Background and Identification
A freeze dryer which is also called a lyophilizer, is a type of lab equipment that dehydrates materials with a low temperature process. First, the item is frozen, then in the second phase sublimation occurs which is when the substance transitions from a solid to a gas state and skips the liquid state. The last phase is the secondary drying phase which is also called adsorption. The purpose of the freeze dryer is to preserve perishable materials.
There are many types of freeze dryers available but all of them have similar components. They all have a vacuum chamber, shelves, process condenser, shelf-fluid system, refrigeration system, vacuum system, and control system.
In a lab or health care environment a freeze dryer might be used for blood plasma, enzymes, proteins or strains of bacteria.
Additional Information
Wikipedia: Freeze-drying
Millrock Technology: What is a Lyophilizer?