Franco Gugliermetti

Optimum design of vertical rectangular fin arrays

Abstract The goal of this analysis has been the search for the optimal configuration for a finned plate (with rectangular and vertical fins) to be cooled in natural convection. Utilizing a simplified relation of the fins heat exchange some simple expressions for the determination of the optimum value of the fins spacing have been developed as a function of the parameters which feature in the configuration: dimensions, thermal conductivity, fins absorption coefficient and fluid thermo-physical properties.

Climate models for the assessment of office buildings energy performance

Abstract In the last few years many advanced computer packages, characterised by a considerable integration between thermal and visual aspects, were developed to support designers and to study building energy performance, innovative materials and daylight control strategies and systems. These packages, as a function of their complexity and final use, require different types of outdoor data, ranging from monthly (MTD) or seasonal typical days (STD) to more complex typical meteorological years (TMY). Both the deterministic and the stochastic components of outdoor data are present in TMYs, while MTDs and STDs take into account only the deterministic component. The use of MTDs or STDs produces a sensible reduction of the calculation time, above all appreciable in the first phase of the building design process, although it introduces an element of uncertainty in simulation results due to the absence of the stochastic component of outdoor data. This uncertainty is not easily predictable, as reported by many authors. The aim of the present work is to investigate the influence of the stochastic component of meteorological data in evaluating office building energy performance in Mediterranean climate. The study is performed by an advanced numerical computer package, Integrated ENergy Use Simulation (IENUS), which can process different types of climatic data. Different typologies, systems and space managements are investigated.

Hazardous and Noxious Substances (hns) Risk Assessment Along the Italian Coastline

Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Risk Assessment along the Italian Coastline Davide Astiaso Garcia*, Fabrizio Cumo, Franco Gugliermetti, Flavio Rosa DIAEE (Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering) Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana, 18 00184 Rome, Italy CITERA (Interdisciplinary Centre for Housing, Heritage and Environment), Sapienza University of Rome, Via Antonio Gramsci 53, 00197 Rome, Italy davide.astiasogarcia@uniroma1.it

Meteorological days for HVAC system design in Mediterranean climate

Abstract In this paper several real days belonging to a Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) are proposed as design days for HVAC systems in summer conditions. A parameter, the equivalent temperature, that is a different combination of related values of hourly solar radiation, wet and dry bulb temperature, is defined. Real days with maximum values of these parameters are selected as Design Meteorological Days (DMDs) to evaluate summer cooling load. Results are analysed in terms of energetic performances of the system to identify the most suitable DMDs to be used in the design process. The DMD selection is based on the criterion of reducing HVAC part-load working periods and on the risk level to alter indoor design conditions. The approach uses the computer package Integrated ENergy Use Simulation (IENUS), specifically developed for the Mediterranean climate, to characterise both energetic and environmental aspects. Simulations are referred to a non-residential building designed on the base of an energy saving criteria. Typical Meteorological Years are used both as meteorological data inputs as far as data base to select DMDs.

The use of environmental sensitivity indices (ESI) maps for the evaluation of oil spill risk in Mediterranean coastlines and coastal waters

This paper presents a project devoted to identifying the environmental, historical and morphologically most sensitive and vulnerable priorities of the coastlines, with a view to providing decision-makers with sensitivity index maps for the planning of preventive actions and emergency responses in the event of an unforeseen outflow of hydrocarbons. The sensitivity index maps give information established by environmental sensitivity indices (ESI), represented in the maps with different lines and colours. Due to the considerable diversity in ecosystems and morphology in the Mediterranean and on account of the unique importance of the archaeological, historic and landscape sites along the Italian coastline, the decision was taken to extrapolate the ESI values on the basis of the matrices elaborated by Cinquepalmi et al (Prevention of hydrocarbons sea pollution: Sensitivity Index Maps for the Venice Lagoon as integral component of oil-spill contingency planning and response. Environmental Coastal Regions. WIT Transaction of Ecology and the Environmental volume 25. WIT Press, 1998) in a previous study with a similar aim on the Lagoon of Venice. With respect to the previous study a more simple core set of ESI was obtained from new matrices created in order to be used in the Mediterranean ecosystems: natural coastline, water stretches and artificial features. The resultant indices identify a single number that expresses all the qualitative and quantitative traits of the Italian coastline, both for land and seascapes, in clear maps of simple use. Environmental Sensitivity Maps offer a useful contribution to the prevention of pollution from oil spills and for combating the consequences of a possible accident along Mediterranean coastlines. They also constitute the most complete database, useful both for risk response and for an Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

Identification and prioritization of areas with high environmental risk in Mediterranean coastal areas: A flexible approach

Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity are the cornerstone for the future management of coastal ecosystems with many vulnerability and hazard indexes developed for this purpose, especially in the engineering literature, but with limited studies that considered ecological implications within a risk assessment. Similarly, the concept of prioritization of sites has been widely examined in biodiversity conservation studies, but only recently as an instrument for territory management. Considering coastal plant diversity at the species and community levels, and their vulnerability to three main potential hazards threatening coastal areas (oil spills, Hazardous and Noxious Substances pollution, fragmentation of natural habitats), the objective of this paper is to define an easy-to-use approach to locate and prioritize the areas more susceptible to those stressors, in order to have a practical instrument for risk management in the ordinary and extra-ordinary management of the coastline. The procedure has been applied at pilot areas in four Mediterranean countries (Italy, France, Lebanon and Tunisia). This approach can provide policy planners, decision makers and local communities an easy-to-use instrument able to facilitate the implementation of the ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) process in their territory.

Outdoor work and solar radiation exposure: Evaluation method for epidemiological studies

BACKGROUND The health risk related to an excessive exposure to solar radiation (SR) is well known. The Sun represents the main exposure source for all the frequency bands of optical radiation, that is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum ranging between 100 nm and 1 mm, including infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV) and visible radiation. According to recent studies, outdoor workers have a relevant exposure to SR but few studies available in scientific literature have attempted to retrace a detailed history of individual exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS We propose a new method for the evaluation of SR cumulative exposure both during work and leisure time, integrating subjective and objective data. The former is collected by means of an interviewer administrated questionnaire. The latter is available through the Internet databases for many geographical regions and through individual exposure measurements. The data is integrated into a mathematical algorithm, in order to obtain an esteem of the individual total amount of SR the subjects have been exposed to during their lives. RESULTS The questionnaire has been tested for 58 voluntary subjects. Environmental exposure data through online databases has been collected for 3 different places in Italy in 2012. Individual exposure by electronic UV dosimeter has been measured in 6 fishermen. A mathematical algorithm integrating subjective and objective data has been elaborated. CONCLUSIONS The method proposed may be used in epidemiological studies to evaluate specific correlations with biological effects of SR and to weigh the role of the personal and environmental factors that may increase or reduce SR exposure. Med Pr 2016;67(5):577-587.

Evaluation of historical museum interior lighting system using fully immersive virtual luminous environment

Saint Rocco Museum, a historical building in Venice, Italy is used as a case study to explore the performance of its’ lighting system and visible light impact on viewing the large size art works. The transition from threedimensional architectural rendering to the three-dimensional virtual luminance mapping and visualization within a virtual environment is described as an integrated optical method for its application toward preservation of the cultural heritage of the space. Lighting simulation programs represent color as RGB triplets in a devicedependent color space such as ITU-R BT709. Prerequisite for this is a 3D-model which can be created within this computer aided virtual environment. The onsite measured surface luminance, chromaticity and spectral data were used as input to an established real-time indirect illumination and a physically based algorithms to produce the best approximation for RGB to be used as an input to generate the image of the objects. Conversion of RGB to and from spectra has been a major undertaking in order to match the infinite number of spectra to create the same colors that were defined by RGB in the program. The ability to simulate light intensity, candle power and spectral power distributions provide opportunity to examine the impact of color inter-reflections on historical paintings. VR offers an effective technique to quantify the visible light impact on human visual performance under precisely controlled representation of light spectrum that could be experienced in 3D format in a virtual environment as well as historical visual archives. The system can easily be expanded to include other measurements and stimuli.

PROPOSED CRITERIA TO SELECT BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES (BATS) FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE

An oil spill is the accidental or intentional release of petroleum products into the environment as a result of human activities such as drilling, manufacturing, storing, transporting, waste management. Such event is not unusual and is regrettably widespread all over the world. Even if oil spills are actually just a small percent of the total world oil pollution problem, they represent the most visible form of it. In a previous work a survey has been carried out on Best Available Techniques (BATs) currently used both for oil spill prevention and oil spill response. A first attempt was performed in order to suggest criteria for BAT selection. The aim of this paper is to improve those criteria and to arrange them in a more structured way. The criteria have been weighted according to AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method, a well-known approach for prioritizing and ranking alternatives.

Lighting distribution affects pedestrians' sense of security

The greatest obstacle to a pedestrians Sense of Security (SoS) is lack of lighting. This research analyzes lighting characteristics which affect a pedestrians SoS, including how lighting distribution changes perception, to design lighting for night-time walking that maximizes the SoS without increasing energy consumption.