Strategies toward experimental assessments of new aviation renewable fuels and blends: The BIOREFLY Project

The reduction of greenhouse gases emissions from the aviation sector is focused on better engine efficiency or optimized flight pathways. However, the most relevant is probably the use of sustainable biofuels. In order to meet the strict jet fuelspecifications for commercial flights, these biofuels(drop-in fuels) must contain only paraffinic hydrocarbons, without heteroatoms. Several renewable aviation fuels have already been certified by ASTM, others are under examination. Anew promising route consists in the thermochemical conversion of lignin, the main co-product from 2nd generation ethanol. The EU FP7 BIOREFLY project will develop a first industrial pre-commercial lignin-to-jet fuel 2000 ty-1demonstration plant. The present work describes strategies, equipment and R&D lines of BIOREFLY, which aims at evaluating the properties of this bio-jet fuel and its blends in view of future ASTM certification. Injection features and the combustion properties of aviation engines will be investigated in an optical combustor rig. Combustion parameters, emissions and chemiluminescence provide fundamental data to understand the combustion behavior for different hydrocarbons species. Tests in micro-gas-turbines (i.e. power generation and APU-derivative units) will assess the effect of fuels in terms of emissions and evaluating their performances

Survey of the Ridracoli Dam: UAV – Based Photogrammetry and Traditional Topographic Techniques in the Inspection of Vertical Structures*

The inspection of strategic works such as dams is of vital importance both for their maintenance and for the safety of downstream populations. The reduced accessibility, both for uptake needs and for their strategic nature, and the large time needed for an inspection by traditional method do not facilitate the investigation of this type of structures. The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, equipped with high-performance cameras, allows for rapid photographic coverage of the whole dam system. Apart from the placement on the structure of a high number of markers, the correct geo-referencing and validation of the model also requires an important terrestrial topographic campaign by total station, Global Positioning System and laser scanner. Punctual, linear and surface analysis shows the high accuracy of the drone acquiring technique. The product is suitable for a detailed survey of the conservation status of the materials and the complete metric reconstruction of the dam system and the adjacent land. The present work explains firstly a UAV acquisition and then the first dense point cloud validation procedure of a concrete arch gravity dam. The Ridracoli dam is the object of the survey, located in the village of Santa Sofia in central Italy

Thermochemical Conversion of Microalgae: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract Research in Advanced Biofuels steadily developed during recent years. A number of highly innovative technologies have been explored at various scale: among these, lignocellulosic ethanol and CTO (Crude Tall Oil)-biofuel technologies already achieved the early-commercial status, while hydrotreating of vegetable oils (HVO, or HEFA) can be considered today fully commercial. However, despite the level of innovation in each specific technological process under consideration, the feedstock maintains a central role in making a biofuel chain really sustainable. In this context, microalgae grown in salt-water and arid areas offers a considerable opportunity for advanced biofuel production: at the same time, however, they also represent a considerable challenge. Processing microalgae in an economic way into a viable and sustainable liquid biofuel (a low-cost mass-produced product) is not trivial. So far, the main attention has been given to cultivating the microorganism, accumulating lipids, extracting the oil, valorising co-products, and treating the algae oil into biodiesel (through esterification) or HEFA (Hydrotreated Esthers and Fatty Acids), this second one representing a very high quality biofuels, almost a drop-in fuel (suitable either for road transport or for aviation), which production exceed 2 Mt y-1 today. However, extracting the algae oil at low cost and at industrial scale is not yet a full industrial mature process, and the still limited market size of algae-to-biofuels makes difficult the development of industrial-scale systems. Nevertheless, another option can be considered, i.e. processing the whole algae into dedicated thermochemical reactors, thus approaching the downstream processing of algae in a completely different way from separation. The present work examines the possible routes for thermochemical conversion of microalgae, distinguishing between dry-processes (namely pyrolysis and gasification) and wet-processes (near critical water hydrothermal liquefaction and hydrothermal gasification). Typical expected elementary composition of major products is given. Main peculiarities of batch versus continuous processing are also discussed from an engineering point of view. Major engineering advantages and challenges in thermochemically conversion of algae are identified and discussed, in view of the production of a transport biofuel. Finally, future perspectives for each route are given in terms of current and expected technological readiness level

Bio-Hydrocarbons through Catalytic Pyrolysis of Used Cooking Oils: towards sustainable jet and road fuels

