Facing Emerging Risks in Carbon Sequestration Networks. A Comprehensive Source Modeling Approach.

Tackling risks in emerging infrastructures is a key point in making them acceptable and safer. Carbon Sequestration pipeline networks, as part of the Carbon Capture and Storage chains, are linked to the handling of large amounts of CO2 and may be subjected to failures and ruptures. This results in large pressurized and multiphase releases of CO2 that behaves as a denser-than-air and asphyxiant gas. The lack of a comprehensive modelling approach in this sense makes employed risk safety procedures often unreliable and lacking. In this work, a comprehensive modelling approach, based on self-collected experimental data, is proposed with the aim of filling existing gaps. Results well match experimental data and the modelling procedure allows for the estimation of characteristic parameters linked to heat transfer phenomena and the incidence of geometry and operative conditions on the release evolution. The occurrence of the solid phase and the applicability of the isothermal hypothesis is discussed showing that specific geometric and operative conditions are required

A framework for probabilistic seismic risk assessment of NG distribution networks

Lifelines are essential infrastructures for human activities and the economic developm ent of a region. Lifelines vulnerability reduction is an actual question, particularly with reference to NaTech events, like earthquakes. In this regard, worldwide past seismic experiences revealed heavy damages to NG distribution networks. It is therefore essential to perform seismic risk assessment of NG buried pipelines systems with the aim to identify potential criticalities and avoid significant consequences. For such reasons, this work illustrates the proposal of a probabilistic framework for seismic risk assessment of NG lifelines. The proposed procedure is subsequently applied to a specific case study in Italy to highlight its feasibility

Organizational Life Cycle Assessment: The Introduction of the Production Allocation Burden

none5noneManzardo, Alessandro; Loss, Andrea; Niero, Monia; Vianello, Chiara; Scipioni, Antonio*Manzardo, Alessandro; Loss, Andrea; Niero, Monia; Vianello, Chiara; Scipioni, Antoni

Interface fires in built-up areas. A real-case study on the risk assessment of fires interacting with urban domains.

Fire scenarios may pose serious risks and induce severe damages to anthropic structures, activities and business. These can be represented by typical fires in industrial facilities or also atypical scenarios involving differentiated targets as in the case of interface fires. The occasion of the collaboration between our two departments arouse from the EU Interreg Progect CROSSIT SAFER, intended to enhance collaboration between actors and institutions of the Civil Protection for the management of natural disasters in the Italia-Slovenija cross border area. Risk assessment of atypical scenarios requires improved approaches since a multi-risk framework can arise including the interactions between the fire and surrounding domains. An effective hazard investigation and management should therefore include estimations of consequences based on the results of models\u2019 simulation. The present study deals with a preliminary risk assessment methodology applied to fires interacting with an existing urban area. The fire spread is approached through a dedicated tool and a GIS-based system is used to spatially map expected consequences. Starting from these data, a preliminary risk estimation is proposed with the aim of mapping hazardous areas. In this sense, a combined approach based on fire simulation tools and exposure functions is employed. Major risk areas are identified and expected results can be used to support land planning and emergency-related operations

Sequential development of large B cell lymphoma in a patient with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Lymphomas of different histologic type can occur in the same patient. Two types of lymphomas can be diagnosed in the same lymph node (composite lymphoma) or in different sites. In the latter case, terms as simultaneous and sequential have been proposed to define the detection of two lymphomas at the same time or at different times, respectively

Soil properties and plant community relationship in a saltmarsh of the Grado and Marano lagoon (northern Italy)

7noPurpose: The relationship between soil properties and plant communities was investigated in a saltmarsh of the Grado and Marano lagoon (northern Italy), where hydrology and micromorphology strongly influence the features of the ecosystem. A multidisciplinary approach was used to assess the change of soil properties and plant communities in relation to the submergence of soil. Materials and methods: The plant community and soil profile surveys were both carried out along a transect in six sampling sites of the Gran Chiusa saltmarsh (Grado and Marano lagoon). The morphological and physicochemical parameters of soil profiles were investigated, and soils were classified according to Soil Taxonomy. The concentration of macronutrients in both soils and plants was analysed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Cluster and linear discriminant analysis were used to assist the interpretation of the data of plant communities and soil properties, respectively. The bioconcentration factor explored the macronutrient relationship between plant community and soil. Results and discussion: A high, middle and low zone were identified by clustering the different plant communities along the studied transect. Discriminant analysis showed how the increase in soil submergence supported the accumulation of S and Ca content and depletion of Fe and Na. The development of different plant communities was linked to both soil water saturation and to the capacity of halophytes to tolerate anoxic conditions or salinity, by extrusion or bioconcentration strategies. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that tide level plays an important role in the pedological development and chemical transformations along a soil hydrosequence. The micromosaic vegetation pattern may therefore represent a useful index of the hydrological and nutritional status of the underlying soils and could be used to predict changes in coastal ecosystems. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.openopenVittori Antisari, Livia; Ferronato, Chiara; Pellegrini, Elisa; Boscutti, Francesco; Casolo, Valentino; de Nobili, Maria; Vianello, GilmoVittori Antisari, Livia; Ferronato, Chiara; Pellegrini, Elisa; Boscutti, Francesco; Casolo, Valentino; DE NOBILI, Maria; Vianello, Gilm

Integrating the Benefits of Turquoise Hydrogen to Decarbonise High-emission Industry

