Simulation of copper-water nanofluid in a microchannel in slip flow regime using the lattice Boltzmann method with heat flux boundary condition

Laminar forced convection heat transfer of water–Cu nanofluids in a microchannel is studied using the double population Thermal Lattice Boltzmann method (TLBM). The entering flow is at a lower temperature compared to the microchannel walls. The middle section of the microchannel is heated with a constant and uniform heat flux, simulated by means of the counter slip thermal energy boundary condition. Simulations are performed for nanoparticle volume fractions equal to 0.00%, 0.02% and 0.04% and slip coefficient equal to 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1. Reynolds number is equal to 1, 10 and 50.The model predictions are found to be in good agreement with earlier studies. Streamlines, isotherms, longitudinal variations of Nusselt number and slip velocity as well as velocity and temperature profiles for different cross sections are presented. The results indicate that LBM can be used to simulate forced convection for the nanofluid micro flows. They show that the microchannel performs better heat transfers at higher values of the Reynolds number. For all values of the Reynolds considered in this study, the average Nusselt number increases slightly as the solid volume fraction increases and the slip coefficient increases. The rate of this increase is more significant at higher values of the Reynolds number

Coesione Territoriale in ESPON

Il documento presenta il concetto 'Coesione territoriale' attraverso il suo uso nei progetti di ricerca applicata finanziati nell'ambito del Programma ESPON 2013: ARTS, DEMIFER, ESPON Climate, TIPTAP, TERCO, TIGE

Greening Tourism: Reimagining the Tourism Sector in Ireland

Tourism is a leading and ever-growing economic sector outpacing the global economy with a 4% increase each year, according to the UNWTO Tourism Barometer 20191. Europe is the destination of choice for 51% of the world market with its rich cultural heritage and favourable socio-political environment. The objective is to analyse the current situation of national and regional lockdowns, and the resulting slowdown in tourism activities, related to COVID-19, provides an opportunity to rethink overall development strategies for Ireland with particular reference to the tourism sector which has been a central asset in terms of employment and contribution to national GDP over the last decade. As was the case during the last recession, tourism has a key role in play in Ireland’s national economic recovery, discussing both the Irish National Tourism Development Authority (Fáilte Ireland) and the main industry organisation, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), launched strategies in 2016 and 2018 respectively

Tourism and Cultural Heritage for regional development Synergetic relations between Cultural Heritage (CH) and Tourism as driver for territorial development.

IntroductionThe relationship between Cultural Heritage (CH) and tourism in spatial development can be observed from several points of view. The first, linked to a vision of tourism as an industry, starts from the consideration of CH as an asset, and concerns the attractiveness of the territories as having interesting assets for tourism development. The second is linked to a more integrated vision and uses the category of cultural tourism, which assumes CH as a relational asset par excellence. The objective is to discuss how applying the New European Agenda for Culture 2018 (replacing the previous version from 2007) that provides a strategic framework for EU action in the cultural sector, while the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage (2018) establishes a set of 4 principles of action for European Cultural Heritage: - Holistic approach, which considers CH as a resource for the future and puts people at its centre; - Mainstreaming and an integrated approach between different EU policies; - Development of evidence-based policies, including through cultural statistics; - Multi-stakeholder cooperation, encouraging dialogue and exchange between a wide range of actors in the design and implementation of cultural heritage policies and programmes

Air bio-contamination control in hospital environment by UV-C rays and HEPA filters in HVAC systems

The contamination of air-handling units is a widespread phenomenon in buildings with air-conditioning systems, including hospitals. The germicide capacity of UV-C rays is known and, in the air-conditioning apparatuses, the UV-C lamps are generally located inside the air ducts. Aim of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of UV-C lamps when they are differently placed, i.e. in a position to directly irradiate the HEPA filters surface. We built ad hoc experimental air-conditioning systems, with HEPA filters and UV-C lamps in the two described positions. The results obtained demonstrate that, for disinfection purpose, the direct irradiation of the HEPA filters by UV-C provides better results than irradiation of the air stream and the effectiveness increases when lowering the relative humidity of the air. The survival curves of the tested microorganisms (fungi) show typical tail shaped curves (two steps survival curves). Additional tests using both HEPA filters alone, and HEPA filters plus UV lamps, have been performed measuring the air pressure drop between entrance and exit the HEPA filters and collecting air samples in order to obtain total microbial and fungal count. The results obtained suggest that, at least in experimental conditions described, the radiation on filter surface reduces significantly the microbial load and the pressure drop through the filter, compared to a situation of not-irradiated HEPA filters

Territorial Approach to Energy Development Policies: Italian Regions in Transition

