A Cool Cube™ at Refrigerated Temperatures is not an ordinary transport cooler (vaccine and medicine carrier). It is an easy-to-carry, qualified container and pack-out system that keeps temperature sensitive product (fresh vaccine, medicine) chilled between 2° and 8°C for over 2.5 days – without using ice or electricity! This cooler is ideal for transport, but also excels at protecting valuable product during off-site use and power outages, regardless of hot or freezing conditions. The simplified, validated, patented technology is the best compact thermal protection product available to maintain the cold chain!
Transport & Storage Coolers @ Refrigerated Temps for Vaccine, Medicine, etc.
Refrigerated Cool Cube™ Technical Information
Easy & Safe Pack-Out
Refrigerated Cool Cube™ Preparation Methods
Series 4 Prep Method A: Freezer to Fridge Pack-Out Instructions
1. Place panels in a freezer so PCM (phase change material sealed inside the panel) is solid. Shake to verify.
- i.e. 2 hrs. @ -15°C turns PCM solid
2. Transfer panels into a fridge for a minimum of 3 hours before use to allow PCM inside to rise to the appropriate operating temperature. Panels may be stored in the fridge until needed for assembly or the PCM melts.
Before assembly, shake panels to verify PCM is solid. If liquid can be heard, panels may be used but hold times will decrease.
Series 4 Prep Method B: Fridge Only Pack-Out Instructions
1. Store panels in a refrigerator for a minimum of 24 hours before use. Shake to check the state of PCM (phase change material inside the panel).
- If liquid…panel is at the fridge temp but above 5°C; anticipate shorter hold times.
- If solid…panel is at the fridge temp but below 4°C; ideal for maximum hold times.
- If solid/liquid combination…panel is at the fridge temp of 4-5°C; monitor time/temp.
Series 4 Prep Method C: Freezer to Room Pack-Out Instructions
1. Store panels in a freezer so PCM (phase change material sealed inside the panel) is solid. Shake to verify.
- i.e. 2 hrs. @ -15°C turns PCM solid
2. Transfer panels into a room temperature environment just prior to use (recommended time below) to allow PCM inside to rise to the appropriate operating temperature.
Series 4 Prep Method D: Fridge Only Pack-Out Instructions (to prevent freezing)
1. Place panels in a fridge between 5° and 8°C or at least 24 hours before use so PCM (phase change material sealed inside the panel) is liquid. Shake to verify.
Before assembly, shake panels to estimate the state of the PCM. Liquid PCM panels will prevent product from freezing (at refrigerator temps) in extreme cold the longest. Slushy or solid PCM panels may be used but hold times will decrease.
Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that absorb and release thermal energy during the process of melting and freezing. When a PCM melts, it absorbs the heat from the environment, yet its temperature stays at the melting point until totally liquid. Conversely, when a PCM freezes, it absorbs the cold from the environment, yet stays at its temperature until totally solid. This makes PCM an ideal, passive solution for a variety of applications that require temperature control. The most common PCM is water/ice. Ice is an excellent PCM for maintaining temperatures at 0°C. But water’s freezing point is fixed at 0°C (32°F), which makes it unsuitable for most temperature sensitive applications.
Cool Cube™ PCMs offer custom temperature holds based on their melting point. The PCM inside Series 4 panels has a melting point of 4.5°C/40.1°F. When panels are solid, contents within the Cool Cube™ stay cool (at fridge temps around 4.5°C) in hot conditions during an extended period of time. When panels have liquid inside, contents within the Cool Cube™ won’t freeze (again at fridge temps around 4.5°C) in extreme cold during an extended period of time.
When the panels have reached 4.5°C and are completely solid, they are ready to hold your product. To verify that they are solid simply shake the panel. If you shake the panel and it feels and sounds slushy, with some liquid and some solid it will hold your product at a cool temperature, but it won’t hold it as long as if the panel is completely solid. If you shake the panel and it feels and sounds completely liquid, put the panel back into the freezer/refrigerator and continue to condition until the panel has reached a solid state.
Shake a panel at various times to get to know your panels. For example, shake the panels when you know they are warm to hear and feel how they react when they are liquid.
Within this webpage are several methods for conditioning your PCM panels. The standard conditioning method is performed in the refrigerator. The advantage of the refrigerator is that your panels won’t get too cold. This method can take from 8-24 hours. Alternatively, if you need to use your panels sooner than 8-24 hours, they can be conditioned in a freezer.
PCM panels can be frozen too cold, but there is an easy solution when this occurs. When the panels are frozen to a point below 0°C/32°F, a short staging period is necessary to safely transport your product. If your panels have been stored in the freezer simply take the panels out of the freezer and lay them, individually (unstacked), on a flat surface at room temperature for roughly 30 minutes.
Hold times of the PCM panels vary depending on Cool Cube™ size and desired holding temperature. For example, when properly packed-out into the Cool Cube™ 08, the Series 4 PCM panels can hold the cooler at a temperature below 8°C and above 2°C for 76 hours.
With all pack-out procedures, be sure to use a temperature monitoring device to consistently and accurately monitor the temperature your payload for the entire time it is held in the Cool Cube™. Some regulatory bodies such as the CDC require the use of a certified data logger. VeriCor carries several types of thermometers and digital data loggers that meet the CDC recommended guidelines.
Cool Cube™ User Guide
Cool Cube™ Series 4 Panel Sizes and Specs
Refrigerated Temps Hold Time
- Always prep the PCM panels before use according to one of the described methods provided by VeriCor.
- Ensure all components are clean and free of damage.
- During prep, enable ample air flow around all panel sides (use spacers or racks).
- Lay panels flat when “freezing”.
- Freeze/melting times vary depending on number of panels being prepped and equipment specifications being used. Assemble using all six panels for maximum hold time.
- Using less panels does not change the holding temperature but does decrease hold time.
- Panels are reusable (10,000+ cycles). (End-of-life disposal: panels use a plastic #2, typically recycled by businesses/communities; PCM is nontoxic and readily biodegradable.)
- Use a calibrated data logger or other temperature monitoring device to observe internal temperature.
- Avoid unnecessary opening of the Cool Cube™ after loading payload. Opening of the Cool Cube™ will decrease hold time.
- An infrared temperature thermometer can assist in ensuring the panels reach a safe pack-out temperature (good for finding out the approximate temperature of each panel).
- Further the temps are away from the melting point, the quicker PCM will change states.
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