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Dolomite-based binders are characterised by interesting technical and environmental features. For their synthesis, sources of both CaO and MgO are required. The idea developed in this work is to couple the synthesis of dolomite-based binders, starting from a natural dolomite, through the concept of concentrated solar energy (needed to drive the endothermal dolomite calcination process) in fluidised bed reactors. To this end, a fluidised bed system, where the concentrated solar radiation is mimicked by the use of Xe-lamps (short-arc), has been set up and operated. Natural dolomite (sieved in the 420-590 ?m size range) was calcined at a nominal temperature of 850 °C, and bed temperature profiles during solar-driven calcination were investigated. Then, four binders were prepared by mixing slaked dolomite (obtained from the hydration of solar calcined dolomite) with either blast furnace slag or coal fly ash as supplementary cementitious materials. The binders were hydrated for curing times ranging from 7 to 56 days. X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and combined differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses were employed as characterisation techniques both to analyse the chemical composition of starting materials and to investigate the evolution of the hydration in the four systems.

In recent years, the portable technology is receiving a great interest and significant improvement due to the progresses in electronic technology development and energy storage solutions. The decrease in power requirements for working energy systems, due to the increased efficiency and to the reduction in components size, opens the access to new solutions for power supplying. In particular, alternative backup systems for battery charging or replacement could be designed taking advantage of unconventional technologies. It is the case of small photovoltaic portable panels or fuel cells technology: in these solutions different sources are used to produce limited electrical powers required to keep devices on. In this paper, a thermoelectric solution for the power generation has been considered: the generator has been designed and assembled starting from a catalytic combustor. Catalytic combustion allows safe control of the processes, and the choice of a hydrocarbon fuel ensures the power availability and a fast recharge. The size of the system is set to fit a volume close to the one of AA batteries. The electrical power output obtained is close to 1 W with a cold side temperature below 40 °C. The limited values of these physical parameters allow obtaining a portable and safe device. The generator has been fully characterized in different ranges of fuel flow rates and the performances have been thoroughly analysed for processes optimization and efficiency improvement.

(Abstract) This paper proposes a new power line communication (PLC) architecture for monitoring and remote control of Distributed Generators (DG) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) connected to low voltage distribution networks. The final aim is to improve the performance of the PLC link in terms of robustness and efficiency in devices addressing. The proposed solution is based on a concentrator, to be installed in secondary substation, and a new PLC bridge, to be linked both to inverters and interface protection systems of DGs or ESSs. In this way, a communication link is obtained between distribution system operator (DSO) and DG or ESS owners. The proposed system is able to provide advanced functions for the remote control of DGs and ESSs inverters, not only in terms of remote disconnection but also in terms of adjusting the inverter operating modes.

<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>

Technologies for direct injection of fuel in compression ignition engines are in continuous development. One of the most investigated components of this system is the injector; in particular, main attention is given to the nozzle characteristics as hole diameter, number, internal shape, and opening angle. The reduction of nozzle hole diameter seems the simplest way to increase the average fuel velocity and to promote the atomization process. On the other hand, the number of holes must increase to keep the desired mass flow rate. On this basis, a new logic has been applied for the development of the next generation of injectors. The tendency to increase the nozzle number and to reduce the diameter has led to the replacement of the nozzle with a circular plate that moves vertically. The plate motion allows to obtain an annulus area for the delivery of the fuel on 360 degrees; while the plate lift permits to vary the atomization level of the spray. The experimental activities have been performed on a single-cylinder metal engine in order to evaluate the new injector concept functionality in typical engine working conditions. Then a deeper investigation of injector the characteristics has been performed in an optical single-cylinder diesel engine via high speed digital imaging in order to catch information on its operation. The results have shown a good response of the injector fuel delivery control but penalties in terms of emissions and efficiency compared to multihole nozzles. Images of the injection process showed that the fuel assumed an asymmetric shape at the exit of the injector affecting the mixing quality and, then, the combustion efficiency.

