How to use a cold accumulator for a refrigerator bag

A cold accumulator is a cooling device that is a container filled inside with a substance with high heat capacity. These devices are often used as the main cooling elements in cooler bags, car refrigerators, thermal containers, etc. Therefore, cold accumulators are called thermal bags, car refrigerators, and the like. But this is not entirely correct. The cold accumulator is only an integral part of the above-mentioned devices. To put it simply, we can call it a cold element in all these devices. In this article we will look at how a cold storage battery works, its types, some models and owner reviews.

What is a cold accumulator

The system consists of an active substance - a special solution of carboxymethylcellulose. Before use, the solution is cooled to the desired temperature. The thermal bag refrigerator, where cold accumulators are used, has turned into a constant companion for lovers of hiking trips. You can store food in it for a long period of time and cool carbonated drinks.

The device is equipped with bags made of high-strength plastic containing a solution of carboxymethylcellulose. For example, a cold accumulator for a thermal bag, which includes a silicone filler. It freely maintains temperature (0–5 degrees) for approximately 48 hours. Using a portable refrigerator equipped with such a device is quite easy.

To start using such a device, it is first kept in the freezer until the filler freezes. When frozen, the filler is placed in a thermal bag together with the necessary products. The device will begin to remove heat and maintain the desired temperature value.

How to use the cold accumulator after the “cold cell” has finished freezing? First, it is washed with clean water, then, to recharge, it is sent to the freezer. Large refrigeration systems are produced only from materials that meet environmental requirements. There are no toxic substances in them, so storing food in these bags is not dangerous.

If the thermal bag will not be used for a long time, it should be stored in any cool place where it cannot be exposed to direct sunlight. If stored properly, a portable refrigerator with a battery can be used for a long period of time.

For a large-volume thermal bag, several devices are used. One is lowered down, other products are placed between the products, the last one is placed on top.

Similar devices have also found application in home refrigerators. Thanks to them, the refrigerator compartment maintains a constant temperature. The compressor starts to turn on less frequently. The freezing gets stronger. In the event of an unexpected power outage, the food does not have time to spoil; such freezing lasts for 24 hours.

There is no isothermal chamber that can operate without installing such a battery. Only after purchasing ice cream does it become clear how much such freezing lasts. In hot weather, ice cream does not melt and remains very frozen for a long time.

Such thermal bags have become indispensable in the medical industry. They carry:

Blood plasma.
Medicines.
Biological material.

Thermal bag with foil

Most often, this option is used to preserve chilled food in particularly hot weather. The reflective ability of the foil protects against sunlight and reduces its effect on the temperature inside the device.

If the inner surface of the container is made of such material, this increases the thermal insulation qualities of the bag. Such devices usually cost more, but they are more effective than regular bags. Choosing the option with foil is useful if you often go on long trips.

Composition and types of cold accumulators

On what principle the operation and functioning of a cold accumulator is based is easy to understand only after studying its structure. The kit includes:

Capacity.
Water.
Special additives.
Dye (for aesthetics).

The container can be a plastic or glass bottle, for example, after soda. The filler consists of water, which creates volume by acting as a solvent. Another component is:

Carboxymethylcellulose;
Isopropyl alcohol;
Glycerol.

The main task of the additional substance is considered to be to increase the heat capacity. The liquid will begin to freeze when the temperature is well below zero degrees. In other words, it will melt much later. Products will stay fresh longer.

Cold storage batteries, depending on their composition, are divided into groups:

Silicone. These systems are used to maintain sub-zero temperatures in a thermal bag. They are characterized by increased efficiency. Capable of maintaining zero degrees in a container for a long time. In stores they are sold in plastic bags along with filler.
Gel battery. Used in refrigeration units of modern cars. The positive side of the gel filler is its ability not to spread out of the plastic container if damaged. These systems are capable of reducing or increasing the temperature of the container. Such devices are considered absolutely safe and show good performance.
Saline. The model is designed to maintain sub-zero temperatures. The batteries are capable of maintaining minus ten degrees in the container for approximately 24 hours. Unfortunately, after the container is damaged, the liquid can spill out and the food will be spoiled. Positive properties include the ability to add water, if, of course, the design allows it.

