Thermodynamic Design and Simulation of a Active High-Inertia Solid-Block Cooling System for Carbonated Beverages — Agustín Grioni

This research addresses the thermodynamic challenges associated with the miniaturization of rapid cooling ('Flash Cooling') systems for carbonated beverages. While conventional passive sensible heat exchangers are often discarded due to limited energy density, this study demonstrates their viability through a High-Inertia Solid-Block architecture (Aluminum 6061-T6) coupled with active liquid cooling. Fluid dynamics were analytically solved using Navier-Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates, identifying a critical diffusive restriction in 8mm channels. Numerical simulations using a BDF (Backward Differentiation Formula) solver in Python validated an optimal operating point of 0.087 L/min to achieve a thermal abatement from 25 C° to 2.0 C°. By implementing a hydronic circuit at -10 C°, the hot-junction temperature was stabilized at approx 2.9 C°, allowing the core to reach -46 C°. The system demonstrates superior thermal regeneration, with a recharge time of only 1.88 min, consolidating a robust, fast-response solid-state alternative to phase-change systems.