Evaluation methodology for energy efficiency measures in industry and service sector

Directive 2012/27/EU, transposed in Italy with Decree of 4 July 2014 No102, a common framework of measures for the promotion of energy efficiency in European Union, is an innovative tool for improvement of energy efficiency and also necessary to undertake main objective of European Union (save 20% of primary energy consumption by 2020). Large enterprises and energy-intensive firms, except those having an energy management system (EnMS) according to ISO 50001 or compliant with EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme or ISO 14001 fall under obligations and must be carry out energy audits every 4 years starting by December 2015 having "SMART" requirements: be Specific, Measurable, Accessible, Realistic, Time related. The analysis on a sample of Italian companies, mainly of small and medium enterprises (SME) in industry and the service sector, was conducted. Energy audit was carried out to identify Energy Company Profile, rationalize energy consumption to increase energy efficiency, assessing potential for energy savings and reducing of environmental impact. For any business context a series of energy efficiency measures has been proposed, selecting high profitability energy saving options by applying a priority criterion. Technical and economic indicators were reported on best practices focusing on tertiary sector and also industry. The study, starting from the feasibility assessments, aims to establish a possible correlation between energy performance indicators (EnPIs) and a limited number of parameters of the energy systems, in terms of production, operation and power consumption. Comparative assessment of energy-saving measures provides an useful method for assessing applicability of standard energy-saving measures in similar contexts and cost-effectiveness of solutions, as a function of a limited number of parameters

Mobile Platform of SRF Production and Electricity and Heat Generation

Abstract The technological frontier is ripe for action on the cycle of municipal waste at local level through the optimization of existing treatment processes, adapting to European Union directives. The study concerns the analysis of the waste cycle in order to rationalize the current paths of the waste by adapting to EU directives, with a view of the entire supply chain - from the delivery to the energy production (WtE, Waste to Energy) – with a intermediate stage of SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) production. The DIMA has developed an innovative platform for MSW treatment (unsorted and not), based on newly developed technologies that enables its weight and volume reduction and the transformation in SRF high quality, by achieving consistent chemical-physical and particle size parameters through the innovative technology of mechanochemical micronization. This standardized fuel product is therefore suitable for energy recovery within the platform using the most advanced gasification process. The study aims at developing a mobile demonstration plant of 100-200 kWe for energy recovery from waste in cogeneration by conversion of MSW into SRF through a system of characterization, treatment and recycling based on a highly innovative mechanochemical refining system. The SRF is enhanced through more advanced gasification process and it can used for the production of electricity and thermal energy. The production, the gasification and the syngas combustion take place in modular units arranged in appropriate mobile units (containers) appropriately configured, to fully meet the objectives of a sustainable policy management and security of waste. b Unit 1 (waste treater - SRF producer) is developed to operate the transformation of industrial waste in SRF for subsequent gasification inside unit 2 (Boiler Gasifier). It carries out a pre-treatment and mechanochemical micronization waste treatment. The SRF is reduced into pellets to be introduced into the 2 (boiler gasifier) to its gasification (syngas production). The pellet (auxiliary unit 4, pellettizer) is gasified in the unit 2 and enriched in order to obtain synmethan gas for producing electricity in the cogeneration unit 3 (energies production)

Photovoltaics Noise Barrier: Acoustic and Energetic Study

AbstractIn the light of global warming, renewables such as solar photovoltaics (PV) are important to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. An important issue regarding implementation of solar panels on large scale, is the limited available area. Therefore, it can be interesting to combine PV with alternative applications, as a ways of not requiring “additional” space. One example is a photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB), where a noise barrier located along a highway or railway is used as substructure for PV modules. Even though PVNB is not a novel concept, in this paper it is studied the best shape of the barrier to optimize the acoustic and energy properties

Energy Enhancement of Solid Recovered Fuel within Systems of Conventional Thermal Power Generation

Abstract The main objective of this article is to verify the feasibility, in terms of technical and economical issues, of a new refuse-derived fuel SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) to be used as a new fuel in a thermal power station or in an incineration plants. By means of the innovative micronization technology it is possible to produce SRF suitable for the technical specifications of the plants which, taking into account appropriate modifications, could be reconverted and not decommissioned. The present energy supply scenario shows a partial contraction of the activities of power plant thermal generation despite an increase of the power demand and despite one of the highest energy cost in Europe. It is likely to surmise a gradual stall of such activities and finally the decommissioning due to the fact that plants will turn out to be not economically productive. On the other hand, it is now necessary to promote adequate policies for sustainable waste management. An opportunity in this sense is represented by the smart usage (made possible through innovative manufacturing processes) of the SRF as an energy source. The tests conducted on the innovative chemical-mechanical micronization technology showed an average energetic cost of 30 kWh/ton, and an average production cost of 15 €/ton for the 0.5 mm size. Combustion tests showed a good environmental and combustion performance. In this article, the refuse-derived fuel (which is governed according to the Decrees of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea) has been obtained through an innovative technology of chemical-mechanical micronization. We have also proceeded to verify the functional feasibility of the fuel production in order to feed incinerators and power plants in partial or total substitution of the conventional fuels (coal, fuel oil)

