Search results for "THERMODYNAMICS"
showing 10 items of 2774 documents
Forecasting the Cell Temperature of PV Modules with an Adaptive System
2013
The need to reduce energy consumptions and to optimize the processes of energy production has pushed the technology towards the implementation of hybrid systems for combined production of electric and thermal energy. In particular, recent researches look with interest at the installation of hybrid system PV/T. To improve the energy performance of these systems, it is necessary to know the operating temperature of the photovoltaic modules. Furthermore, when photovoltaic (PV) systems replace the traditional building envelope materials and they are fully integrated (building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)), it is very important to correctly assess their thermal behaviour. The determination of …
Optical properties of TiO2 suspensions: Influence of pH and powder concentration on mean particle size
2007
WOS: 000250584100025
A reaction engineering approach to kinetic analysis of photocatalytic reactions in slurry systems
2016
Abstract The knowledge of the rate equation is fundamental for the assessment of the activity of the photocatalytic material and for the study, design and optimization of photocatalytic reactors. In the case of photocatalytic reactions, the local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA) affects the reaction rate and its inherently uneven distribution within a “slurry” reactor makes complex a correct kinetic analysis. In the present work it is shown which are the critical aspects of the kinetic analysis in slurry reactors and how to carry out photocatalytic experiments to minimize the misinterpretations of the experimental results. In particular, the influence of the type of illumination…
Energy harvesting by waste acid/base neutralization via bipolar membrane reverse electrodialysis
2020
Bipolar Membrane Reverse Electrodialysis (BMRED) can be used to produce electricity exploiting acid-base neutralization, thus representing a valuable route in reusing waste streams. The present work investigates the performance of a lab-scale BMRED module under several operating conditions. By feeding the stack with 1 M HCl and NaOH streams, a maximum power density of ~17 W m−2 was obtained at 100 A m−2 with a 10-triplet stack with a flow velocity of 1 cm s−1, while an energy density of ~10 kWh m−3 acid could be extracted by a complete neutralization. Parasitic currents along feed and drain manifolds significantly affected the performance of the stack when equipped with a higher number of t…
A mathematical tool for describing the behaviour of a dense effluent discharge
2009
In many cases a dense effluent has to be discharged in the environment with possible harmful consequences. The preferred design for the relevant discharge unit is that of a simple or multi-port diffuser issuing jets at a given inclination above the horizontal. This work presents the follow-on developments of a model previously proposed to predict the behaviour of inclined dense jets issuing in a stagnant environment. It consists of a set of three ordinary differential equations that can be solved by standard numerical methods. Model outputs include information on the trajectory, spreading and dilution of inclined dense jets, return point position and concentration. Interestingly the model a…
Regeneration units for thermolytic salts applications in water & power production: State of the art, experimental and modelling assessment
2021
Abstract Thermolytic solutions are often proposed as high salinity or “draw” stream to generate a chemical potential driving force in Salinity Gradient Power (SGP) and Forward Osmosis (FO) technologies. Depleted “draw” solutions exiting the process can be regenerated by a thermal process powered at very-low grade heat, which is able to decompose the salt into gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide, which can be stripped and then reabsorbed in the draw solution, restoring its initial concentration. In this work, two different experimental prototypes for the regeneration of ammonium bicarbonate aqueous solution were designed, built and tested. The effect of several operating parameters on the reg…
Quasi-isoactinic reactor for photocatalytic kinetics studies
2007
Photochemical reactors characterized by almost uniform values of the local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA), i.e., quasi-isoactinic photoreactors, are particularly suitable for assessing the influence of radiant field intensity in kinetic studies. In this work, Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to obtain LVRPA values in a flat photoreactor irradiated on both sides. This configuration appears to be particularly suitable for obtaining quasi-isoactinic conditions. The influence of catalyst albedo and scattering phase function is assessed, and the conditions for obtaining iso-actinicity are discussed. Finally, these conditions are related to an easy-to-measure parameter, n…
A simulation tool for ion exchange membrane crystallization of magnesium hydroxide from waste brine
2021
Abstract Increasing attention is nowadays paid to the management and valorisation of industrial waste brines aiming also at the recovery of raw materials. Magnesium has been listed as a Critical Raw Material by EU, prompting researchers to investigate novel routes for its recovery. Within this framework, a novel Crystallizer with Ion Exchange Membrane (CrIEM), is proposed as an innovative way to recover magnesium from industrial waste brines exploiting low-cost alkaline reactants. In the present work, a novel mathematical model of the CrIEM process is proposed to provide a useful tool for its design in different working conditions. Batch and feed & bleed continuous configurations have been …
Effect of different aqueous solutions of pure salts and salt mixtures in reverse electrodialysis systems for closed-loop applications
2018
Abstract Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) in a closed-loop arrangement is a viable way to convert low-grade heat into electric power. The present work experimentally investigates the use of pure salt- and equimolar two salts-water solutions as feeds in a lab-scale RED unit. RED performances were analysed in terms of Open Circuit Voltage (OCV), stack resistance and corrected power density. The pure salts and the mixtures employed were chosen via a computational analysis. Effect of feed solution velocity and concentration was investigated. Results concerning the pure salt-water experiments show that NH4Cl is the most performing salt in the concentration range probed, while higher power density v…
Solid–Liquid Suspensions in Top-Covered Unbaffled Vessels: Influence of Particle Size, Liquid Viscosity, Impeller Size, and Clearance
2014
Particle suspension in liquids is a unit operation commonly encountered in the process industry. Although it is usually carried out in baffled stirred tanks, there are some specific applications where the presence of baffles may be undesirable. In the present work solid-liquid suspensions are investigated in a radially stirred unbaffled tank provided with a top cover. The minimum impeller speed at which all solid particles get suspended (Njs) and the relevant power requirements (Pjs) are assessed. The dependence of these two parameters on physical properties (liquid viscosity, particle concentration, and size) and system geometrical configurations (impeller diameter and clearance) is invest…