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The study of neutron-induced reactions is of high relevance in a wide variety of fields, ranging from stellar nucleosynthesis and fundamental nuclear physics to applications of nuclear technology. In nuclear energy, high accuracy neutron data are needed for the development of Generation IV fast reactors and accelerator driven systems, these last aimed specifically at nuclear waste incineration, as well as for research on innovative fuel cycles. In this context, a high luminosity Neutron Time Of Flight facility, n_TOF, is operating at CERN since more than a decade, with the aim of providing new, high accuracy and high resolution neutron cross-sections. Thanks to the features of the neutron beam, a rich experimental program relevant to nuclear technology has been carried out so far. The program will be further expanded in the near future, thanks in particular to new highflux experimental area, now under construction.

Abstract Bioenergy systems are expected to expand over the coming decades due to their potential to address energy security and environmental pollution challenges. Nevertheless, any renewable energy project can only survive if approved environmentally superior to its conventional counterparts. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally standardized and validated methodology to evaluate and quantify the environmental impacts of bioenergy systems. However, due to its methodological scope, the LCA method measures only the environmental consequences of the target products of energy systems. The LCA approach can neither allocate the environmental impacts at the component level nor measure the environmental impacts of intermediate products. These challenges can be substantially resolved by systematically integrating the LCA approach with the thermodynamically-rooted exergy, offering a powerful environmental sustainability assessment tool known as “exergoenvironmental analysis“. Due to the unique methodological and conceptual characteristics of exergoenvironmental analysis in revealing the possibilities and trends for improvement, it has recently received increasing attention to mitigate the environmental impacts of bioenergy systems. Therefore, this review is aimed to thoroughly summarize and critically discuss the evaluation of sustainability aspects of bioenergy systems based on exergoenvironmental analysis. The pros and cons of using exergoenvironmental analysis in bioenergy research are also outlined to identify possible future directions for the field. Overall, exergoenvironmental analysis can offer more detailed information on the environmental consequences of each flow and component of bioenergy production plants, thereby diagnosing the breakthrough points for additional environmental improvements.

In order to improve the startup flexibility of steam turbines, it becomes relevant to analyze their dynamic thermal behavior. In this work, the relative expansion between rotor and casing was studied during cold-start conditions. This is an important property to monitor during startup given that clearances between rotating and stationary components must be controlled in order to avoid rubbing. The investigation was performed using a turbine thermal simplified model from previous work by the authors. The first step during the investigation was to extend and refine the modeling tool in order to include thermomechanical properties. Then, the range of applicability of the model was validated by a twofold comparison with a higher order finite element (FE) numerical model and measured data of a cold start from an installed turbine. Finally, sensitivity studies were conducted with the aim of identifying the modeling assumptions that have the largest influence in capturing the correct thermal behavior of the turbine. It was found that the assumptions for the bearing oil and intercasing cavity temperatures have a large influence ranging between ±25% from the measured values. In addition, the sensitivity studies also involved increasing the initial temperature of the casing in order to reduce the peak of differential expansion. Improvements of up to 30% were accounted to this measure. The studies performed serve as a base toward further understanding the differential expansion during start and establishing future clearance control strategies during turbine transient operation.

The fabrication of a 11.4% efficient thin film solar cell based on CuInS2 with an Inx(OH,S)y buffer layer is described. The device parameters and performance are compared to heterojunctions with a standard Us buffer layer. A junction breakdown at negative bias under illumination is related to the buffer layer. A simple model implying photoconductive shunting paths is presented.

Abstract The concept of sustainable development is gaining ever more interest in the political discussion. However it is often overlooked that this concept has important repercussions for technological development. This is especially true for process industry as this sector is responsible for most material flows within human society as well as the exchange of material and energy with the environment. Based on an operationalised set of criteria for sustainability and on conventional mass and energy balances, the concept of the sustainable process index (SPI) measures the potential impact (pressure) of processes (or more generally ‘activities') on the ecosphere. The SPI compares mass and energy flows induced by human activities with natural flows [Krotschak C, Narodoslawsky M. The sustainable process index—a new dimension in ecological evaluation. Ecological Engineering 1996;6(4):241]. As natural flows are always linked to area (examples are the growth of biomass, precipitation and, most importantly, solar radiation) the basic unit of the SPI is area. It is the total surface area that is required by any activity that exchanges material with the environment to be “sustainably embedded into the ecosphere (=environment)”. Integrated assessment of processes with the SPI aggregates resources as well as emissions to the three different ecological compartments air, water and soil [Krozer J. Operational indicators for progress towards sustainability (no. EV-5V (T94-0374). EU project final report. Den Haag (The Netherlands), TME, 1996]. The lower the requirement of area for a given activity is, the lesser is the impact of this activity on the environment. The SPI concept allows a quick and reliable evaluation of very diverse processes according to their environmental impact from a sustainable development point of view [Krotscheck C. How to measure sustainability? Comparison of flow based (mass and/or energy) highly aggregated indicators for eco-compatibility. EnvironMetrics, 1997; 8: 661]. It uses data available to a process engineer even at a very early stage in process development and may therefore be used as a tool for optimising processes in the course of their development.

