Modélisation et simulation d'une cellule test en plein air pour l'évaluation énergétique des composants d’enveloppe

The article presents the thermal modelling and simulation work that will constitute the basis for the design of an outdoor test cell. The facility aims at characterizing the thermo-physical properties of transparent and opaque envelope components under real weather conditions, and to study the impact of different air-conditioning configurations on the indoor thermal comfort and indoor air quality. The response delay of the calorimetric measure is particularly critical when trying to achieve a good quality of measurement in rapidly-varying weather conditions. For this reason, the thermal behaviour of the test cell has been described, by means of a lumped parameter model, to simulate a range of operating conditions. The results are used to evaluate the thermal inertia of different solutions, refine the design choices and the most promising control strategies. The article presents the thermal models used to compare the test cell to a traditional installation in terms of calorimetric accuracy under transient external conditions

Design choices and thermal simulations of a new test cell facility

The paper presents a new test cell facility, named Box Office and under development at the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP Paris) for the analysis and characterization of the thermo-physical properties of building envelope components under real climate conditions. The facility will allow to obtain reliable estimates of thermal performance indicators of transparent and opaque building elements. Particular care has been taken in the design phase in order to minimize or to monitor all sources of uncertainty, such as (i) conductive heat losses through the test cell envelope, (ii) time lag of response to transient outdoor conditions, (iii) levels of airtightness and of resistance to vapour or water penetration. Highly variable solar conditions can seriously affect both the correct functioning of outdoor test facilities and the indoor climate conditions in the cell. For this reason, the thermal behaviour of the Box Office was simulated in Matlab environment, implementing a lumped-parameter model, and results are used for refining the design choices and selecting the most promising operative conditions and control strategies. The output of test cell experiments will be beneficial to various target groups, such as designers and manufacturers (to boost the research and development of new products), research centres (to fully understand and model the physical phenomena occurring in a controlled space facing real outdoor conditions) and potential clients, who ask for economically affordable solutions guaranteeing high levels of Indoor Environmental Quality

Boosting infrared energy transfer in 3D nanoporous gold antennas

The applications of plasmonics to energy transfer from free-space radiation to molecules are currently limited to the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum due to the intrinsic optical properties of bulk noble metals that support strong electromagnetic field confinement only close to their plasma frequency in the visible/ultraviolet range. In this work, we show that nanoporous gold can be exploited as a plasmonic material for the mid-infrared region to obtain strong electromagnetic field confinement, co-localized with target molecules into the nanopores and resonant with their vibrational frequency. The effective optical response of the nanoporous metal enables the penetration of optical fields deep into the nanopores, where molecules can be loaded thus achieving a more efficient light–matter coupling if compared to bulk gold. In order to realize plasmonic resonators made of nanoporous gold, we develop a nanofabrication method based on polymeric templates for metal deposition and we obtain antenna arrays resonating at mid-infrared wavelengths selected by design. We then coat the antennas with a thin (3 nm) silica layer acting as the target dielectric layer for optical energy transfer. We study the strength of the light–matter coupling at the vibrational absorption frequency of silica at 1240 cm−1 through the analysis of the experimental Fano lineshape that is benchmarked against identical structures made of bulk gold. The boost in the optical energy transfer from free-space mid-infrared radiation to molecular vibrations in nanoporous 3D nanoantenna arrays can open new application routes for plasmon-enhanced physical–chemical reactions

Suspension of mandatory vaccination and public health preserving: Rovigo Local Health Unit experience after appliance of Veneto regional law 7/2007

