Electrolytic Hydrogen Production From Renewable Source, Storage and Reconversion in Fuel Cells: The System of the “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria

AbstractNowadays a redesign of cities, amid the others from an energetic point of view, is taking place. It increasingly addresses the smart city model, an organic system in which infrastructures, services and technology are organized in order to achieve friendly and livable cities, combining in a single urban model environment protection, energy efficiency and economic sustainability.In smart cities buildings are nZEB and equipped with domotics applications, energy grids are smart, transports are electric, lighting is high-efficiency, hydrogen is used for energy storage, ecc. As concerns this latter, in the last periods hydrogen has increasingly shown to be particularly fit as an energetic carrier, being not pollutant, versatile, allowing production at all scales and, compared to electric battery, not requiring time consuming recharging. Anyway, due to the present relevant starting funds of its technology, its quick, effective penetration into the market still requires the necessary economic breakthroughs.Within this frame, in the paper a system aimed at hydrogen production through electrolysis from renewable source (provided by both PV and wind generators), its storage and reconversion in fuel cells is presented. The system is installed at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria. Particularly, in the paper the global process taking place in the system is described, evaluating the hourly hydrogen stored amount, the power autonomy provided and the global efficiency of the process

A Case-Study Plant for a Sustainable Redevelopment of Buildings Based on Storage and Reconversion of Hydrogen Generated by Using Solar Energy

In todays process of decarbonisation and transition to a green economy based on distributed and sustainable energy production, hydrogen is considered the most promising energy carrier, thanks to its multiple properties. It is clean, versatile and has a high combustion efficiency and more importantly, renewable energy could be used as a primary source for hydrogen production near the end use point, making full use of local energy potential. Nevertheless, the current cost of its technology still requires further research and development, necessary to obtain its rapid and effective launch onto the market. Moreover, hydrogen storage and distribution infrastructures, fundamental to make it usable and competitive, are currently lacking.In this framework, the paper analyses a photovoltaic (PV) system, equipped with hydrogen storage and reconversion subsystems. The technological plant is basically aimed to be easily integrated into buildings for their sustainable redevelopment. At this stage, the presented case study was designed to supply a part of electrical needs of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria.In brief, starting from the PV generation of electricity, hydrogen is obtained through electrolytic production, which is stored and then reconverted into electricity by using fuel cells. The study clearly meets the main goals of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Un caso studio di impianto per la riqualificazione sostenibile degli edifici basato sullo stoccaggio e sulla riconversione dell’idrogeno prodotto usando l’energia solareNell'odierno processo di decarbonizzazione e transizione verso un'economia verde basata sulla produzione di energia distribuita e sostenibile, l'idrogeno è considerato il vettore energetico più promettente, grazie alle sue molteplici proprietà: è pulito, versatile e ha un'alta efficienza di combustione. In particolare, l'energia rinnovabile potrebbe essere utilizzata come fonte primaria per la produzione di idrogeno vicino al punto di utilizzo finale, sfruttando appieno il potenziale energetico locale. Tuttavia, l'attuale costo della sua tecnologia richiede ancora ulteriori ricerche e sviluppi, necessari per ottenere la sua rapida ed efficace penetrazione nel mercato. Inoltre, al momento le infrastrutture di stoccaggio e distribuzione dell'idrogeno, fondamentali per renderlo utilizzabile e competitive, sono ancora lacunose.In questo scenario, il lavoro analizza un sistema fotovoltaico (PV), dotato di sottosistemi di stoccaggio e riconversione dell'idrogeno. L'impianto tecnologico è pensato per essere facilmente integrato negli edifici per una loro riqualificazione sostenibile; in questa fase, il caso di studio testato era finalizzato alla alimentazione di una parte delle utenze elettriche dell'Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria. In breve, a partire dalla generazione fotovoltaica di elettricità, l'idrogeno viene ottenuto attraverso la produzione elettrolitica, immagazzinato e poi riconvertito in elettricità utilizzando le celle a combustibile. Lo studio è chiaramente in linea con i principali obiettivi dell'Agenda 2030 per uno sviluppo sostenibile.In todays process of decarbonisation and transition to a green economy based on distributed and sustainable energy production, hydrogen is considered the most promising energy carrier, thanks to its multiple properties. It is clean, versatile and has a high combustion efficiency and more importantly, renewable energy could be used as a primary source for hydrogen production near the end use point, making full use of local energy potential. Nevertheless, the current cost of its technology still requires further research and development, necessary to obtain its rapid and effective launch onto the market. Moreover, hydrogen storage and distribution infrastructures, fundamental to make it usable and competitive, are currently lacking.In this framework, the paper analyses a photovoltaic (PV) system, equipped with hydrogen storage and reconversion subsystems. The technological plant is basically aimed to be easily integrated into buildings for their sustainable redevelopment. At this stage, the presented case study was designed to supply a part of electrical needs of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria.In brief, starting from the PV generation of electricity, hydrogen is obtained through electrolytic production, which is stored and then reconverted into electricity by using fuel cells. The study clearly meets the main goals of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Un caso studio di impianto per la riqualificazione sostenibile degli edifici basato sullo stoccaggio e sulla riconversione dell’idrogeno prodotto usando l’energia solareNell'odierno processo di decarbonizzazione e transizione verso un'economia verde basata sulla produzione di energia distribuita e sostenibile, l'idrogeno è considerato il vettore energetico più promettente, grazie alle sue molteplici proprietà: è pulito, versatile e ha un'alta efficienza di combustione. In particolare, l'energia rinnovabile potrebbe essere utilizzata come fonte primaria per la produzione di idrogeno vicino al punto di utilizzo finale, sfruttando appieno il potenziale energetico locale. Tuttavia, l'attuale costo della sua tecnologia richiede ancora ulteriori ricerche e sviluppi, necessari per ottenere la sua rapida ed efficace penetrazione nel mercato. Inoltre, al momento le infrastrutture di stoccaggio e distribuzione dell'idrogeno, fondamentali per renderlo utilizzabile e competitive, sono ancora lacunose.In questo scenario, il lavoro analizza un sistema fotovoltaico (PV), dotato di sottosistemi di stoccaggio e riconversione dell'idrogeno. L'impianto tecnologico è pensato per essere facilmente integrato negli edifici per una loro riqualificazione sostenibile; in questa fase, il caso di studio testato era finalizzato alla alimentazione di una parte delle utenze elettriche dell'Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria. In breve, a partire dalla generazione fotovoltaica di elettricità, l'idrogeno viene ottenuto attraverso la produzione elettrolitica, immagazzinato e poi riconvertito in elettricità utilizzando le celle a combustibile. Lo studio è chiaramente in linea con i principali obiettivi dell'Agenda 2030 per uno sviluppo sostenibile