ePLANET project is a Coordination and Support Action cofounded by the European Commission through Horizon 2020 program. ePLANET aims to deploy a new clustering governance for energy transition based on a digital framework to share harmonised information, facilitating the adoption of coordinated energy transition actions by the European public sector. The development of ePLANET is justified to deploy Energy Transition (ET) in the public sector, for which the following challenges are targeted: Improving coordination between local authorities and regional governments, Enhancing the decision-making process in the deployment of ET projects, Providing coherence and consistency to the energy transition measures (ETM) to be implemented, Encouraging the digitalisation of measures and plans, Enabling an interoperable ecosystem of data and tools, Building capacity of local authorities. All these targeted objectives will give the needed support for the energy transition decision-making process and its practical implementation. The present report is part of WP4, User empowerment. WP4 aims to empower policymakers, public officers, new ePLANET governance figures and key stakeholders with the necessary tools to implement Energy Transition Measures (ETM) with enough information and the proper tools.In Task 4.1, we investigated the main barriers and capacity building needs that ePLANET local authorities face when developing energy transition planning and implementation. In Task 4.2, we co-designed the capacity-building strategy and program for each ePLANET pilot territory. The present deliverable offers a comprehensive report on the capacity-building activities implemented in each pilot territory, outlining the engagement strategy and providing a detailed description of each activity. Finally, the last section summarises the key takeaways from the capacity-building program and outlines the next steps.

Abstract Background Personal transportation in urban areas is characterised by different transportation technologies with significantly varying properties regarding usability, infrastructural requirements and environmental impacts. This characterisation motivates the objective evaluation of mobility solutions, based on different criteria. State of the art evaluations in the scientific literature mainly focus on one specific criterion at a time. The most common criteria investigated are found in energy demand or equivalent fuel consumption. Other parameters include the traffic space demand or mean velocity as a reference for the user-related criterion “travel time”. Since different modes of transport show various potentials in different criteria, an interesting point for scientific research is consideration of the different criteria in a more comprehensive evaluation approach. To address this issue, the aim of this study is to present a new approach for an objective evaluation and comparison of different transport technologies under consideration of pre-defined range of criteria and defined boundary conditions and requirements for personal mobility in cities. Besides technical-oriented aspects like driving range, transport capability and life cycle-related consumption of resources, additional factors influencing user-behaviour and traffic density are reflected. The evaluation method is presented, based on a generated exemplary data collection regarding technical and in-use characteristics of different modes of transport, mainly investigated in the city of Graz, Austria. Methods The study focuses on different means of transport, in particular walking, bicycling, the use of powered two-wheelers, passenger cars with different propulsion systems and public transport systems. It is based on the determination of selected criteria, considering ecologic, infrastructural and user-related aspects. With respect to ecologic criteria, the study considers resources and energy consumption as also the resulting CO2 equivalent emissions. The mean velocity and transport capacity are considered in the context of user-related criteria. Traffic space demand is an important and limited resource, especially in urban areas. The present study thus includes the determination and comparison of the relative traffic and parking space demands for the different modes of transport. The evaluation is based on a specifically developed evaluation methodology, considering weighted traffic performance indices, which are also proposed and discussed. Results Within the present study, a database providing specific mobility-related criteria and parameters has been generated, representing technical characteristics and the effects of the use of different vehicles and means of transportation in urban areas. The illustrated results allow an objective evaluation of a broad range of different means of transportation and vehicles, based on introduced “weighted traffic performance indices” (WTPI). Conclusions The study contributes to a discussion of transportation technologies and allows a derivation of measures for further research topics to face future intra-urban mobility demands. This represents a basis for decision making on the priorisation of the most suitable transport systems for urban areas. It is shown that the motorised individual passenger transport as dominated by the use of private passenger cars in particular represents today the most inefficient form of inner-urban mobility.

Abstract In an effort to minimise electricity consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning sector has focused its attention on developing alternative solutions to electrically-driven vapour-compression cooling. Liquid desiccant air-conditioning systems represent an energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly alternative technology for dehumidification and cooling, particularly in those cases with high latent loads to maintain indoor air quality and comfort conditions. This technology is considered particularly efficient in hot and humid climates. As a matter of fact, the choice of the desiccant solution influences the overall performance of the system. The current paper reviews the working principle of liquid desiccant systems, focusing on the thermodynamic properties of the desiccant solutions and describes an evaluation of the reference thermodynamic properties of different desiccant solutions to identify which thermodynamic, physical, transport property influences the liquid desiccant process and to what extent. The comparison of these thermodynamic properties for the commonly used desiccants is conducted to estimate which fluid could perform most favourably in the system. The economic factors and the effect of different applications and climatic conditions on the system performance are also described. The paper is intended to be the first step in the evaluation of alternative desiccant fluids able to overcome the problems related to the use of the common desiccant solutions, such as crystallization and corrosion to metals. Ionic liquids seem a promising alternative working fluid in liquid desiccant air-conditioning systems and their characteristics and cost are discussed.