Study, Design, and Analysis of Geothermal Cooling System and Its Possibilities in the Terai Region of Nepal

Basic cooling systems that are available in Nepal utilize higher consumption of energy leading the cost of operation to be high. There is no study regarding the feasibility and possibility of geothermal energy in the context of Nepal. This study looks toward saving energy consumption of the cooling system focusing on the concept of renewable energy, in particular geothermal energy. The study utilizes data obtained from the Terai region of Nepal and looks toward the design and development of a more accurate and acute model of a geothermal cooling system. The cooling system is developed through the drafting of various components and the design of condenser and capillary tubes using the Kern method. The results of the design are analyzed theoretically and experimentally. Economic feasibility analysis is also conducted on the cooling system for data collected in the Terai region of Nepal. The designed geothermal cooling system is found to be much more efficient than a traditional air-cooled cooling system having a theoretical coefficient of performance (COP) around 6.77 and the experimental coefficient of performance around 4.63; variation barring due to manufacturing limitations. The geothermal cooling system is also found to produce maximum performance when the difference between the inlet and outlet of water temperature in the condenser is 9.5–10.5 °C. The cooling system is also found to be economically feasible when used higher than 5 h per day through incremental analysis. Conclusively, the wide held belief that the geothermal cooling system is energy beneficent, and environment-friendly has been confirmed by the design and testing of this system. Furthermore, it also provides a conclusive model as a base for further research in geothermal energy in Nepal—particularly concerning cooling systems.