Eutectic plates
Olivo products are 100% made in France
Olivo products are 100% made in France
Olivo eutectic liquids are aqueous solutions containing mineral salts and refrigerants, a complete range of products designed for professionals.
A eutectic liquid is essentially a mixture of water and salts whose melting point (or freezing point) is constant and lower than that of water. For example, a -17°C eutectic liquid will melt (or solidify) at -17°C: the melting point of the eutectic liquid is much lower than 0°C, the melting point of water. Olivo eutectic gels are non-toxic.
All Olivo eutectic solutions are stable and do not degrade over time. You can also use eutectic cartridges for an unlimited period of time, as they retain their cooling power.
To identify the type of eutectic plate in our product range, even if the label is no longer legible, each liquid is coloured according to its melting temperature:
Ice packs, eutectic plates, cold accumulators, eutectic gels and refrigerant packs are all confusing terms.
The French language is rich, and one and the same thing can be said in many different ways.
So a bar of ice, a eutectic plate, a cold accumulator, a eutectic gel, a refrigerant pack and so on often refer to the same thing: a liquid solution that is transformed into solid by freezing and which returns the accumulated cold to the freezer during its re-liquefaction phase.
Eutectic plate placed in an Olivo isothermal container made of high-density polyethylene, it is used forfor temporary cooling operations.
While the names may mean the same thing, in practice there are real differences between the solutions available on the market.
Indeed, an ice pack generally refers to a “cartridge,” a blown plastic envelope simply filled with water.
This type of refrigerant, comparable to a frozen water bottle, can be useful for individuals whose use is limited in time. Indeed, these solutions are not intended to maintain a temperature below +4°C for extended periods.
However, when it comes to delivering temperature-sensitive products (fresh or frozen food products, ambient, refrigerated, or frozen pharmaceuticals, etc.) with a performance obligation, these are not satisfactory solutions in terms of the quality of the cold they provide (in terms of stability and power) or the duration of temperature maintenance.
In such cases, one would turn to professional solutions like eutectic plates.
Eutectic packs or gels, as well as eutectic plates or professional cold accumulators, are better suited to the requirements of professional food transport.
Indeed, this type of refrigerant is composed of water on one hand and mineral salts on the other. This is the significant difference from consumer-grade equipment.
Adding mineral salts, depending on their type, quality, and concentration, allows for variation in the phase change temperature (freezing point) of pure water.
Thus, the phase change temperature required for a eutectic plate intended for frozen products will not be the same as that for another intended for fresh products.
This has a direct impact on the temperature provided by the cold source (e.g., a eutectic plate at -21°C must be frozen at -26°C and will release cold at -18°C), giving it a qualitative edge.
Another interesting aspect of refrigerant gels or eutectic plates is the eutectic point. Indeed, this eutectic point, specific to this type of professional refrigerant, allows for a slow and constant (stable) release of the accumulated cold (frigories or negative calories).
The cold released by a eutectic plate for fresh products will therefore always remain above 0°C until the complete liquefaction of the eutectic mixture.
It is, in fact, the choice of phase change temperature and the quality of the eutectic point that characterize professional cold accumulators.
The refrigerant gel, in addition to the eutectic solution, includes viscous agents, making the solution more pasty. The positive aspect is the homogeneity of the water-mineral salts mixture, which allows for uniform cold diffusion.
These refrigerant gels are often packaged in flexible pouches, which significantly reduces their lifespan compared to rotomolded eutectic plates, which are rigid.
This is why Olivo decided to opt for the eutectic plate format with a rotomolded envelope, using the same industrial process as the insulated containers. The eutectic solutions are formulated internally according to a confidential recipe.
Olivo thus offers a range of 7 eutectic liquids with 7 different phase change points to meet all their needs (depending on their industry) and in different colors (to facilitate handling by operators).
To conclude, it is important to remember a few tips:
A eutectic plate is a rotomolded or blown PE (polyethylene) envelope that has the ability to absorb, store, and then release energy by operating through thermal transfer via latent heat. This occurs as a result of the phase change of the eutectic solution, alternating between a liquid and a solid state.
The eutectic plate is used to maintain a specific temperature inside an insulated container for a determined period. It ensures temperature control for temperature-sensitive products within ranges of +2°C/+4°C, +2°C/+8°C, +15°C/+25°C, or at -18°C and -80°C.
There are derivatives of the eutectic plate, such as refrigerant gel, gel packs, PEHD cold accumulators, and ice packs. However, their composition and usage differ in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bins or rolls for transporting food products.
The eutectic plate operates on the principle of phase change. To solidify and release cold within insulated containers, it is necessary to freeze them 24 hours before use in an environment where the temperature is 5°C lower than the melting point of the eutectic plate being used.
Example: a eutectic plate at -3°C should be frozen in a chamber at -8°C.
In the specific case where the outside temperature is lower than the temperature to be maintained inside the insulated container, the eutectic plate should be used in its liquid state. This allows it to absorb the cold trying to penetrate the container, thus maintaining the correct temperature for the transport and/or storage of sensitive products during transit.
The eutectic solution injected inside is composed of water, mineral salts, and refrigerants. These solutions are non-toxic. Olivo is responsible for developing the recipe for its own eutectic plates used in its insulated containers. This expertise, proven for over 60 years in our R&D department located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, has been exported to all corners of the world.
The type and recipe of the eutectic liquid depend on the melting point of the plate and the temperature maintenance needed to ensure the continuity of the cold chain. To optimize the desired performance, eutectic plates must be used in combination with insulated containers for the transport of food products. The combination of the cold module (fresh or frozen) and the mobile logistics module is an asset for professionals ensuring the delivery of restaurateurs, caterers, medication delivery that must be kept at certain temperatures, and fresh food baskets.
