Parametric multi-objective optimization of an Organic Rankine Cycle with thermal energy storage for distributed generation

Abstract This paper focuses on the thermodynamic modelling and parametric optimization of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) which recovers the heat stored in a thermal energy storage (TES). A TES with two molten-salt tanks (one cold and one hot) is selected since it is able to operate in the temperature range useful to recover heat from different sources such as exhaust gas of Externally Fired Gas Turbine (EFGT) or Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant, operating in a network for Distributed Generation (DG). The thermal storage facilitates a flexible operation of the power system operating in the network of DG, and in particular allows to compensate the energy fluctuations of heat and power demand, increase the capacity factor of the connected plants, increase the dispatchability of the renewable energy generated and potentially operate in load following mode. The selected ORC is a regenerative cycle with the adoption of a Heat Recovery Vapour Generator (HRVG) that recovers heat from molten salts flowing from the Hot Tank to the Cold Tank of the TES. By considering the properties of molten salt mixtures, a ternary mixture able to operate between 200 and 400 °C is selected. The main ORC parameters, namely the evaporating pressure/temperature and the evaporator/condenser pinch point temperature differences, are selected as variables for the thermodynamic ORC optimization. An automatic optimization procedure is set up by means of a genetic algorithm (GA) coupled with an in-house code for the ORC calculation. Firstly, a mono-objective optimization is carried out for two working fluids of interest (Toluene and R113) by maximization of the cycle thermal efficiency. Afterwards, a multi-objective optimization is carried out for the fluid with the best performance by means of a Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA) in order to evaluate the cycle parameters which maximize the thermal efficiency and minimise the heat exchanger surface areas. Toluene results able to give the best trade-off between efficiency and heat exchanger dimensions for the present application, showing that by with respect to the best efficiency point, the heat exchange area can be reduced by 36% with only a penalty of 1% for the efficiency

Taking one step backward to take two steps forward: The importance of breast tumor phenotype in MRI-based prediction of response

Evaluation of tumor phenotype is currently accepted to guide management of breast cancer and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic imaging tool to evaluate response to NAC, mainly through morphological evaluation (RECIST criteria). It has been suggested that the capability of post-NAC MRI in the detection of complete response is greatly influenced by tumor phenotype; the interplay of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and of human epidermal growth factor-2 affects deeply variable tissue characteristics. The purpose of the present review is to revise current evidence about the differential diagnostic performance of MRI according to breast tumor phenotype, both in the post-NAC setting (detection of complete response) and in the pre-NAC settings (prediction of complete response), in order to advise the radiologist in the cautious interpretation of MRI-derived information. We also discuss the potential role of additional MRI techniques [diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)] in this context. The conclusions of the present review may be helpful to achieve further personalization of management protocols to individual patients

Usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in suspect COVID-19 repeatedly negative swab test and interstitial lung disease

The diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on nasopharyngeal swab, which shows a 20–30% risk of false negativity [1]. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is reported to be useful in patients with pulmonary interstitial infiltrates on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We investigated the usefulness of BAL in symptomatic patients with positive HRCT and a repeatedly negative swab test (‘grey zone’)

Cytoskeletal control of B cell responses to antigens.

The actin cytoskeleton is essential for cell mechanics and has increasingly been implicated in the regulation of cell signalling. In B cells, the actin cytoskeleton is extensively coupled to B cell receptor (BCR) signalling pathways, and defects of the actin cytoskeleton can either promote or suppress B cell activation. Recent insights from studies using single-cell imaging and biophysical techniques suggest that actin orchestrates BCR signalling at the plasma membrane through effects on protein diffusion and that it regulates antigen discrimination through the biomechanics of immune synapses. These mechanical functions also have a role in the adaptation of B cell subsets to specialized tasks during antibody responses