Food & Beverage

Temperature Preference Testing

by

Temperature Preference Testing with TECA Thermal Gradient system:

A university research laboratory is pleased with TECA’s Thermal Gradient Bar. It is being used with two TECA Model AHP-1200CPV Cold/Hot Plates to create a gradient.

Model AHP-1200CPV Cold/Hot Plates to create a gradient

 

The user writes:
We are using the TECA cold plates to create a thermal gradient from 10 to 50 degrees C. We have 6 aluminum tracks running from the hot plate to the cold plate. We place ground beetles (family Carabidae) on the center of the gradient (one in each track), cover them to reduce light interference, and allow them to acclimate to and explore the track for 15 minutes. We then do a series of 8 checks every 5 minutes and record their location on the track at each check. We initially used 10 thermocouples along the track to model the temperature at each location and can now infer the temperature the beetle was resting at during each check based on its location. Ultimately, we are using all these measurements to estimate the preferred temperature of each ground beetle species. So far, we have experimented with about 10 species, and hope to test more species next year.

Tight Temperature Control

by

Food Manufacturing Cold Plate:

Tight Temperature Control
Food Manufacturing Cold Plate

TECA’s smallest Laboratory Air Cooled Cold/Hot Plate, Model AHP-301CPV, offers precise temperature control, protecting food samples in a sensitive application. In this example, our customer has placed food samples into a simple aluminum block insulated with Styrofoam. The AHP-301CPV Cold/Hot plate can be used to control the temperature to a tenth of a degree. This thermal management solution provides a small footprint. More importantly, the samples can be reliably cooled or heated to a variety of temperatures per the end user’s requirements. Our customer reports the rapid transition between temperatures is beneficial.

 

The AHP-301CPV, part of TECA’s extensive “CPV” product line is a UL/CSA, CE-Marked product with a decade of experience serving in laboratories worldwide. The built-in temperature controller and communications software allow for versatility in use. Modifications and additional accessories are available to suit the end user’s needs. Please explore the different sizes and types of cold/hot plates TECA offers here. If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you.  Phone 773.342.4900

MOTOR SPORT

by

Motor Sport:

motor sport cold plate

A rally car racing team had a need to chill drinking water inside their moving vehicles, while they raced through very hot desert conditions. A solid state cold plate based on TECA model AHP-300CP.

The AHP-300CP thermoelectric cold plate (Peltier cold plate), which draws power directly from the car battery, was the solution to maintain the temperature of the water at an acceptable level. With a ready supply of chilled water, the racing team could drive at peak performance.

The AHP-300CP series is now replaced by a newer and more efficient model the AHP-470CP series.

BEVERAGE COOLER

by

Beverage Cooler application:

beverage cooler system beverage cooler TE cooler

 

The beverage cooler application challenge was to keep concentrated beverage container located next to a hot water tank cool in a high volume OEM application. TECA has the flexibility and resources to manufacture custom OEM thermoelectric cooler (peltier coolers) assemblies intended for use as part of a customer machine, apparatus, or system. This OEM assembly is made by TECA in production runs in the thousands. It is not ours, so to protect the privacy and identity of our customers we can’t give too many details here.

This assembly is part of a beverage service product which is shipped worldwide by a well known consumer products company. TECA furnishes the cooling “engine” which refrigerates the beverage product to be dispensed, and the OEM builds finished machinery in their own plants.

BEVERAGE COOLING IN A BARREL

by

Beverage Cooling in a barrel:

beverage cooling in a barrel beverage cooling in a barrel

Here’s an application that TECA’s engineering team was particularly excited about. Not because of the economics or the potential new business. Frankly we didn’t think the market was there. But as soon as they found out that a ½ barrel of beer would be needed for testing they were all over it. While none was ever sold, good lessons regarding contact methods and material stratification were learned. To see the result of the test click here.
We used an AHP-1200CP thermoelectric cold plate and a TLC-700 thermoelectric liquid chiller for testing purpose.

Quarterly eNewsletter