Product & Application Development
Since 1996 our design team has been working on many different products and applications, from the International Space Station to submarine cooling applications.
Our PlusICE range of products including FlatICE, BallICE, TubeICE, Eutectic Plates and Pouches enables us to develop and apply both organic and hydrated salt based PCMs for a variety of applications around the world.
We have many licencees using our PlusICE product range, either as raw material or manufactured product. Some of the applications are initiated by our organisation, but the majority of non-standard applications come from the minds of the end-user or developer. Our technical team prides itself on taking customer ideas from concept through to completion.
As part of our confidentiality policy we cannot highlight all applications / products we have developed over the last two decades, maybe the following small example of the development works might provide a brief idea:
International Space Station
We are extremely proud to have been involved in providing our expertise to such an enormous project. PCM technology has been utilised within the capsules used for collecting and retaining samples. The PCM ensures that the samples collected remain at the same temperature until opened for examination and research.
Automotive Passive Cooling
In some parts of the world experiencing hotter climates without the luxury of air conditioning in motor cars, PCM Passive Cooling has been adopted to keep the driver cool. Using a +32 °C (+90 °F) PCM that freezes overnight, the driver’s comfort is ensured when the PCM melts.
Military Backpack Battery Cooling
The battery backpack used by the armed forces enjoys longer life and better performance when kept cool. The PCM technology increases battery life at a critical time.
Drink Can Passive Cooling
A project undertaken for a major global player resulted in a +4 °C (+39 °F) PCM ensuring that a can of drink remained
at this temperature for four hours!
Passive Furniture Cooling
PCMs have been introduced into fabrics used in furniture production and even bed-sheets to achieve optimum comfort.
Body Cooling
This technology has finally made it into ‘ice jackets’, used by firefighters and operatives in uncomfortable working environments.
Formula-1 Driver Comfort
Following the Malaysian Grand Prix we had two weeks to design and produce a product geared to improving driver comfort throughout the race. The problem had arisen due to extreme high temperatures during the race causing the rehydration bottle to become so hot that it was unusable. Prior to the next Grand Prix, the car was equipped with water bottles encased in PCM ensuring that the driver did not become dehydrated.
Applied Projects
- Refrigerator With PCM (110Kb)
Using PCM as part of the internal refrigerator design to save energy and reduce the start/stop frequency of the compressor.
- Subcooler Summary (530Kb)
Utilising PCM as a free sub-cooler as part of the refrigeration circuit design to save energy and reduce the start/stop frequency of the compressor.