The aim of the joint activity between CNR ITAE and University of Malta, funded in the framework of a bilateral agreement is the preliminary study of the possible application of thermally-activated technologies for the refrigeration of fish on-board of fishing vessels, with particular attention to the Mediterranean area. In such a context, the two partners, given their expertise in the adsorption and absorption cooling technologies, dedicated the first year of the joint project on several activities needed to define possible integration solutions on-board. The following report is then organized as follows: - Section 3 reports an analysis of the state-of-the-art concerning existing refrigeration systems currently employed in the fishing vessels' application as well as innovative activities recently performed on the possible integration of thermally-driven technologies for the refrigeration. - Section 4 focuses on the definition of possible integration between the waste heat recovered from the engines of the fishing vessel and the sorption technology for refrigeration. This analysis takes into account different possible applications, in terms of refrigeration temperatures as well as capacities. Furthermore, different possible waste heat streams at different temperature levels are investigated. - Section 5 identifies the typical working boundary conditions under which the fishing vessel operates, in terms of cooling demand, also considering different climatic zones (i.e. different geographical areas in which the vessel operates) and vessels' typology. - Section 6 investigates possible working pairs, both for adsorption and absorption technologies, which are promising for the given boundary conditions in Section 5. This activity is needed to set the operational limits that each technology and working pair cannot overcome. - Section 7 reports the calculations performed for each working pair and operating conditions, both taking into account thermodynamic constraints as well as analysing literature results on different prototypes realized and tested. - Section 8 introduces a dynamic model, implemented in TRNSYS environment, of an absorption refrigerator, which was validated and will be used in the following activities to investigate the defined schematics in Section 4. - Section 9 defines the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used in the following activities to compare the achievable results of the different configurations.

This paper investigates the energy distribution and the waste heat energy characteristics of a compression ignition engine for micro-cogeneration applications, at different engine speeds and loads. The experimental activity was carried out on a three-cylinder, 1028 cc, common-rail engine. Tests were performed with diesel fuel and a 20% v/v biodiesel blend (B20). The quantity and the quality of the waste heat energy were studied through energy and exergy analyses, respectively. Combustion characteristics were investigated by means of indicating data. Gaseous emissions were measured and particles were characterized in terms of number and size at exhaust. It was found out that the addition of 20% v/v of RME to diesel fuel does not affect significantly the brake fuel conversion efficiency and the energetic flows. On the other hand, biodiesel blend allows to reduce the combustion noise and the pollutants emissions in most of the operating conditions. A proper phasing of the injection strategy for the biodiesel blend could further reduce the exhaust emissions, mainly at high engine speeds. The results presented in this paper could be useful for the development of diesel engine based micro-cogeneration systems working at different engine speeds and loads.

Present work investigates both experimentally and numerically the benefits deriving from the use of split injections in increasing the engine power output and reducing the tendency to knock of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine. The here considered system is characterized by an optical access to the combustion chamber. Imaging in the UV-visible range is carried out by means of a high spatial and temporal resolution camera through an endoscopic system and a transparent window placed in the piston head. This last is modified to allow the view of the whole combustion chamber almost until the cylinder walls, to include the so-called eng-gas zones of the mixture, where undesired self-ignition may occur under some circumstances. Optical data are correlated to in-cylinder pressure oscillations on a cycle resolved basis. The numerical investigation is performed through a properly developed 3D CFD model of the engine under study, which employs a flamelet model for the combustion initiated by the spark plug, and a low-temperature self-ignition model in the zones not yet reached by the flame front. The difference in the engine behavior if powered under single or double injection strategies and their influence about knocking are discussed. Split injection reduces engine cycle-by-cycle variability with respect to the single injection case, all the others relevant parameters remaining unchanged. Benefits are also obtained as regards the resistance to knocking. This is a consequence of the different flow fields arising under the two powering modes, which obviously affect the formation of chemical intermediate species in the low temperature regimes preceding self-ignition.