1,721,028 research outputs found
ICARUS and Sterile Neutrinos
No full textThe ICARUS T600 detector is the largest operational liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr-TPC) ever built, and it successfully took data at the Gran Sasso laboratories (LNGS), with both the CNGS muon-neutrino beam and cosmic rays, from May 2010 to June 2013. During the data taking campaign, a dedicated search was performed for an excess of electron neutrino events, possibly related to non-standard oscillations into sterile states. No evidence of excess was found, and a new Short Baseline experiment is now being developed at Fermilab, in order to definitely prove or exclude the existence of such sterile neutrinos
The WArP Experiment: A Double-Phase Argon Detector for Dark Matter Searches
Get PDFCryogenic noble liquids emerged in the previous decade as one of the best media to perform WIMP dark matter searches, in particular due to the possibility to scale detector volumes to multiton sizes. The WArP experiment was then developed as one of the first to implement the idea of coupling Argon in liquid and gas phase, in order to discriminate β/γ-interactions from nuclear recoils and then achieve reliable background rejection. Since its construction, other projects spawned, employing Argon and Xenon and following its steps. The WArP 100l detector was assembled in 2008 at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS), as the final step of a years-long R&D programme, aimed at characterising the technology of Argon in double phase for dark matter detection. Though it never actually performed a physics run, a technical run was taken in 2011, to characterise the detector response
ICARUS T600: Latest physics results
Get PDFThe ICARUS T600 detector is the largest Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) ever built and operated to date. The detector, assembled underground in the Hall B of the Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS), has been collecting neutrino events with the CERN to Gran Sasso (CNGS) beam and from cosmic rays from May 2010 to June 2013. The ICARUS excellent spatial and calorimetric resolution, coupled to very refined 3D event reconstruction techniques, allows to search, among others, for νμ → νe transitions which may be related to the "LSND anomaly". Though no evidence of this is detected, an important region of the parameter space remains unexplored. For this reason the joint ICARUS-NESSiE collaboration is proposing an experiment, at the new foreseen CERN-SPS neutrino beam facility (CENF), to solve the sterile neutrino puzzle
Metal mesh shading devices optimization by parametric approach design
No full textWindows are the most important component within building envelope to control both solar heat gain and
thermal losses, but also to guarantee an optimal daylight level.
Metal mesh are used in new and renovated buildings, especially in office building, as an external second
envelope skin to enhance architecture design, to manage daylight levels and to control solar gains.
The aim is the optimization of their position, compared to the façade raising plane, enhancing the metal
mesh systems energy performance, increasing the comfort requirements and reducing the amount of used
material to minimize costs.
In order to evaluate their performances (mesh spacing and orientation) an estimation of the primary energy
consumption for heating, cooling, lighting and daylight comfort has been carried out. The study case is a
single 3 x 4 x 3m (W x L x H) office unit placed in Milan (Italy) under a single orientation (South). It has one
wall facing outdoors, having a Window Wall Ratio (WWR) of 86%, and five surfaces, considered as
adiabatic, because facing other internal offices (three wall, ceiling and floor).
A three-step approach was carried out to assess a sensitivity analysis with Energy Plus and Radiance
engine, managed with a parametric modelling approach (Rhinoceros and Grasshopper), evaluating shading
systems performance. For all of the simulations have been calculated the total primary energy (for heating,
cooling and lighting) and the principle daylight comfort index like (Daylight Factor, Useful daylight illuminance
and Glare Analysis). In the first step the standard metal mesh system with different ratio between spacing
and characteristic diameter (d/D equal to 0.2, 0.6, 1) has been analysed and compared with a standard
façade solution such as low-e double glazing unit (DGU) alone and the same one coupled with an internal
curtain.
In a second phase the performance of metal mesh shading device with different tilt angle (-20°, -10°, 10°)
were evaluated. In the third phase, a further system implementation was assessed decomposing the second
phase system in smaller sub-systems using a hybrid solution with metal mesh and louvers.
The results shows that considering only the total energy primary energy use the system that performs better
is the metal mesh with d/D equal to 0.6 and a 10° t ilt angle (from the façade raising plane). Instead
evaluating also costs and internal comfort the hybrid system have a better behaviour
The Effect of Water Spray Systems on Thermal and Solar Performance of an ETFE Panel for Building Envelope
Get PDFETFE membranes are generally used in architecture for large roofing and façade systems, because of their transparency and lightness compared to glass alternatives. Multilayer ETFE panels are used to improve single membrane systems performances, reducing thermal losses, by the use of an air gap between two or more ETFE foils, generally serigraphed or surface treated to reduce solar gains. Surface temperatures and global solar radiation strongly affects mean radiant temperature (MRT), and comfort perceived by a user facing a transparent envelope as well as solar gains strongly influences primary energy use for cooling in summer conditions. In the following paper an alternative dynamic solar gains mitigation strategy is presented and applied to a double layer, non-cushions, ETFE panel for façades. We measured the effectiveness of a water spray system located in the air-gap between the parallel ETFE foils and used to reduce surface temperatures and solar access depending on different summer solar radiation values and outdoor/indoor air temperature conditions. Systems alternative with different in nozzle dimension, water spray geometry and water consumption were already tested to evaluate the best compromise between solar gains reduction and water use. The results are preliminary but we noticed that a reduction up to the 10% of the total solar gains could be achieved as well as a reduction of 10 °C of surface temperature. Comfort evaluation for a standard indoor space were already done
CLADDING ELEMENT FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
No full textThe present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cladding elements (100) for use in construction, comprising a composite cement-based structure. The method envisages providing an elastically deformable support element (2), comprising a first surface (4), a second surface (5) and a plurality of spacer elements (6) having an elongated shape positioned between said first and second surface (4, 5) so as to realize a plurality of interconnected cavities (7). The method further provides preparing a substantially fluid and water-based cementitious composition (3) and introducing the substantially fluid cementitious composition (3) into the support element (2) so as to obtain a composite structure (1) in a deformable state. After this, part of the fluid cementitious composition (3) is removed from the support element (2), so as to eliminate the excess fluid cementitious composition (3) and position the deformable composite structure (1) in a forming device. The method therefore provides for maintaining the deformable composite structure (1) in association with the forming device, until the consolidation thereof. The method further provides that said support element (2) is constituted by a three-dimensional elastically deformable fabric and that said cementitious composition (3) comprises at least one fluidifying and/or plasticizing additive and in which cement, additive and water are present according to a weight ratio variable from 1; 1/3; 1/3 to 1; 1/6; 1/6
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