Application

Vacuum pumps for freeze drying

In freeze drying (lyophilisation), the product is frozen and the ice is turned directly into water vapour under vacuum – according to Busch, frozen water sublimates, and the process protects heat-sensitive products. Pfeiffer Vacuum names the gentle drying of coffee and fruit below 0 °C and the drying of vaccines under deep vacuum. Below you can see how the application works, what vacuum the manufacturers name and which of their series are intended for it – 394 models from 5 manufacturers.

Compare 394 modelsHow it works

  • 394Models
  • 30Series
  • 5Manufacturers
  • below 1 hPachamber pressure in lyophilisation (Busch)
ABCDEFG

Touch the points: each part of the system explains itself.

In short

Freeze drying: the key facts

  • SublimationAccording to Busch, frozen water sublimates: under vacuum, the ice in the product turns directly into vapour without melting. Pfeiffer Vacuum names the drying of coffee and fruit below 0 °C.
  • Chamber pressureFor lyophilisation, Busch names below 1 hPa, Pfeiffer Vacuum 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa for the freeze drying of food and pharmaceutical products.
  • GentleBusch names the protection of heat-sensitive products, Pfeiffer Vacuum the drying of vaccines under deep vacuum, Leybold the removal of water for storage at room temperature. As a benefit, Edwards names shorter drying with less energy.
  • No traces of oilFor freeze drying in the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names a stable pressure without traces of oil with scroll and diaphragm pumps and the ACP.
ABCDEFG
  • Air and gas (vacuum)
  • Exhaust

Operating principle

How it works: Freeze drying

The drawing shows the basic principle in section. The systems and pumps of the individual manufacturers differ in detail.

  1. FreezingThe product is frozen so that the water is present as ice. According to Busch, the process protects heat-sensitive products.
  2. EvacuatingThe vacuum pump lowers the chamber pressure – Busch names below 1 hPa, Pfeiffer Vacuum 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa.
  3. SublimationThe ice turns directly into vapour and freezes out again on the ice condenser; according to Leybold, what remains is a product that can be stored at room temperature.

Vacuum and sizing

Freeze drying: how much vacuum is needed

What the manufacturers say about pressure, pumping speed and sizing.

Which vacuum

For lyophilisation, Busch names below 1 hPa, Pfeiffer Vacuum 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa for the freeze drying of food and pharmaceutical products.

Which pumping speed

We determine the pump size together with you on the basis of the chamber volume and the quantity of water. Leybold names the combination of SOGEVAC with RUVAC, Atlas Copco also names DRB and ZRS alongside DWS, DWS VSD+, GVD and GVS VSD+, and Edwards the EH alongside E2M, EDS, RV, XDS, GV and nXRi.

What determines the sizing

The water vapour: it must freeze out on the ice condenser before it reaches the pump. For the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names a stable pressure without traces of oil; as a benefit of the vacuum, Edwards names shorter drying with less energy.

Oil-free or oil-lubricated

For the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names scroll and diaphragm pumps and the ACP without traces of oil. Alongside DWS, Atlas Copco also names rotary vane vacuum pumps (GVD, GVS VSD+), and Leybold names NEO D and SOGEVAC as well as NOVADRY, DRYVAC and SCREWLINE.

Technology

Freeze drying: the vacuum pumps the manufacturers name

Listed are the series the manufacturer itself names for this application. “Show only …” sets the filter of the product overview.

Product overview

Freeze drying: all 394 models compared

Use the filters on the left to narrow the selection – by manufacturer, technology and the models’ key figures, for 50 or 60 Hz.

Atlas Copco DRB series 4 models

DRB 250Pumping speed 253 m³/h 50 Hz304 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 1.1 kW 50 Hz1.1 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DRB 500Pumping speed 505 m³/h 50 Hz606 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.2 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DRB 1000Pumping speed 1,000 m³/h 50 Hz1,200 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 4 kW 50 Hz4 kW 60 HzVariants 2
DRB 2000Pumping speed 2,050 m³/h 50 Hz2,460 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure Rated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 2

Atlas Copco DWS series 3 models

DWS 200Pumping speed 210 m³/h 50 Hz210 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.05 mbarRated motor power 5.5 kW 50 Hz5.5 kW 60 HzVariants 14
DWS 300Pumping speed 280 m³/h 50 Hz280 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power Variants 14
DWS 500Pumping speed 460 m³/h 50 Hz460 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power Variants 7

