Six-years-long effects of the Italian policies for photovoltaics on the grid parity of grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed in urban contexts

Abstract The purpose of this study is investigating the grid parity (GP) time and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in densely urbanized contexts. The analysis, which was elaborated for three Italian cities, considered the effects of the promoting policies enacted by the Italian government from June 2010 to May 2016. An appropriate methodology was applied with the aim of realistically defining the energy produced by PV systems installed on buildings with different roof types and number of floors. The calculus of the disbursements considered the operating, maintenance and insurance costs and the wear of PV panels and inverters. The resu…

Effects of the Italian financial crisis on the photovoltaic dissemination in a southern city

Abstract The aim of this paper is to estimate how the profitability of grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems may vary month by month due to the changes in all parameters involved in the economic evaluation (discount rate, PV electricity selling price, inflation rate, price of PV devices etc.). The effects of these variations were investigated for a district of a city in the South Italy (Palermo). The results of the analysis provided the trend of the actual coverage of the district power demand from June 2010 to August 2012. In particular the load match index, which considers the daily energy demand covered by PV systems, ranged from almost 30% to less than 12%, which is less than the val…

A procedure to calculate the five-parameter model of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules on the basis of the tabular performance data

Abstract Only few manufactures provide the wide set of graphical data that are necessary to use high performance predictive tools for PV systems. On the other hand, reliable graphical data require accurate laboratory measurements that increase manufacturing costs. For this reason PV system designers have to choose between the use of cheap PV modules, lacking in technical data, and the reliable energy predictions that are possible only if the current–voltage characteristics are provided by the PV module manufacturers. This paper describes the procedure to evaluate the parameters of a one-diode equivalent circuit able to accurately represent the electrical behaviour of a PV panel by means of …

ANALISI DELLA PRODUCIBILITA’ ENERGETICA DI IMPIANTI FOTOVOLTAICI IN CONTESTI URBANI

L’obiettivo del lavoro proposto è la definizione di una metodologia che consenta di testare il livello di integrazione della tecnologia fotovoltaica in contesti urbani ad alta densità edilizia. Il criterio adottato mira all’analisi contestuale dell’aspetto energetico, mediante valutazione della percentuale di copertura del fabbisogno di energia elettrica richiesto, e della convenienza economica degli impianti fotovoltaici installati sulle coperture degli edifici. A tal fine, per un quartiere della città di Palermo, sono state poste in relazione le superfici effettivamente disponibili all’installazione dei pannelli e il numero di utenze presenti. Le coperture, censite grazie all’ausilio dell…

Six-years-long effects of the Italian policies for photovoltaics on the pay-back period of grid-connected PV systems installed in urban contexts

Abstract In this study the discounted pay-back (DPB) period of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in urban contexts was investigated during the course of time with the aim of evaluating the effects of the different supporting policies enacted by the Italian government. The profitability of the investment in three Italian cities was observed from June 2010 to May 2016 by means of an exhaustive economic analysis based on the study of the variation of the costs and benefits during the lifetime of the investment. The analysis considered the disbursements for the PV system devices, maintenance and management, insurance, and wear of PV panels and inverters. Other significant parameters, …

L’influenza dei sistemi per il condizionamento dell’aria sul consumo di energia elettrica del settore residenziale: un modello neurale

Energy and economic analysis of air-to-air heat pumps as an alternative to domestic gas boiler heating systems in the South of Italy

Abstract According to the electricity tariff recently issued by the Italian government for the domestic heating systems fed with heat pumps (HP), an energy and economic analysis was carried out with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of the air-to-air heat pump systems (HPS) as an alternative to the traditional heating using domestic gas boilers systems (GBS). For the purpose of this study, the apartments of three residential buildings were examined. The hourly heating loads were calculated with the ASHRAE radiant time series and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the HPs was evaluated for each operating condition. The costs for the heating system installation and electricity a…

A clear sky atmospheric model valid for the mediterranean zone

Abstract The ASHRAE clear sky model in the version proposed by G.L. Powell has been applied to a set of clear days from two coastal locations of Yugoslavia. The results have provided further elements to confirm the existence of a clear sky atmospheric model valid for the whole Mediterranean zone. This model is characterized by values of the atmospheric extinction coefficient higher than the corresponding ASHRAE ones with upper limits defined by the regression curve derived by using data of Palermo.