Cold storage

Civilization develops best in the cold. It is unknown why, but this is how it happened historically. The southern hemisphere cannot boast of highly developed and technological countries, for the most part.

The northern regions, in this regard, are ahead of their neighbors, because in colder conditions:

Some relaxation associated with abundant harvests in the southern regions leads to a slowdown in the process of state building. People simply don’t need to unite into communities; they will survive anyway. But regardless of living conditions, they haven’t come up with anything better than cold to preserve their food:

Selection and most popular models

Modern online stores offer a wide range of refrigeration devices. How to choose the right cold storage battery, what parameters need to be taken into account in order to purchase a good system? When choosing, you need to consider several parameters:

Design features;
Type of filler.
Volume.

All fillers have the same color - blue. Color does not affect battery performance. It has no special functional load. The shade depends on the color of the dye. If the filler is of a different color, you should not pay attention to this when purchasing. The volume of all models is almost the same, it is in the range of 250-800 ml.

The industry produces batteries that can be stored for a long time. But only if all storage rules are strictly followed. The TOP rating of cold storage batteries contains many models. The most popular are:

Russian products with helium filler. They maintain sub-zero temperatures inside the thermal container for about three days. The body is made of PVC, resistant to various mechanical influences.

Ezetil Ice Akku. Imported cooling system. Differs from similar systems in its small thickness. As a result, free space is saved. The battery is capable of maintaining a temperature in the range of -25 - +55 degrees for 24 hours.

Ezetil Soft Ice. Imported device equipped with helium filler. The thermal bag is used to create sub-zero temperatures or positive temperatures. To get cold, the bag should be in the refrigerator for two to three hours. To create a positive temperature, it is kept in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The resulting temperature is stored in the thermal container for about 10-15 hours.

Arctic. The bag is produced at Russian enterprises. The main advantage of the device is fast freezing. The basis is a saline solution placed in a plastic case.

Green Glade. The device is made in China on a helium base. Buyers are attracted by the low cost. Usually within 300 rubles. The advantage of the container is the formation of the desired temperature, which does not change for a long time. The bag has one serious drawback. The gel is stored in a thin plastic bag that may burst.

Choosing the right battery

When choosing a cold storage battery, it is important to consider that the characteristic blue color does not have any functional properties: this effect is provided by the dye. The lifespan of industrially manufactured batteries is unlimited. Manufacturers guarantee environmental friendliness and safety of materials that do not change their characteristics depending on time and sudden temperature fluctuations. Typically, the capacity of a standard battery is 250-800 ml.

When choosing a battery for your needs, take into account its parameters: volume, design, filler composition.

How to make a cold accumulator yourself

A homemade device cannot compete with factory products. Its properties are much worse. However, it will be useful for a short trip. How can you make a cold accumulator with your own hands so that the costs are minimal?

The simplest option for making it at home can be any bottle containing frozen water. The disadvantage of this design is that the ice melts too quickly. Therefore, the sub-zero temperature in the thermal bag does not remain for very long. In order for the temperature to remain unchanged much longer, alcohol must be added to the water. In case of absence, alcohol can successfully replace ordinary salt.

The ratio of the proportions of the components is taken at the rate of 10:3, that is, for 100 grams of water you need to add 30 grams of salt. The freezing point of the solution is approximately minus 20 degrees. There are times when water does not freeze at all. The problem can be solved simply by draining a small volume of solution and adding clean water instead.

A concentrated salt solution has a thermal conductivity of about 236 kJ/kg. This value can be easily increased, and the freezing point value will remain unchanged.

You can add gelatin to the saline solution; wallpaper glue is also suitable. The solution should have a gel-like consistency. Such a battery will melt much more slowly compared to other similar systems.

To achieve a higher effect, a homemade battery created with your own hands must be placed downwards and also on top of the contents of the bag. If necessary, such bags can be placed between products.

To determine the composition of the filler, factory workers use special formulas. This is what distinguishes the technical performance of factory-made products from home-made ones. And yet, homemade batteries become a great help when it is necessary to transport medications or products over long distances.

