Vacuum drying oven, also referred as vacuum dryer or vacuum oven, is used for performing drying operations which generally comprise of removal of moisture from materials. In the medical industry, vacuum drying is used to speed up the water removal process from thick latex catheters. In the food industry, it is a valuable technology to convert the waste food into fertilizers. In the electronics industry, a special heating process is used to dry electronic chips. Meanwhile in the automotive industry, vacuum vaporizer is used at oil separation of cleaning or washing processing.
Working principle of vacuum drying oven
The working principle behind the operation of a vacuum drying oven involves substantially lowering the ambient pressure to decrease the boiling point of the liquid in the substance via the use of a vacuum pump. A considerable reduction in boiling point increases the rate of evaporation of the liquid and hence fastens the drying rate of the substance. Moreover, lowering the boiling point indicates that operating temperatures could be much lower as compared to regular air oven. Hence, heat sensitive substances could be dried with minimal effect to their physical or chemical properties. Additionally, lack of air (or oxygen) during the drying process significantly reduces the chances of substance oxidation.
Application of vacuum drying oven
Vacuum drying chambers are used in many areas of science and industry in order to dry heat-sensitive materials quickly and effectively.
Conventional drying processes can damage heat-sensitive materials such as food, medication, chemicals or electronic components, or change their product properties. Carrying out the drying process in a vacuum drying chamber reduces this risk to a minimum. Vacuum drying is one of the most effective and gentle drying methods available. The aim of this method is to gently dry a high-grade product that contains water or a solvent without endangering the materials. Drying in a vacuum drying chamber is particularly recommended for compounds containing flammable solvents. Due to the oxygen in the air in particular, these compounds often develop an explosive atmosphere during the drying process. This is prevented when dried in a vacuum drying chamber. Vacuum drying also minimizes the risk of scaling or oxidation residue.
In the vacuum-drying process, the material to be dried is subjected to a reduced pressure environment, which reduces the boiling point and aids evaporation of the water or capillary transport. The targeted supply of heat and pressure control optimizes the drying process. Another positive effect is the low energy costs, as the vacuum makes it possible to dry materials at very low temperatures.