Cubic Curves, Finite Geometry and Cryptography

Some geometry on non-singular cubic curves, mainly over finite fields, is surveyed. Such a curve has 9,3,1 or 0 points of inflexion, and cubic curves are classified accordingly. The group structure and the possible numbers of rational points are also surveyed. A possible strengthening of the security of elliptic curve cryptography is proposed using a `shared secret' related to the group law. Cubic curves are also used in a new way to construct sets of points having various combinatorial and geometric properties that are of particular interest in finite Desarguesian planes.Comment: This is a version of our article to appear in Acta Applicandae Mathematicae. In this version, we have corrected a sentence in the third paragraph. The final publication is available at springerlink.com at http://www.springerlink.com/content/xh85647871215644

Measurement and simulation of reflector antenna

Well-established procedures are consolidated to determine the associated measurement uncertainty for a given antenna and measurements scenario [1-2]. Similar criteria for establishing uncertainties in numerical modelling of the same antenna are still to be established. In this paper, we investigate the achievable agreement between antenna measurement and simulation when external error sources are minimized. The test object, is a reflector fed by a wideband dual ridge horn (SR40-A and SH4000). The highly stable reference antenna has been selected to minimize uncertainty related to finite manufacturing and material parameter accuracy. Two frequencies, 10.7GHz and 18GHz have been selected for detailed investigation

Role of microRNAs in the main molecular pathways of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignant neoplasia. HCC is characterized by a poor prognosis. The need to find new molecular markers for its diagnosis and prognosis has led to a progressive increase in the number of scientific studies on this topic. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA that play a role in almost all main cellular pathways. miRNAs are involved in the regulation of expression of the major tumor-related genes in carcinogenesis, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this review was to identify papers published in 2017 investigating the role of miRNAs in HCC tumorigenesis. miRNAs were classified according to their role in the main molecular pathways involved in HCC tumorigenesis: (1) mTOR; (2) Wnt; (3) JAK/STAT; (4) apoptosis; and (5) MAPK. The role of miRNAs in prognosis/response prediction was taken into consideration. Bearing in mind that the analysis of miRNAs in serum and other body fluids would be crucial for clinical management, the role of circulating miRNAs in HCC patients was also investigated. The most represented miRNA-regulated pathway in HCC is mTOR, but apoptosis, Wnt, JAK/STAT or MAPK pathways are also influenced by miRNA expression levels. These miRNAs could thus be used in clinical practice as diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic targets for HCC treatment

BRAF exon 15 mutations in papillary carcinoma and adjacent thyroid parenchyma: A search for the early molecular events associated with tumor development

BRAF exon 15 mutations are the most common molecular alterations found in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). To date, there is no information regarding BRAF alterations in the thyroid parenchyma surrounding the tumor. To explore the early events associated with the development of PTC, we used massively parallel sequencing to investigate BRAF exon 15 in 30 PTCs and in 100 samples from the thyroid parenchyma surrounding the tumor. BRAF p.V600E was identified in 19/30 PTCs (63.3%). BRAF p.V600E mutations were identified in the tissue adjacent the PTC only in samples containing psammoma bodies. The other samples were either BRAF wild type (WT) or carried BRAF non p.V600E mutations. Specifically, BRAF p.G593D,-p.A598T,-p.V600M,-p.R603Q,-p.S607F, and-p.S607P were identified in 4 of 36 (11.1%) samples with follicular cell atypia, in 2 of 16 (12.5%) with follicular cell hyperplasia, and in 1 of 33 (3.0%) histologically normal samples\u2014only in tissue surrounding BRAF p.V600E mutated PTCs. These mutations are predicted to affect protein function in silico but, in vitro, have kinase activity and BRAF phosphorylation levels similar to BRAF WT. No BRAF exon 15 mutations were identified in samples adjacent to PTCs that were BRAF WT. A mutagenic process affecting BRAF exon 15 occurs in a subset of thyroid glands that develop BRAF p.V600E mutated PTCs