D
Danno
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I've been using a Coleman cooler & block ice since last August to
refridgerate my food, and it has worked fairly well so far. Now that
winter's over, and I am back to purchasing ice blocks again, I am looking
to extend the time in which the ice stays solid. Obviously, I would prefer
to extend this time significantly, but even a 25% extension would be good.
My first notion was to build a new chest, put maybe 15 or 20 cm (more?) of
styrofoam insulation for the walls & base, line it with plastic/fibreglass
metal, and seal it with perhaps 10 cm of foam for the lid. There are
several informative online articles, primarily by boat builders, it does
not seem like an endeavour beyond my ablities & means. It has occured to
me, though, that I might be able to simply build an insulated case large
enough to encompass my current cooler. I like this idea, because the notion
of lining a custom made box seems like the most difficult part of the task.
I am wondering if, using this approach, I would still reap the benefits of
thick insulation, or would the presence of the other material (plastic etc)
comprising the cooler, then interacting with the air caught inside the
insulated case, render the thermal benefits meaningless? Wouldn't the
temperature inside the case have to equal the temperature inside the cooler
in order to stop the transfer of heat? I think that removing the amount of
air between the liner and the insulation would increase the box's
efficiency (like a thermos)?
Does this sound right? Thanks for any insight/opinions.
refridgerate my food, and it has worked fairly well so far. Now that
winter's over, and I am back to purchasing ice blocks again, I am looking
to extend the time in which the ice stays solid. Obviously, I would prefer
to extend this time significantly, but even a 25% extension would be good.
My first notion was to build a new chest, put maybe 15 or 20 cm (more?) of
styrofoam insulation for the walls & base, line it with plastic/fibreglass
metal, and seal it with perhaps 10 cm of foam for the lid. There are
several informative online articles, primarily by boat builders, it does
not seem like an endeavour beyond my ablities & means. It has occured to
me, though, that I might be able to simply build an insulated case large
enough to encompass my current cooler. I like this idea, because the notion
of lining a custom made box seems like the most difficult part of the task.
I am wondering if, using this approach, I would still reap the benefits of
thick insulation, or would the presence of the other material (plastic etc)
comprising the cooler, then interacting with the air caught inside the
insulated case, render the thermal benefits meaningless? Wouldn't the
temperature inside the case have to equal the temperature inside the cooler
in order to stop the transfer of heat? I think that removing the amount of
air between the liner and the insulation would increase the box's
efficiency (like a thermos)?
Does this sound right? Thanks for any insight/opinions.