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The Environmental Displacement Dataset (EnDis) quantifies human movement in response to sudden-onset natural hazards, including floods, storms, wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

The most widely used process for hydrogen production is steam methane reforming. It can be carried out using a membrane reactor in which simultaneous hydrogen production and purification occur. Mathematical modeling of these reactors plays a key role in the selection of the design and operating parameters that yield high performance for the reactor. This review study discusses, synthesizes, and compares different mathematical modeling studies on the packed bed membrane reactors for hydrogen production from methane found in the literature. Different approaches used in these modeling studies for the hydrogen permeation steps, reaction kinetic expressions, phases involved (pseudo-homogeneous and heterogeneous), and spatial dimensions (one, two, and three dimensional) are given.

Climate-controlled changes in eustatic sea level (ESL) are linked to transfers of water between ocean and land, thus offering a rare insight into the past hydrological cycle. In this study, we examine the timing and phase of Milankovitch-scale ESL cycles in the peak Cretaceous greenhouse, the early Turonian (-93-94 million years, Myr, ago). A high-resolution astronomical framework established for the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (central Europe) suggests a -400-kyr pace and a distinct asymmetry of interpreted ESL cycles. The rising limbs of ESL change constitute only 20-30 % of the cycle, and are encased entirely within the falling phase of the 405-kyr eccentricity. The intervening ESL falls (<= 6 m in magnitude) are more protracted, starting within 70 kyr prior to the eccentricity minima and culminating -60 kyr after the 405-kyr eccentricity maxima. Despite similarities to the sawtooth shape of -100-kyr glacioeustatic oscillations of the Late Pleistocene, the time scales and phasing are unparalleled in the Pleistocene icehouse. A similar, 405-kyr pace is found in ice-volume variations of the early Miocene, but the timing of glacioeustatic change relative to eccentricity forcing is incompatible with the phase of greenhouse sea-level oscillations. The phasing points to major differences in the geographic location and insolation sensitivity of the key hydrological reservoirs under icehouse and greenhouse regimes. The inferred structure of greenhouse eustasy points to low- or middle-latitude water storage, likely aquifers, that charge (expand) with rising seasonality variations and discharge (contract) with declining seasonality amplitudes on the 405-kyr scale. The net volume of water transferred on these time scales is within 2.2 x 106 km3, equivalent to <= 10 % of the present-day storage in the uppermost 2 km of continental crust. Potential additive interference with steric eustasy, proportionally relevant during greenhouse regimes, could reduce the volumes required for continental storage.

Abstract In the current transition to a smarter and more efficient transportation system, battery electric vehicle mileage and the time required for charging are still two main constraints that need to be overcome to enable a larger penetration of electric vehicles. Moreover, the few charging stations available are a consequence of the “supply and demand” problem. Consequently, wireless dynamic recharging can be a complementary solution to address the problems of light-duty electric mobility and an added-value towards autonomous vehicles. Consequently, this paper presents an innovative approach based on real world mobility patterns collected for a sample in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, to assess users’ electric vehicle feasibility by assessing different recharging scenarios, comparing stationary and dynamic recharging scenarios. The results indicate that at least 15 % more drivers would be eligible to own an electric vehicle if wireless charging was available. Moreover, wireless charging reduces the range of battery used, with stationary charging requiring circa 3.2 times more battery range. The developed approach confirms that wireless dynamic recharging can significantly change the framework of current electric mobility limitations, reducing range anxiety issues, contributing to redesign electric vehicle battery capacity and overcome barriers in stationary charging deployment and availability.

Growing interest of the European Union to introduce new emission regulations seeking to lower the particle cut-off size down to the current limit set at 23 nm, has made crucial to achieve an extensive comprehension on their nature. In this regard, it is necessary to deepen their knowledge under different engine technologies, operating conditions, fuel properties and after-treatment devices and how their measure is affected by the sampling and dilution procedure. This paper provides a study on the sub-23 nm particles emitted from a small direct/port fuel injection, spark ignition engine fueled with gasoline, ethanol and a 30% v/v ethanol/gasoline blend, at different operating conditions. Particles were measured both upstream and downstream of a three-way catalyst. The conditions of the sampling were changed in order to investigate the volatile organic fraction. For this purpose, the exhaust gas sample was diluted through a Particulate Measurement Programme compliant system. The temperature of the first dilution stage and of evaporation chamber were changed to discriminate the volatile compounds by enhancing the condensation and the nucleation processes. An engine Exhaust Particle Sizer was used for the sizing and the counting of the particles in the range 5.6-560 nm. The results show a strong dependence of the sub-23 nm particle emissions from the engine operating condition and the fuel type. A moderate impact of the three-way catalyst was instead observed. Moreover, a significant effect of the dilution parameters in the sampling system was noted pointing out the importance to define an appropriate protocol for the measurement of the sub-23 nm particles.

