1,720,972 research outputs found
Open-loop Groundwater Heat Pump Systems (GWHPs) as a solution for decarbonise energy systems in urban areas: the case study of Politecnico di Torino
Get PDFIntegrating Regulatory, Environmental, and Experimental Insights for Groundwater Geothermal Development: A Case Study from Milan
No full textThe role of modelling in the planning strategies, the case study of Politecnico di Torino open-loop geothermal plant
Get PDFLow-enthalpy open-loop geothermal systems (geo-exchange plants) are one of the most suitable renewable technologies for heating, especially in densely urbanised areas. They use water from a shallow aquifer to heat and cool buildings through a heat pump. The re-injection wells return the water to the aquifer at a different temperature and many environmental aspects have to be considered to minimise the impact on the shallow aquifer. In addition, in Italy, groundwater is protected by National Legislative Decree No. 152 of 2006, and in the Piedmont Region, there is the Water Protection Plan, which provides guidance for the authorisation of geothermal wells. Moreover, the authorities require the use of predictive models for at least three years of the geothermal plant's activity, and the final report must verify that there is no hydraulic and thermal feedback effect between the extraction and injection wells and, finally, that there is no overlap with other underground infrastructure and other installations plants. In the city of Turin there are 44 geothermal plants and the Politecnico di Torino has 12 geothermal wells scattered throughout the city. In this context, the role of modelling is crucial for the future sustainable development of open-loop geothermal plants and the management of water resources. The numerical model of the Politecnico di Torino, obtained with MODFLOW 6 and calibrated with PEST, includes other neighbouring geothermal plants and shows the actual situation in terms of dewatering and temperature of the shallow aquifer of a large area of Turin. In the future, numerical modelling will play an increasingly important role in the planning of geo-exchange plants and the assessment of their impact on water resources, and city-scale models will be necessary for both researchers and professionals working in this field
Key Factors Influencing Borehole Thermal Energy Storage (BTES) Systems and Their Worldwide Distribution
No full textBorehole Thermal Energy Storage (BTES) systems have emerged as pivotal low‐carbon solutions for seasonal
thermal energy storage in the transition to sustainable energy systems. This work presents a comprehensive analysis
of 75 documented BTES installations worldwide. Advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) tools have been
employed to create the first geodatabase of BTES installation locations and characteristics, a pioneering
achievement in the field.
The study elucidates the operational principles of BTES systems, categorizes them by temperature and energy
source, and examines key design factors such as array geometry, charging and discharging rates, and thermal
conductivity. Several graphs effectively demonstrate the real-world performance of operational BTES plants.
Additionally, this research analyses and compares various numerical modelling software used in BTES design,
evaluating their performance, accuracy, and utilisation. Incorporating additional data remains essential to expand
current knowledge and fully harness the potential of open-access information.
This research delivers novel insights into both the theoretical and practical aspects of BTES technology. It provides
valuable contributions with wide-ranging applications and implications for both researchers and companies. By
promoting the integration of open-access data and encouraging technological advancements, this work significantly
advances our understanding of BTES systems and supports their continued deployment and optimization within
sustainable energy solutions
Enhancing Sustainable Urban Heating and Cooling with Groundwater Heat Pumps: A Case Study in Torino Urban City
Get PDFGroundwater Heat Pumps (GWHPs) are an efficient solution for reducing carbon emissions in heating and cooling systems in urban areas with favourable geological conditions. These systems draw water from shallow aquifers, undergo heat exchange processes, and return water at a modified temperature. It is important to preserve the groundwater quality of aquifers, which serve as renewable energy sources, for urban sustainability. In order to promote the adoption of GWHP, urban planning should be carried out while ensuring the long-term protection of groundwater. Torino Urban City has an alluvial shallow aquifer that is a valuable source of low-enthalpy geothermal energy. However, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive site assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts, taking into account well characteristics, locations, pumping rates, and thermal effects on local groundwater resources. A model and numerical simulations were developed to analyze two scenarios of over 150 geothermal wells in Torino City, accounting for maximum and average flow rates. The aim was to define changes in piezometric levels and the extent of thermally affected zones. The results at an average flow rate indicate that energy extraction is possible with minimal environmental impact due to the hydrogeological characteristics. The thermal plumes, which are shaped by water extraction and reinjection rates, have an impact only on downstream neighbouring plants. Accurate hydrogeological characterization is crucial for constructing new facilities, as positive aquifer responses to long-term disturbances demonstrate. The proposed urban-scale model is a valuable tool for experts and authorities, enabling the assessment of thermal disruptions at both localized and urban levels. Using this tool ensures the sustainable use of aquifer resources in complex systems, promoting informed decision-making for urban heating and cooling strategies
The role of standards and regulations in the open-loop GWHPs development in Italy: the case study of the Lombardy and Piedmont regions
Get PDFGroundwater Heat Pump systems (GWHPs) represent one of the most suitable technologies to be applied for
heating and cooling purposes in buildings. This paper explores the urban and regional standards and regulations
with which Piedmont and Lombardy Regions (Northwestern Italy) are equipped: the in-force regional and
municipal regulatory references to which a new geothermal project must comply (i.e., authorization requests and
plant final testing operations) were taken into consideration, highlighting the potential and limits connected to
different diffusion rates of GWHP systems by means of the Turin and Milan cities contexts analysis. To promote a
rapid but sustainable diffusion in the medium and long period of open-loop geothermal solutions in densely
urbanised contexts, urban planning instruments must pursue the following aim: to ensure adequate long-term
protection of the groundwater bodies, through an understanding of the subsoil in the decision-making process
heating and cooling of buildings in densely urbanised areas. The multilevel analysis performed is proposed as a
guide to allow professionals to understand the various regulatory processes that guide the authorization methods
of new geothermal plants
Potential and limits of implementing open-loop Groundwater Heat Pump Systems (GWHPs) in Italian urban areas: the cases study of Piedmont and Lombardy Regions
Get PDFItalian urban areas are characterized by centuries-old infrastructure: 35% of the Italian buildings stock is built before 1970 and about 75% is thermally inefficient. Besides, an important portion of buildings' energy consumption, from 60% to 80%, is attributed to space heating. In this context, defining a sustainable path to pursue 33.9% of energy consumption from renewable sources in the heating sector in 2030 is essential. Open-loop groundwater heat pumps (GWHPs) currently represent one of the most suitable technologies to be applied in the heating and cooling of buildings in Italian urbanized areas. However, different environmental aspects must be considered to minimize the impact of GWHP systems on the subsurface and aquifers. As a consequence, for allowing the diffusion of GWHPs urban planning instruments cannot disregard the knowledge about geological and hydrogeological urban and regional settings. A comprehensive analysis of the planning instruments with which two different Italian regions (Piedmont and Lombardy region) are equipped is proposed. The in-force regional and municipal regulatory references to which a new geothermal project must comply (i.e. authorization requests and plant final testing operations) were taken into consideration, highlighting the potential and the limits connected to the diffusion of GWHPs in the mentioned contexts
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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