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AbstractThe potential impacts of future climate scenarios on water balance and flow regime are presented and discussed for a temporary river system in southern Italy. Different climate projections for the future (2030–2059) and the recent conditions (1980–2009) were investigated. A hydrological model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) was used to simulate water balance at the basin scale and streamflow in a number of river sections under various climate change scenarios, based on different combinations of global and regional models (global circulation models and regional climate models). The impact on water balance components was quantified at the basin and subbasin levels as deviation from the baseline (1980–2009), and the flow regime alteration under changing climate was estimated using a number of hydrological indicators. An increase in mean temperature for all months between 0.5–2.4 °C and a reduction in precipitation (by 4–7%) was predicted for the future. As a consequence, a decline of blue water (7–18%) and total water yield (11–28%) was estimated. Although the river type classification remains unvaried, the flow regime distinctly moves towards drier conditions and the divergence from the current status increases in future scenarios, especially for those reaches classified as I‐D (ie, intermittent‐dry) and E (ephemeral). Hydrological indicators showed a decrease in both high flow and low flow magnitudes for various time durations, an extension of the dry season and an exacerbation of extreme low flow conditions. A reduction of snowfall in the mountainous part of the basin and an increase in potential evapotranspiration was also estimated (4–4.4%). Finally, the paper analyses the implications of the climate change for river ecosystems and for River Basin Management Planning. The defined quantitative estimates of water balance alteration could support the identification of priorities that should be addressed in upcoming years to set water‐saving actions.

Abstract A Gas–Solid Vortex Reactor (GSVR), in literature also referred to as Rotating Fluidized Bed in Static Geometry (RFB-SG), is a promising reactor type for Process Intensification (PI) with respect to reactor volume reduction. Although replacing gravitational by centrifugal force has been considered since the seventies, the hydrodynamics of the reactor flow and the bed behavior remain largely unknown. In the present work experiments have been carried out in a cold flow GSVR with diameter of 0.54 m, length of 0.1 m and 36 inlet slots of 2 mm. Gas injection velocities of 55–111 m/s and particles with densities of 950–1800 kg/m 3 and diameters of 1–2 mm have been applied. Depending on solids density, particle diameter and gas injection velocity the bed behavior can be considered as stable, semi-stable or unstable. For semi-stable and stable flow regimes the effect of the above process conditions on the maximum solids capacity was investigated. With increasing solids density, the bed stability considerably decreases, while the maximum solids capacity increases. By increasing the gas injection velocity, both the bed stability and the maximum solids capacity increase. Once bed stability is accomplished, a further increase of the gas injection velocity does not affect the maximum solids capacity. With increasing particle diameter, the bed stability decreases while the maximum solids capacity increases.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The introduction of new light-duty vehicle emission limits to comply under real driving conditions (RDE) is pushing the diesel engine manufacturers to identify and improve the technologies and strategies for further emission reduction. The latest technology advancements on the after-treatment systems have permitted to achieve very low emission conformity factors over the RDE, and therefore, the biggest challenge of the diesel engine development is maintaining its competitiveness in the trade-off “CO₂-system cost” in comparison to other propulsion systems. In this regard, diesel engines can continue to play an important role, in the short-medium term, to enable cost-effective compliance of CO₂-fleet emission targets, either in conventional or hybrid propulsion systems configuration. This is especially true for large-size cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In this framework, a comprehensive approach covering the whole powertrain is of primary importance in order to simultaneously meet the performance, efficiency, noise and emission targets, and therefore, further development of the combustion system design and injection system represent important levers for additional improvements. For this purpose, a dedicated 0.5 dm³ single-cylinder engine has been developed and equipped with, a state-of-the-art Euro 6 combustion system, and an advanced common rail fuel injection system (FIS) offering higher flexibility in terms of injection strategy and higher quantity accuracy. Three injector nozzles with different hydraulic flow rates (HF) have been selected and employed for the overall combustion process optimization.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The optimization has been performed by means of an extensive DoE-based test campaign in which the engine and FIS operating parameters have been parametrized with the aim to carry out a proper combination in terms of HF and injection strategy. The results at partial load conditions evidence significant advantages in applying an advanced injection pattern, while the HF reduction can significantly improve the smoke emission and combustion noise without fuel consumption penalties. Therefore, a proper combination and optimization of the HF and injection strategy can provide low noise and engine-out smoke while maintaining the rated power performance targets.</div></div>

The aim of the paper is to study the influence of the power transformer on signal transmission in the case of a power line communication (PLC) system in a overhead Medium Voltage (MV) power network. A model of the PLC system was carried out by means of the Simulink® software. A distributed parameter MV overhead line, two power transformers, the signal coupling interface of a ST7540 FSK powerline transceiver were included in the model. The performances of the complete PLC communication system are evaluated for different line lengths by means of the attenuation computed as ratio between the received and transmitted voltage signals. © 2011 IEEE.

Abstract Thermal energy storage (TES) will improve the efficiency and output of solar power plants. TES based on thermochemical cycles is an interesting option as thermochemical cycles can provide high energy storage densities and allow longer heat storage time. The use of multivalent solid oxide reduction–oxidation (REDOX) reactions for thermochemical heat storage is a promising option. Several concepts are feasible for coupling solar energy to the redox reaction. Among those a directly irradiated rotary kiln is one of the most interesting because it is able to provide high mass flow rates and high amounts of active material. A solar-heated rotary kiln was set-up and operated in the solar furnace of DLR for thermal reduction and oxidation of cobalt oxide. The redox material was fed into the reactor batch wise and reduced on-sun at temperatures of about 900 °C and re-oxidized off-sun in the same rotary kiln. Both steps were carried out in an air atmosphere. Thirty cycles were performed with one batch showing no evident degradation of the material. The results confirm that the rotary kiln is a feasible reactor set-up for the solar reduction of metal oxides and, hence, for thermochemical energy storage.

Artículos en revistas Numerical models of transmission-constrained electricity markets are used to inform regulatory decisions. How robust are their results? Three research groups used the same data set for the northwest Europe power market as input for their models. Under competitive conditions, the results coincide, but in the Cournot case, the predicted prices differed significantly. The Cournot equilibria are highly sensitive to assumptions about market design (whether timing of generation and transmission decisions is sequential or integrated) and expectations of generators regarding how their decisions affect transmission prices and fringe generation. These sensitivities are qualitatively similar to those predicted by a simple two-node model. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Abstract Both steady-state AC and DC power flow models are commonly used for techno-economic studies of power systems. The DC-based approach limits the computational burden by assuming small-angle approximation, ignoring power losses, reactive power flows, and voltage variations. It, therefore, matters to understand if this approach affects system vulnerability, reliability, and contingency assessments. To this aim, we use the time-sequential Monte Carlo simulation and an N-k′-1 scenario for reliability and contingency analyses, respectively. Further, we introduce a new index for vulnerability assessment. The IEEE reliability test system (RTS) and the modified RTS are modeled. The results show that the DC model underestimates the reliability indices by about 20% and more than 90% in a stressed network. We also show a small error of 5%, owing to the assumptions of the DC model, which can lead to inaccurate simulations concerning the cascading failures. Finally, the sources of the inaccuracy in the DC-based model are investigated. The results prove that AC power flow model should be privileged for the line capacity-based assessments.