Introduction of Eutectic Plate Freezer

Introduction of Eutectic Plate Freezer

 

Eutectic Plate Freezer systems (or Eutectic Deep Freezer) are used as an alternative to traditional cooling methods used to maintain a cold chain. The reliable, environmentally friendly systems are based on re-usable energy, are extremely flexible and can be used for chilled or frozen products. The virtually maintenance free plates can be set to maintain various temperatures for different applications.

 

In the competitive global economic market of today, any means of reducing costs can give your business an advantage. The use of Eutectic Plates Freezer as an alternative to other cooling mediums, such as dry ice and normal ice, makes financial business sense. This is because Eutectic Plates Freezer are re-usable and do not evaporate into smoke or melt into water to be thrown away.

Eutectic Plates Freezer, otherwise known as thermal storage units, have been in the market place for some time. Originally manufactured out of stainless steel, it has moved to plastic, making the containers lighter and cheaper. Having a plastic unit also makes the plates easy to handle and clean.

 

These following 3 units are the core components of the system:

 

1. The Ice Pack (or Ice Jel Pack), after having frozen in Plate Freezer with deepest cool temperature for 12 – 24 hours, it can maintain the low temperature for at least 6-8 hours or longer. It is suitable for Ice Cream vending motorcycle with sidecar or trishaw.

 

2. The Cool Cell (or Cool Box), the storage unit for frozen Ice Packs which can be connected with motorcycle or trishaw.

 

3. The Plate Freezer or Deep Freezer, the mother freezing unit to keep Ice Packs to be frozen. It works as recharging unit for Ice Packs.

Advantages of Eutectic Plate Freezer over Dry Ice

 

Eutectic Plates Freezer replaces the need for dry-ice. Using Eutectic Plate Freezer has a number of benefits, while dry ice has many downfalls. Dry ice evaporates, is a non-reusable resource and can be dangerous. Regardless of the transported item, a package containing dry ice is classified as dangerous goods and subject to declaration and safety fees. This wastes your time and money going through the process.

 

As dry ice is exceedingly cold, if touched it causes burns, restricts the respiration and triggers unconsciousness at a 7 per cent concentration in the air. One kilogram of dry ice releases close to 500 liters of CO2, which means that freights containing dry ice are dangerous goods and exclusively shipped by cargo aircraft. On the topic of CO₂, every year sees a shortage of supply which means your business suffers delays and setbacks both in productivity and financially.

 

Depending on outside temperatures, it takes between 48 and 72 hours for dry ice to sublimate or purify and then must be replaced (called re-icing) with costs during longer transit times, at the airports or in the customs area. Another costly method is temporary storage in airport cool room facilities. This process is highly susceptible to various types of interference. Especially in intercontinental transit, it incurs a high risk of faults leading to considerable spoilage.

 

As Eutectic Plates Freezer eliminate the use of dry ice, all products can also be transported by passenger aircraft provided the transported item is non-hazardous. As there are no safety issues surrounding Eutectic Plates and no need for re-icing, there is no need for your transport box to be opened.

 

After a brief instruction, even untrained personnel can handle Eutectic Plate Freezer systems without any danger.

 

Comparison of Eutectic Plate Freezer Systems and Dry Ice

 

Plate Freezer Systems	Dry Ice
Re-usable source Environmentally friendly without any safety regulation needs Maintained temperature chilled or frozenfor up to 96 hours Light, easy to clean and store Easy for anyone to use and handle	Non-reusable source and stock has to be    replenished Has to be declared as dangerous goods transport Evaporates into smoke Bulky packaging and heavy Intense handling care must be done by trained personnel

The Eutectic Plate Freezer System is fully capable for these following applications;

 

1) Ice Cream Vending

Impulse ice-cream confectionery is sold from in-situ ice-cream conservators and mobile insulated containers, mounted on trolleys or carts. The product must be maintained at a temperature of approximately -19°C to remain sellable. In mobile containers, Eutectic Plates frozen to (+/-) -27°C are placed in the container with the product and, subject to ambient temperatures and insulation performance. The product will remain sellable for between 10 to 12 hours.

 

2) Cool Drink Vending

Eutectic Plates frozen to -4°C are placed in a mobile insulated container with the product and, subject to ambient temperature and insulation performance, and then the product will remain chilled for between 10 to 12 hours. Eutectic Plates can be used in conjunction with ice, thus reducing the amount of ice needed for a day’s vending. The number of Eutectic Plates required would depend on the size of the cooler box. The cost of purchasing the Eutectic Plates is quickly recovered as ice does not need to be purchased on a daily basis.

 

3) Frozen and Chilled goods Transport

Frozen and chilled foodstuffs are transported in dedicated refrigerated vehicles equipped with insulated bodies and diesel or electric refrigeration plants. Eutectic Plates, frozen to -25°C, used in conjunction with well-insulated containers, would enable standard freight trucks, with no refrigeration equipment, to carry part-chilled or frozen loads. As the containers are not opened during transport, the temperature within the container would remain low. This category includes fishing and fish farming, where the catch is removed to a central processing plant. In the event of any breakdowns of the refrigerated unit the product is at risk of spoiling; by using the plates the temperature will be maintained for a specific time.

 

 

4) Vaccine Transport

The physiology of vaccines requires them to be refrigerated in order to maintain their efficacy and this applies equally to transportation of vaccines. Traditionally, they are packed in small insulated containers together with ice (water) and transported thus. Due to the small size of these containers, it is not economically viable to refrigerate them and melting ice creates unhygienic and messy conditions. Eutectic Plates, frozen at +5°C, replace ice and do not melt into a liquid thus eliminating this problem. The units will maintain the product between 2°C and 8°C well over 24 hours. Eutectic Plate Freezer Systems has achieved 5 days within this range in a trial run by an independent concern.

 

 

The quantity of Eutectic Plates used varies with the size of the container and the application which is being used, and is available on application.

 

Size of the Eutectic Plates is also relevant to the application, and this information is also available on request.