe the size of a freeze dryer. 

Air cooling involves using an air-cooled condenser; water cooling involves using a water-cooled cooling tower and water pump; both are used to cool the refrigerant. Air cooling is used in cold countries, such as Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada etc.; water cooling is used in tropical regions, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India etc.

Eutectic point: Temperature where solids and liquids coexist; It must stay below this temperature to avoid incomplete freezing.

Co-melting point: It's co-melting temperature, as well as collapse temperature; Temperature where porous structure fails (melts/shrinks); drying temperature must stay below this.

Kemolo freeze dryers has been supplied to over 100 countries or regions including: China mainland, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Trinidad, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Czech, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Slovenia, Slovak, Romania, Russia, Estonia, Serbia, Hungary, Latvia, Croatia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Israel, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, India, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Tonga, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Libya, Angola, Malawi, Mauritius, Botswana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania etc.

Thick/viscous samples; high sugar/salt samples; big size samples; poor pre-freeze; cold trap temperature high; poor vacuum; low heating. 

Uneven loading; poor shelf contact (conductive type); ice blocked heating plates path; air in the heating plates path; faulty heating/sensors.