Higher Institute on Territorial Systems for Innovation
PORTO Publications Open Repository TOrinoNot a member yet
91193 research outputs found
Sort by
Centralized control of district heating networks during failure events using discrete adjoint sensitivities
Real-time control of district heating networks in the case of failures requires for accurate and fast strategies able to guarantee thermal comfort to all connected users. In this paper, we demonstrate a control framework that responds to these essential requirements. We minimize a global measure of discomfort based on a smooth maximum approximation. The optimization problem is solved through a gradient-based algorithm that can be naturally integrated with distributed meter readings leading to high accuracy of both forward and sensitivity analysis. Objective function gradients are computed by a discrete adjoint method, which is fast and nearly insensitive to the dimensionality of the optimization problem. The proposed framework is tested with numerical experiments on a reference medium-size distribution network in Turin. Results show that the thermal comfort of most critical users increases quickly, yielding to a nearly homogeneous discomfort distribution at the end of the optimization process. Studying the effect of the inlet pressure head on the optimized system performance reveals that a centralized operation results in increased robustness of the network and allows reducing backup pumping equipment. Furthermore, applying the proposed framework at the distribution network level yields remarkable benefits also in case of failures in the main transportation network
Experimental results and strength model identification of pure iridium
Intense and high energy proton beams are impacted with fixed materials (targets) in order to produce new particles and secondary beams at CERN. In some of these targets, the requirement of reaching high yield production of secondary particles points out to the use of high density materials. The interaction of the beam with the atoms and nuclei of these materials produce extremely fast depositions of energy, highly soliciting them from thermo-structural point of view due to subsequent rise of temperature and pressure waves. Iridium is a good candidate material since exhibits very high density, high melting point, good strength and stability at high temperature, and resistance to thermal shock. The main goal of this study is the investigation of the mechanical behaviour at different temperatures and strain-rates in tensile loading condition of pure iridium. A series of tests at room temperature at different strain-rates (from 10-3 s-1 up to 104 s-1) was performed in order to obtain information about strain and strain-rate sensitivity of the material. In addition, a series of tests at different temperatures in both quasistatic and high strain-rate loading conditions was performed in order to obtain information about the thermal softening of the material (from room temperature up to 1250 °C). The experimental data were used to identify a strength model able to predict the material behaviour over wide ranges of variation of the variables of interest
Area Formation and Content Assignment for LTE Broadcasting
Broadcasting and multicasting services in LTE networks are shaping up to be an effective way to provide popular content. A key requirement is that cells are aggregated into areas where a tight time synchronization among transmissions is enforced, so as to broadcast the same radio resources. Our paper addresses a facet of LTE broadcasting that has so far received little attention: the creation of broadcasting areas and the assignment of content to them in order to efficiently exploit radio resources and satisfy user requests. Our original clustering approach, named Single-Content Fusion, achieves these goals by initially aggregating cells into single-content areas and maximizing cell similarity in content interests. Aggregated areas are then merged into multiple-content areas by virtue of similar spatial coverage. We show the validity of our solution pointing out the advantages it provides in comparison to other approaches. We also discuss the impact of various system factors (e.g., number of served users, broadcast data rate, area size) and the scalability of our proposal in large, realistic scenarios with both static and time-varying user interest
Micromechanics of periodically heterogeneous materials using higher-order beam theories and the mechanics of structure genome
CSP plants with thermocline thermal energy storage and integrated steam generator - Techno-economic modeling and design optimization
Although CSP has reached technological maturity, high capital investment and specific electricity cost remain the major development barriers. To reduce them, highly efficient, integrated, and cheaper CSP components are urgently needed. In this paper, we investigate a novel CSP plant configuration with a single-tank Thermal Energy Storage (TES) fully integrated with the steam generator. The objective of this research is twofold: i) provide a reliable model of single-tank thermal storages with integrated steam generator; ii) identify two optimized CSP plant designs to achieve best energetic and economic performances. To achieve these aims we developed a numerical model of the main system components and validated it against experimental data. This model was then integrated in a full simulation and heuristic design optimization of the plant. The results revealed that the system proposed can generate electricity in middle-Italy (Rome) at a cost of 230.25 $/MWh with a 15% reduction compared to the double tank option. Furthermore, if cogeneration is used to recover the waste heat, this system is an interesting option for users such as small districts, university campuses and hospitals. In the latter case, the optimized system pays off in 6 years and covers 80% of the heating and cooling requirements
Mechanized tunnelling: workers risk analysis and machine adjustment to the local situation
Noise and dust emission from mining activities: a software for measurement management and analysis of suitable reduction techniques
Un nuevo y efectivo enfoque a la Inspección de Trabajo: el caso de un túnel en el Norte-Oeste de Italia
Misure di prevenzione e protezione per ridurre l'esposizione a polveri contenenti silice libera cristallina. Comparto lapideo. Relazione conclusiva
Avvio e gestione di attività estrattive: un approccio in "Prevention Through Design"
Una efficace analisi e gestione dei rischi presso le unità estrattive, su cui fondare l'attività in coerenza con le norme vigenti in materia di sicurezza del lavoro, implica un approccio pro-attivo, tenuto conto dei diversi fattori coinvolti. In tale contesto un approccio pro-attivo richiede una approfondita analisi di rischio, fondata sulla valutazione delle possibili opzioni progettuali e la conoscenza del sito e del programma di coltivazione; nel presente lavoro viene esposta una metodologia basata su un sistema di registrazione dei dati tecnici supportata da un apposito software interattivo, in grado di aiutare la valutazione degli aspetti generali e specifici della sicurezza di comparto e di singole unità estrattive. Il lavoro è stato svolto dal Dipartimento di Ingegneria del Territorio, dell'Ambiente e delle Geotecnologie del Politecnico di Torino (già Autore di Linee Guida in materia di sicurezza per il comparto estrattivo) con il supporto dell'Ufficio Tutela Ambientale della Provincia di Torino