Cold accumulator is a cooling device in the form of a sealed container filled with a substance with a high heat capacity. Cold accumulators are used as the main cooling elements in cooler bags (thermal bags), thermal containers.
TYPES OF COLD ACCUMULATORS:
The following types of cold accumulators have found the greatest application: water, gel, water-salt and silicone. They differ in the type of filler.
- Cold accumulator based on distilled water. These cold accumulators are characterized by low efficiency.
- Gel cold accumulator is made of a dense film with a special gel inside. It can both maintain a low temperature and maintain a high temperature.
- A salt water-based cold accumulator is a plastic container with a saline solution, maintaining the temperature in the range from -20 to +8 °C.
GEL COLD ACCUMULATOR T-PACK
The most popular type of cold accumulators are T-PACK gel-type cold accumulators. What is gel cold accumulator T-PACK? The T-PACK gel cold accumulator is a sealed polyethylene bag with a density of 120 microns with a blue gel filling. In its unfrozen form, the gel has a soft, homogeneous structure; after freezing, the cold accumulator hardens. During defrosting, the gel gradually thaws, while having a structure similar to snow. Why are they the most popular? Gel cold accumulators have a number of advantages over other types of refrigerants.
ADVANTAGES OF GEL COLD ACCUMULATORS:
- Low cost;
- Long service life. (the shelf life is unlimited, but we recommend replacing the refrigerants once a year)
- Compared to other types of cold accumulators, they do not have a rapid defrosting phase. That is, the T-PACK gel cold accumulator defrosts and gives off its temperature gradually;
- Long working defrosting phase – up to 25 hours;
- Compact size;
- Manufacturing with an individual logo, size, shape, etc.
HOW LONG DO T-PACK GEL COLD ACCUMULATORS HOLD?
Let’s answer the most popular question of our customers. How long do T-PACK gel cold accumulators last and what factors affect the duration of the working phase of cold accumulators? In order to find out how long a gel cold accumulator will last, you must first:
- Calculate the volume of the thermal container, thermal bag or regular box in which the thermolabile products will be stored;
- Consider the ambient temperature around your thermal container, thermal bag, etc.;
- Consider the required temperature regime inside the thermal bag, thermal container, etc.;
- Consider the maximum period of time during which you need the temperature regime;
- Consider the type of refrigerator in which the freezing will be performed. (NoFrost freezers, for example, are capable of freezing to a lower temperature than drip freezers);
- Calculation of the required number of cold accumulators.
EXAMPLE OF VALIDATION OF THE T-PACK GEL COLD ACCUMULATOR.
Example of our research:
- A 4-liter thermocontainer is made of foam plastic. Wall thickness 15mm;
- Ambient temperature – room temperature +20 degrees Celsius;
- The required temperature inside the thermocontainer is standard for most medical products, not higher than +8 degrees Celsius;
- Storage time 24 hours.
- Freezing temperature -18 degrees Celsius.
- The required number of cold accumulators – 450g. For better efficiency, we use 2 gel cold accumulators of 230g each. One at the bottom of the thermocontainer, the other on top of the thermopack containing the medicine.
According to the data in as the temperature inside the thermocontainer rose to +7 over a period of 25 hours. Usually for household needs, it is recommended that the mass of cold accumulators be about 1 kg per 10 liters of the volume of the bag or thermobox.
USE OF COLD ACCUMULATORS IN MEDICINE.
Cold accumulators are used in the transportation and storage of vaccines, medical products, biological tissues (for example, blood) and are offered for several temperature levels. The most popular have the following freezing temperatures:
- −23 °C,
- −7 °C,
- +5 °C.