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Data Analysis of the Energy Performance of Large Scale Solar Collectors for District Heating
No full textDistrict Heating systems are an interesting opportunity for the increase of renewable energy share in the heating and cooling sector. The possibility of a centralized heat production allows the integration of multiple sources, including RES such as biomass, heat pumps and solar energy. This paper provides an operation analysis of the energy performance of large scale solar collectors supplying heat to DH systems in Denmark. Thanks to the availability of hourly data it has been possible to track the evolution of the collectors' performance throughout the year, and compare it with the available radiation. The results show the good reliability of such systems, which are generally able to convert 40% to 60% of the available radiation, with annual production yields higher than 400 kWh/m2/y. The conversion efficiency shows some seasonal variations, being the winter months the less favorable, probably because of a lower direct radiation. The DH systems considered in the study show a similar performance but with some differences: other parameters such as slope, azimuth and operating temperatures could be the causes of these variations
Opportunities for heat pumps adoption in existing buildings: real-data analysis and numerical simulation
No full textThe space heating of buildings represents one of the most important causes of energy consumption in Europe. The necessity to increase the share of renewable energy within the sector is hindered by the difficulty to renew and refurbish the existing building stock. In this context, heat pumps can have an important role in helping increase the renewable share of thermal energy production for the civil sector, in particular in those countries in which the electricity generation mix has large contributions from renewable energy sources. The paper presents a real-data analysis and a numerical simulation to evaluate the opportunity to substitute traditional heat generation systems (natural gas boilers) with air-source heat pumps or hybrid solutions. Three buildings located in Turin (Italy) are taken as case-study, and the hourly profiles of outdoor temperature, water supply temperature and absorbed thermal power are used to simulate four heat generation scenarios, that are compared in terms of primary energy consumption. Results show that (1) the substitution of the traditional natural gas boiler with a heat pump (with backup electric resistance) is always favorable (18% to 32% of primary energy reduction); (2) the influence of water supply temperature of each building on the overall primary energy saving is very high; (3) the adoption of a hybrid system (heat pump and natural gas boiler working alternatively) provides advantages in terms of reduced primary energy consumption only if the required supply water temperature is high. Further studies will investigate the economic aspects and will introduce comparisons with condensation natural gas boilers
Regulation Analysis and New Concept for a Cloud-based UAV Supervision System in Urban Environment
No full textRecensione "Space and Pluralism. Can Contemporary Cities Be Places of Tolerance?" edited by S. Moroni & D. Weberman
No full textLa riqualificazione energetica del patrimonio edilizio residenziale europeo: il progetto di ricerca EPISCOPE
No full textL'articolo illustra metodologie e risultati di analisi energetiche condotte su alcuni parchi edilizi residenziali europei nell'ambito del progetto IEE-EPISCOPE. La finalità della ricerca è verificare se l'attuale tendenza della riqualificazione sia sufficiente per conseguire le riduzioni di emissioni fissate dall'UE. I risultati mostrano che gli obiettivi saranno difficilmente raggiungibili senza l'applicazione di interventi più efficaci e l'incremento del tasso annuo di ristrutturazione
Archaeoacoustics, from antiquity to nowadays: contemporary use of the classical ancient architecture for performing arts
No full textPresent conditions of Roman and Greek ancient theatres of the Mediterranean basin are critic from the point of view of the architectural conservation. The remarkable acoustics that characterized them in antiquity was not anymore attested by the latest main researches in this field (i.e. ERATO project in 2006). This represents an obstacle for the proper usage of these spaces as contemporary performance spaces. In fact, despite their status, a high number of theatrical and musical festivals still take place in these environments every year. This research deals with the re-usage of the ancient classical theatres nowadays. Two main topics are investigated: a) the evaluation of measuring and simulating techniques in their application to the open-air conditions; b) the enhancement of the ancient theatres' acoustics through passive-acoustic solutions. Two case studies were chosen: the ancient theatre of Tyndaris, TYN, and the ancient theatre of Syracusae, SYR. In the first part of the thesis, acoustical measurements performed in TYN and in SYR on the basis of the ISO 3382-1 are reported. Acoustical parameters Reverberation Time, RT (s) - labelled as T20 - Clarity for speech and for music, C50 and C80 (dB), and Sound Strength, G (dB), are calculated as indicated in the standard. Their analysis reveals similar results to those obtained during ERATO project, in terms of RTmid and Gmid parameters. Evaluation of the Impulse response-to-Noise Ratio, INR (dB), attests measurement quality for all the frequencies, except for 125 Hz. The critical analysis of the applied measuring protocol 3382-1, which actually refers to indoor environments, shows the necessity of