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Modulation of sonochemical reactions by cavitation driven thermal degradation of aqueous salts solutions
Get PDFStrategies for controlling or increasing the yield of radical reactions generated by
ultrasonic cavitation in aqueous media have been the object of research for many
years. Past studies have focused on the role of organic solvents in increasing
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation or have investigated the effect of
ultrasound on accelerating the OH radicals generation from Fenton reactive. More
recently, piezoelectric micro
-nanoparticles have shown a synergistic effect in
activating specific reactions and increasing radicals production from ultrasound.
Here we report the generation of ROS together with H
2 evolution or increase of
oxidizing species during ultrasonic treatments of homogeneous concentrated
aqueous solutions of simple salts as acidic phosphates, potassium sodium tartrate
and alkaline nitrate
s. An increase in organic dye degradation efficiency, and the
increase of reducing or oxidizing species compared with pure water has been
found. The activation mechanism revealed a new, unexpected, approach to
enhance the efficiency of sono
-catalysed reactions in aqueous media for
environmental or energy application
A Scan-to-HBIM Workflow to Trace the Level of Modelling Accuracy. The Case of Palazzo Carignano in Turin
Get PDFBaroque architecture presents considerable morphological complexities relating to structural systems, distributive characteristics, and decorative elements. Palazzo Carignano in Turin, designed by Guarino Guarini from 1679, is a quintessential example of the period. The need to comply with public works regulations, monitor the state of conservation, and document the building required to plan new integrated digital surveys and create HBIM models. The workflow developed combines integrated digital surveying methodology with HBIM modeling process, dedicated to both the structural and architectural systems, as well as the decorative elements. The Level of Accuracy (LOA), a control parameter for surveying and modeling, is central to connecting the two phases of the process and represents one of the main challenges of the research
Study and Implementation of State Observers for Flexible Industrial Manipulators Including Friction
Get PDFThe experimentation of state observers for the reconstruction of the angular velocity of the links of a flexible industrial manipulator is investigated in this paper, in the presence of unmodeled or uncertain parts. Considering only one axis moving at a time, a study is done to understand how faithfully the dynamics of the machine can be reconstructed using simple single axis models, extending them to take into account the multi-variable dynamics of the system and trying to reconstruct the action of non-linear friction as well. The goal is to show how a good estimate of the interactions between the links can be obtained, with the final aim of including it into a control architecture. Various models of different complexities have been tested with both the asymptotic Luenberger observer and the steady-state Kalman filter. The presence of friction is taken into account by a feedforward compensation or by the addition of a disturbance observer synthesized as a pole placement regulator. First, the observers are tested in simulation, then on real data from a Comau Racer 7-1.0 robot. To evaluate the quality of the reconstruction, a virtual sensor obtained from the identification of the manipulator is used, and then a final test is carried out using a real Xsens gyroscope. An accurate analysis of the achieved results is provided, devoting a particular attention to the trade-off between model complexity, estimate accuracy and computational burden in view of a possible future insertion into the control architecture of an industrial robot
«Un importante e bello esemplare di architettura barocca». La Chiesa della Confraternita dello Spirito Santo e il suo campanile in Gassino Torinese
No full textLa chiesa della Confraternita di Gassino Torinese, non lontana dalla celebre Basilica di Superga, restituisce quanto Telluccini, nei primi decenni del Novecento, ha definito "un bello esemplare di architettura barocca". L'edificio declina linee curve, capaci di creare la spazialità propria delle chiese confraternali, luoghi di riunione delle associazioni laiche vicine alla Chiesa. In pianta e in alzato si legge una forte centralità che culmina nella forma della cupola, segno forte, emergente sul territorio, che pare quasi schiacciare la facciata, aperta sulla piazza principale di Gassino. Costruita in prossimità di un precedente campanile laico, la chiesa della Confraternita dello Spirito Santo dialoga direttamente con il palazzo municipale, angolare sullo stesso spazio urbano, espressione di un confronto tra poteri, civile e religioso, che dall'età moderna segna l'identità del luogo
Urban Food Policies and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Emplacing innovative governance in CollinaPo (Turin, Italy)
Get PDFL'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen
Achieving Efficient District Heating Targets in a Croatian Network: Heat Source Mapping and Techno-Economic Scenarios Analysis
No full textThis study presents a replicable methodological framework for supporting the decarbonization of district heating (DH) systems, addressing both technical and economic aspects. The approach integrates spatial mapping of renewable energy sources (RES) and waste heat (WH), pre-screening of individual technologies through parametric analyses, and hourly aggregated simulation of decarbonization scenarios. The pre-screening step helps identify promising technologies early on and reduces the number of scenario simulations needed. The aggregated model accounts for temperature-dependent heat losses and dispatch priorities, and is calibrated using real operational data to ensure accurate performance representation. The methodology combines source mapping, technology economic evaluation, and scenario simulation in a structured workflow designed to support early-stage planning and local decision-making in line with the desired decarbonization targets. The methodology is applied to the DH network of Vukovar in Croatia, which is currently reliant on natural gas and features a 3% solar thermal contribution. In 2023, the total heat production of the network amounted to 12.7 GWh. RES and WH options—such as river water, air-source and shallow geothermal heat pumps, supermarket waste heat, and solar thermal—are assessed based on local availability and expected performance. Among the scenarios investigated, the one combining an extension of the solar field size up to 3000 m2, a 1.25 MW river-source heat pump, and a 5 MWh thermal storage unit emerged as the most cost-effective solution capable of achieving the target of a 50% RES + WH share—aligned with the 2035 European definition of Efficient District Heating and Cooling. This scenario also proves to be economically competitive, with a Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH) below the current district heating tariff
Decarbonizing urban public transport: development and final assessment of a hydrogen-fueled hybrid propulsion system for city buses
No full textThe H2ICE project focuses on the investigation of the feasibility and the development of a new class of hybrid
powertrains incorporating a hydrogen-fueled Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) designed for 12-meter urban
buses, with the goal of achieving low emissions and competitive efficiency. A combined experimental and
simulation-based approach was adopted.