How to choose the right cold accumulator for a refrigerator bag

Before purchasing a system, it is very important to always remember that the bluish tint of the filler does not serve any purpose. The dye gives this color. Industrial batteries are produced without a specific service life. There are no time restrictions.

Thermal containers are made from non-toxic materials that meet modern environmental requirements. Their properties are not affected by sudden temperature changes or natural disasters. A standard battery is available in volumes ranging from 250–800 ml.

Factory products are equipped with the most powerful refrigerant - carboxymethylcellulose. While absorbing cold, it quickly cools down to negative temperatures, preserving the accumulated energy. Moreover, the product itself can be in the form of a solution or liquid helium. The helium structure is much more effective, however, the cost of the agent will be an order of magnitude higher.

The thermos bag is equipped with pockets for installing a flat container that acts as a refrigerator. Their number depends on the dimensions of the thermos. In order for the refrigerant to reach working condition, it must be kept in the cold for approximately 12 hours.

Good to know! If you pour a highly concentrated salt solution into a heating pad, you will get a kind of cold accumulator that does not have much of an effect.

The volume of the refrigerating chamber for which the bag is designed must be indicated on the battery case. The device remains usable until the seal of the housing is broken. That is why it is necessary to handle the battery carefully, especially when it is severely frozen.

When choosing an insulated bag, you need to consider how it will be transported to its destination. The volume of the cooler bag in the car reaches 50 liters; it will be very difficult to carry it manually.

When choosing a container, you should always remember that if the volume is large, the thermal bag contains several batteries. Consequently, products can be stored much longer.

Coolers for insulated bags

The refrigerant of thermal bags (cold accumulator) will help preserve the desired freshness of food in an insulated bag on hot summer days. The storage unit itself will be required if you need to maintain a certain temperature for a long time, which exceeds the capabilities of the bag.

The thermal container itself can withstand temperatures for 2-3 hours. But if travel time is longer than this, food and drinks may spoil. During the trip, a coolant should be placed in the thermal bag, which will maintain the temperature even longer.

Video on cold storage batteries

How to get the most out of your thermal bag

We already know how to make elements for a cooler bag. Following the following rules for their use will help to significantly extend the shelf life of products:

Products should be placed in a bag already cooled.
Items with an agent are best placed at the bottom, others can be placed among the products.
The food container must be filled completely. It is better to use cold elements; ice containers will also work.
It is advisable to additionally protect the bag with groceries from heat: wrap it in a blanket or foil insulator.
Try to place it where there is no direct exposure to the sun.
The less often you open the bag, the longer the cold will remain. With reasonable use of the device, it lasts for two days.

Source

What is a cold accumulator and how does it work?

The active substance in cold storage batteries is a solution of carboxymethylcellulose. It is kept in the freezer before use to cool to the required temperature. Thermal bags with cold accumulators are often used by motorists and travelers who store food and drinks in them. In such auto-refrigerators or thermal containers, products are placed together with durable plastic bags with a carboxymethylcellulose solution. These are the cold storage batteries, which can be seen in the photo below.

After this “cool element” has exhausted itself, it is taken out, washed with water and put back in the freezer to prepare for further use. Modern cold storage batteries are made from safe, environmentally friendly materials that do not harm the stored products. If they are not used for a long time, it is better to put them in the freezer or other cool place, protected from sunlight.

If storage rules are not violated, the service life of cold storage batteries is practically unlimited. If you have a large cooler bag, you may need several of these devices. In this case, one cold accumulator is placed on the bottom, one on top, and also several pieces between the layers of food.

Cold storage batteries can also be used in household refrigerators. Due to them, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is stabilized and, as a result, the compressor turns on and off less often. This increases the freezing power and storage time of food in the refrigerator when it is disconnected from electricity. Another area of use is isothermal chambers, which are used in the sale of ice cream, soda water, beer, etc. Cold storage batteries are also used in devices for storing and transporting vaccines, blood and biological tissues, various drugs, etc.

