SP Industries has released the Virtis Wizard 2.0 controller with complete recipe management and full alarming.
The controller provides full process automation for the Virtis freeze dryer line, including Advantage, Genesis, and Ultra Lyophilisers.
Wizard 2.0 handles single or multiple refrigeration compressor applications.
Its microprocessor is fast enough to accommodate multiple temperature thermocouples, while providing instantaneous alarming for out-of-designed cycle conditions.
Any of 16 recipes can be selected and a large centre-stage LCD display precisely plots the profile of the directed shelf temperature, while providing a cycle progress bar graph.
The display continually scans all configured transducers.
If an alarm occurs, the display indicates the out-of-tolerance condition.
To minimise warming during the condenser and vacuum phases, the Wizard 2.0 controller can be configured in a special freeze assist mode.
Once configured, the controller can keep the product at the obtained freeze temperature until primary drying conditions are achieved.
The Wizard 2.0 configuration and software allows the freeze-drying cycle to be either shelf driven or product driven.
In the product-driven mode, Wizard 2.0 uses the product temperature average to determine if freeze conditions have been achieved and when to advance from primary to secondary drying.
When shelf driven, the Wizard 2.0 directs drying through a shelf temperature profile.
Product temperature probes can be utilised to monitor cycle conditions.
Users desiring more functionality in future can add on the Wizard Workstation.
This option includes a recipe manager that reads and downloads recipes by name, an interactive synoptic screen, and a historical trending package that works with Windows 98, NT or 2000, ME or XP.