LA SIMULAZIONE TERMICA DEGLI EDIFICI IN REGIME DINAMICO: UN CASO STUDIO PER LA VALIDAZIONE DEL SOFTWARE ESP-R

UN MODELLO ALLE DIFFERENZE FINITE DI UN PANNELLO FOTOVOLTAICO ACCOPPIATO A MATERIALE A CAMBIAMENTO DI FASE

La diffusione commerciale dei dispositivi fotovoltaici presenta negli ultimi anni un trend di crescita significativa a livello internazionale. Numerose ricerche sono state svolte al fine di incrementare l’efficienza di conversione elettrica dei pannelli fotovoltaici e tra le soluzioni indagate è stato sperimentato l’impiego di materiali a cambiamento di fase (MCF) per ridurre i picchi di temperatura di funzionamento. Nel lavoro è stato sviluppato un algoritmo di calcolo in grado di fornire l’andamento temporale della temperatura di un pannello fotovoltaico accoppiato a materiale a cambiamento di fase (Sistema PV-MCF). La determinazione della distribuzione di temperature che interessano un s…

Assessment of the Usability and Accuracy of Two-Diode Models for Photovoltaic Modules

Many diode-based equivalent circuits for simulating the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels are reported in the scientific literature. Two-diode equivalent circuits, which require more complex procedures to calculate the seven model parameters, are less numerous. The model parameters are generally calculated using the data extracted from the datasheets issued by the PV panel manufactures and adopting simplifying hypotheses and numerical solving techniques. A criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of two-diode models is proposed in this paper with the aim of supporting researchers and designers, working in the area of PV systems, to select and use a model…

Review of the energy and economic parameters involved in the effectiveness of grid-connected PV systems installed in multi-storey buildings

Abstract The assessment of PV energy in an urban context is extremely complex because many factors have to be considered. Moreover, when the purpose is calculating the realistic amount of the electricity demand of a city that can be covered by the photovoltaic generation, it is necessary to estimate the number of photovoltaic systems whose installation is economically advantageous. Such a topic requires an economic analysis, which is affected by the number of energy and economic parameters involved and the values assigned to them to perform calculations. Some parameters are perfectly known and unvarying, like the paid incentives. Adversely, some parameters, like the efficiency degradation o…

A procedure to evaluate the seven parameters of the two-diode model for photovoltaic modules

Abstract The paper presents an analytical procedure to calculate the seven parameters of the two-diode model of photovoltaic (PV) panels for any value of the solar irradiance and cell temperature. Six parameters (the photocurrent, the diode reverse saturation currents, the quality factor of the first diode and the series and shunt resistances), are evaluated by solving the equations related to the properties of the main points of the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The further information, necessary to calculate the entire set of seven truly independent parameters, is based on two conditions that have to be simultaneously satisfied: 1) the exclusion of negative values of the model pa…

La certificazione energetica – Analisi della direttiva europea

Assessment of the Usability and Accuracy of the Simplified One-Diode Models for Photovoltaic Modules

Models for photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels, based on the diode equivalent circuit, have been widely used because they are effective tools for system design. Many authors have presented simplified one-diode models whose three or four parameters are calculated using the data extracted from the datasheets issued by PV panel manufactures and adopting some simplifying hypotheses and numerical solving techniques. Sometimes it may be difficult to make a choice among so many models. To help researchers and designers working in the area of photovoltaic systems in selecting the model that is fit for purpose, a criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of simplified one-diode models is p…

Assessment of Energy and Economic Effectiveness of Photovoltaic Systems Operating in a Dense Urban Context

A methodology that permits testing the level of integration of the photovoltaic technology in urban areas is presented. The percentage of coverage of the electricity demand of grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed on the roofs of buildings were investigated in a district of the city of Palermo (Sicily). After classifying roofs according to their shape, orientation and pitch by means of satellite images provided by Google Earth, the ratio of the productivity of the PV systems and the consumption of electricity of the households was analysed. The results of the energy assessment have been screened considering the economic feasibility of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: the energy …

Air quality and relative humidity in commercial aircrafts: an experimental investigation on short-haul domestic flights

