Integration of prebend optimization in a holistic wind turbine design tool

This paper considers the problem of identifying the optimal combination of blade prebend, rotor cone angle and nacelle uptilt, within an integrated aero-structural design environment. Prebend is designed to reach maximum rotor area at rated conditions, while cone and uptilt are computed together with all other design variables to minimize the cost of energy. Constraints are added to the problem formulation in order to translate various design requirements. The proposed optimization approach is applied to a conceptual 10 MW offshore wind turbine, highlighting the benefits of an optimal combination of blade curvature, cone and uptilt angles

Free-Form Design of Rotor Blades

This work investigates an integrated free-form approach for the design of rotor blades, where airfoil shapes are treated as unknowns. This leads to the simultaneous optimization of the chord, twist and structural design variables, together with the airfoil shapes along the blade. As airfoils are automatically tailored to the evolution of the blade, this process results in a better exploration of the solution space and relieves the user from the burden of up-front choices, leading to better final designs. The proposed approach is demonstrated by sizing a 2 MW wind turbine blade

A Research Framework for the Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization of Wind Turbines

The design of very large wind turbines is a complex task which requires the development of dedicated tools and techniques. In this chapter, we present a system-level design procedure based on the combination of multi-body numerical models of the turbine and a multilevel optimization scheme. The overall design aims at the minimization of the cost of energy (COE) through the optimization of all the characteristics of the turbine, and the procedure automatically manages all the simulations required to compute relevant loads and displacements. This unique setup allows the designer to conduct trade-off studies in a highly realistic virtual environment and is an ideal test bench for advanced research studies in which it is important to assess the economic impact of specific design choices. Examples of such studies include the impact of stall-induced vibrations on fatigue, the development of active/passive control laws for large rotors, and the complete definition of 10–20 MW reference turbines

Traffic effects on soil compaction and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) taproot quality parameters

Soil compaction is a critical issue in agriculture having a significant influence on crop growth. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is accounted as a crop susceptible to compaction. Reduction of leaf area, final yield, and root quality parameters are reported in compacted soils. The most obvious visual indicator of topsoil compaction is root depth affected by agricultural tractor and machinery traffic up on the soil. Such indicators are mainly correlated to initial soil condition, tyre features, and number of passages. Monitoring and controlling frequency and position of machine traffic across the field, in such a way that passages are completed on specific, well-defined tracks, can assist with minimization of compaction effects on soil. The objective of the present work was to analyze the subsoil compaction during the growing period of sugar beet with different farming approaches including controlled traffic passages and random traffic. To this end, tests were carried out following each agro technical operation using penetrometer readings in order to monitor the state of cone-index after each step. In addition, at the harvesting time, root quality parameters were analyzed with particular attention to length and regularity of the taproot, total length, circumference, mass, and above-ground biomass. Such parameters were usefully implemented in order to evaluate the effects of controlled traffic passages compared to the random traffic in a cultivation of sugar beet. Results highlight how an increase in crop yield, derived from samples monitored, higher than 10% can be expected with implementation of a careful traffic management

Tragovi metala u tkivima Galeus melastomus (Rafinesque, 1810) iz sjevernog dijela Tirenskog mora (SZ Mediteran)

In the last decades, the decline of coastal waters resources has forced fisheries to expand into deeper waters. However, while the increase of industrial activities make it essential to find biological models that can explain pollutants dynamics, little is still known about pollutants distribution, dynamics, and their possible effects on deep-water organisms. In this context, new information on the concentrations of trace metals (Arsenic, As; Cadmium, Cd; Copper, Cu; Mercury, Hg; Lead, Pb) in muscle, liver and gonads of blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus, from north-western Mediterranean (northern Tyrrhenian Sea) are presented. Significant differences between males and females were found in the concentrations of three of the five trace elements in gonads. Lower concentrations of trace metals were found in the ovaries, and this could be due to the almost continuous vitellogenic activity which could transfer contaminants to developing oocytes.Pad resursa u obalnim vodama u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća prisilio je ribarstvo da se proširi i na dublje vode. Međutim, dok je zbog porasta industrijskih aktivnosti bitno pronaći biološke modele koji mogu objasniti dinamiku zagađivala, malo se zna o njihovoj distribuciji i dinamici te o njihovim mogućim učincima na dubokomorske organizme. U tom kontekstu, prikazane su nove informacije o koncentraciji tragova metala (arsen, As; kadmij, Cd; bakar, Cu; živa, Hg; olovo, Pb) u mišićima, jetrima i gonadama mačke crnouste, Galeus melastomus, iz sjeverozapadnog Mediterana (sjever Tirenskog mora). Značajne razlike između mužjaka i ženki uočene su u koncentracijama od tri do pet elemenata u tragovima u gonadama. Niže koncentracije tragova metala pronađene su u jajnicima, što bi mogao biti rezultat gotovo neprekidne vitelogene aktivnosti koja može dovesti do prenošenja zagađivala do oocita u razvoju

Preoperative staging of colorectal cancer using virtual colonoscopy: correlation with surgical results

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of computed tomography colonography (CTC) in the preoperative staging in patients with abdominal pain for occlusive colorectal cancer (CRC) and to compare the results of CTC with the surgical ones

Facilitating Conditions for School Motivation Scale: Validazione della Versione Italiana

Il presente articolo riporta lo studio di validazione di una versione italiana ridotta della Facilitating Conditions for School Motivation scale. Nello specifico, lo studio propone una versione ridotta a 15 item comprendente tre fattori decisivi nell’attitudine degli adolescenti verso la formazione e l’apprendimento: il primo legato al bagaglio di valori posseduto dallo studente; il secondo comprendente la componente affettiva; il terzo relativo al supporto ricevuto dalle relazioni con genitori, pari e insegnanti. Per la validazione si è dunque realizzato un modello a tre fattori associato alle condizioni facilitanti o inibenti menzionate prima. È stato coinvolto un campione eterogeneo di studenti provenienti da diversi percorsi educativi e i dati sono stati raccolti in un periodo di nove mesi nel Nord Italia. Le analisi mostrano come la scala sia in grado di intercettare le condizioni che influiscono sulla motivazione degli studenti nei confronti della loro carriera formativa. Tale misura si rileva essere utile nel contesto di ricerca e nella realizzazione di interventi per la promozione della motivazione a scuola

Optimizing the integration of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and flexibility solutions in a multi-network pharmaceutical industry

In the contemporary landscape, roughly one-fourth of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions stem from industrial energy usage. In the industrial sector, improving the efficient and flexible coupling among different energy demands (electricity, heating, and cooling) and exploiting the integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and waste heat can lead to a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions, these are also the goals of the EU founded Horizon Europe FLEXIndustries project. This study aims to establish a cost-optimized decarbonization strategy for an energy-intensive industry, focusing on an Italian pharmaceutical company. It delves into the exploration of potential pathways and diverse energy mix configurations. The approach undertaken involves coupling a customized energy system simulation framework, specifically designed for the industrial site, with a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA). The study, conducted with a focus on the year 2024, involves a comparative analysis of three distinct scenarios. Within the intricate and challenging constraints of the industrial demo site, 13 technologies were investigated. The outcomes of each scenario identify a set of 500 Pareto optimal solutions, obtained through 40,000 simulations. These results shed light on the compelling potential of hybrid solutions, showcasing the feasibility of achieving substantial decarbonization with only moderate increases in costs. The availability of land for RES technologies, along with the existence of a biomass supply chain in the region, emerge as pivotal determinants