Approccio territoriale nelle politiche di sviluppo energetico: le regioni italiane in transizione. Lo sviluppo energetico è stato definito come il tentativo di fornire fonti di energia primaria e secondaria sufficienti a soddisfare le esigenze della società: esso comporta sia il pieno sviluppo delle tecnologie energetiche già disponibili sia la ricerca, lo sviluppo e il potenziamento di nuove tecnologie. La transizione energetica, in questo contesto, implica il coinvolgimento e il cambiamento complesso e non lineare (retroattivo) di tutte le dimensioni reciprocamente interdipendenti coinvolte in tale sviluppo: istituzionale, finanziaria, territoriale e tecnologica più la governance e il comportamento dei consumatori. Questo processo darà origine a nuovi cluster tecnologici, nuove organizzazioni socio-economiche, nuovi comportamenti e preferenze: la società adotterà nel complesso un nuovo paradigma socio-tecnico. Sia le aree rilevanti per lo sviluppo energetico che il policy making nel contesto europeo sono differenziati in termini regionali. Infatti, le decisioni politiche dell’Unione che vengono adottate e tradotte in scelte strategiche nazionali vengono «trasposte» e adattate alle diverse realtà regionali per produrre propri specifici modelli di sviluppo energetico. In questo quadro, il contributo analizza la situazione delle regioni italiane rispetto al loro ruolo nello sviluppo energetico attraverso l’analisi di 5 aree – lo sviluppo delle fonti rinnovabili, il risparmio e l’efficienza energetica, la riduzione delle emissioni inquinanti, la promozione di attività di ricerca applicata, l’innovazione e il trasferimento tecnologico per sistemi efficienti dal punto di vista energetico – mostrando il loro posizionamento rispetto alle politiche di sviluppo energetico in termini di sviluppo delle fonti di energia rinnovabile (FER) e di potenziale di specializzazione regionale.Energy development has been defined as an attempt to provide sufficient primary and secondary energy sources to meet society’s needs: it involves the full development of already available energy technologies and research, and the development and enhancement of new technologies. Energy transition, in this context, implies the involvement and complex and nonlinear (retroactive) change of all mutually interdependent dimensions involved in such development: institutional, financial, territorial and technological, plus governance and consumer behaviour. This process will give rise to new technological clusters, new socio-economic organizations and new behaviours and preferences: society will adopt an altogether new sociotechnical paradigm. The areas relevant to energy development and policy-making in the European context are differentiated in regional terms. In fact, Union policy decisions that are adopted and translated into national strategic choices are «transposed» and adapted to different regional realities in order to produce specific energy development patterns. In this framework, this paper analyses the situation of the regions of Italy with respect to their role in energy development through the analysis of five areas – developing renewable sources, promoting energy saving and efficiency, reducing pollutant emissions, promoting applied research activities, and transferring innovation and technology for energy-efficient systems – all showing their positioning with respect to energy development policies in terms of Renewable Energy Systems (RES) development and regional specialization potential.L’approche territoriale dans les politiques de développement énergétique : les régions italiennes en transition Le développement énergétique a été défini comme une tentative de fournir suffisamment de sources d’énergie primaire et secondaire pour répondre aux besoins de la société : il implique à la fois le développement complet des technologies énergétiques déjà disponibles et la recherche, le développement et l’amélioration de nouvelles technologies. La transition énergétique, dans ce contexte, implique la mobilisation et le changement complexe et non linéaire (rétroactif) de toutes les dimensions mutuellement interdépendantes qui concourent à ce développement : institutionnelles, financières, territoriales et technologiques, plus la gouvernance et le comportement des consommateurs. Ce processus donnera naissance à de nouveaux clusters technologiques, de nouvelles organisations socio-économiques, de nouveaux comportements et préférences : la société adoptera globalement un nouveau paradigme socio-technique. Les deux domaines pertinents pour le développement énergétique et l’élaboration des politiques dans le contexte européen sont différenciés en termes régionaux. En effet, les décisions politiques de l’Union qui sont adoptées et traduites en choix stratégiques nationaux sont « transposées » et adaptées aux différentes réalités régionales pour produire leurs propres modèles spécifiques de développement énergétique. Dans ce cadre, la contribution analyse la situation des régions italiennes en ce qui concerne leur rôle dans le développement énergétique à travers l’analyse de 5 domaines – le développement des sources d’énergie renouvelables, les économies d’énergie et l’efficacité énergétique, la réduction des émissions polluantes, la promotion des activités de recherche appliquée, l’innovation et le transfert de technologie pour les systèmes efficaces en énergie – montrant leur position par rapport aux politiques de développement énergétique en termes de développement des systèmes d’énergie renouvelable (SER) et de potentiel de spécialisation régionale

Greening Tourism

The event started with a general introduction of the ESPON programme, its goals and tools for stakeholders by Michaela Gensheimer (Senior Project Expert - ESPON EGTC), focusing on the Peer Learning workshop as selected choice for promoting a wider practical use of ESPON research outputs and knowledge transfer. The opening session was moderated by Maria Prezioso (University of Rome Tor Vergata and ECP Italy) who gave a few introductory words highlighting the role of the sustainable approach for the recovery of the tourism sector. Out of the 186 registrations, an average of 80 participants from 21 member states attended the event. The largest proportions of attendees were from Ireland, Italy, and Belgium. The people registered belonged to three groups: professionals (36,5%), public servants (35%) or academics (28,5%). Overall, the event has proven to be successful with a high level of satisfaction

Magneto-optical characterization of MnxGe1-x alloys obtained by ion implantation

Magneto-optical Kerr effect hysteresis loops at various wavelengths in the visible/near-infrared range have been used to characterize the magnetic properties of alloys obtained by implanting Mn ions at fixed energy in a Ge matrix. The details of the hysteresis loops reveal the presence of multiple magnetic contributions. They may be attributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of the magnetic atoms and, in particular, to the known coexistence of diluted Mn in the Ge matrix and metallic Mn-rich nanoparticles embedded in it [Phys. Rev. B 73, 195207(2006)].Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures. Proceeding of the International Conference on Magnetism. Kyoto, August 20-25 200