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A catchment and its relative coastal zone are both influenced by climate change, particularly by specific factors as precipitation, temperature and wind. In the Mediterranean predicted changes are expected to be superimposed over long-term alterations caused by both natural and anthropogenic pressures (IPCC, 2001). Therefore, climate modification will have an impact on the Po catchment and the Northern Adriatic Coastal system, affecting water resources, ecosystems, agriculture and food security, human settlements, financial services and human health. Climate pressure has the potential to exacerbate already existing problems (i.e. eutrophication, heavy metal pollution, subsidence). The connections between Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), already studied and analysed in the EUROCAT project, have been re-analysed and the tools (models) used for the Po catchment study have been modified in relation to the climate change. In particular, this research activity aims to estimate the nutrient flux changes (using the MONERIS model) in the Po basin under possible climate change impacts. These preliminary studies have been done in order to understand and quantify direct and indirect relationships between climate change and estimated nutrient fluxes taking into consideration the specific pathways of the MONERIS model

This work numerically analyzes an innovative process layout considering a torrefaction processes followed by chemical looping combustion of biomass waste, solar hydrogen, and carbon methanation. System performances were evaluated by considering several agro-industrial residues (i.e., sugar beet pulp from sugar production, grape marc from winemaking and olive pits from olive oil production) as fuels, CuO supported on zirconia as oxygen carrier, and Ni supported on alumina as methanation catalyst. The torrefaction pre-treatment was proposed for upgrading the properties, namely heating values, moisture content as well as hydrophobicity, and storability, of the selected biomasses. To this aim, experimental runs were performed at 300 °C and 30 min in a lab-scale fixed bed reactor under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen. The study was complemented with an extensive investigation on fuel properties (i.e., ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, calorific values determination) of both the untreated and the torrefied samples, which provides useful input data for modelling their conversion processes. By considering that only electric energy from renewable sources is used, the capability of the proposed process to be used as an energy storage system was eventually assessed.

A new concept of a system for Combined Heat and Power generation is presented. The concept is based on hybrid use of two renewable energy sources, direct solar (thermodynamic solar) and biomass (indirect solar energy). Biomass combustion is conducted using a fluidized bed combustor. A second source of energy, given by the direct irradiation of the bed with a concentrated solar radiation, is integrated in the same system, using the fluidized bed as solar receiver. A Stirling engine converts heat into mechanical power. A Scheffler type mirror is adopted to allow irradiation of the system in a fixed focal point. Advantages of the proposed solution are illustrated and some preliminary results on the performance of the system, obtained with a simple model, are presented. The principal improvements with respect to existing systems of similar size and primary energy source are illustrated. The most important are the enhanced heat transfer processes that are realized with the help of the fluidized bed, and the possibility of continuous cogeneration during the day. Different working conditions are considered to estimate the contribution given by the burning of fuel, in presence as well as in absence of sun irradiation (as during the night). The distribution of energy shares among the different flux contributes is reported versus the amount of biomass burned per unit time. The results clearly demonstrate the advantage of coupling, in the same system, two sources for heat generation, thus maintaining the option of producing electricity without the supply of biomass fuel.

In this paper a review of some improvements is proposed for trawlers propulsion systems. Basically, fishing activity is characterized by two different operative conditions: sailing and trawling. The technical solutions herein proposed can be adopted in new or in existing vessels. The propulsion system efficiency is mainly influenced by propeller and main engine efficiency. Engine and propeller must be coordinated through the reduction gear in such a way that optimum conditions are reached both for sailing and trawling phases. Typically, a free fixed pitch propeller is used for propulsion system in Italian fishing vessels. For a given propeller thrust and operating condition, a two-speed reduction gear box can be adopted to perform each fishing phase without overloading the main engine and saving fuel. Bollard pull tests demonstrated that using a ducted propeller, thrust is increased up to 25%, if compared with a conventional propeller with same diameter and pitch. Main engine efficiency can be improved using a new hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. In the propulsion system herein proposed, the overall power required by the vessel can be subdivided in multiple power units, each one obtained coupling a diesel engine with a permanent magnet brushless electric generator, while the propeller is coupled with an electric motor. Through an electronic management system, it is possible to maintain power units at different operating points and guarantee the minimum overall fuel consumption. Tests demonstrated a fuel saving up to 15%. One characteristic of this abovementioned improvements is that they could be applied contemporary in the same fishing vessel, adding each benefit in propulsion system efficiency.

FECUNDUS was a research project that focused on the co-gasification of coal, biomass and selected wastes with integrated CO2 capture and syngas cleaning. The project consortium included height beneficiaries from Italy, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and Austria. Seven work-packages were foreseen dealing with management, dissemination, tailoring gasification schemes for integration with CO2 separation, development of materials for gas cleaning, char upgrading, and CO2 separation. Upon project completion, all tasks were executed and all deliverables produced. Experimental campaigns at different scales proved that both schemes, i.e. entrained flow and fluidized bed, envisaged for co-gasification are feasible under certain conditions. They are effective in order to produce a syngas to be processed for pre-combustion CO2 capture with the studied techniques. Full scale campaigns of co-gasification were successfully carried out. An economic assessment of gasification coupled with CO2 separation was executed on the basis of performances obtained from the experimental tasks. Other innovative outcomes include the development and test of new materials for the process, the integration of gasification with carbon separation for the FB option and the study the flexibility with respect to different feedstock.

This book provides an outlook on recent investigated combinations of membrane operations and renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) in the field of water desalination (seawater and brackish water), wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. The combination of a renewable energy facility with a membrane process not only solves the sanitation problem of isolated regions, but also enables a more cleaner wastewater treatment system in view of carbon emission and resource recovery. Regarding biomass, the integration of membrane reactors in the production processes of green fuels in the logic of the process intensification strategy is also considered.