Atlas Copco DWS VSD+ series 6 models

DWS 160 VSD+Pumping speed 160 m³/h 50 Hz160 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DWS 250 VSD+Pumping speed 250 m³/h 50 Hz250 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 7.5 kW 50 Hz7.5 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DWS 450 VSD+Pumping speed 450 m³/h 50 Hz450 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 11 kW 50 Hz11 kW 60 HzVariants 3
DWS 750 VSD+Pumping speed 740 m³/h 50 Hz740 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 0.01 mbarRated motor power 22 kW 50 Hz22 kW 60 HzVariants 3
DWS 160/1750 VSD+Pumping speed 1,200 m³/h 50 Hz1,200 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 1 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 12 kW 50 Hz12 kW 60 HzVariants 1
DWS 250/2600 VSD+Pumping speed 1,900 m³/h 50 Hz1,900 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 1 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 15 kW 50 Hz15 kW 60 HzVariants 1

Atlas Copco GVD series 13 models

GVD 0.7Pumping speed 0.75 m³/h 50 Hz0.95 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 3 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.09 kW 50 Hz0.09 kW 60 HzVariants 2
GVD 1.5Pumping speed 1.6 m³/h 50 Hz2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 3 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.16 kW 50 Hz0.16 kW 60 HzVariants 2
GVD 3Pumping speed 3.3 m³/h 50 Hz3.9 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.45 kW 50 Hz0.55 kW 60 HzVariants 4
GVD 5Pumping speed 5.1 m³/h 50 Hz6.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.45 kW 50 Hz0.55 kW 60 HzVariants 4
GVD 8Pumping speed 8.5 m³/h 50 Hz10 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.45 kW 50 Hz0.55 kW 60 HzVariants 5
GVD 12Pumping speed 12 m³/h 50 Hz14.2 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 2 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.45 kW 50 Hz0.55 kW 60 HzVariants 5
GVD 18Pumping speed 17 m³/h 50 Hz20.4 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 1 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.75 kW 50 Hz0.9 kW 60 HzVariants 3
GVD 28Pumping speed 27.5 m³/h 50 Hz33 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 1 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 0.75 kW 50 Hz0.9 kW 60 HzVariants 3
GVD 45Pumping speed 42 m³/h 50 Hz50 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 3 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 1.1 kW 50 Hz1.3 kW 60 HzVariants 1
GVD 65Pumping speed 60 m³/h 50 Hz72 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 3 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 1.5 kW 50 Hz1.8 kW 60 HzVariants 1
GVD 85Pumping speed 79 m³/h 50 Hz95 m³/h 60 HzUltimate pressure 3 × 10-3 mbarRated motor power 2.2 kW 50 Hz2.6 kW 60 HzVariants 1

Atlas Copco GVS VSD+ series 4 models

Atlas Copco ZRS series 5 models

Busch COBRA Industry series 36 models

Busch DOLPHIN series 70 models

Busch MINK series 32 models

Busch PANDA/PUMA series 26 models

Busch R5 series 58 models

Edwards E2M series 9 models

Edwards EDS series 3 models

Edwards EH series 5 models

Edwards GV series 2 models

Edwards nXRi series 5 models

Edwards RV series 8 models

Edwards XDS series 2 models

Leybold DRYVAC series 9 models

Leybold NEO D series 5 models

Leybold NOVADRY series 4 models

Leybold RUVAC WA/WAU series 8 models

Leybold RUVAC WH/WHU series 7 models

Leybold RUVAC WS/WSU series 8 models

Leybold SCREWLINE series 2 models

Leybold SOGEVAC series 23 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP series 4 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum DuoVane series 12 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum HiLobe series 17 models

Pfeiffer Vacuum HiScroll series 4 models

Model comparison

Models a manufacturer no longer carries in its current range are listed in its “Outdated models” section.

Industries

Freeze drying: where the manufacturers name it

The manufacturers list these uses on their own pages.

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Busch names lyophilisation below 1 hPa to protect heat-sensitive products with COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK, PANDA/PUMA and R5, Pfeiffer Vacuum the drying of vaccines under deep vacuum at 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa.

Industry page: Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology →

Food and beverage

Busch names the freeze drying of snacks for pets, in which sublimation removes the water; Edwards names shorter drying with less energy; Pfeiffer Vacuum the gentle drying of coffee and fruit below 0 °C.