Achieving the full potential of this propulsion system requires significant advancements over the current state
of the art, as several technical challenges remain. Chief among these is effectively managing the combustion
process. First, a three-dimensional CFD model was calibrated and validated against an extensive optical-engine
campaign, achieving predictive accuracy on mixture formation and flame development adequate for supporting
design decisions in ultra-lean operation. This model supported the development of a complete one-dimensional
engine model, coupled with a dedicated control strategy that improved combustion stability in the ultra-lean
regime while enabling reduced NOx formation and high efficiency.
Several Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) configurations were assessed through a synergy between experimental
analysis and numerical simulations, including an electric turbocompound and an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC).
The combined two-stage WHR system achieved a maximum recovery efficiency of 14% (6.4% on average),
delivering up to 16 kW of net electrical power under high exhaust energy conditions. In parallel, an innovative
H2-SCR concept was experimentally validated, reaching up to 50% NOx conversion efficiency at exhaust temperatures
around 250 ◦C and oxygen concentrations of approximately 12.5%.
A causal Rule-Based (RB) Energy Management System was designed as an implementable solution for realtime
ECU application. In the final virtual-vehicle assessment over SORT driving cycles, hydrogen consumption
reached values as low as 9 kg/100 km (i.e., meeting the project target of ~ 10 kg/100 km under standardized
conditions), while real-world variability may lead to higher values, as discussed in the manuscript. Tailpipe NOx
emissions ranged from approximately 0.14 g/kWh under standardized type-approval cycles to as low as 0.009 g/
kWh under real-world operating conditions, remaining below the forthcoming Euro 7 limits for heavy-duty
applications.
These results demonstrate that H2ICE-based hybrid powertrains represent a technically feasible and realistic
solution for urban buses, capable of delivering low pollutant emissions and competitive efficiency, and offering a
viable decarbonization pathway in contexts where battery-electric solutions face infrastructure or range
limitations
Come mare increspato da piccole onde: le coperture a volta sottile di Felice Bertone per l'architettura industriale
No full textThe rapid industrial development that characterised the second half of the 20th century in Italy led to the spread of an increasing number of production facilities across the country, which soon became the focus of the professional activity of many architects and engineers. The need to ensure optimal natural lighting for work surfaces and maximum flexibility in the use of interior spaces directed designers' attention to roofing. It became a fascinating field for technical experimentation: during these years the use of thin reinforced concrete vaults with extremely innovative solutions was established. In this perspective, the work of engineer Felice Bertone, a unique figure as a designer and building contractor, takes on particular significance. Known for his decisive contribution to the roofing solution for the Teatro Regio in Turin, Bertone stood out for his professional commitment to perfecting thin vaulted roofs, composed of self-supporting elements, shaped as hyperbolic paraboloids. His experimentation resulted in two patents and found its main field of application in industrial architecture. Considering the contemporary technical context, the paper analyses his patent proposals and some of his most significant works, drawing on the rich archive documentation preserved at the Politecnico di Torino
CFD-supported calibration optimization of a retrofit hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel engine
No full textDual-fuel (DF) hydrogen–diesel engines could offer a retrofit-compatible pathway for medium-/heavy-duty transport decarbonization. In this study, a 6-cylinder
compression ignition engine retrofitted for hydrogen port fuel injection is investigated through a CFD-supported framework. A validated 3D-CFD model, based
on an extensive experimental dataset, was applied to investigate injection strategies and calibration parameters in both retrofit and native DF engine modes. The
model accurately captures combustion behavior, emissions trends, and the factors limiting hydrogen energy share (HES). Results show that an optimized native DF
calibration enables up to 90% CO2 reduction relative to diesel operation while maintaining combustion stability. Particulate matter emissions are nearly eliminated
at high HES, whereas low HES combined with non-optimized diesel injection results in PM levels comparable to diesel-only operation. The analysis highlights the
decisive role of a coordinated optimization of HES and diesel calibration strategy in governing ignition dynamics, combustion efficiency, and soot formation
A linear programming framework and an improved backtracking strategy for multiple-gradient descent
No full textThis work introduces a method to compute descent directions common to two or more differentiable functions defined over a shared unconstrained domain. Building on this, an alternative Multiple-Gradient Descent procedure for Multi-Objective Optimization problems is proposed. The core of the approach consists of solving a relatively cheap Linear Programming (LP) problem, where the objective and constraints are constructed from the gradients of the functions involved. In particular, the LP formulation is designed such that, when a common descent direction does not exist, it still yields a direction that is perpendicular to all objectives’ gradients, if such a direction is available. Additionally, a tailored backtracking strategy is presented, enhancing the performance of Multiple-Gradient Descent methods, especially when paired with the proposed LP-based direction computation, by improving the exploration of the Pareto set and front. Theoretical analysis and experiments on standard benchmark problems are provided to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques