Liquefied natural gas vaporization facilities

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Thermophysical Property Estimation by Transient Experiments: The Effect of a Biased Initial Temperature Distribution

The identification of thermophysical properties of materials in dynamic experiments can be conveniently performed by the inverse solution of the associated heat conduction problem (IHCP). The inverse technique demands the knowledge of the initial temperature distribution within the material. As only a limited number of temperature sensors (or no sensor at all) are arranged inside the test specimen, the knowledge of the initial temperature distribution is affected by some uncertainty. This uncertainty, together with other possible sources of bias in the experimental procedure, will propagate in the estimation process and the accuracy of the reconstructed thermophysical property values could deteriorate. In this work the effect on the estimated thermophysical properties due to errors in the initial temperature distribution is investigated along with a practical method to quantify this effect. Furthermore, a technique for compensating this kind of bias is proposed. The method consists in including the initial temperature distribution among the unknown functions to be estimated. In this way the effect of the initial bias is removed and the accuracy of the identified thermophysical property values is highly improved

Моделирование энергопотребления зданий: оценка статической и динамической моделей

The aim of the present paper is to show recent results obtained in modeling the building system, presenting a review on the common numerical models used to estimate the energy consumptions. In particular, both steady-state and dynamic models are investigated by analyzing their main assumptions, limitations and fields of usage. As a matter of fact, the most common models are based on steady state approaches, but new technologies and the need to implement innovative regulation criteria for heating and cooling systems by performing detailed coupled studies on the building and heating/cooling systems, push towards the use of dynamic tools with low computational costs. Therefore, the use of dynamic models is often suggested, especially when different building configurations are investigated (as e. g. in the design stage or for a renovation perspective). Starting from this point, sensitive analyses on the installation of a proper insulation in the building envelope is then presented.Цель данной работы — показать последние результаты, полученные при моделировании системы здания, с описанием общих численных моделей, используемых для оценки энергопотребления. В частности на статических и динамических моделях исследованы основные допущения, ограничения и область использования путем их анализа. Собственно говоря, наиболее распространенные модели основаны на установившихся подходах, но новые технологии и необходимость внедрения для систем отопления и холодоснабжения инновационных критериев регулирования с использованием подробного анализа здания и систем отопления/охлаждения, подталкивают к использованию динамических инструментов с низкими вычислительными затратами. Таким образом, часто целесообразно использование динамических моделей, особенно когда существуют разные конфигурации здания (как, например, в стадии проектирования или для перспективной реконструкции). В статье представлен анализ установки правильного утеплителя в ограждающих конструкциях

Implementation of a cogeneration plant for a food processing facility. A case study

The present work presents an investigation regarding the feasibility analysis of a cogeneration plant for a food processing facility with the aim to decrease the cost of energy supply. The monthly electricity and heat consumption profiles are analyzed, in order to understand the consumption profiles, as well as the costs of the current furniture of electricity and gas. Then, a detailed thermodynamic model of the cogeneration cycle is implemented and the investment costs are linked to the thermodynamic variables by means of cost functions. The optimal electricity power of the co-generator is determined with reference to various investment indexes. The analysis highlights that the optimal dimension varies according to the chosen indicator, therefore it is not possible to establish it univocally, but it depends on the financial/economic strategy of the company through the considered investment index

Effect on the energy market of the potential switching to heat pumps for space heating

The main subject of this work is to understand what could happen in the Italian electricity market if a given share of building heating demand had switched from gas to electricity heating devices. The objective is to define the optimal share to switch in terms of minimization of environmental (CO2) emissions. The effects of such switching on the national energy system are analyzed from the financial point of view, depending also on the heating habits of final users. An hourly simulation of the electricity market has been performed by means of a bid stack model (BIDSM) developed at University of Genoa, calculating market prices, power plant generation typology, fuel consumption and global CO2 emissions. All the data are averaged on a national basis and results are reported for two different time schedule of heating requirements of the final users. In each case, the total energy consumption is fixed, and local "degree days" and location energy needs are considered. It seems that the use of heat pumps for building heating is a real option and that the user habits has a little impact on optimal share of switching from gas to heat pumps, at least concerning CO2 emission minimization

Optimal Regulation Criteria for Building Heating System by Using Lumped Dynamic Models

