Experimental evaluation of biopolymer and synthetic polymer drag reduction in industrial scale facilities

In this work experimental tests have been performed to investigate drag reduction by polymers in industrial scale pipes (30, 50 and 100 mm ID). Both synthetic (Polyetylene Oxide, PEO and Partially Hydrolysed Polyacrylamide, HPAM) and bio (Xanthan Gum, XG) polymers have been used with the objective of building a self consistent data base to better understand and predict, polymer drag reduction in industrial scale facilities. To this aim, we run a series of experiments measuring the friction factor at different polymer mass concentrations (100, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 ppm w/w for the XG; 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ppm w/w for PEO and HPAM) spanning values of Reynolds number in the range 758 to 297 000 (depending on the pipe size). For one polymer (PEO) two different molecular weights have been tested (4 x 10^6 and 8 x 10^6 g/mol). The rheology of each of the working fluids (water plus one of the polymers at many different concentrations) has been characterised experimentally before performing tests to evaluate the friction factor. Results are presented in the form of (1) pressure drop per unit length as a function of the bulk velocity in the pipe, (2) using Prandtl-K\ue1rm\ue1n coordinates and (3) as percent drag reduction. Our data are in excellent agreement with data collected in different industrial scale test rigs, compare well with data gathered in small scale rigs and scaled up using empirically based design equations and with data collected for pipes having other than round cross section. The data confirm the validity of a design equation inferred from Direct Numerical Simulation which was recently proposed to predict the friction factor. We show that scaling procedures based on this last equation can assist the design of piping systems in which polymer drag reduction can be exploited in a cost effective way. Data have also been compared with correlations developed to predict the upper bound for drag reduction when the mechanical degradation of the polymer is taken into account. Our results confirm that these correlations can be operatively used to identify a priori polymer performances as drag reducing agents in industrial scale facilities. Preliminary results to investigate the potential role of polymeric drag reduction in fibre laden flows are also presente

Turbulent Drag Reduction by Biopolymers in Large Scale Pipes

In this work, we describe drag reduction experiments performed in a large diameter pipe (i.d. 100mm) using a semirigid biopolymer Xanthan Gum (XG). The objective is to build a self-consistent data base which can be used for validation purposes. To aim this, we ran a series of tests measuring friction factor at different XG concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2% w/w XG) and at different values of Reynolds number (from 758 to 297,000). For each concentration, we obtain also the rheological characterization of the test fluid. Our data is in excellent agreement with data collected in a different industrial scale test rig. The data is used to validate design equations available from the literature. Our data compare well with data gathered in small scale rigs and scaled up using empirically based design equations and with data collected for pipes having other than round cross section. Our data confirm the validity of a design equation inferred from direct nu- merical simulation (DNS) which was recently proposed to predict the friction factor. We show that scaling procedures based on this last equation can assist the design of piping systems in which polymer drag reduction can be exploited in a cost effective way

Demand-Response Application in Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Compressed Air Storage System: A Modelling Approach

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known to be one of the most energy-intensive industrial sectors. In this work, demand response was applied to the biological phase of wastewater treatment to reduce plant electricity cost, considering that the daily peak in flowrate typically coincides with the maximum electricity price. Compressed air storage system, composed of a compressor and an air storage tank, was proposed to allow energy cost reduction. A multi-objective modelling approach was applied by analyzing dierent scenarios (with and without anaerobic digestion, AD), considering both plant characteristics (in terms of treated flowrate and influent chemical oxygen demand, COD, concentration) and storage system properties (volume, air pressure), together with the current Italian market economic conditions. The results highlight that air tank volume has a strong positive influence on the obtainable economic savings, with a less significant impact held by air pressure, COD concentration and flowrate. In addition, biogas exploitation from AD led to an improvement in economic indices. The developed model is highly flexible and can be applied to dierent WWTPs and market conditions

GWAS meta-analysis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy implicates multiple hepatic genes and regulatory elements

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific liver disorder affecting 0.5–2% of pregnancies. The majority of cases present in the third trimester with pruritus, elevated serum bile acids and abnormal serum liver tests. ICP is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, including spontaneous preterm birth and stillbirth. Whilst rare mutations affecting hepatobiliary transporters contribute to the aetiology of ICP, the role of common genetic variation in ICP has not been systematically characterised to date. Here, we perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses for ICP across three studies including 1138 cases and 153,642 controls. Eleven loci achieve genome-wide significance and have been further investigated and fine-mapped using functional genomics approaches. Our results pinpoint common sequence variation in liver-enriched genes and liver-specific cis-regulatory elements as contributing mechanisms to ICP susceptibility

Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function CACNA1B Mutations in Progressive Epilepsy-Dyskinesia.

