Cool can has own fridge

A cold beer or soft-drink could soon always be at hand with the invention of the self-chilling can.

Twisting the bottom of the tin energises a mini-fridge built into its base that brings down the temperature of the contents by at least 17C.

Florida company Tempra Technology claims to have perfected the technology at a price that manufacturers should be able afford.

Chief executive Barney Guarino said the company was talking to several brewers and the cans might go on sale this year, although the technology was still too expensive for mass-market products.

The can is double walled and the chamber surrounding the drink is filled with a water-containing gel which is separated from a vacuum in the can's base by a breakable seal.

A quick twist of the base breaks the seal, allowing the vacuum to lower the pressure and so evaporate the water from the gel. The heat needed to evaporate the water in the gel of the outer chamber is drawn from the drink itself, causing the fluid to drop to just above the freezing point of water in minutes.

- INDEPENDENT