How does the Blitz Chiller work?

The Blitz Chiller uses the patented Cooper Cooling Process^TM which is the quickest way to chill a beverage. The process involves two simultaneous steps. The beverage container is rotated horizontally at an optimal revolution per minute (RPM) while a spray of cold fluid, in this case ice water is sprayed onto the drink from the top.

The unit operates with a 100-240VAC 50/60hz 0.8A power plug.

How long does it take to chill beverages using conventional methods?

In a refrigerator, it takes about 4 hours for both cans and bottles. In a freezer, it takes 50 minutes (but don't let it stay longer than that or it will freeze, and possibly explode). In ice water, it takes about 25 minutes for cans and 30 minutes for bottles. These chill times are defined as bringing the beverage from room temperature (77ºF/25ºC) to a cold drinking temperature (38ºF/3ºC)

Does a carbonated beverage explode when chilling it in the Blitz Chiller?

No.


Why doesn't a carbonated beverage explode when you open it?

Because the beverage is rotated, not shaken. It is not simple to explain, as it involves scientific concepts such as solubility, Henry's law and nucleation, among others.

To explain why carbonated beverages don't fizz over when rotated, you have to know why they do when shaken. It has to do with the air pocket. A 'carbonated beverage' is one in which carbon dioxide is dissolved in the liquid under pressure (that's Henry's Law). When the pressure is reduced (upon opening), the liquid is capable of holding less carbon dioxide, and the CO2 will come out of solution. So all carbonated beverages fizz upon opening. Whether they fizz over (liquid comes out of the container) depends on how quickly CO2 comes out of solution.

In order for CO2 to come out of solution, it needs a 'nucleation site' to do so. Those nucleation sites can be either gaseous pockets, or an irregularity along the wall. (Look at how a stream of bubbles form on a specific spot on a glass of beer or soda. You can't see it, but that spot is an irregularity.)

When a beverage is shaken, the air pocket is broken up into a zillion small pockets dispersed throughout the beverage. When the container is opened, CO2 in solution has sites all over the place, and it comes out of solution so quickly, that the liquid has no time to get out of the way, and it rises up and out, that is, it fizzes over.

When a beverage is rotated, the air pocket basically stays intact. There are no nucleation sites dispersed throughout, and the usual slow de-carbonation takes place at the infrequent irregularities, and at the surface.


How much ice do you need?

Ice is melted every time you chill a beverage. The amount of ice is the same as if you added the ice directly to the beverage. This amounts to roughly 5-6 typical ice cubes (25 ml each cube) for each beverage chilled.

One tray of ice (assuming 16 cubes about an inch each side) will chill two12oz drinks to refrigerator cold. Use a few more cubes if you are chilling to "ice cold" 33ºF/1ºC.


Why do bottles take longer to chill than cans?

Two reasons. The material is thicker in bottles, and the material acts like a thermal insulator. Bottles, whether plastic or glass, act as insulators. Aluminum is a good conductor transferor of the cold from the ice water to the drink contents.


What is the coldest I can get a beverage with the Blitz Chiller?

The coldest you can get your drink using the Blitz Chiller is "ice cold" 32ºF/0ºC or very close to it. Basically, to the coldest temperature you can get the recirculating water to is the lowest temperature you can get your drink to.

NOTE: if you add a solute (like salt or ethanol) to the ice water bath to lower the freezing point of the water temperature, you can chill your beverage below the freezing temperature of water. BE WARNED. SALT WILL CORRODE THE UNIT AND VOID THE WARRANTY. Ethanol in the form of ordinary spirits works well, although it can get expensive.


What if my beverage does not spin?

The Blitz Chiller will only properly work with drink containers that are able to rotate. If the container shape is not circular then it will not work properly. If you would like to chill non-cylindrical shaped drink containers, we suggest you look at our Cooper Cooler-rapid beverage/wine chiller which has a NO SPIN option for chilling such containers. Go to www.CooperCooler.com for more information.