Design of a transverse flux machine for power generation from seawaves
In this paper, we present a transverse flux linear generator. We investigate the possibility to use this generator to extract energy from seawaves. We propose an optimization procedure that allows us to obtain an optimized design of the generator. The optimized design of the converter shows a power generation capability index much higher than other renewable systems.
An Approach to Rank Noise Pollution in Workplaces
In this paper, we describe a method for classifying the workplaces as regards the noise risk. This method provides an univocal classification of work area and allows to correctly implement the control measures in accordance with a suitable priority scale. Finally, this method can be easily adjusted to respect various national standards.
Energy Retrofit. A Case Study—Santi Romano Dormitory on the Palermo University
Electrical and thermal consumption related to buildings, whether civil, commercial, public, or of any other kind, is very much in focus today. With today’s targets for energy savings, reduction of consumption, and environmental impact, it is necessary to carry out energy retrofits to modernize installations and their management. The realization of an effective improvement requires a careful analysis of the case study because each category of building has different requirements such as different load profiles and different installations and needs. This was carried out by studying the electrical and thermal load profiles. A good initial energy audit can provide the retrofit solutions capable …
The Jiles Atherton Model for Description Of Hysteresis in Lithium Battery
In this paper Jiles Atherton (JA) Model is used to obtain a mathematical model of the hysteresis in lithium battery. JA Model allows to describe both the hysteresis and the dynamical features of charging and discharging cycles in a lithium battery. The identification of the model is obtained by using a neural network technique developed for magnetic systems. The model is validated on some experimental tests on commercial batteries.
FEM Analysis: A Review of the Most Common Thermal Bridges and Their Mitigation
The necessity to improve the energy saving potential of buildings is now a duty. European and national policies are being implemented to address the important decisions being made on this subject. For these reasons, several studies focus on this relevant topic. This paper review not only focusses on it but studies it in-depth. A commercial 3D simulation software was used to design a building sited in Palermo estimating the thermal losses before and after external envelope insulation. In particular, all the thermal bridges (TBs) were analysed with the finite element method (FEM) and mitigated with rock wool insulation. The paper shows the linear thermal transmittance difference and heat flux…
Evaluation of the Potential Energy from Wave Motion on the Sicilian coast
The purpose of this articles is quantitatively evaluate the wave climate variations of the northern Sicilian coasts. In particular, the objective of the study is Castellammare del Golfo, a marine site between Trapani and Palermo. In particular in this research, the wave energy of the Sicily has been studied by an analysis of wave data carried out in a 10- year period, using the measurements of buoyant of RON. The north-western and southern coasts of Sicily have a lower potential with average wave power ranging between 2.5 and 6.5 kW/m.
Optimization of a thermomagnetic motor
In this paper, an approach towards the optimization of the Curie motor is presented. The approach is based on a thermal-magnetic coupled dynamic model of the motor, which is obtained by assuming the use of a ferromagnetic material working at temperatures near the Curie point. An analytical expression of the generated torque, which links this quantity to the magnetic, thermal, and geometrical parameters of the generated torque, is given. The expressions of speed and torque are derived and related to the thermal properties of the machine and are used as optimization indexes in an optimization procedure. The aim of the optimization process is to obtain a machine able to rotate constantly at th…
Generation of a Test Reference Year (TRY): an application to the town of Palermo
The improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings calls for the availability of tools for evaluating and simulating the thermal behaviour of buildings, needing as input climatic databases. These databases contain a very large amount of data, resulting in long computational time analysis. Therefore, simple aggregation methods are used, among which the test reference year (TRY). In this paper, a comparison between two statistical methodologies for compiling a TRY, the Belgian and the Sandia methods, is presented. Then, the two methods have been utilized for compiling the TRY for the town of Palermo, Italy, and compared both statistically and by means of two simple applications, obtaining …
An Economic Approach to Size of a Renewable Energy Mix in Small Islands
The importance of renewable energy exploitation reduces the energy dependence on fossil fuels. Despite technological progress, in several remote areas and small islands the energy production is nowadays dominated by the utilization of fossil fuels. With new, increasingly stringent laws on polluting emissions and the need to lower production costs, it is necessary to exploit as many renewable sources as possible. In order to implement these considerations, it was decided to study renewable energy production. The study was carried out by estimating the energy production on a monthly and annual basis considering a mix of three plants, namely marine, solar, and wind. Simulations on wave product…
The Desalination Process Driven by Wave Energy: A Challenge for the Future
The correlation between water and energy is currently the focus of several investigations. In particular, desalination is a technological process characterized by high energy consumption; nevertheless, desalination represents the only practicable solution in several areas, where the availability of fresh water is limited but brackish water or seawater are present. These natural resources (energy and water) are essential for each other; energy system conversion needs water, and electrical energy is necessary for water treatment or transport. Several interesting aspects include the study of saline desalination as an answer to freshwater needs and the application of renewable energy (RE) devic…
Hydrogen Production from Sea Wave for Alternative Energy Vehicles for Public Transport in Trapani (Italy)
The coupling of renewable energy and hydrogen technologies represents in the mid-term a very interesting way to match the tasks of increasing the reliable exploitation of wind and sea wave energy and introducing clean technologies in the transportation sector. This paper presents two different feasibility studies: the first proposes two plants based on wind and sea wave resource for the production, storage and distribution of hydrogen for public transportation facilities in the West Sicily; the second applies the same approach to Pantelleria (a smaller island), including also some indications about solar resource. In both cases, all buses will be equipped with fuel-cells. A first economic a…
Design Considerations of Transverse Flux Generator to Sea Wave Energy
In this paper we study the possibility to use a transverse flux linear generator (TFG) because transverse flux technology presents the highest force density per volume index among the iron based electrical machines. This paper is organized as follows an introduction to describe "state of the art" of WEC's and TFG, in the Section II we find a summary description of the marine condition of the chosen site; in the Section III there is an the analytical procedure for geometric and magnetic design of device (chosen material, length, etc) and in the Section IV the simulation of generator. Further defined the design of the generator, the machine was designed and analyzed through the use of a 3D FE…
A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector
Energy is engaged in the supply chain of many economic sectors; therefore, the environmental impacts of the energy sector are indirectly linked to those of other sectors. Consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) is an appropriate methodology to examine the direct and indirect environmental impacts of a product due to technological, economic or social changes. To date, different methodological approaches are proposed, combining economic and environmental models. This paper reviews the basic concept of CLCA and the coupling of economic and environmental models for performing CLCA in the energy sector during the period 2006–2020, with the aim to provide a description of the different tools, …
Experimental Evidence on the Thermal Performance of Opaque Surfaces in Mediterranean Climate
The thermal insulation of buildings, intended as wrap feature which determines the dispersion of heat, the reference parameter is necessary to contain the thermal losses during the winter season. The transmittance of the opaque components, used as an indicator of the energy quality of a casing, together with the overall coefficient of dispersion, represents a proper descriptor of the behavior during the heating season. However, if a strong insulation in winter conditions brings only positive effects, the same cannot be said for the summer conditions. A high value of the insulation in the casing is convenient only when the gains free, either in the form of solar contribution that of endogeno…
Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Panels
The photovoltaic (PV) sector has undergone both major expansion and evolution over the last decades, and currently, the technologies already marketed or still in the laboratory/research phase are numerous and very different. Likewise, in order to assess the energy and environmental impacts of these devices, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies related to these systems are always increasing. The objective of this paper is to summarize and update the current literature of LCA applied to different types of grid-connected PV, as well as to critically analyze the results related to energy and environmental impacts generated during the life cycle of PV technologies, from 1st generation (traditiona…