Investigation of thermal performance of a ground coupled carbonated soft drink cooling system with an underground thermal energy storage tank

This study investigates the thermal performance of a ground coupled carbonated soft drink cooling system with an underground thermal energy storage tank. The system is composed of three main components: a chiller unit, a thermal energy storage (TES) tank, and a syrup room to be cooled. An analytical model was developed to determine the thermal performance parameters of the system using Duhamel's superposition and dimensionless variables to solve the transient heat transfer problem around the TES tank. The analytical model includes energy expressions for the main components as well as a solution to the heat transfer problem surrounding the TES tank. The hourly temperature variation of water in the TES tank and other performance parameters, such as Coefficient of Performance (COP), are calculated. To do this, a simulation model was developed using MATLAB software. The study investigated the effect of various system parameters such as the size of the underground thermal energy storage tank, soil type, and Carnot factor on the thermal performance of the system. The findings reveal that granite is the most efficient type of soil for the cooling process and that COP increases with increasing Carnot Factor and tank size. The results indicate that the ground coupled carbonated soft drink cooling system with an underground thermal energy storage tank is a feasible and energy-efficient solution for providing cooling for carbonated soft drinks. The system has the potential to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional cooling systems.