The occurrence of non-epileptic hyperkinetic movements in the context of developmental epileptic encephalopathies is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Identification of causative mutations provides an important insight into common pathogenic mechanisms that cause both seizures and abnormal motor control. We report bi-allelic loss-of-function CACNA1B variants in six children from three unrelated families whose affected members present with a complex and progressive neurological syndrome. All affected individuals presented with epileptic encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental delay (often with regression), and a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Additional neurological features included postnatal microcephaly and hypotonia. Five children died in childhood or adolescence (mean age of death: 9 years), mainly as a result of secondary respiratory complications. CACNA1B encodes the pore-forming subunit of the pre-synaptic neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.2/N-type, crucial for SNARE-mediated neurotransmission, particularly in the early postnatal period. Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CACNA1B are predicted to cause disruption of Ca2+ influx, leading to impaired synaptic neurotransmission. The resultant effect on neuronal function is likely to be important in the development of involuntary movements and epilepsy. Overall, our findings provide further evidence for the key role of Cav2.2 in normal human neurodevelopment.MAK is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship and receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Charity, and Rosetrees Trust. E.M. received funding from the Rosetrees Trust (CD-A53) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. K.G. received funding from Temple Street Foundation. A.M. is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Biomedical Research Centre. F.L.R. and D.G. are funded by Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. K.C. and A.S.J. are funded by NIHR Bioresource for Rare Diseases. The DDD Study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund (grant number HICF-1009-003), a parallel funding partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant number WT098051). We acknowledge support from the UK Department of Health via the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. This research was also supported by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. J.H.C. is in receipt of an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. The research team acknowledges the support of the NIHR through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Department of Health, or Wellcome Trust. E.R.M. acknowledges support from NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of E.R.M. from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. I.E.S. is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Program Grant and Practitioner Fellowship)

Analisi della procedura di assemblaggio della trasmissione principale dell'elicottero NH90: problematiche e possibili soluzioni

Analysis of the assembling procedure of NH90 Helicopter main transmission: problems and possible solutio

Integrating industrial waste heat recovery into sustainable smart energy systems

To achieve the EU climate and energy objectives, a transition towards a future sustainable energy system is needed. The integration of the huge potential for industrial waste heat recovery into smart energy system represents a main opportunity to accomplish these goals. To successfully implement this strategy, all the several stakeholders' con\ufb02icting objectives should be considered. In this paper an evolutionary multi-objective optimization model is developed to perform a sustainability evaluation of an energy system involving an industrial facility as the waste heat source and the neighbourhood as district heating network end users. An Italian case study of heat recovery from a steel casting facility shows how the model allows to properly select the district heating network set of users to fully exploit the available waste energy. Design directions such as the thermal energy storage capacity can be also provided. Moreover, the model enables the analysis of the trade-off between the stakeholders\u2019 different per-spectives, allowing to identify possible win-win solutions for both the industrial sector and the citizenship

Integrating industrial waste heat recovery into future sustainable Smart Energy Systems

In order to achieve the ambitious objectives set by the European Union for the climate and energy goals, a transition towards a future sustainable energy supply is needed. The integration of the huge potential for industrial waste heat recovery into Smart Energy System (SES) represents a main opportunity to accomplish these goals. To successfully implement this strategy, the adoption of a system approach is required, since all the several stakeholders’ conflicting objectives should be considered. To address this challenge, in this paper an evolutionary multi-objective optimization model is developed to perform a sustainability evaluation of a SES involving an industrial facility as the waste heat source and the neighborhood with different characteristics and activities (residential, commercial, and institutional) as potential users by a district heating network, in the typical European city brown field context. The model has been applied to an Italian case study, analysing heat recovery from a steel casting facility to satisfy the heating needs of the southern part of Udine Municipality through the realization of a district heating (DH) network. Different DH layout scenarios have been analysed, to consider the connection of the main current and future city areas and different clients. Energy system modelling has been implemented in MATLAB®, while the genetic multi-objective optimization has been performed by modeFRONTIER®, which allows to mark the Pareto front of solutions and the Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) post processing analysis. Results show that the developed model allows to properly select the DH network set of users and system layout to fully exploit the available waste energy, in particular how involving a large and heterogeneous basin of clients leads to remarkable economic and environmental performances. Design configurations such as the best compromise for thermal energy storage capacity are also provided. Moreover, the multi-objective model enables the analysis of the trade-off between the stakeholders’ different perspectives, allowing to identify possible win-win solutions for both the industrial sector and the citizenshi