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Abstract Breastshot water wheels are gravity hydraulic machines employed in low head sites. The scope of this work is to test the performance of a breastshot water wheel with two geometric inflow configurations: a sluice gate at different openings and two vertical overflow weirs. With the sluice gate, the maximum efficiency of the plant is 75%, constant over a wide range of flow rates, while the efficiency with the weir is increasing in the same flow rate range. Therefore, the wheel with the weir can exploit higher water volumes, and also it performs better at high power input. In practical applications, the inflow configuration can be effectively controlled to optimize the operative working conditions of breastshot water wheels, depending on the external hydraulic ones. The experimental results are also discussed in dimensionless terms, in order to support engineers in the design of similar breastshot water wheels.

The current body of research on the gender-energy nexus has largely concentrated on the effects of energy poverty within households, highlighting the impact on women in domestic settings. Nonetheless, women entrepreneurs involved in various productive activities are also crucial in adopting new energy technologies. This dataset presents raw and processed data obtained from 27 face-to-face interviews conducted across multiple African countries, focusing on micro and small-sized enterprises with at least one female owner. The data can be used to assess energy access among women entrepreneurs in Africa, focusing on the potential for renewable energy adoption. The data collection through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews occurred between February and September 2023. The semi-structured interviews were guided by a predetermined questionnaire featuring predominantly open-ended questions designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The main areas of data collection presented in this dataset span socio-economic factors related to the enterprise and entrepreneur, energy access characteristics including appliances, processes, and energy supply, and the potential for adopting renewable energy technologies, highlighting current barriers to and drivers for future energy access implementation. Key components of the dataset include the following: Socio-economic factors: Enterprise location, ISIC division and industry sector classification, main production goods, gender-based ownership structures, enterprise formality (based on registration), year of establishment or business start, enterprise size (number of employees), profit margins, and business challenges related to the owner's gender. Energy access characteristics: Type of energy carriers used, subapplication, grid blackout or fuel shortage, energy consumption levels, type, number and power rating of appliances used, temperature requirements, and energy expenditure. Potential for renewable energy adoption: Type and amount of process waste, perceived barriers and drivers for renewable energy adoption, willingness to invest in new technologies, and preferred financing methods for these new technologies. The dataset is valuable for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners aiming to understand the energy access landscape for women entrepreneurs in Africa. It provides a foundation for developing targeted interventions that promote gender equity in energy access and foster the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Researchers can use the data to perform analyses of the socio-economic and technical factors influencing energy use in micro- and small-sized enterprises. Policymakers can leverage the insights to design gender-sensitive energy policies and support mechanisms that address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs. Practitioners can develop innovative business models and financing solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities identified in the dataset.

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical and experimental investigation about the modelling of a 1:45 scale prototype Wave Energy Converter (WEC). An analytical model is implemented to describe its behaviour in a wave tank. The aim is to provide a contribution to modelling tools used for WEC characterisation and design. Hydrodynamic characterisation software is avoided in favour of a simpler and more versatile design tool destined to a wider range of users. Therefore, an alternative approach is presented, based on mechanical analogies and the use of Matlab/Simulink/SimMechanics environment. This analytical model was constructed using linear wave theory, coupled with a non-linear model for the device and its power take-off system (PTO). Assumptions on incident waves and geometric properties of the device were required and implemented on the basis of literature of naval architecture, ships stabilization and control issues. Simulation results were compared and validated with those obtained in the same range of experimental tests of the prototype in wave tank. Trends and values of both investigation techniques show a good agreement, indicating the validity of the methodology adopted and leaving space for future improvements of the same. Finally, as example of application, the model was applied in a show case in order to estimate the energy yield by the WEC if scaled to real size, using Froude scaling. Results are encouraging and show the viability of the proposed design.