Abstract Vegetable Oil (VO) is today the most used feedstock for transport biofuel production by transesterification to biodiesel. Other commercial technologies for renewable fuels production are mainly based either on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis from coal, natural gas and possibly biomass, or hydro treating of vegetable oil (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, HVO): this also includes Hydrotreated Renewable Jet fuel, HRJ, Used Cooking Oil (UCO) is a highly sustainable feedstock (based on EC-RED scheme): it is therefore considered as a possible alternative to VOs for greening of air transport and, under proper circumstances, for reducing the feedstock cost component. However, the use of UCO is not trivial in reactors, as catalysts are sensitive to impurities and contaminations, which are typical of waste oils. Moreover, the chemical composition of UCO is variable regionally as well as seasonally, because the type of base-vegetable oils vary with Country and period of the year. In the framework of the ITAKA EU FP7 project, (catalytic) thermochemical conversion of UCO has been considered to obtain an intermediate biofuel suitable for upgrading by hydrotreating. The catalytic conversion of UCO and Fatty Acids were investigated in a 1.5 kg/h pilot unit. UCO, properly filtered and conditioned, was characterized, and then converted in bio-oil by means of thermal and catalytic reactionsunder controlled conditions. The type of catalyst and the reaction conditions, including several parameters such as temperature, reactor geometry, heating rate and residence time, were evaluated, and selected combinations were tested. The bio-oil was characterized in terms of main constituents and hydrocarbons content, and GC-MS and GC-FID analyses were used to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the composition of the fuel

Emissions and combustion performance of a micro gas turbine powered with liquefied wood and its blends

The combustion of a viscous biofuel, liquefied wood (LW) produced via solvolysis of lignocellulosic biomass in acidified glycols, has been studied in a small gas turbine rig. The test rig includes a modified injection line which is compatible with acidic, viscous biofuels allowing fuel preheating and two pilot injectors, and a re-designed combustion chamber. The link between fuel properties and combustion performance of liquefied wood is investigated by burning the biofuel at different blending ratios with ethanol. Exhaust emissions have been compared to reference measurements with diesel fuel and ethanol. Combustion analysis is supported by the investigation of the engine operating parameters and the main emission species at different electrical loads. The experimental study reveals that it is possible to establish efficient operation of the micro gas turbine while utilizing liquefied wood-ethanol blends with high share of liquefied wood

calibration of finite element models of concrete arch gravity dams using dynamical measures the case of ridracoli

Abstract Accurate and reliable predictions of the dynamic behaviour of dams is essential to ensure their correct management and the safety of the downstream population. In this context, structural monitoring and testing procedures for their dynamic characterization are essential tools for the calibration of numerical models of dams. This paper presents some results of an ongoing research program aimed at an accurate definition of the geometric and structural properties of a large arch-gravity dam: the Ridracoli dam in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. In the first part of the research, a detailed survey carried out by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has allowed the detailed reconstruction of the three-dimensional geometry of the structure. The dense point cloud, as provided by the aerial survey, has been the base for the definition of a high-fidelity finite element model, including the dam, the surrounding rock mass, with a detailed reconstruction of the site topography, and the reservoir water, whose dynamic interaction with the structure is modelled by means of acoustic elements. A large program of structural monitoring, including a number of vibration tests, has been performed on the Ridracoli dam during the last thirty years. The dynamic monitoring system includes accelerometers, located in the structure and in the foundation rock mass, strain gauges and hydrodynamic pressure cells. The forced vibration tests were carried out in correspondence to the maximum water level, in order to identify the dynamic characteristics of the dam. The mechanical properties of the dam material and of the foundation rock are calibrated by comparing model predictions with the results obtained from vibration tests and from acceleration recordings acquired under recent seismic events, considering the actual water levels registered during the tests. The finite element model obtained will allow the simulation of the seismic performance of the dam under different design earthquakes. The assessment of the effects of the reservoir level and of the vertical joints on the dynamic response of the structure will be analysed

Evaluation of Two-Month Antibody Levels after Heterologous ChAdOx1-S/BNT162b2 Vaccination Compared to Homologous ChAdOx1-S or BNT162b2 Vaccination

none11noWe evaluated the post-vaccination humoral response of three real-world cohorts. Vaccinated subjects primed with ChAdOx1-S and boosted with BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine were compared to homologous dosing (BNT162b2/BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1-S/ChAdOx1-S). Serum samples were collected two months after vaccination from a total of 1248 subjects. The results showed that the heterologous vaccine schedule induced a significantly higher humoral response followed by homologous BNT162b2/BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1-S/ChAdOx1-S vaccines (p < 0.0001). Moreover, analyzing factors (i.e., vaccine schedule, sex, age, BMI, smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract diseases, COVID-19 diagnosis, vaccine side effects) influencing the IgG anti-S response, we found that only the type of vaccine affected the antibody titer (p < 0.0001). Only mild vaccine reactions resolved within few days (40% of subjects) and no severe side effects for either homologous groups or the heterologous group were reported. Our data support the use of heterologous vaccination as an effective and safe alternative to increase humoral immunity against COVID-19.openBarocci, Simone; Orlandi, Chiara; Diotallevi, Aurora; Buffi, Gloria; Ceccarelli, Marcello; Vandini, Daniela; Carlotti, Eugenio; Galluzzi, Luca; Rocchi, Marco Bruno Luigi; Magnani, Mauro; Casabianca, AnnaBarocci, Simone; Orlandi, Chiara; Diotallevi, Aurora; Buffi, Gloria; Ceccarelli, Marcello; Vandini, Daniela; Carlotti, Eugenio; Galluzzi, Luca; Rocchi, Marco Bruno Luigi; Magnani, Mauro; Casabianca, Ann