Abstract Nowadays the achievement of a comfortable environment in aircraft cabins is a factor of paramount importance in air travel business competition; on the other hand, the need of reducing the propulsion fuel cost has driven the airline companies to adopt air handling systems that may reduce the levels of thermal comfort and air quality inside the cabins of commercial airliners. With the aim of contributing to a better knowledge of this matter, this paper reports the results of an experimental study upon the indoor air quality aboard commercial aircrafts for 14 domestic flights less than 1 h and half long. The parameters monitored were temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide …

The recent change in the Italian policies for photovoltaics: Effects on the payback period and levelized cost of electricity of grid-connected photovoltaic systems installed in urban contexts

Abstract This paper provides an economic analysis of the investment in grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems installed on the rooftops of buildings located in densely urbanised contexts. The analysis was applied to some case studies that were selected as representative of the latitudes of the southern, central and northern Italy. The returns of the investment in PV systems were investigated with the aim of comparing the impact of the current PV policy, based on the tax credit scheme, with the FIT (feed-in tariff) scheme, in force until July 2013. The cash flows related to the disbursements and benefits during the lifetime of the investment were computed for each combination of orientatio…

The ASHRAE clear sky model. An evaluation in the Mediterranean Zone

Abstract The ASHRAE clear sky model in the version proposed by G. L. Powell is here applied to a yearly set of data for Palermo with small scale time intervals. The model is shown to yield computed values generally higher than the measured ones. New values for the atmospheric extinction coefficient are derived and proposed for the application to the Mediterranean atmosphere. A successful verification is performed using hourly data of Genoa, a location belonging to the same meteoclimatic area.

An Italian input–output model for the assessment of energy and environmental benefits arising from retrofit actions of buildings

Abstract The paper presents an energy and environmental extended input–output model combined with the life cycle assessment, applied to assess the energy and environmental benefits arising from the Italian policy of tax deduction for energy retrofit actions of buildings. The study allowed to assess the advantages due to the above policy, taking into account both direct and indirect energy saving and avoided CO 2 emissions obtained with the retrofit actions and indirect energy consumption and related CO 2 emissions due to the realization of the above actions. Moreover, the authors defined an original model to assess the indirect rebound effect caused by the energy saving actions. The obtaine…

Edificio bioclimatico - Tecniche di simulazione - Tecniche avanzate

A Criterion for Rating the Usability and Accuracy of the One-Diode Models for Photovoltaic Modules

In selecting a mathematical model for simulating physical behaviours, it is important to reach an acceptable compromise between analytical complexity and achievable precision. With the aim of helping researchers and designers working in the area of photovoltaic systems to make a choice among the numerous diode-based models, a criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of one-diode models is proposed in this paper. A three-level rating scale, which considers the ease of finding the data used by the analytical procedure, the simplicity of the mathematical tools needed to perform calculations and the accuracy achieved in calculating the current and power, is used. The proposed criter…

An improved photographic method to estimate the shading effect of obstructions

Abstract A new photographic method is presented to evaluate the shading effects of obstructions on surfaces exposed to the sun. The method overcomes the difficulties caused by the need to accurately describe the surrounding objects to estimate the shading effects by means of the usual tools that use the spatial reconstruction of obstructions or cylindrical or polar suncharts. The photographs of the surrounding objects are used as the background on which the solar disc is depicted at the various hours of the day. In this way it is easily detectable if the sun is visible from the place where the photographs were taken or if the surrounding obstructions obscure the sun. In spite of the complex…

An analysis of direct solar transmittance and atmospheric turbidity in the Mediterranean climatic belt

Abstract The empirical model developed by King and Buckius for the direct transmission in clear sky is applied to hourly data of two Yugoslav locations exhibiting typical meteoclimatic characteristics common to the whole Mediterranean belt. The occurrence of “very clear”, “clear” and “very hazy” hours, after the usually accepted definitions, is determined and discussed. The degree of accuracy of the previsional model is investigated performing the comparison with the corresponding values obtained directly by energetic procedure. A general overestimate of the transmittance is experienced with notable deviations in meteorological conditions affected by the presence of dense clouds which behav…

The Recent Change in the Italian Policies for Photovoltaics: Effects on the Energy Demand Coverage of Grid-Connected PV Systems Installed in Urban Contexts