Worldwide, the energy consumption of refrigeration systems increased by 50% in the last 20 years. Currently, active refrigeration systems are often used to maintain cold chains in industry. However, there are remarkable drawbacks in the operation of active systems such as susceptibility to blackouts in the power supply and vibrations during their operation. Therefore, to overcome the aforementioned problems, passive cold chain transport using latent thermal energy storage systems arose as a potential solution. However, these systems require long charging times due to the low thermal conductivity of most phase change materials. In that sense, this paper presents a novel design of a cold storage battery with metal foam enhanced phase change material. The peak efflux of energy and solidification time of the battery is correlated as a function of the inlet temperature and mass flow rate of the heat transfer fluid with a root mean square deviation of 11.4%. The solidification time prediction allows determining the geometry which results in the maximum efflux of energy density for a given energy density. Moreover, the cold battery is placed in an insulated container to analyse its performance during transport. Results show that the tested refrigeration battery can act as a standalone refrigeration system during 15 h. However, improvements in the design of the insulated container are suggested to increase the performance of the system along the discharging cycle.

A correlation analysis based on Markowitz Portfolio Theory and data from meteorological station are used to develop a decision-making tool for the optimal spatial installation of renewable energy sources from Wind turbines and PV panels. A case study involving power generation plants and weather stations in the region of Tuscany in Italy is developed. The results show that temporal correlations of solar and wind generation profiles are characterized by correlation and anticorrelation. This feature is used for supporting deci­sion-making on investments in renewable energy at the territorial level.

Task T1.1 - ‘Work plan, Coordination and Document Management’ of ASTEP project is devoted to the project planning, coordination and management. This deliverable summarizes the overall progress of the project during the first reporting period, which covers the project execution from the beginning to month M18. After describing the overall objectives of the project, the deliverable presents the objective of each work package, paying special attention to the main results expected and obtained from them. The progress in WP1, of crosscutting nature, is quantified at 38%. Regarding the design technical work packages, WP2 is finished, while progress in WP3 & WP4 is 90%, and in WP5 is 85%. The work in WP6 and WP7, which focus on the testing and use-cases, respectively, is starting, so the progress is small (2%). Progress of WP8, which started at M6 and finalises at M46, is adequate (10%) despite the termination of participation of VERTECH (responsible partner) and the corresponding amendment. Finally, the progress of WP9, also of crosscutting nature, is 38%. The status of the deliverables is good. Some of them have been merged and/or slightly delayed with the approval of the Project Officer. The deliverable also analyses the project impact up to the moment, paying special attention to the identified Key Exploitable Results (three up to the moment) and the dissemination activities (7 technical contributions and 16 non-technical ones). The performance of the website and social media is also commented upon. Afterwards, the use of resources is presented. Workload in terms of person-month shows, overall, a good agreement with the estimations in the Grant Agreement. This agreement is also found in the use of financial resources related to the personnel costs. Other costs are still low due, on the one side, to the pandemic situation with travel restrictions and, on the other hand, to the fact that activities related to the construction and commissioning of components have not started yet. Finally, the main deviations are commented upon. They include both deviations in activities within the tasks and in the use of resources.

Goal of this deliverable is to document ASTEP’s exploitation plan. It is identified as D9.5 and entitled “Exploitation Plan” and it is the result of activities performed in WP9 and specifically under Task 9.4 “Exploitation Strategy”. The Exploitation Plan explains how the Consortium will communicate the most important outcomes from ASTEP project, not only throughout its duration but also after the end of the project. According to the individual project results expected from each partner, the Consortium has commonly agreed to the following two KERs: KER 1 SUNDIAL SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR KER 2 NEW DESIGN OF PCM INSERTS FOR THERMAL STORAGE APPLICATIONS Analytical descriptions of those two KERs included in Sections 3 and 4 and consist of the Characterization table, Risk Assessment and Priority Map, Exploitation Roadmap and Use Options. This document unfolds the Exploitation Rules of ASTEP project and provides an action plan that includes the Exploitation Plan of the project. During the development of the project and as the research activities progresses and produces tangible results, important questions arise regarding the management of results. These questions are answered by the Exploitation Plan and are the following: What? Definition of exploitable results. Who? Identification of the Partners that will be benefited from each result. How? Exploitation methodology and tools for each result. When? Time schedule and deadlines for each exploitation activity. Moreover, this Deliverable, as it is part of the ASTEP project that has interactions between tasks and Work Packages, will refer also to the general arrangements regarding Intellectual Property Rights. The interaction of the Exploitation Plan with the Dissemination and Communication Plan foreseen in the ASTEP project will be also described. The aim of this Deliverable is to explain in details the strategy that will be followed for the successful exploitation of the project’s results. This Deliverable is a dynamic document, with 6 months periodic updates that are in line with the progress and the emerging results of the project. The final Exploitation Plan is submitted at the end of the project (M48).