The burden of infectious diseases preventable by vaccination decreased considerably over last decades in all countries pro- vided with effective immunization schedules. Implementation of these programs with new vaccines has started discussion on dual- ity between mandatory and recommended vaccinations. Regional autonomy has allowed the Veneto Region, with introduction of Law 7/2007, to experience suspension of all mandatory childhood vaccinations, replaced by an active and free offer of all vaccines recognized as safe and effective. Coverage?s trends and accept- ance of invitation are carefully monitored to avoid loss of com- pliance and reduction of immunized children. The evaluation, performed on population of Rovigo ULSS18 for 2002-2008 birth cohorts (2008 is the first concerned by the change), revealed no fall for previously mandatory vaccinations, but rather a slight increase. Percentage of non-vaccinated children was negligible. The leading cause of non-vaccination to polio was inability to deliver the letter of invitation due to wrong address. An informed dissent was expressed only by a minority (0.9% in 2008 birth cohort). Compliance to immunization offer was elevated both for previ- ously compulsory and recommended vaccinations. Experience of Rovigo ULSS 18 showed that, in a context of already high levels of coverage for recommended vaccinations with optimal organization of immunization services, coverage rates for ex- mandatory vaccines remain unchanged. Further research and reports are required to carefully assess the effect on coverage rates in next birth cohorts, but available data are encourag- ing. Similar legislative measures can be successfully adopted by other Regions with starting conditions comparable to Veneto Region

Multi-objective optimization of a nearly zero-energy building based on thermal and visual discomfort minimization using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II)

Multi-objective optimization methods provide a valid support to buildings' design. They aim at identifying the most promising building variants on the basis of diverse and potentially contrasting needs. However, optimization has been mainly used to optimize the energy performance of buildings, giving secondary importance to thermal comfort and usually neglecting visual comfort and the indoor air quality. The present study addresses the design of a detached net zero-energy house located in Southern Italy to minimize thermal and visual discomfort. The optimization problem admits four objective functions (thermal discomfort during winter and summer and visual discomfort due to glare and an inappropriate quantity of daylight) and uses the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm, implemented in the GenOpt optimization engine through the Java genetic algorithms package, to instruct the EnergyPlus simulation engine. The simulation outcome is a four-dimensional solution set. The building variants of the Pareto frontier adopt diverse and non-intuitive design alternatives. To derive good design practices, two-dimensional projections of the solution set were also analyzed. Finally, in cases of complex optimization problems with many objective functions, optimization techniques are recommended to effectively explore the large number of available building variants in a relatively short time and, hence, identify viable non-intuitive solutions

Atributos químicos e microbiológicos em latossolo submetido à adição de componentes das Terras Pretas de Índio e à ação de minhocas

