A cold accumulator is a cooling device in the form of a hermetically sealed container filled with a substance with a high heat capacity. Cold accumulators are used as the main cooling elements in refrigerator bags (thermal bags) and thermal containers.
TYPES OF COLD STORAGE DEVICES:
The most commonly used types of cold storage are water, gel, water-salt and silicone. They differ by the type of filler.
- A cold storage device based on distilled water. These cold accumulators are not very efficient.
- A gel cold storage device is made of a dense film with a special gel inside. It can both maintain a low temperature and keep an elevated temperature.
- A saltwater-based cold storage device is a plastic container with a saline solution that maintains a temperature between -20 and +8 °C.
T-PACK GEL COLD STORAGE DEVICE
The most popular type of refrigerant accumulator is the T-PACK gel refrigerant accumulator. What is a T-PACK gel refrigerant accumulator? The T-PACK gel refrigerant accumulator is a sealed plastic bag with a density of 120 mesh with a blue gel filling. When not frozen, the gel has a soft, homogeneous structure; after freezing, the cold storage device hardens. During the defrosting process, the gel gradually thaws, having a structure similar to snow. Why are they the most popular? Gel refrigerant accumulators have a number of advantages over other types of refrigerants.
ПЕРЕВАГИ OF GEL COLD STORAGE:
- Low cost;
- Long service life (unlimited shelf life, but we recommend replacing refrigerants once a year)
- Compared to other types of cold storage, they do not have a rapid defrost phase. This means that the T-PACK gel coolant accumulator defrosts and releases its temperature gradually;
- The defrosting phase lasts up to 25 hours;
- Compact size;
- Production with an individual logo, size, shape, etc.
HOW LONG DO T-PACK GEL COLD STORAGE BATTERIES LAST?
Let us answer the most popular question from our customers. How long do T-PACK gel cold storage batteries last and what factors affect the duration of the working phase of cold storage batteries? In order to find out how long a gel cold storage battery will last, first of all, you need to know how long it will last:
- Calculate the volume of the thermal container, thermal bag or regular box in which the thermal lab products will be stored;
- Consider the ambient temperature around your thermal container, thermal bag, etc;
- Take into account the required temperature conditions inside the thermal bag, thermal container, etc;
- Take into account the maximum period of time for which you need the temperature regime;
- Consider the type of refrigerator that will be used for freezing. (NoFrost freezers, for example, are capable of freezing to a lower temperature than drip freezers);
- Calculation of the required number of cold storage batteries.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE VALIDATION OF A T-PACK GEL COLD STORAGE DEVICE.
An example of our research:
- The 4-litre thermocontainer is made of foam. The wall thickness is 15 mm;
- The ambient temperature is room temperature +20 degrees Celsius;
- The required temperature inside the thermocontainer is standard for most medicines, no higher than +8 degrees Celsius;
- Shelf life is 24 hours.
- The freezing point is -18 degrees Celsius.
- The required amount of cold storage batteries is 450g. For better efficiency, use 2 gel cold accumulators of 230g each. One on the bottom of the thermocontainer, the other on top of the thermopack containing the medicine.
Under these conditions, the temperature inside the thermocontainer rose to +7 over a period of 25 hours. Usually, for household needs, it is recommended that the weight of cold storage devices should be about 1kg per 10 litres of bag or thermobox volume.
THE USE OF COLD STORAGE IN MEDICINE.
Cold storage devices are used in the transport and storage of vaccines, medicines, biological tissues (e.g. blood) and are available in several temperature levels. The most popular ones have the following freezing temperatures:
- -23 °C,
- −7 °C,
- +5 °C.