What is

Batteries for a cooler bag are similar in appearance to small-sized containers with a flat configuration. The products are filled with a special liquid, which often contains a solution of carboxymethylcellulose and tends to freeze quickly. Typically the device is made rectangular or square. Sometimes it is a dense package that can take on any necessary configuration.

Before you start using the device, it is sent to a special freezer until it is completely cooled. The refrigerant for the bag is used by tourists, car owners, field workers, summer residents and picnic fans. The wide functionality and great popularity are due to the fact that cold batteries for a cooler bag can maintain a temperature from 0 to -5 degrees for up to 72 hours.

The shape of the device is determined by considerations of compactness. In addition, it allows you to create a large contact surface, which ensures the main function of maintaining the required temperature.

To understand how a cooler bag works, you need to know what elements are inside the cooling battery itself. Its design consists of several parts:

plastic container;
refrigerant for cooler bags.

The latter, in addition to water, includes several additives:

glycerol;
C3H8O (isopropyl alcohol);
regular salt;
carboxymethylcellulose.

These substances increase the heat capacity of water. The temperature at which the mixture freezes drops quickly and can reach 5 degrees below zero. Simply put, cold generators for a cooler bag accumulate negative t at the first stage, after which they cool the food inside.

Composition and types of cold storage batteries

What is included in the cold accumulator? This device consists of two main parts: a plastic container and a solution that is poured into it. The solution consists of water and one of the substances listed below.

Glycerol;
Carboxymethylcellulose;
Isopropyl alcohol;
Salt.

All these chemical additives solve the problem of increasing the heat capacity of water. As a result, the freezing point of such a solution drops significantly below 0 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the cold storage battery fully lives up to its name. It first accumulates cold and then releases it in a thermal container to food or other cooled objects.

Silicone. This option is most often used to maintain a lower temperature in the thermal bag. Quite effective models that can maintain the temperature in the container at about 0 degrees for a week. Typically, these models are sold in film bags with filler;
Gel. This option is often used in car refrigerators. Among the significant advantages for motorists is that the gel filler does not leak out of the plastic container if damaged. Moreover, gel cold accumulators can both lower and increase the temperature inside the container. We can say that these are the safest and most efficient cold storage batteries;
Saline. These models are used to maintain serious freezing in a thermal container. They allow you to maintain temperatures down to minus 10 degrees Celsius throughout the day. Their disadvantage is obvious: if the container is damaged, the liquid will spill out and spoil the objects cooled in the container. The plus is that water can be added to the container if necessary (if the design allows).

Properties of cold sources

For the production of the storage devices in question, only safe polymer materials that do not threaten human health are used. The capacity of magazine devices is generally from 0.25 to 0.8 liters.

The use of a film surface allows you to give sources that have not yet frozen the desired shape. In addition, temperature changes do not have a negative effect on them.

The outer part of the gel devices is made of film, and the substance of the same name, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as a filler.

The use of gel cold sources allows you to create an area of low temperatures (inside the container, bag), as well as maintain a certain temperature of the products, so that they can remain warm longer.

Carboxymethylcellulose, which is a gel-forming substance, in case of damage to the film and accidental contact with food or medicine, does not spoil them and does not have a negative effect on the human body.

When choosing water-salt devices, you need to remember that the seal of the plastic container may be broken, and the liquid may leak into the bag and thereby spoil the food.

A silicone cold storage battery has a number of advantages: the material used for its manufacture is quite durable, and the filler contains polymers containing silicon crystals. The temperature in the bag when using storage devices of this type remains within the range of 0 to 2 degrees for quite a long time (up to 160 hours).

If you are planning a long trip, as well as transporting perishable foods and medicines, the storage of which is possible only at certain temperatures, preference should be given to more reliable sources. If necessary, you can put several drives in one bag.

Selection and examples of models

Today you can buy a variety of cold storage batteries in online stores. The main parameters to consider when choosing are listed below.

Almost all cold storage battery fillers are blue in color. But this does not matter and the color does not carry any functional load. It depends on the dye added. Therefore, if you find cold storage batteries with red or other colored filler on sale, you can buy them without any problems. The volume of most models offered on the market today ranges from 250 to 800 milliliters.