The decentralization of the production sector crisis following industries in the suburbs have generated a multitude of empty containers in the medium-large Italian cities, which are abandoned, unsafe, and often dangerous for the community. From this arises the need to recover them and transform them into something else. This is not always possible or interesting for the subjects involved in the transformation. When the abandoned space is (even if only partially) polluted, then any hypothesis of transformation is stopped due to the high impact of decontamination costs, which greatly compromise the profitability of the investment. This paper deals with this issue focusing on a complex case study involving the abandoned area and the buildings of a former paint mill in the center of a typical city in the Turin metropolitan area. The suggested hypothesis is to act only on building components and external areas without any ground modification because of its contamination. Moreover, the new planned use (energy production from renewable sources to supply part of the public administration’s needs) does not foresee neither a stable presence of people nor a further consumption of land. The technical analysis of community energy needs and the subsequent economic and financial study lead to a financial sustainability over a period of about 25 years.

This work presents a project of hi-tech and supergreen ‘nZEB casale’ in Italy. The ‘nZEB casale’ is located in Matera, in the south of Italy. The project concerns the renovation of a medieval ‘casale’, a group of rural houses for residential use. The shape of the new nZEB is in the style of old light-colored buildings, compact and with projections and shielding elements to reduce the summer thermal loads. The use of local and certified materials for the construction of buildings has resulted in a low environmental impact of buildings and an excellent winter and summer energy performance reaching the best energy class A4. Finally, this work presents an environmental protocol to be applied to nZEBs in order to take into account the other benefits of these constructions, as well as the energy benefits.

The study of future energy scenarios with high shares of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) requires an accurate representation of VRES variability and storage capacity. However, long-term optimal expansion models, which are typically used to prescribe the evolution of energy systems, make use of coarse time series to limit computational effort. This weakness can entail an incorrect sizing of VRES plants and storage facilities. In this work, a novel method is proposed to mitigate the current limitations and enable accurate long-term planning of high-VRES decarbonisation pathways. Clustering methods are applied to time series, preserving the possibility of having inter-day and intra-day energy storage. To this end, the temporal framework of an open-source energy system model, OSeMOSYS, is modified to allow the implementation of interconnected, clustered representative days. Traditional and novel approaches are compared and benchmarked for a reference case study, i.e., a remote island. The results show that time series clustering can significantly improve the evaluation of the overall system cost, leading to a relative error of −5% (novel approach) instead of −35% (traditional approach) when 24 representative days are considered. Similarly, the new approach improves the sizing of VRES and storage facilities. The new technique is found to require three orders of magnitude less computation time than the traditional technique to achieve a comparable level of accuracy.

This paper deals with the dynamic of blades with strip dampers. The purpose is 1) to present the results of the dynamic numerical calculation, 2) to demonstrate the need for the experimental data on the blade-strip contact to be used as input to the calculation, 3) to propose a new test rig design to obtain them and 4) to test the key components of the new test rig. The forced responses of two blades coupled by a strip damper are calculated at different excitation and centrifugal force values. The dependence of the numerical results on the contact parameter values is confirmed in this significant reference case. The design of a new test rig is then proposed: both the blade frequency response function and the contact hysteresis cycles at the blade-strip contact are measured. It is shown how contact parameters can then be derived from experimental data. The main novelty of the test rig here proposed is the strip loading system, which simulates the uniform pressure distribution provided by the centrifugal force in real operating conditions. This loading system is non-contact and uses compressed air. Classical loading systems which see dead weights directly connected to the strip are assessed and their expected inadequacy is confirmed. The compressed air system is tested by measuring the pressure produced between strip and blades: pressure is uniform across the contact patch, constant in time and its mean value corresponds to realistic pressure values actually experienced by strip dampers during service.

The development of new methods for the correct disposal of waste is unavoidable for any city that aims to become eco-friendly. Waste management is no exception. In the modern era, the treatment and disposal of infectious waste should be seen as an opportunity to generate renewable energy, resource efficiency, and, above all, to improve the population’s quality of life. Northern Italy currently produces 66,600 tons/year of infectious waste, mostly treated through incineration plants. This research aims to explore a more ecological and sustainable solution, thereby contributing one more step toward achieving better cities for all. Particularly, this paper presents a conceptual design of the main sterilization chamber for infectious waste. The methodology selected was Design Thinking (DT), since it has a user-centered approach which allows for co-design and the inclusion of the target population. This study demonstrates to the possibility of obtaining feasible results based on the user’s needs through the application of DT as a framework for engineering design.