Eutectic gel
A cooling liquid
What is cooling liquid ?
A cooling liquid is a eutectic solution made up of water and mineral salts. The quality and concentration of the mineral salts can modify the freezing point of the water. This allows the temperature of the eutectic plates placed in the isothermal boxes to be adapted. The quantity of eutectic plates will be determined by the duration of transport, the type of product being transported and its packaging.
Water solidifies by freezing at a temperature of 0°C or below. On the other hand, a eutectic solution has a freezing point equal to -5°C from its melting point. Therefore, a eutectic plate with a melting point of -21°C solidifies by freezing at a temperature equal to or below -26°C.
The liquid refrigerant is placed in eutectic plates, commonly known as refrigerant packs.
Our range of eutectic plates
Cooling gel
Viscous agents are often added to the eutectic liquid to give it a more pasty consistency. This is known as cooling gel (sometimes called cooling pack).
During the manufacturing phase, the gel is used to homogenise the eutectic product in the isothermal packaging: the salts are well distributed in the liquid and the concentration is homogeneous to obtain a quality eutectic gel.
The gel state improves the thawing time of the bearing, or more precisely, the time during which it will absorb the heat of a food or other product, and the temperature returned is more stable in isothermal eutectic gel packaging.
Eutectic gel, frequently asked questions
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Eutectic plates
What are the parameters that guarantee the effectiveness of a eutectic plate ?
How effective a eutectic plate is depends on several parameters, namely:
- The capacity of the eutectic solution: the choice of solution is decisive. It must be selected taking account of the temperature range required to maintain products at the target temperature. Each temperature range [+2°C/+4°C, +2°C/+8°C, +15°C/+25°C, etc.] has a specific application;
- The model of plate: the size and shape of the eutectic plate are two decisive factors as they are adapted to specific models of container;
- The container: good thermal insulation prevents the transfer of heat, thereby maximising the performance de the eutectic plate (temperature maintenance time);
- The method of preparation: the eutectic plate must be completely solid when it is used. It is as it liquefies that it releases the cold that keeps the products at the right temperature. For more details, you can download the protocol in the section Using eutectic plates;
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Eutectic plates
What is eutectic plate used for ?
The eutectic plate is a device filled with an aqueous, saline solution and a food colouring. It absorbs heat input during transport and provides continuous cooling through the latent heat of fusion of the eutectic solution, which changes from a solid to a liquid state. Better suited to medium-sized logistics operations, the eutectic plate is a simple refrigeration system that maintains the temperature of products for 12 to 24 hours maximum.
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Eutectic plates
How does a eutectic plate work ?
A eutectic plate is a device designed to store thermal energy, in the form of heat or cold, and then to release it gradually to maintain a specific temperature. It works on the thermodynamic principle of phase change, i.e. the transformation of a solution from liquid to solid state and vice versa.
The eutectic plate absorbs the heat from outside the container while releasing a constant amount of cold. It is by passing from the solid to the liquid state, by the absorption-release phenomenon, that the eutectic plate maintains a constant temperature inside the insulated container.
Reusable cooling gel
Cold accumulators made in Olivo are reusable and come in the form of a rigid rotomoulded envelope.
The geometry of the casing is calculated to optimise the heat exchange surface of the eutectic gel refrigerant.
Bridges in the envelope improve heat exchange between the eutectic gel and the convection of the cooling pack or gel pack.
The sheet of eutectic gel acts as a cold accumulator, and freezing it at the right temperature is enough for it to restore the stored energy, i.e. the cold, to the isothermal container.
The different liquids give you the opportunity to choose the temperature of your eutectic plates, an isothermal cold that varies from -21°C to +25°C.
To optimise the preparation of eutectic plates in their freezing cell, it is necessary to store them separately so that the cold released by the eutectic gel circulates evenly around the eutectic gel plate. Placing them on a plate rack is an optimal logistical solution for making them good cold accumulators.
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