In July 2013, the Italian photovoltaic (PV) support policies changed the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism and turned to a tax credits program, which is currently in force. The aim of this paper is to investigate how such a radical change has influenced the electricity demand coverage of the PV systems installed in urban contexts. A methodology, which connects the economic assessment to a detailed architectural and energy suitability analysis, was applied to some case studies to analyse the relationships between the physical parameters related to multi-storey buildings (roof shapes, number of floors and area of flats) and the most relevant economic and financial features affecting the viabilit…

La Life Cycle Assessment come strumento di supporto per le piccole e medie imprese: un caso studio siciliano

L’Unione Europea mira ad orientare il mercato verso una crescente domanda di prodotti e servizi ecoefficienti ed eco-sostenibili. Le PMI, per essere competitive sul mercato, hanno la necessità di superare il gap tecnologico e di competenze che spesso le caratterizza ed avviare processi produttivi eco-orientati. In tale contesto nasce il Centro di Ricerca Italo-Maltese per la Sostenibilità Ambientale e le Fonti Rinnovabili (CRIM-SAFRI), che si propone di offrire una significativa opportunità di crescita e sviluppo per il tessuto produttivo dell’area del Mediterraneo, contribuire a ridurre i consumi energetici, le emissioni di gas serra e di altre sostanze inquinanti connessi ai processi prod…

An improved five-parameter model for photovoltaic modules

This paper presents a new five-parameter model capable of analytically describing the I–V characteristic of a photovoltaic module for each generic condition of operative temperature and solar irradiance. The parameters of the equivalent electrical circuit are extracted by solving a system of equations based on data commonly issued by manufacturers in standard rating conditions with a trial and error process. The procedure, which does not require any special equations solver, can be easily coded into a short software routine using simple languages and finds the solution of the system of equations with the desired accuracy without needing to be guided towards solutions starting from fitted in…

A more reliable relation between Angström and Linke atmospheric turbidity parameters

Abstract This work analyses the correlation between Angstrom and Linke atmospheric turbidity parameters (β and T ) which are commonly used in studies about the atmosphere's behaviour since they efficaciously monitor a point turbidity state and model the aerosol attenuation of solar radiation. Starting from the usual linear relation β = a + bT , a more reliable one is here derived by hourly data of three coastal locations with typical Mediterranean meteoclimatic characteristics, for values of the experimental ratios of diffuse and global solar radiation ⩽0.3. The expression found notably differs from the starting one as shown by the time variable.

The role of the building sector for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases: An Italian case study

The paper presents one of the first Italian experiences assessing the effectiveness of sustainable production and consumption strategies. The authors developed an energy and environmental extended input–output model, combined with the life cycle assessment, to analyse the role of the building sector in the reduction of Italian energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In detail, the model allows to assess the energy and environmental benefits arising from the Italian tax deduction policy for energy retrofit actions of buildings. Moreover, the authors defined an original model to assess the indirect rebound effect caused by the energy retrofit actions. The outcomes of the research point out that…

An accurate one-diode model suited to represent the current-voltage characteristics of crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules

Abstract In this paper a new one-diode model, conceived in order to be used to represent the current-voltage curves of both crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic modules, is presented. The model parameters are calculated from the information contained in the datasheets issued by manufactures by means of simple iterative procedures that do not require the assumption of simplifying hypotheses. Some innovative relations describing the dependence of the parameters from the solar irradiance and cell temperature are adopted in order to permit the model to reliably simulate the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic devices operating in real conditions. The ability of the model to calculate the cur…

Uno strumento di supporto alla decisione nel campo dei software per la simulazione termica degli edifici in regime vario

Load mismatch of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: Review of the effects and analysis in an urban context

Abstract The mismatch between generated and consumed electricity is a relevant topic of the energy and economic assessment of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Due to the load mismatch some amount of PV electricity may be exported to the grid because the electrical demand is temporarily lower than production, whereas a consumption, which is higher than production and/or that does not match the available PV generation, will require to be supplemented by the public grid electricity. The presence of the load mismatch can cause the effect of disadvantageously purchasing electricity from the grid and/or squandering the unexploited PV energy. If only a very small part of the PV generation is used to sup…

MIGLIORAMENTO DELLA RESA ENERGETICA DI UN PANNELLO FOTOVOLTAICO PER MEZZO DI MATERIALE A CAMBIAMENTO DI FASE

Is the transfer function method reliable in a European building context? A theoretical analysis and a case study in the South of Italy