Emergency building, devoted to give rapid and effective housing solutions to catastrophic and unexpected events, relies on the basic principles of construction rapidity and reversibility as well as the use of alternative energy sources. The growing need for environmental impact reduction in the building sector represents for temporary housing - especially under emergency conditions - a priority requisite, since, after given time lapses, areas occupied with emergency settlements will have to be recovered to their original use. In this case, the buildings' service life does not correspond to the life cycle of their materials and components; as a consequence, design activities will have to assure the dismantability and reusability of structures for further service cycles, making the whole process reversible: from construction to 'zero waste' de-construction. This paper aims at defining design criteria for low-impact emergency dwellings, assessing at the same time their applicability to corrugated steel pipes, obtained by assembling galvanized curved sheets - commonly used for underpasses and conduits - for which different use possibilities have been investigated. In this view, the research program has led to the definition of modular dwelling solutions. Then, technical feasibility studies have been carried out in collaboration with the industrial sector, taking advantage of consolidated production lines for innovative use purposes. Along the different research stages, a methodology has been defined for the assessment of the fundamental sustainability criteria through different simulation procedures; among these, the evaluation of the life-cycle environmental impacts with SimaPRO software and the 3D modelling for the maximization of the construction/environment integration - also in relation to the use of PV modules - have produced interesting results.

Biogas is an attractive renewable energy source, which could give an important contribution to drive the global energy system to a sustainable scenario [1]. Because of the main problems related to the direct use of biogas, a promising alternative consists in the production of syngas by reforming processes, i.e. Dry Reforming (DR), Steam Reforming (SR) and Oxy-Steam Reforming (OSR) [2]. Based on the composition of the syngas, it can be used for the synthesis of chemicals, with special reference to Gas-to-Liquids technologies [3]. In this study, the catalytic activity of Me/CeO2-based structured cordierite monoliths (Me=Rh, Pt, Ni) was preliminary probed in the SR of biogas (CH4/CO2=1.5), varying temperature (700-900°C) at fixed S/C (3) and weight space velocity (WSV=72,000 Nml gcat-1 h-1). Structured catalysts were lined by combining the Solution Combustion Synthesis with the Impregnation Technique [4] and characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM, TEM, TPR and CO-Chemisorption. Tab. 1 summarizes the results obtained at 900°C, highlighting the highest performance of the Rh-CeO2-MO system, with a methane conversion of ca. 99.8% and negligible CH4 content in the product mixture. Then, the addition of oxygen (O/C=0.5) was evaluated on the same system in the OSR of biogas at 900°C in order to have a syngas composition (CO:CO2=1:1; H2/(CO+CO2)=1.3) suitable for Fischer-Tropsch conversion (Tab. 1).

Historically, water resources have allowed the development of urban settlements and water forms and availability - such as surface water or underground water (springs, rivers and streams, aquifers, lakes), have influenced the urban environment either in connection to danger and risk connected to the proximity of the water body, either for the functional and aesthetic value. The educational project Daylighting Rivers -co-funded by the European Union in 2017 (Project number 2017-1-IT02- KA201-036968), takes its cue from such theme to develop a teaching methodology that aims to facilitate STEM learning and at the same time to raise teachers' and students' awareness on the importance and vulnerability of water bodies, especially in a urban context. The project was implemented in Italy, Spain and Greece, countries with similar environmental characteristics and urban sprawl processes that have been emphasizing water issues especially in time of climate change. Over the first two years, the project involved three pilot secondary schools that tested an innovative, multidisciplinary and participatory teaching methodology, based on a model of Inquiry Based Learning. From the pedagogical point of view, the methodology fosters the students' centrality and curiosity for investigating the local river in own town or province. Twenty learning units were developed on specific topics connected to macro-themes that can be implemented in different school disciplines. The promotion of innovative digital tools such as Location Based Games have also allowed students to approach and work with georeferenced information, but also combine technical-scientific aspects and language to historical-humanistic-artistic aspects and storytelling. Students could also reflect on a variety of aspects related to rivers in town such as social, ecological, cultural and economic well-being aspects.

Plant water status is a major factor influencing burning potential of vegetation and a low-cost method to assess the water status can provide an index for fire potential. It can also reduce costs associated with travel to remote locations and can improve fire forecast models. Under severe water stress, plant stomata close and reduce the actual evapotranspiration rate (ETa) relative to the potential evapotranspiration rate (ETp). A fire potential index (I=1 - ETa/ETp) is a measure of vegetation burning potential. When there is no ET reducing water stress, I=0 and it increases as the ETa rate decreases relative to ETp. The difficulty in the application of a fire index is the cost and complexity to measure or estimate ETa and ETp. From solar radiation (Rs) measurements and site specific calibration, it is possible to estimate net radiation (Rn) and soil heat flux density (G). If a good estimate of sensible heat flux density is available, then latent heat flux density (LE) can be calculated as the residual of the energy balance equation (LE=Rn - G - H). The surface renewal (SR) method for estimating sensible heat flux from canopies provides a simple, portable, robust, and low-cost method to measure sensible heat flux density (H). High frequency temperature data are collected with fine-wire thermocouples. The data are analyzed with a structure function to identify average ramp characteristics (i.e., amplitude and duration) of the temperature traces during a sampling period. Then the amplitude and duration are used in a conservation of energy equation to estimate H. This method has been used over a wide variety of crops and natural vegetation with good results. Recently, the method was tested over grass in a wildfire-prone mixed oak-grassland region of the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills in California. In this paper, the methodology to measure H with the SR method and the results of the fire index calculations will be reported.