Total indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil and gas operations today are around 5,200 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) yearly, 15% of total energy sector GHG emissions. Most of these emissions occur due to natural gas leaks. Methane, a much more potent GHG than CO2, is the most significant single component of natural gas and, therefore, of these emissions. Part of these emissions results from routine operations such as flaring and venting, representing both an economic and an environmental issue. Many solutions have been developed to recover and use this natural gas instead of venting and flaring it. Three possibilities were simulated with AVEVA PRO/II, and a preliminary economic assessment was carried out with Guthrie’s method. 30 kmol/hr of natural gas fed was assumed, according to average site data, therefore, small-scale plants are suitable. A first solution based on compression, though requiring high OPEX (> 280 k$/y), produces very low emissions yearly (1,140 t CO2-eq/y). Another possibility is to couple flaring to a microturbine for energy generation, but this solution is both uneconomical and has a high environmental impact (> 10,000 t CO2-eq/y). The last technology analysed is thermal methane pyrolysis. This possibility, often disregarded in environmental studies, involves the production of turquoise hydrogen and carbon black. Although characterised by high capital costs (almost 3 M$), it can reduce gaseous emissions since it stores the carbon part of hydrocarbons in the solid matrix that is formed

Hydrogen Refueling Stations: Prevention and Scenario Management. Large Scale Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Jet-Fires

Hydrogen is becoming an attractive alternative for energy storage and transportation, because of the elevated energy content per unit of mass and possibility to have zero carbon-emission vehicles. For these reasons, hydrogen's share in global market is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. Today, hydrogen-fueled buses and cars are already available, and several refueling stations are operating in different countries around the world. A key role of the deployment of hydrogen fueled-vehicles is the presence of a widespread network of refueling stations, especially close to residential and industrial areas. This fact poses attention to the safety aspects related to hydrogen, with particular interest to its high flammability that can lead to catastrophic consequences for personnel and equipment. As a matter of fact, hydrogen is a comparatively less safe fuel compared to conventional fuels such as gasoline and diesel. Hydrogen infrastructures are characterized by operating pressure up to 1000 bar that, in case of an unintended loss of containments, produce a highly under expanded turbulent jet. If ignited, this hydrogen jet may give rise to very severe scenarios, mainly related to high temperatures and the oriented flows. As recently suggested by Moradi and Groth (Moradi and Groth, 2019), there is a lack of experimental and on-site data for almost all of the storage and delivery technologies relevant to the hydrogen infrastructures. Experimental data is vital to support model validation, especially in the case of the very peculiar combustion process of hydrogen. In this way, a real-scale experimental campaign is proposed to investigate the main characteristic of the hydrogen jet fire resulting from its rapid fired depressurizations. Focus of the experimental campaign is evaluation of safety distance for person and device (i.e. pressurized tanks) in order to avoid critical conditions and domino effects in real refueling station. Different initial conditions, i.e., storage pressures, are exploited, and the resulting jet across specified orifice is investigated. More specifically, temperatures at various locations are measured through an arrangement of thermocouples. Values up to 1200 °C were obtained in the core of the jet. Moreover, it was found that the recorded temperatures, especially those at the outer portion of the jet, are very sensitive to the initial conditions

The development of a microbial metal - resistance consortium for metal bioremediation in a simulated fluvial system

Our main goal was to enrich the microbial population which develops when a pollution event changes the equilibrium of a fluvial system and thereafter investigate the effectiveness of this adapted bacterial consortium in a simulated bio-remediation process. The contaminated soil of a highly heavy metal polluted mining deposit was mixed with non-contaminated fluvial sediment in a ratio of 1:3. After the addition of fresh fluvial water, the system was allowed to equilibrate for one month. Then, a research was carried out on experimental microcosms in order to test the effects of the surviving microorganisms on toxic heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn) that are polluting surface sediments. The adapted microbial population was first enriched in aerobic conditions with a high concentration of heavy metals (up to 300 mg/l Cu; 400 mg/l Fe; 600 mg/l Zn) and afterwards the consortium obtained was applied in a microcosm to test its effect on the decontamination of heavy metals. The study has demonstrated that some microorganisms can survive the contamination. However, with regard to the tested metals, the microorganisms did not influence the status of the metals during the period of the analysis

Genetic modifiers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major complication and leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DCM onset is variable, suggesting modifier effects of genetic or environmental factors. We aimed to determine if polymorphisms previously associated with age at loss of independent ambulation (LoA) in DMD (rs28357094 in the SPP1 promoter, rs10880 and the VTTT/IAAM haplotype in LTBP4) also modify DCM onset. METHODS: A multicentric cohort of 178 DMD patients was genotyped by TaqMan assays. We performed a time-to-event analysis of DCM onset, with age as time variable, and finding of left ventricular ejection fraction 70 mL/m2 as event (confirmed by a previous normal exam < 12 months prior); DCM-free patients were censored at the age of last echocardiographic follow-up. RESULTS: Patients were followed up to an average age of 15.9 \ub1 6.7 years. Seventy-one/178 patients developed DCM, and median age at onset was 20.0 years. Glucocorticoid corticosteroid treatment (n = 88 untreated; n = 75 treated; n = 15 unknown) did not have a significant independent effect on DCM onset. Cardiological medications were not administered before DCM onset in this population. We observed trends towards a protective effect of the dominant G allele at SPP1 rs28357094 and recessive T allele at LTBP4 rs10880, which was statistically significant in steroid-treated patients for LTBP4 rs10880 (< 50% T/T patients developing DCM during follow-up [n = 13]; median DCM onset 17.6 years for C/C-C/T, log-rank p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: We report a putative protective effect of DMD genetic modifiers on the development of cardiac complications, that might aid in risk stratification if confirmed in independent cohorts