Industry page: Food and beverage →

Chemicals

Busch names freeze drying for chemicals and pharmaceuticals with COBRA and R5 (plus APOVAC), Pfeiffer Vacuum with ACP, DuoVane, HiLobe and HiScroll.

Industry page: Chemicals →

Research, laboratory and analytics

For freeze drying in the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names a stable pressure without traces of oil with scroll and diaphragm pumps and the ACP, Busch COBRA, R5 and PANDA for analytics and laboratory.

Industry page: Research, laboratory and analytics →

Packaging

Leybold names drying and freeze drying in food processing and packaging: removal of water for storage at room temperature with NEO D, SOGEVAC with RUVAC, NOVADRY, DRYVAC and SCREWLINE.

Industry page: Packaging →

Frequently asked questions

Freeze drying: frequently asked questions

How does freeze drying work?

The product is frozen, the chamber is evacuated, and under vacuum the ice turns directly into water vapour – according to Busch, frozen water sublimates. The vapour freezes out again on the ice condenser, and the vacuum pump holds the chamber pressure. Busch names below 1 hPa for this, Pfeiffer Vacuum 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa.

What is lyophilisation?

Lyophilisation is the technical term for freeze drying: Busch and Pfeiffer Vacuum list both terms for the same application. According to Busch, it protects heat-sensitive products; Pfeiffer Vacuum names the drying of vaccines under deep vacuum.

How much vacuum does freeze drying need?

For lyophilisation, Busch names below 1 hPa, Pfeiffer Vacuum 0.5 to 10⁻² hPa for the freeze drying of food and pharmaceutical products.

Which vacuum pump for freeze drying?

Busch names R5, COBRA, DOLPHIN, MINK and PANDA/PUMA, Pfeiffer Vacuum ACP, DuoVane, HiLobe and HiScroll, Leybold NEO D, SOGEVAC with RUVAC, NOVADRY, DRYVAC and SCREWLINE. Edwards names E2M, RV, EDS, XDS, GV, nXRi and EH, Atlas Copco DWS, DWS VSD+, DRB, ZRS, GVD and GVS VSD+.

Oil-free or oil-lubricated for freeze drying?

Both are named. For the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names scroll and diaphragm pumps and the ACP with a stable pressure without traces of oil. Atlas Copco names rotary vane vacuum pumps (GVD, GVS VSD+) alongside DWS, Leybold NEO D and SOGEVAC alongside NOVADRY, DRYVAC and SCREWLINE.

Which vacuum pump for a laboratory freeze dryer?

For freeze drying in the laboratory, Pfeiffer Vacuum names scroll and diaphragm pumps and the ACP: a stable pressure without traces of oil. For analytics and laboratory, Busch names COBRA, R5 and PANDA.

Why is food freeze-dried?

According to Leybold, freeze drying removes the water so that food can be stored at room temperature. Pfeiffer Vacuum names the gentle drying of coffee and fruit below 0 °C, Busch the freeze drying of snacks for pets. As a benefit of the vacuum, Edwards names shorter drying with less energy.

At what temperature does freeze drying take place?

Below freezing point: the water remains ice and sublimates (Busch). Pfeiffer Vacuum names the drying of coffee and fruit below 0 °C.

What does the ice condenser do in freeze drying?

It freezes the water vapour from the product out as ice before the vapour reaches the vacuum pump. The pump then conveys only air and residual gas and holds the chamber pressure – Busch names below 1 hPa. After the cycle, the ice is defrosted.

What are the advantages of freeze drying under vacuum?

Busch names the protection of heat-sensitive products, Leybold the removal of water for storage at room temperature, Pfeiffer Vacuum gentle drying below 0 °C. Edwards names shorter drying with less energy.

A single pump or a central vacuum system?

A central system in a room of its own keeps noise and heat away from production and matches its output to the demand. Central vacuum systems are planned and built by Eugen Theis Vakuum, a company of the Ehrler & Beck group – more under Central Vacuum.

Does Ehrler & Beck also supply spare parts and service?

Yes. Ehrler & Beck offers original spare parts and accessories as well as maintenance and repair.

Which pump suits your process?

Tell us the application, the medium and the volume – we advise you on selection, spare parts and service.

Send an enquirySpare parts and accessoriesService