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Renato MarquesDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Florestal. Defesa : Curitiba, 07/10/2022Inclui referências: p. 55-60Área de concentração: Conservação da NaturezaResumo: As Terras Pretas de Índio (TPI) amazônicas são solos antropogênicos que têm sido objeto de estudo por serem altamente férteis em uma área formada por solos majoritariamente pobres e ácidos. A compreensão dos mecanismos físicos, químicos e biológicos envolvidos na formação deste tipo de solo permitiria a criação de práticas de manejo que levem à formação de Terras Pretas Novas (TPN). O presente trabalho teve por objetivo compreender como os atributos químicos e microbiológicos de um Latossolo Amarelo respondem à adição de componentes frequentemente associados às TPI. Os componentes adicionados ao latossolo foram esterco equino, minhocas da espécie Pontoscolex corethrurus, biochar e farinha de espinha de peixe. Foram analisados os teores de carbono (CT) e nitrogênio (NT) totais e os atributos de fertilidade química do solo. Foi realizado ensaio para a obtenção da mineralização do nitrogênio no solo, e foram avaliados os atributos Carbono (CBM) e Nitrogênio (NBM) da Biomassa Microbiana. A mineralização do N foi obtida em ensaio de incubação anaeróbia, com subsequente extração do N mineral produzido, enquanto a CBM e o NBM foram analisados pelo método de irradiação-extração. Os tratamentos mostraram pouco efeito nos teores de CT e NT. A adição do esterco equino no solo contribuiu para a neutralização de parte do Al, independentemente dos demais componentes adicionados ao solo, resultando em menor saturação por Al, que favoreceu a elevação dos teores de Ca, Mg e K na CTC do solo e a atividade microbiológica no solo. Diferente do biochar, as minhocas (P. corethrurus) influenciam a microbiota edáfica independentemente dos demais componentes. As análises de correlação permitiram evidenciar a importância do pH e dos cátions básicos na mineralização do N e nos valores de NBM no solo; e, também, a interação entre estes atributos microbiológicos. Não foi identificada influência destas variáveis no CBM do solo.Abstract: The Amazonian Dark Earth (ADEs) soils are anthropogenic soils that have been studied because they are highly fertile and occur in an area with mostly poor and acid soils. The understanding of the physical, chemical and biological mechanisms of ADEs formation would allow the creation of practices that lead to New Dark Earth (NDE) soils. The present work aims to understand how the microbiological attributes of a yellow Latossol respond to the addition of components usually associated with ADEs. The components added to the Latossol were horse manure, worms of the Pontoscolex corethrurus species, biochar and fishbone. Total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) contents and soil chemical fertility attributes were analyzed. An assay was carried out to obtain nitrogen mineralizationl, Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) and Microbial Biomass Nitrogen (MBN) in the soil. N mineralization was performed in an anaerobic incubation assay, with subsequent mineral N extraction, while MBC and MBN were analyzed by the irradiation-extraction method. The treatments showed little effect on TC and TN levels. The addition of horse manure contributed to the neutralization of part of the Al, independently of the other components added to the soil, resulting in lower Al saturation, which favored the increase of available Ca, Mg and K contents, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the soil microbial activity. Unlike biochar, worms (P. corethrurus) influence the soil microbiota regardless of the other components. Correlation analyzes showed the importance of the pH and basic cations for N mineralization and NBM values in the soil; and also the interaction between these microbiological attributes. No variable influence on soil CBM was identified

Conception of a new test cell facility for characterizing building envelope components

Outdoor test cells have been extensively used for analyzing the thermo-physical properties of building envelope components under real climate conditions. The paper presents a new test cell facility, under development at the Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l'Industrie (ESTP Paris) within the framework of a collaboration between the end-use Efficiency Research Group of Politecnico di Milano and ESTP. The facility will allow to obtain reliable estimates of thermal performance indicators of transparent and opaque building elements. A particular care has been taken in the design phase in order to minimize or to accurately evaluate all sources of uncertainty, such as (i) conductive heat losses through the test cell envelope, (ii) time lag of response to transient solar conditions, (iii) levels of airtightness and of resistance to vapour or water penetration.

BIOMASS AND NUTRIENTS IN THE FOREST-FLOOR LITTER OF SECOND-GROWTH BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FORESTS

This study aimed to evaluate the biomass and chemical composition of the forest floor litter in three remnants of Submontane Dense Ombrophilous Forest located in the Guaricica Natural Reserve in the municipality of Antonina, state of Paraná, Brazil. The areas selected for this study are at different stages of secondary succession, here named initial stage (INI), intermediate stage (INT), and advanced stage (ADV). The litter was collected in different seasons of the year (summer and winter of 2013 and 2014) and sorted into fractions: whole leaves (WL), leaves under some stage of decomposition (DL), miscellaneous litter (ML), and branches (B). After sorting, the litter was oven-dried, weighed, and had the contents of C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg measured. After that, the accumulated amount of each nutrient in the different litter fractions was estimated. Accumulation of biomass in the INI was lower than that in the ADV. The DL fraction showed the highest level of biomass accumulation among all fractions. The average concentration of macronutrients in the litter showed the following sequence: C>N>Ca>Mg>K>P. The C/N ratio was higher in the INI and INT compared with that in the ADV. Higher levels of macronutrients were frequently observed in the ADV. Inputs of C and of most nutrients increased from the INI to the ADV, except for Ca, whose input varied little throughout the different successional stages