Abstract The available tools for dynamic simulation of the buildings thermal behaviour are manifold, and the most modern ones, known as TRNSYS, are founded upon the use of the Z-transform (ZT) set also called transfer function method (TFM). The transfer function method (TFM), recommended by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), is one of the most modern tools available to solve heat transfer problems in building envelopes and environments. TFM utilises Z-transforms to solve the equation system that describes the heat transfer in a multi-layered wall. Due to an analogy with an electric circuit, it is possible to write the equation system in a mat…

A neural classifier for the optimal selection of conduction transfer functions

VALIDAZIONE SPERIMENTALE DI UN MODELLO DI SIMULAZIONE DEL COMPORTAMENTO TERMICO ED ELETTRICO DI PANNELLI FOTOVOLTAICI PIANI

Life Cycle Assessment of a building insulating biomaterials. A case study on the Kenaf-fibre thermo insulating board

Five-years-long effects of the Italian policies for photovoltaics on the energy demand coverage of grid-connected PV systems installed in urban contexts

Abstract The paper examines the responsiveness of the electricity demand coverage in urban contexts to the changes in the Italian policies for PV systems. The morphological configuration of building roofs according to the number of covered flats, annual data of PV generation and electricity consumptions were considered in the transition from the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism to the tax credits scheme currently in force. With the aim of assessing the changes over time in three representative cities, the fluctuations both in the premiums for the produced electricity and the tax credits applied to the PV system costs were observed from July 2010 to February 2016. Furthermore, the main time-va…

On the experimental validation of an improved five-parameter model for silicon photovoltaic modules

Abstract This paper presents the experimental validation of a new five-parameter model capable of analytically describing the I–V characteristic of a silicon photovoltaic module for each generic condition of operative temperature and solar irradiance. The operating current calculated with the model was validated on the basis of a series of experimental measurements performed in the field on two commercial silicon photovoltaic panels connected to a set of nine constant values of the electrical load. In order to examine the panels working in almost steady-state conditions only the data-sets of the sunniest days from sunrise to sunset were used. Unfortunately the production spread of photovolt…

Valutazione mediante tecnica fotografica dell'oscuramento della radiazione solare dovuto alle ostruzioni

Si propone un nuovo metodo che consente di utilizzare l’immagine fotografica di ostacoli ombreggianti per valutarne l’effetto oscurante nei confronti della radiazione solare diretta incidente su di una superficie. Il metodo proposto è simile a quello che prevede l’impiego del diagramma cilindrico dei percorsi solari, calcolati in funzione dell’azimuth e dell’altezza solare, e la sovrapposizione su di esso del poligono raffigurante l’oggetto ostruente costruito in base alle coordinate cilindriche dei suoi punti più significativi. La nuova procedura prevede invece la sovrapposizione sulla fotografia del percorso solare opportunamente trasformato secondo le regole della prospettiva. E’ così po…

A criterion for the assessment of the reliability of ASHRAE conduction transfer function coefficients

This paper presents a new mathematical approach, which, when applied to conduction transfer functions (CTFs) of a multi-layered wall, is able to predict the reliability of building simulations. This new procedure can be used to identify the best set of CTF coefficients, which are a critical point at the core of the ASHRAE calculation methodology founded on the transfer function method. To evaluate the performance of different CTF coefficient sets, the authors performed a large number of thermal simulations on the multi-layered walls included in the ASHRAE Handbook, volume fundamentals, and on other walls typical of Mediterranean building heritage. Those data were employed to test an algorit…

A procedure to calculate the I–V characteristics of thin-film photovoltaic modules using an explicit rational form

Abstract Accurate models of the electrical behaviour of photovoltaic modules are effective tools for system design. One or two diode equivalent circuits have been widely used even though some mathematical difficulties were found dealing with implicit equations. In this paper, a new model based on a simple rational function, which does not contain any implicit exponential form, is presented. The model was conceived in order to be used with thin-film photovoltaic modules, whose current–voltage curves are characterised by very smooth shapes. The parameters of the model are evaluated by means of the derivatives of the issued characteristics in the short circuit and open circuit points at standa…

Analysis of photovoltaic potential in urban areas: the effect of the eurozone financial crisis

