Search results for " harvesting"
showing 10 items of 180 documents
Energy Harvester Sensing.
2020
Our existence is immersed in a solution of energy, which is often left to degrade because we perceive this energy as expendable [...]
Experimental and numerical analysis of a backpressure Banki inline turbine for pressure regulation and energy production
2020
Abstract Water distribution networks have become, in recent years, a major opportunity for the harvesting of renewable energy, which is otherwise dissipated though hydrovalves installed for discharge and pressure regulation. Mini and micro hydroturbines have the capability of providing the same functionality of hydrovalves, producing at the same time a relevant amount of electric power. In this paper a 10 kW prototype of a new compact in-line turbine, named Power Recovery System (PRS), has been designed, constructed and tested in the hydraulic laboratory of the University of Palermo. The proposed device is a Banki-type micro-turbine, with positive outflow pressure and a mobile regulating fl…
Environmental management of granite slab production from an industrial ecology standpoint
2014
Abstract The granite production chain is high energy and water intensive with low resource efficiency. This paper focus on characterizing the potential for environmental improvement of the granite production chain by promoting the optimization of sawing technology, the implementation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and the material recovery of wasted granite (sludge). The environmental performance of multi-blade gangsaw (MBGS) and diamond multi-wire saw (DMWS) technologies is compared by mean of life cycle assessment. Results demonstrate that DMWS technology contribute 30% of water savings, 40% of energy savings and 80% of material savings per square meter of polished granite tiles (60 x 40 x…
Piezoelectric energy harvesting from raised crosswalk devices
2015
This paper presents the main characteristics of an experimental energy harvesting device that can be used to recover energy from the vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The use of a piezoelectric bender devices leads to a innovative approach to Henergy Harvesting. The study focuses on the definition and specification of a mechanical configuration able to transfer the vibration from the main box to the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric devices tested is the commonly used monolithic piezoceramic material lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT). The experimental results estimate the efficiency of this device tested and identify the feasibility of their use in real world applications. The results…
Piezoelectric Rainfall Energy Harvester Performance by an Advanced Arduino-Based Measuring System
2018
This paper presents the performances of rainfall energy harvesting through the use of a piezoelectric transducer and an Arduino-based measuring system. Different studies agree on the possibility of generating electricity from rainfall, but to date, a study on measuring the quantity of energy produced during rainfall is still missing. The present study begins with results obtained from laboratory researchers using piezoelectric transducers and oscilloscopes, finalized to measure the energy produced from a single raindrop, and concludes with an ad hoc Arduino-based measuring system, aimed to measure the actual amount of electrical energy produced by a piezoelectric transducer that is exposed …
Energy Harvesting-Aware Backoff Algorithms for Distributed Device-to-Device Communication
2016
Due to limited energy capacity in mobile devices, energy harvesting is regarded as a promising technology for lifetime extension in device-to-device (D2D) communication. However, medium access control (MAC) protocols designed for D2D communication intrinsically do not consider the existence of harvested energy. In this paper we study four backoff (BO) algorithms, among which one algorithm is proposed to enhance the BO selection based on energy harvesting rate and residual energy of devices. Simulations are performed in order to assess how the proposed algorithm can extend the lifetime of a D2D communication network as well as to provide fair channel access opportunities among devices.
Volcanogenic fluorine in rainwater around active degassing volcanoes: Mt. Etna and Stromboli Island, Italy
2002
Many studies have assessed the strong influence of volcanic activity on the surrounding environment. This is particularly true for strong gas emitters such as Mt. Etna and Stromboli volcanoes. Among volcanic gases, fluorine compounds are potentially very harmful. Fluorine cycling through rainwater in the above volcanic areas was studied analysing more than 400 monthly bulk samples. Data indicate that only approximately 1% of fluorine emission through the plume is deposited on the two volcanic areas by meteoric precipitations. Although measured bulk rainwater fluorine fluxes are comparable to and sometimes higher than in heavily polluted areas, their influence on the surrounding vegetation i…
SARS-CoV-2: Impact on, Risk Assessment and Countermeasures in German Eye Banks.
2020
Introduction Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been some debate regarding the risk of transmission through tissue transplantation and tissue banking processes. Aim of the study To analyze the changes that SARS-CoV-2 has caused regarding the harvesting of corneal donor tissue and eye bank activities in Germany. Methods A questionnaire was provided to 26 eye banks in Germany, consisting of questions about adaptations made in the screening of potential donors and the harvesting of corneal tissue following the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Results Eighteen eye banks actively reduced recruitment of donors and two banks ceased all activity. Additional diagnostic screening wa…
Fight on plankton! Or, phytoplankton shape and size as adaptive tools to get ahead in the struggle for life
2011
A renewed interest in investigating the relationships existing between body size and environmental variables is pervading ecological studies. Phytoplankton has a long tradition as model system in studies of community ecology and several research concepts were developed using these organisms. In this paper we try to review the relevance of analyzing the morphological features of phytoplankton in ecology. Starting with a brief account of allometric relationships existing in phytoplankton, we i) examine the physical context in which phytoplankton grow, and ii) highlight the role of their size in nutrient uptake, and that of their shape in light harvesting. Moreover, the way in which the morpho…
Bioflocculation of Euglena gracilis via direct application of fungal filaments: a rapid harvesting method
2021
Funding Information: Special thanks to the US Agricultural Research Service for the provision of fungal strains. Thanks also to Dr Marilyn Wiebe (Technical Research Centre of Finland) for her expert advice on fungi and Johanna Oja for her technical help. This research was enabled by funding from The Land and Water Technology Foundation, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, and The Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). The high cost and environmental impact of traditional microalgal harvesting methods limit commercialization of microalgal biomass. Fungal bioflocculation of microalgae is a promising low-cost, eco-friendly method but the range of …