Almost all industrial-made cold storage batteries have an unlimited shelf life. Of course, subject to the rules for storing them when not in use. Many manufacturers of such models guarantee the safety of the materials from which they are made, as well as environmental friendliness.

Let's take a quick look at some common models on the market.

This is a Russian-made cold storage battery with a gel filler. Capable of maintaining the temperature in a thermal container at about 0 degrees for several days. Among the advantages is the body of this device. It is made of high-density polyvinyl chloride, which makes it resistant to shock and drops.
Ezetil Ice Akku. This cold storage battery is imported. Among the features, it is worth highlighting the small thickness, which saves space in the thermal bag. In addition, this model is distinguished by a wide range of supported temperatures. With its help, you can maintain a temperature from minus 25 to plus 55 Celsius during the day ;
Ezetil Soft Ice. Cold accumulator with gel filler from the same manufacturer. Can be used to create both cold and heat in a thermal bag. In the first case, it is kept in the refrigerator for several hours, and in the second case, in boiling water for several minutes. These models maintain the temperature in the thermal container well during the first 10-15 hours;
Arctic. These are products of a Russian manufacturer. These cold storage batteries are based on a saline solution, which is placed in a plastic case. Among the advantages, it is worth noting the quick preparation of the device for operation. That is, quick freezing.
Green Glade. This is a Chinese gel-based cold storage battery. Attracted, first of all, by the cost, which lies in the range of 200-300 rubles. However, the plastic bag containing the gel is easily damaged;
Cold accumulators produced under this brand provide the desired temperature of products well for a long period of time.

Ezetil Soft Ice

Ezetil Ice Akku

Properties of cold sources

For the production of the storage devices in question, only safe polymer materials that do not threaten human health are used. The capacity of magazine devices is generally from 0.25 to 0.8 liters.

The use of a film surface allows you to give sources that have not yet frozen the desired shape. In addition, temperature changes do not have a negative effect on them.

The outer part of the gel devices is made of film, and the substance of the same name, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as a filler.

When choosing water-salt devices, you need to remember that the seal of the plastic container may be broken, and the liquid may leak into the bag and thereby spoil the food.

DIY cold accumulator

Is it difficult to make a cold storage battery with your own hands? There is nothing super complicated about this. The main problem will be in choosing a container and ensuring its tightness. Of all the examples that are on the Internet, most often when making a cold accumulator, a saline solution (20─25%) is poured into a plastic bottle and placed in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for cooling. That is, the ratio of salt and water in the solution is approximately 3 to 10. The freezing point of such a solution is at minus 20 degrees Celsius. If you require an even lower freezing point, you should increase the salt concentration.

Below are the various compositions of solutions for cold accumulators:

A 20% solution of Glauber's salt is taken. For 100 grams of solution it takes 20 grams of anhydrous salt and 1 gram of wallpaper glue. The rest is water. These homemade cold accumulators provide temperatures in the thermal bag down to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
You can mix wallpaper glue and water in a ratio of 4 to 100. This solution allows you to maintain a temperature of about 0 in a thermal case with food for a short time. That is, it will be some semblance of conditions in a household refrigerator.
Dilute 400 grams of table salt in a liter of plain water. Heat the water a little so that the salt dissolves better. Then add wallpaper glue to the resulting solution to obtain a gel-like consistency. The resulting solution is poured into plastic containers or bottles. They are then cooled in the freezer. Such a solution will be able to maintain the temperature in the thermal bag down to minus 20 degrees Celsius for quite a long time.

As for the thermal case where the products will be stored, it is almost impossible to make a well-insulated and sealed case at home. Therefore, it is better to purchase a ready-made thermal bag or car refrigerator. These things, as a rule, have a design similar to a thermos. Thanks to this, they provide good isolation of the chamber from the external environment. Return to content

What are the elements according to the composition of the liquid?

Cold storage batteries are produced industrially: helium, silicone and water-salt based. The most effective of them is silicone. The use of such devices allows you to preserve food for up to 7 days. In this case, the filler is placed in film bags, and if the latter is damaged, the products can be irretrievably damaged.