The aim of this paper is to estimate how the profitability of grid-connected PV systems may vary month by month due to the changes in all parameters involved in the economic evaluation (discount rate, PV electricity selling price, inflation rate, price of PV devices etc.). The effects of these variations were investigated for a district of a city in the South Italy (Palermo) by means of a methodology appropriately defined to explore the architectural morphology of buildings and evaluate the solar potential of PV systems installed on roofs. The results of the analysis provide the trend of the actual coverage of the district power demand from June 2010 to March 2011. Finally, a sensitivity an…

Single thermal zone balance solved by Transfer Function Method

We present an algorithm that uses the Z-transform operator to face the problem of heat transmission in a single thermal zone composed by multilayered walls. The method is very flexible and could be adopted to calculate the transfer function coefficients able to simulate the thermal behaviour of a room in free floating. Knowing the transfer function coefficients, it is possible to simulate the dynamic profile of each inner surfaces temperature and furthermore of the inner air temperature. The proposed algorithm is fully described granting maximum clarity. The explicitness of all steps of the calculus make possible the definition of a method that is able to vary all of the calculus parameters…

A correlation linking the predicted mean vote and the mean thermal vote based on an investigation on the human thermal comfort in short-haul domestic flights

Abstract The results of an experimental investigation on the human thermal comfort inside the cabin of some Airbus A319 aircrafts during 14 short-haul domestic flights, linking various Italian cities, are presented and used to define a correlation among the predicted mean vote (PMV), a procedure which is commonly used to assess the thermal comfort in inhabited environments, and the equivalent temperature and mean thermal vote (MTV), which are the parameters suggested by the European Standard EN ISO 14505-2 for the evaluation of the thermal environment in vehicles. The measurements of the radiant temperature, air temperature and relative humidity during flights were performed. The air temper…

Corrigendum to “A procedure to calculate the five-parameter model of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules on the basis of the tabular performance data” [Appl. Energy 102 (2013) 1160–1177]

Only few manufactures provide the wide set of graphical data that are necessary to use high performance predictive tools for PV systems. On the other hand, reliable graphical data require accurate laboratory measurements that increase manufacturing costs. For this reason PV system designers have to choose between the use of cheap PV modules, lacking in technical data, and the reliable energy predictions that are possible only if the current–voltage characteristics are provided by the PV module manufacturers. This paper describes the procedure to evaluate the parameters of a one-diode equivalent circuit able to accurately epresent the electrical behaviour of a PV panel by means of the minimu…

Photovoltaic electricity scenario analysis in urban contests: an Italian case study

Abstract This paper shows a methodology for the assessment of the photovoltaic potential in urban areas using Google Earth™ tool that provides either satellite images of the roofs of buildings or their number of floors by means of the Street View function. The applicability of the methodology has been tested on a selected urban area of the city of Palermo in the South of Italy. After classifying roofs according to the shape, orientation and pitch of buildings with different morphologies, the share of energy generated by the installable PV systems was evaluated with regard to the number of floors. Moreover the coverage of the electricity demand was investigated on the basis of the consumptio…

Quality of wind speed fitting distributions for the urban area of Palermo, Italy

Abstract This study investigates the wind speed characteristics recorded in the urban area of Palermo, in the south of Italy, by a monitoring network composed by four weather stations. This article has two main objectives: the first one, to describe with clarity and simplicity the numerical procedures adopted to perform a preliminary statistical analysis of wind speed data, providing at the same time, the necessary mathematical tools useful to perform this analysis also without special software. The second objective is to verify if there are more suitable probability distributions able to better represent the original data respect the traditional ones. After a preliminary statistical analys…

Analisi del regime anemometrico a scala urbana della città di Palermo

Allo scopo di valutare la possibilità di sfruttare l’energia eolica anche in zone fortemente urbanizzate recentemente la Comunità Europea ha posto tra le sue priorità scientifiche la redazione di atlanti eolici a piccola scala. Al fine di fornire dati che possano condurre ad una corretta valutazione eolica di centri urbani, nel seguente lavoro vengono analizzate le caratteristiche del regime anemometrico dell'area urbana di Palermo, registrate da un rete di monitoraggio automatica afferente al Dipartimento di Ricerche Energetiche ed Ambientali (DREAM) e composta da quattro stazioni meteo. Dopo un esame statistico preliminare, in cui le serie temporali della velocità del vento sono state div…

