Plant Polysaccharide Functional Food Freeze Drying — Aloe Vera CVD-5000 Project Data
Engineering parameters for freeze drying high-polysaccharide plant extracts: aloe vera, goji berry,灵芝. CVD-5000 real production data: 10,000L/day aloe gel → 50kg freeze-dried powder.
High-polysaccharide plant extracts behave completely differently from fruits or meat in the freeze dryer. The molecular structure forms a viscous gel network that traps water in three dimensions. Using strawberry or chicken breast programs on these materials results in collapse, incomplete sublimation, and structural failure.
Aloe Vera Concentrate — CVD-5000 Production Data
Customer requirement: Process 10,000L/day aloe vera gel (0.5% solids) → 50kg/day freeze-dried powder as functional food ingredient.
Pre-treatment
| Process | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Gel separation | Manual trimming → pulping → 60-mesh screen |
| RO concentration | 0.5% → 7% solids (10,000L→715L/day) |
| Pre-freeze | Plate freezer, ≤-50°C, -20°C/min |
| Loading | 7mm liquid layer, 7.15 kg/m², SUS304 trays |
Freeze Drying Parameters
| Phase | Parameter | Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimation | Shelf start temp | -30°C | Prevent surface crusting |
| Ramp rate | 1-3°C/h | Prevent collapse | |
| Shelf end temp | 0-10°C | Below collapse temp | |
| Chamber pressure | ≤15Pa (best 5-10Pa) | Max sublimation drive | |
| Cold trap temp | ≤-55°C | 10°C margin below eutectic | |
| Desorption | Shelf temp | 10-20°C | Remove bound water |
| Duration | 6-8h | Final moisture ≤5% | |
| Chamber pressure | ≤15Pa | Maintain gradient |
Total cycle: 20-26h (7mm liquid layer — 30% faster than 10mm).
Equipment Configuration (2× CVD-5000)
| Item | Per Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf area | 50 m² | 100 m² |
| Batch load | 357 kg concentrate | 714 kg/day |
| Cold trap | -55~-60°C | Dual-trap switching |
| Refrigeration | Two-stage screw, R404A, ~30kW | ~60kW |
| Vacuum | Roots+rotary vane | Ultimate ≤5Pa |
| Total power | ~70kW | ~140kW |
Other Plant Extracts Parameters
Goji Berry: Eutectic -28~-35°C, cold trap -45~-50°C, cycle 16-20h. Wax coating slows sublimation — 85°C/30s hot water dip improves drying rate 25-30%.
Mushroom Extracts (Reishi/Lion’s Mane/Cordyceps): Liquid extract loading 5-6 kg/m², cold trap -55°C, cycle 22-28h. High β-glucan content (15-25%) requires a 4-6h low-temperature hold at -25°C during sublimation.
Minimum Equipment Requirements
| Item | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Cold trap temp | -55°C | -60°C |
| Ultimate vacuum | ≤15Pa | ≤5Pa |
| Temp control precision | 1°C/h step | 0.5°C/h step |
| Contact material | SUS304 | SUS316L for acidic extracts |
| Dual cold trap | Required >10m² | Recommended >5m² |
The Yuanxian CVD series supports programmable 0.5°C/h ramp rates with cold traps down to -65°C (cascade refrigeration), specifically designed for high-polysaccharide functional food materials.
Yuanxian Machinery — Data from actual CVD-5000 project, June 2026 | www.vacuum-fresh.com