Types of cold accumulators and rules for their use
With the arrival of summer, an item like a cooler bag becomes particularly relevant. They can store food and keep drinks chilled for a long time, even in very hot weather. In order for the bag to cool the contents, special cold accumulators are used. So what is a cold battery, and what types are they?
Cold Battery Types
Cold accumulators are special containers filled with a special substance with a high heat capacity. They can be divided into three groups according to the type of substance used. Each group has certain advantages and disadvantages.
Gel
This is probably the most common and popular type. They are made of durable film and filled with a special gel-like composition. Usually, it is based on carboxymethylcellulose. This substance is completely safe, even if leakage occurs, therefore it is allowed for use during the transportation of drugs. Moreover, it should be said that batteries of this type can act as not only cooling, but also heating elements. They have the ability to keep any temperature well, both low and high.
Silicone
Externally, they can be confused with gel, because they have the form of the same dense packages, only inside them there is a special silicone filler. Their peculiarity is that such batteries have a small temperature range - from 0 to + 2 °, however they can keep it for several days - up to 7 days.
Saline
These are small plastic containers that are filled with a water-salt solution. They can keep the temperature not so long - about a day. But this type has a wider temperature range - from -20 to + 8 °.
The principle of operation of cold accumulators
Regardless of the type, each cold accumulator for portable refrigerators and thermoboxes works according to the general scheme. In order to cool it and get the desired temperature, first the container must be placed in the freezer for a while. It usually takes a couple of hours. After that, it can be placed in a cooler bag, where it will help maintain the desired temperature, increasing the cooling time of the products. Depending on the volume of the bag, one or several cold accumulators may be required.
It is worth noting that gel options can be used as heating elements. To do this, mark the container for a few minutes in the microwave, after which you should also put it in your bag. Only in this case, the battery will keep the inside of the isothermal box or bag warm, warming food or drinks, which is especially important in cold weather in autumn or winter.
Features of the selection and operation of different types of cold batteries
It is obvious that various types of cold accumulators have certain advantages and disadvantages, which are determined, first, by the range of supported temperature and the time of work. Therefore, when choosing a suitable option, you must first clearly decide for yourself what you plan to use it for:
- Silicone type is ideal for long battery life.
- For use both in summer and winter - gel will do. So you can get both cool drinks and hot sandwiches.
- If you need to be able to maintain a very low temperature, then it is best to use salt containers.
As for the optimal volume, it should be calculated taking into account the proportion: 1 liter per 10 liters of thermo bag volume.
A cold battery can be useful for a home refrigerator, but few people know about it. For example, if you put several such containers in the freezer, it will help. Temperature fluctuations can occur with frequent opening of the door or with a large volume of loaded products. This prolongs the life of the refrigerator, since the compressor has to switch on less often. In addition, when the battery is turned off, the cold battery will maintain the desired temperature in the refrigerator compartment for a long time.
The use of cold accumulators is also relevant when transporting medicines. Many drugs can be stored only at low temperatures, otherwise they lose their healing properties. That is why for the transportation of many drugs are often used thermal coolers with cold accumulators. This is very convenient, as when transporting a small amount of drugs there is no need to use bulky refrigeration units, and the drug can be delivered to the patient at any destination point chilled. For these purposes, any type of cold batteries are suitable.
Their important feature in a very long service life - with careful respect to the shelf life of such elements is almost unlimited. They can be frozen and thawed repeatedly.
You can always choose the appropriate option in our online store. Our catalog contains a variety of options that are suitable for thermobags of any size. You can buy a cold battery with delivery to Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov and throughout Ukraine on 130.com.ua.