DISTRETTI ENERGETICI: UNO STUDIO SU UN QUARTIERE DI UNA CITTÀ DELL’ITALIA MERIDIONALE

Nowadays the energy transition, which implies the design of a new energy supply and distribution model based on RES, is an urgent course of action. Not only is it crucial to tackle climate change issues but it is also an opportunity to generate new technical, economic and social development possibilities. In this framework, the implementation of new structures of collective and collaborative economy, such as energy districts and communities, is encouraged by the European Union's development programs as a crucial strategy to mitigate both climate change crisis and economic inequalities as well as socio-environmental injustices. With a view to providing a contribution to the studies addressing the effectiveness of these new energy management structures, especially in Mediterranean climates, this work proposes an analysis focused on a neighborhood of a city located in the Southern Italy. The results showed that the implementation of RES in an energy district perspective, according to the feasibility granted by the neighborhood features, allowed the balance between energy productivity and needs to be reached

Tunnel fire active protection: improving ventilation system

The main aim of this work is to evaluate how the use of an active protection method, consisting in an improved forced longitudinal ventilation system, can determine a positive impact on heat extraction and people evacuation time in a tunnel fire scenario, by considering a case study which simulations are based on a real gallery

Suitability of some existing damage indexes for assessing agreements in maintenance and management of museum climatization systems

Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning systems in museums are called to properly control important microclimate parameters, not only for visitors’ wellbeing, but mostly for the preservation of works of art. Accordingly, in case of interruptions to Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning systems, due to maintenance interventions or drawbacks, it is essential to guarantee the acceptable break from service to which possible damages for the works of art are related. In this regard, the aim of this work is to introduce a simple indicator to support curators in regulating the stipulation of contracts with external companies, a more effective management and maintenance of the Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning systems will thus be achieved in order to preserve the works of art, by integrating into the contracts economic penalties related to the system’s service break period. The feasibility of this new procedure has been checked by means of a case study involving the “Museo Regionale” of Palermo (Italy)

Greenhouse Gas Balance in the City of Reggio Calabria and Assessment of the Effects of Measures of Emission Reduction and Absorption

Climate change and its ascertained attribution to anthropic activity need to be tackled with extreme urgency and must not be postponed. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions require a change in the energy paradigm, mainly affecting the construction and mobility sectors. Countries need to move towards climate neutrality with a widespread adoption of innovative models, systems, and technologies, reducing dependence on non-renewable sources and increasing energy efficiency. Measures to be adopted to achieve the prefixed decarbonization targets should involve, in addition to central governments, local communities. In this paper, in order to contribute to the definition of mitigation measures by the local administration, the balance of emissions and removal of greenhouse gases, assessed following the IPCC guidelines, for an Italian city (Reggio Calabria) on the date of 1 January 2020 is presented. Several hypotheses concerning reduction measures to be applied to the building and transport sectors, together with absorption interventions, have been developed and we have analyzed the effectiveness of each of them and their global effects on 1 January 2030. The proposed measures allow a reduction of 17% of total emissions, indicating that to reach carbon neutrality in 2050, more incisive and wide range interventions are required

Outdoor Mean Radiant Temperature Estimation: Is the Black-Globe Thermometer Method a Feasible Course of Action?

Urban planning has become one of the crucial action in order to address and mitigate the effect and the consequences of the global warming and it also entails different sectors of the urban context. The survey and control of the outdoor climatic conditions are among the involved sectors and mean radiant temperature is amid the most analyzed parameters. The aim of the paper is to investigate the effective suitability of one of the most used method in the assessment of the mean radiant temperature, namely the globe-thermometer method, in outdoor urban environment, singling out possible shortcomings and actual efficacy. Specifically, data obtained by measurement campaigns performed by means of a black-globe thermometer were compared with the ones resulted by the application of the six-directional technique based on the measure of the radiative fluxes (longwave and shortwave radiation) coming from six perpendicular space directions

Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on CO₂ Emissions in the Port Areas of the Strait of Messina

The Strait of Messina is characterised by a significant ship flow, especially of ferries, between its two shores. The ferry services involve four harbours, located on the Sicilian and Calabrian shores. During the epidemic emergency related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, due to the restrictions adopted to counteract the spread of the infection, a significant reduction in ferry activities and vehicle flow occurred. These circumstances made flow data, related to different actual scenarios, available and allowed the assessment of the environmental impact of the port area. Therefore, the port area became a noteworthy case study, suited to draw conclusions regarding possible future courses of action designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions in these types of settlements. In the study, in order to assess the effect of different levels of human activity on pollutant emissions, the total CO2 emissions from ferry activities in two successive years, 2019 before the spread of the virus and 2020 when the epidemic was at its peak, were evaluated and compared. The EMEP/EEA methodology was used and, as a result, an overall reduction of 13.2% in CO2eq yearly emission rates was observed, with the major reduction of 2784 tCO2eq due to maritime traffic

Assessment of the mean radiant temperature in urban areas: methods at comparison

Mean radiant temperature may play a pivotal role in the assessment of the outdoor environmental conditions in urban areas. However, its assessment in urban settings is not a simple task owing to the presence of complex and articulated environment and of solar radiation. The article aims to perform a comparison among the results yielded by different methods: the globe-thermometer method, and the six-directional technique. The scope of such a survey is an analysis of the actual appropriateness of the more practical, albeit less accurate, globe-thermometer method to outdoor environments. Furthermore, an analytical model, previously elaborated by the authors and here modified to make it applicable to outdoor environment, was also considered with a view to verifying its accuracy in predicting the effect of solar radiation. To fulfil all the tasks an experimental investigation was carried out, involving a globe-thermometer with a diameter of 150 mm, usually used in indoor environments