a specific standard for outdoor spaces. Direct-to-Reverberant energy Ratio, DRR (dB), is proposed in this thesis as alternative parameter to characterize the open-air theatres. Measured and simulated DRR values are statistically evaluated to assess their reliability, together with the values of standard parameters T20, C50, C80 and G. Following recommendations by JCGM-100, a high number of repetitions is necessary to guarantee consistent results, and to reduce errors that could occur in open-air spaces. Measurement uncertainties due to repeatability are calculated for each parameter in the case of TYN, and compared to the relative Just Noticeable Difference, JND. Results evidence that only G and DRR are able to detect systematic differences among the different positions in the theatre. T20, C50, C80 result to be more affected by random effects, due to unstable outdoor conditions. Two acoustic software, Odeon and CATT-Acoustic, are investigated in their simulation of the open-air conditions. The reliability of simulated results is related to algorithm sensitivity to the variation of the input variables, which are controlled by the operator. Simulation uncertainty due to variability of the input values of absorption and scattering are defined for each parameter in the case of SYR. Results show that lower values than their JNDs are obtained for all the parameters, except for T20, C50, C80 when CATT-Acoustic is used. The lower uncertainty means that the software algorithm is less sensitive to absorption and scattering variation. Concerning the calibration procedure of the models, the comparison of measured/simulated results shows that, among all the parameters, only G and DRR results are in agreement. In the second part of the thesis, curved orchestra shells for the enhancement of the acoustics of TYN and SYR are defined by means of computational design. Genetic algorithms allow researches based on an optimization criterion, which in this case is the maximization of the number of reached listeners with a perceived level over the measured Background-Noise-Level, BNL + 10 dB(A). Simulated results of the orchestra shells show significant improvements of the theatres acoustics for G and DRR. This parametric approach allows the realization of feasibility studies, and it is transferable also to other similar ancient theatres
L'immagine storica del territorio: emergenze verticali e cartografia antica
No full textThe essay tries to demonstrate, with multiple examples, the importance of vertical elements (emergencies) in the territory to compose the geo-historical cartography. The position of a quantity of vertical monuments (towers, clock towers, tower gates and votive pylons) in the area analyzed by the collective work in Piedmont region is directly connected to the relevance of the area represented in the maps and their geographic accuracy. Anyway, the major number of old maps is singularly present in the same regional sections being also recognized as seismic areas, giving so, indirectly, many other information to the studies conducted by structural researchers and engineers. But vertical emergences are first of all relevant elements in the definition of a specific landscape, the human landscape represented by those extraordinary rich old maps. Great "monarchy" maps, small reliefs connected to floods or river control, medium size cadastral surveys are, so, different portraits of these extraordinary interesting lands, characterized by their vertical monuments
Multifunctional conductive bionanocomposite hydrogels for wound healing: Preparation and characterisation ofin situcross linking hydrogels
No full textAn organic-solvent-free route to obtain nanostructured zinc oxide-based reservoir of clotrimazole
No full textNanoparticles for Permeable reactive barriers: Production and application of mobile particles
No full textPermeable reactive barriers have been recognized as a cost-effective technology for in-situ groundwater remediation. Placement of the barrier underground is the biggest challenge in this technology, consuming most of scientific and financial resources, so far. Injecting engineered nanoparticle suspensions to create a reactive barrier in soils has shown potential to overcome this challenge. Nanoparticles will deposit on aquifer sand, and then adsorb and/or react with groundwater contamination. Injection can be made using wellbores, thus reducing the costs of the barrier placement. However, nanoparticles have low mobility and are transformed (and thereby lose their capacity to react) in the close vicinity of the injection zone. We have designed and produced Goethite nanoparticles to adsorb heavy metals in contaminated groundwater. Our colloidal suspensions show high stability and mobility in different sediment types. Laboratory tests with aquifer materials and numerical simulations were combined in order to understand how different hydrological and hydrogeochemical parameters affect the particle mobility when injected in porous media. The final nanoparticles are stable over days, facilitating transport from the place of production to the injection sites, and therefore minimizing on-site modification. By adjusting the concentrations of the injected suspensions and the injection flowrates, a desired mass of nanoparticles can travel in aquifers without accumulating near the wellbore or clogging pores. For example, a radius of influence of 4 meter was achieved at an injection rate of 60l/min. At such scale, the number of drilling and completion activities are lowered and stable, cost-effective reactive barriers can be placed. We thus present an applicable technology for the creation of in situ adsorption barriers for heavy metals in groundwater