Types and rules of using the cold accumulator

Who among us has not dreamed on a hot summer day of a bottle of cold water when traveling in a car. Few people can afford a refrigeration unit in their own car, and a thermal bag with a cold accumulator is quite accessible to every traveler.

What is a cold accumulator

Thermal bags are used not only by ordinary people, but also by professional carriers of medicines and foodstuffs who need a certain storage temperature during transportation.

Manufacturers offer several options for thermal containers with different refrigerants for the cooler bag: these are items that are designed to transport frozen meat, fish and chicken or chilled drinks, medicines or hot meals.

The containers are produced in flat and rectangular shapes to create a larger surface for cold condensation. Depending on the filler, the container can be plastic or made of a strong polymer film, which takes the necessary shape for maximum contact with freezing.

The containers are made of food grade polypropylene, which does not absorb odors and is safe in contact with cold frosts and hot meals.

All refrigerants, even in case of accidental contact with transported products, are absolutely safe for human health and have different thermal conductivity, which determines how long the temperature regime is kept in the bag.

Types of cold accumulators

Manufacturers offer several types of ice packs that are used to fill containers in an isothermal bag. The use of elements depends on the size of the bag and the volumes transported in it, the required transport time and the temperature required to maintain freshness.

Refrigerant characteristics:

• Water-salt. The solution is able to maintain a temperature range from -20 to +5 degrees for twenty hours. It is poured into plastic containers with a sealed lid. Convenient in that the filler can be prepared independently, but if the solution accidentally gets into freezing, it can spoil it, so plastic containers are additionally packed in sealed bags.
• Gel. A versatile composition that can be used both for chilled and frozen products and for transporting hot meals. The gel is filled into strong bags made of polymer film or nylon, which keep the temperature from + 80 to - 5 degrees during the day.The gel filler is absolutely safe if it gets on the food. If it is necessary to maintain a hot state, the helium refrigerant is heated in a microwave oven; the manufacturers indicate the heating time and temperature on the container.
• Silicone. The filler is made of special polymers with silicon crystals, which are able to maintain a temperature range from 0 to +2 degrees for six days. Such refrigerants are used on long hikes and by professional drug carriers for guaranteed safety and delivery.

Important! The time for keeping food at the temperature indicated by the manufacturer depends on the volume of the load and the frequency of opening the bag during the trip.

The containers are made in volumes from 0.2 to 0.8 liters, depending on the capacity of the bag, they can be combined, used in unlimited quantities.

How to use a cold accumulator

Many people think, looking at a small bag, a cold accumulator for a thermal bag, how to use it and how to store it, because we do not often go on trips in which we need it.

The principle of operation is very simple, and for recharging it is enough to have a freezer.

Correct use and storage of refrigerants:

• Put the fixture in the freezer for 8-12 hours, complete freezing and readiness for use depends on the type of refrigerant inside the container.
• Place the food you need to cool into the thermal bag and cover with batteries. If the volume of products is small and the travel time is short, then one container on top will be sufficient. But it is desirable that there are several of them, then they will interact with each other and work much longer.
• After use, you must wash the container with running water, dry it and put it in the freezer for charging and next use. The periods of use and charging of containers with refrigerants are not limited, the main thing is to store them in a dark place at low temperatures, the freezer is quite suitable.

Note! How to use a cold accumulator when it is not needed for its intended use. It will help your refrigerator. Put the battery in the freezer for storage, it will accumulate cold inside and freeze food faster. The battery will give off cold in the event of a power outage and is able to maintain a stable temperature for 12 hours, the safety of products is guaranteed.

How to make a cold accumulator with your own hands

If there is a need for a trip, but there are no thermal bags with batteries, then you can make them yourself. Take an ordinary bag and line it with a piece of thin insulation with a reflective layer of lavsan or food foil inside, and the battery can be prepared from available tools that are at home.

How to prepare a cold accumulator with your own hands:

• Add 500 g of table salt to one liter of heated water, stir until completely dissolved, pour into a plastic bottle and freeze. Such a refrigerant will work for about 12 hours, and maintain the temperature from -20 to 0 degrees.
• For a liter of water, add 200 g of Glauber's salt and 10-15 g of wallpaper glue, heat slightly until a helium substance is formed and put in the freezer for 8 hours. Such a composition is able to maintain a temperature of -10 degrees for about 20 hours.
• Cook a not very thick ordinary paste made of flour, starch or gelatin, pour into a container and freeze. Or dissolve 40 grams of wallpaper glue in one liter of water.These compounds withstand 12 hours and maintain a temperature of about 0 degrees.
• The easiest way to preserve food on a trip before a picnic is to freeze a bottle of vodka or alcohol dissolved in water. Vodka freezes in the freezer for about 12 hours, keeps the temperature -2-0 degrees for 8 hours. It will also be useful in nature.

Refrigerant compounds can be poured into a plastic bottle, juice bag or rubber heating pad, as long as they are hermetically sealed.

During transportation, condensation forms on containers, so it is better to wrap them with a soft terry towel and wrap them in a bag, so they will give off cold longer, and the liquid will not accumulate at the bottom of the bag.

Selection and use of alternative cold storage accumulators

The choice depends on the frequency of use, the duration of travel, the volume of the thermal bag and the products transported. If you need to bring the frost to a summer cottage or resting place, you can get by with a homemade bag and a battery. You can use a self-made refrigerant an unlimited number of times, the main thing is to store it in the freezer after use.

Factory-made cold accumulators are more convenient and more compact than home-made counterparts. If your travels are regular, then it is better to purchase a bag with a set of refrigerant containers. Manufacturers calculate the number of required cold storage accumulators for the volume of the isothermal bag.

The main thing is not to overload the thermal bag, the products should be at a short distance from each other so that the battery can fit between the packages and do not use containers with mechanical damage.

An insulated bag with cold accumulators, if handled carefully, you will use for a long time, it will provide you with cool drinks and fresh food on the hottest summer day.

VIDEO: 5 simple DIY cold accumulators.