EDIFICI AD ENERGIA NETTA ZERO: UN CASO STUDIO ITALIANO

L’industria, il sistema dei trasporti e l’edilizia sono i tre principali macro settori economici che più determinano un consumo di energia: In Italia, in particolare, ben il 30% dell’energia elettrica e il 40% di quella termica vengono impiegate nel settore civile d’utenza [1]. La necessità di ridurre i consumi energetici, determinata da sempre più restrittivi vincoli di natura ambientale e dal crescente costo dell’energia, gioca un ruolo importante nel modificare i canoni di progettazione e le modalità di manutenzione energetica degli edifici. Da ciò discende anche la crescente attenzione della comunità scientifica internazionale verso il concetto di Edificio ad Energia Netta Zero (EENZ), …

A NEW FIVE-PARAMETER MODEL FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS- DETERMINATION OF COMMERCIAL MODULES I-V CHARACTERISTICS

Il metodo delle funzioni di trasferimento applicato ad un singola zona termica

Nel lavoro viene presentato un algoritmo basato sull’utilizzo dell’operatore Z-Trasformata per lo studio della trasmissione del calore all’interno di una singola zona termica costituita da pareti multistrato. L’algoritmo utilizzato è molto versatile e potrebbe venire utilizzato per il calcolo dei coefficienti delle funzioni di trasferimento nella simulazione del comportamento termico di un ambiente in free floating. Noti i coefficienti delle funzioni di trasferimento è possibile simulare in regime dinamico il profilo della temperatura di ciascuna superficie interna e dell’aria interna all’ambiente analizzato. L’algoritmo viene descritto in maniera completa in tutte le sue parti. Per valutar…

A photographic method to estimate the shading effect of obstructions

Abstract A new, simplified photographic method is proposed to estimate the shading effects of obstructions. In spite of the complex mathematical background of the new tool, its practical application is very simple, and only requires the measurements of three angles for each photograph. The proposed method is particularly useful for overcoming the difficulties caused by the need to accurately describe surrounding objects to estimate shading effects. The new method uses the information contained in a picture and allows one to draw daily solar paths directly on the photograph. The procedure is useful to verify the suitability of a generic site for solar exploitation; its main benefit is the si…

A NEW FIVE-PARAMETER MODEL FOR PV PANELS-EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION ON A POLYCRYSTALLINE MODULE

A new five-parameters model to describe the relation between the electric current and the voltage for a photovoltaic module is experimentally validated on the field, with variable conditions of operative temperature and solar irradiance. The electrical parameters of the one diode equivalent circuit are found by solving an equations system based on the data commonly issued by manufacturers in standard test conditions. To verify the capability of the new model to fit PV panel characteristics, the model was tested on two different panels comparing the results both with the data issued by manufacturers and with the results obtained using the five- parameters model already proposed by other Auth…

On the reliability of ASHRAE conduction transfer function coefficients of walls

The transfer function method recommended by the ASHRAE can be considered the most modern tool currently available for the thermal analysis of a building. It is particularly well suited for use with a computer as it makes it possible to describe with great accuracy the internal heat gain of walls using a small set of coefficients. The present paper shows how to calculate sets of coefficients diverse from that proposed by Mitalas who first developed the method and on the basis of an unequivocal criterion, to prove the advantages in using them. The authors also investigated some of the paramount mathematical and physical aspects which affect the approximation degree of the ASHRAE method and, w…

Life Cycle Assessment di sistemi per le auto elettriche

Il documento descrive la valutazione delle prestazioni energetico – ambientali di batterie Li- Ione adatte all'alimentazione della propulsione elettrica pura, comprensive del sistema BMS (Battery Management System), realizzata tramite l’applicazione della metodologia dell’Analisi del Ciclo di Vita (Life Cycle Assessment – LCA), in accordo alle norme della serie ISO 14040 ed all’International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook. L’attività è iniziata con un’analisi dettagliata dello stato dell’arte internazionale sulla LCA applicata alle batterie al Li-Ione, che ha definito il contesto scientifico di riferimento della valutazione energetico-ambientale condotta. E’ stata poi svil…

Life Cycle Assessment di sistemi per le auto elettriche, Report Ricerca di sistema elettrico RdS/2012/093

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