Abstract Energy efficiency of buildings has gained an important role with respect to possible energy saving policy measures, mainly for space heating demand which represents the dominant energy end-use. The present contribution addresses the problem of estimating building heating energy consumptions by using numerical models able to simulate the dynamic interaction between the building and the heating system. A dynamic numerical code in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) is developed to simulate both building and heating system and the influence of heating system regulation criteria on different parameters (mainly energy saving and internal comfort) is investigated in an optimization perspective

Ultrasound of distal brachialis tendon attachment: normal and abnormal findings

Objective: To demonstrate normal and abnormal findings of distal brachialis tendon attachment in cadavers, normal volunteers and patients by means of ultrasound. Methods: 3 cadaveric specimens, 30 normal volunteers and 125 patients were evaluated by means of ultrasound. Correlative MRI was obtained in volunteers. Results: In all cases, ultrasound demonstrated the distal brachialis tendon shaped by two distinct tendons belonging to the deep head and superficial head of the brachialis muscle. Correlative MRI demonstrated that the brachialis is composed of two distinct tendons in 83% of volunteers (25/30). In the patient group, four avulsions with bony detachment involving the deep head, one delayed onset muscular soreness and three tendinous detachments with no bony avulsion involving one or two tendons were identified. The four patients with bony avulsion were immediately referred to the orthopaedic surgeon for a presurgical evaluation. Patients without bony avulsion were not referred to the surgeon. Conclusion: Detailed anatomy of the distal tendon is discernible in 100% of cases with ultrasound. There are two distinct tendons, and ultrasound can differentiate isolated lesions. In patients with distal brachialis tendon lesions, ultrasound may modify the clinical management of the patient. Advances in knowledge: Detailed anatomy of the distal brachialis tendon is discernible with ultrasound and there are two distinct tendons

Local recurrence of soft tissue sarcoma: A radiomic analysis

Background To perform a radiomics analysis in local recurrence (LR) surveillance of limb soft tissue sarcoma (STS) Patients and methods This is a sub-study of a prospective multicenter study with Institutional Review Board approval supported by ESSR (European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology). radiomics analysis was done on fast spin echo axial T1w, T2w fat saturated and post-contrast T1w (T1wGd) 1.5T MRI images of consecutively recruited patients between March 2016 and September 2018. Results N = 11 adult patients (6 men and 5 women; mean age 57.8 \ub1 17.8) underwent MRI to exclude STS LR: a total of 33 follow-up events were evaluated. A total of 198 data-sets per patients of both pathological and normal tissue were analyzed. Four radiomics features were significantly correlated to tumor size (p < 0.02) and four radiomics features were correlated with grading (p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed an AUC between 0.71 (95%CI: 0.55-0.87) for T1w and 0.96 (95%CI: 0.87-1.00) for post-contrast T1w. Conclusions radiomics features allow to differentiate normal tissue from pathological tissue in MRI surveillance of local recurrence of STS. radiomics in STS evaluation is useful not only for detection purposes but also for lesion characterization

Expression of μ-protocadherin is negatively regulated by the activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway in normal and cancer colorectal enterocytes.

Mu-protocadherin (MUCDHL) is an adhesion molecule predominantly expressed by colorectal epithelial cells which is markedly downregulated upon malignant transformation. Notably, treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with mesalazine lead to increased expression of MUCDHL, and is associated with sequestration of β-catenin on the plasma membrane and inhibition of its transcriptional activity. To better characterize the causal relationship between β-catenin and MUCDHL expression, we performed various experiments in which CRC cell lines and normal colonic organoids were subjected to culture conditions inhibiting (FH535 treatment, transcription factor 7-like 2 siRNA inactivation, Wnt withdrawal) or stimulating (LiCl treatment) β-catenin activity. We show here that expression of MUCDHL is negatively regulated by functional activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway. This finding was observed in cell culture systems representing conditions of physiological stimulation and upon constitutive activation of β-catenin in CRC. The ability of MUCDHL to sequester and inhibit β-catenin appears to provide a positive feedback enforcing the effect of β-catenin inhibitors rather than serving as the primary mechanism responsible for β-catenin inhibition. Moreover, MUCDHL might have a role as biomarker in the development of CRC chemoprevention drugs endowed with β-catenin inhibitory activity