Gel batteries are the most popular. In this case, the filler is also placed in film bags, but the products will not be harmed if it breaks. Elements with a similar agent will help preserve food for up to one and a half days.

Salt solutions are poured into plastic containers, which sometimes have a stopper for refilling. Water-salt elements ensure food preservation for up to 24 hours.

Reviews

Anton, Nizhny Novgorod

Some time ago I bought myself several Technokhim AX-15 cold storage batteries. We often go with our family on various picnics in the summer and take food with us. We've had a thermal bag for a long time, but we used to use dry ice in it. We carry a small amount of groceries for a family of 3 people. Our car is small and, accordingly, we bought the thermal case with limited dimensions so that it fits in the trunk without any problems.

We bought three Technokhim AX-15 cold storage batteries. I usually put one at the bottom of the bag, one on top, and one in the middle. Cools normally, food is stored without problems. Of course, they are unlikely to be able to keep ice cream at the required sub-zero temperature. But products that are usually kept in the general compartment of the refrigerator are preserved well. I was pleased with the purchase.

Every year in the summer we go to the sea by car. To carry food with me, I bought several Freezpack cold storage batteries. I had a thermal bag for a long time, but I had nothing to do with cold storage batteries. I only carried something hot in it so that it would cool down more slowly. The cold accumulator is a plastic container with a screw cap and a carrying handle. Very comfortably. I put it in the freezer in advance, and then in a thermal case I line the bottom and walls with these batteries. It turns out that the food is inside, like in a refrigerator.

Inside the plastic containers there is a liquid that looks somewhat denser than ordinary water. When it's not in season, I store these containers in the freezer. The road to the sea takes us about 20 hours. All foodstuffs were preserved normally during the journey, and those that remained with us at the end of the trip were still cool. Although the liquid in the batteries was melting. In general, the purchase for motorists is quite useful and inexpensive. One such cold storage battery cost me about 120 rubles. I have 5 of them in total.

I have several Eva cold storage batteries with gel filler. In general, I rarely use it. Mostly they are in my refrigerator. I use it in my thermal bag when we go somewhere by car. But several times they helped me out a lot during an unscheduled power outage. The batteries lay inside and gradually released the accumulated cold. Thanks to this, the products did not spoil.

Of course, there are things that have become firmly established in our everyday life. They seriously make life easier, and once they appear in the house, these devices become indispensable. Such things include an ingenious modern invention called a cold accumulator. The device is designed for cooling food in some container. It can be safely used for transporting things that require a specific temperature regime.

Varieties

The chemical additives that fill the cold accumulator in the cooler bag come in several types. Based on this, there are different types of factory devices:

Silicone – intended for thermal bags. These highly efficient devices can maintain 0 degrees for seven days. The package is complemented by film bags with tightly packed filling.
Helium - designed for a car refrigerator. The advantages of the design include the strength of the plastic container. If it is damaged, the filling will never flow out of the container. In addition, such cold accumulators are distinguished by the ability to work to increase or decrease the temperature inside the bag.
Salt - these varieties are used for deep freezing of food. The internal temperature (-10 degrees) is maintained for 24 hours. A serious drawback is the possibility of liquid spilling if the bag is accidentally damaged. The undeniable advantages include the ability to add water if necessary.

The silicone cold accumulator in the cooler bag has a narrow range of operating temperatures - from 0 to +2 degrees.

What is a cold accumulator

For a large-volume thermal bag, several devices are used. One is lowered down, other products are placed between the products, the last one is placed on top.

Such thermal bags have become indispensable in the medical industry. They carry:

Blood plasma.
Medicines.
Biological material.

Features of operation

The operating time of the device depends on various characteristics, such as:

type of construction;
insulating properties;
volume;
initial temperature of the products folded inside;
rational placement.

Normally functioning cold accumulators for cooler bags are capable of maintaining the set temperature for approximately 20 hours. Before starting operation, the device is “rested” in the freezer for at least half a day. During this time, it will be able to freeze well, after which the refrigerant, together with the food, is sent to a thermal container.

If you understand the principle of operation of a cooler bag, there will be no difficulties. When the cold cell is no longer able to maintain the desired temperature, it is washed with water and returned to the freezer so that it freezes well and is ready for reuse. In this case, it will be able to maintain optimal conditions for storing food.

Modern devices are made from environmentally friendly materials that are absolutely safe for food. It is best to store refrigerants for a cooler bag in a cool place out of direct sunlight. The ideal option is a freezer.

With proper storage, the cooling device can be used for a very long time.

Several items are placed in a large bag. The first battery is sent down, the second is placed on top. Additional devices are placed horizontally between the products. The length of time the temperature is maintained depends on the proper placement of the refrigerant.

Composition and types of cold accumulators

On what principle the operation and functioning of a cold accumulator is based is easy to understand only after studying its structure. The kit includes:

Capacity.
Water.
Special additives.
Dye (for aesthetics).

The container can be a plastic or glass bottle, for example, after soda. The filler consists of water, which creates volume by acting as a solvent. Another component is:

Carboxymethylcellulose;
Isopropyl alcohol;
Glycerol.

Cold storage batteries, depending on their composition, are divided into groups:

Silicone. These systems are used to maintain sub-zero temperatures in a thermal bag. They are characterized by increased efficiency. Capable of maintaining zero degrees in a container for a long time. In stores they are sold in plastic bags along with filler.
Gel battery. Used in refrigeration units of modern cars. The positive side of the gel filler is its ability not to spread out of the plastic container if damaged. These systems are capable of reducing or increasing the temperature of the container. Such devices are considered absolutely safe and show good performance.
Saline. The model is designed to maintain sub-zero temperatures. The batteries are capable of maintaining minus ten degrees in the container for approximately 24 hours. Unfortunately, after the container is damaged, the liquid can spill out and the food will be spoiled. Positive properties include the ability to add water, if, of course, the design allows it.

Rules for using homemade batteries

Using several examples, we realized that any cold storage batteries will have to be charged before use. Depending on the properties of the elements, the characteristics of the refrigerator and, in fact, the need, this procedure will take from 5 to 12 hours. If you keep the batteries in the refrigerator at all times, you won't have to think about the need to charge them.

The elements should not be heated, for example with hot water, as their casing may deteriorate. They generally do not like sudden temperature changes and will last longer without such tests.

Elements should be periodically wiped to remove condensation and washed with water to remove accumulated dirt. If the thermal bag has special compartments for batteries, they should be placed there. Some items can be placed among the stored products.

Selection and most popular models

Design features;
Type of filler.
Volume.

Russian products with helium filler. They maintain sub-zero temperatures inside the thermal container for about three days. The body is made of PVC, resistant to various mechanical influences.

Ezetil Ice Akku. Imported cooling system. Differs from similar systems in its small thickness. As a result, free space is saved. The battery is capable of maintaining a temperature in the range of -25 - +55 degrees for 24 hours.

Ezetil Soft Ice. Imported device equipped with helium filler. The thermal bag is used to create sub-zero temperatures or positive temperatures. To get cold, the bag should be in the refrigerator for two to three hours. To create a positive temperature, it is kept in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The resulting temperature is stored in the thermal container for about 10-15 hours.

Arctic. The bag is produced at Russian enterprises. The main advantage of the device is fast freezing. The basis is a saline solution placed in a plastic case.

Green Glade. The device is made in China on a helium base. Buyers are attracted by the low cost. Usually within 300 rubles. The advantage of the container is the formation of the desired temperature, which does not change for a long time. The bag has one serious drawback. The gel is stored in a thin plastic bag that may burst.

How to choose a device

Cold storage tanks differ in design features, type of refrigerant and its volume in a sealed container. These parameters must be taken into account when choosing a refrigeration device. The color of the refrigerant does not in any way affect the characteristics of the battery and does not carry a functional load, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Some factory cold storage batteries can not only be frozen, but also heated. The substance inside the container is capable of keeping food warm. When it is necessary to use a cold accumulator as a heater, it is charged in the microwave. The heating time should not exceed that specified by the manufacturer.

Heating in a microwave oven is only possible in the case of purchased drives, the manufacturer of which allows their use with heating.