Marco Noro | Università degli Studi di Padova (original) (raw)
Papers by Marco Noro
E3S web of conferences, 2024
Since the first COVID outbreak in 2020, schools have been considered a substantial issue with reg... more Since the first COVID outbreak in 2020, schools have been considered a substantial issue with regard to the spread of the disease, as they represent indoor environments that are continuously occupied most of the time. Several studies have underscored the crucial role of mechanical ventilation systems in the fight against any pandemic caused by airborne pathogens. AiCARR, through its associated companies, donated a mechanical ventilation system to a public school in Rho, Milan province (IT). The primary objective of the installation was to enhance safety by diluting indoor contaminants, improving indoor air quality, and ensuring thermal comfort. During the course of the project, the focus included advancing energy efficiency and reducing operational and maintenance costs. This article presents the first year operational data recorded by the monitoring system that include outdoor and indoor air temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration and unit electric consumption.
It is well-known that the use of the latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with the meltin... more It is well-known that the use of the latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with the melting process of a suitable Phase Change Material (PCM) can be considered an effective way to improve energy storage capabilities in many applications. Among PCMs, paraffin waxes show some desirable features. Unfortunately, they have also two main limitations, a low thermal conductivity and a high volume change during the melting process, that limit their potential applications as PCMs. This work investigates the use of different aluminum porous materials, either stochastic or periodic, as heat transfer medium to mitigate and/or eliminate the two main drawbacks of the paraffin waxes and to improve their overall heat transfer capabilities. In particular, the effects of six open-cell aluminum foams and of a 3-D periodic aluminum structure were experimentally investigated during the phase change process with melting temperatures of 40 °C in a hybrid water thermal storage unit.
Supermarkets are the largest energy users in the commercial sector in many countries. They are al... more Supermarkets are the largest energy users in the commercial sector in many countries. They are also responsible of a large amount of both direct and indirect CO2 emissions. Nowadays advanced supermarket systems can reduce both annual energy consumption and total equivalent warming impact. One of these advanced solutions is the water-loop self-contained refrigeration system with modulating compressors (WLSC). The most critical aspect (from the energy efficiency perspective) of a WLSC plant is that two refrigeration cycles (in the cabinet and in the water-loop chiller) might be required during the hottest period of the year. In this paper a WLSC plant is experimentally studied, evaluating above all energy performance and cost in different outside conditions: the main conclusion is that the chiller should be activated only when the external temperature is extremely high. In all the other periods, the dry-cooler utilization should be preferred. Evaporative cooling is also considered with the purpose of further reducing the water-loop temperature.
Proceedings of the 25th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Montréal , Canada, August 24-30, 2019., Aug 24, 2019
The retrofitting of an existing gymnasium building located in Northern Italy is simulated by TRNS... more The retrofitting of an existing gymnasium building located in Northern Italy is simulated by TRNSYS-17 environment. The retrofitting allows to reduce heating and cooling needs of the building, as to convert it to a nearly zero energy building (nZEB). It is equipped with a solar thermal and ground source absorption heat pump system, operating with the ground as source/sink. Besides the direct use for domestic hot water and for heating, solar thermal energy is used as heat source for the heat pump, or as regeneration of ground when the system operates for summer air conditioning. In this case, condensation heat from the absorption chiller can be usefully directed to post-heating coils of the air handling units, or to regenerate the ground as well. The system simulation allows to size the plant and to evaluate its performance in terms of solar ratio and primary energy ratio.
Fuel cells are energy generating devices that allow an optimal use of natural gas (hydrogen in th... more Fuel cells are energy generating devices that allow an optimal use of natural gas (hydrogen in the long term) for the satisfaction of the thermal and electrical demands of various users; the electrochemical conversion of the fuel is almost without polluting emissions and acoustic impact. On the other hand, ejection heat pumps demand low temperature heat and slight mechanical energy, therefore, it can be convenient their employment in small size and recovery heat fed systems. The paper reports on the performances of an integrated fuel cells-ejection heat pump system, varying the operating conditions (generator, condensation and evaporation temperatures) and the type of refrigerant, with particular regard with low or null ODP fluids. Energetic analysis is carried out on the base of a simulation model of the integrated system, both for a residential and for an hotel load (the latter is particularly adapted because of the contemporary demand of heat and cooling energy for this type of users). First results show the possibility to realize high efficiency systems, with local emissions extremely reduced and acoustic impact nearly absent.
Proceedings of the 25th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Montréal , Canada, August 24-30, 2019., Aug 24, 2019
A large fraction (more than 80%) of the solar radiation impinging a PV panel is lost. A Photovolt... more A large fraction (more than 80%) of the solar radiation impinging a PV panel is lost. A Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T or PVT) module allows not only to partially recover the otherwise lost heat, but also to cool the PV and increase its electrical efficiency. A retrofitted building located in Northern Italy will be equipped by a PVT dual source heat pump, operating with the ground as source/sink, whereas the PVT drives the heat pump compressor and acts as a dual source. When the heat pump does not need heat or operates for summer air conditioning the ground is the heat sink both for the heat pump and for the PVT cooling. A dynamic simulation allowed to size the plant, revealing high values of heat pump coefficient of performance for the favorable thermal levels of the heat source, and better thermal levels of the ground source that receives heat from the PVT panels when it is not required by the heat pump.Very high efficiency and low primary energy consumption are demonstrated for the whole plant, thanks the high energy independency from the grid.
Solar Energy, Sep 1, 2018
A large fraction of cooling demand depends on solar radiation intensity, therefore a strong atten... more A large fraction of cooling demand depends on solar radiation intensity, therefore a strong attention was directed toward solar cooling immediately after the 1973 energy crisis. Whereas pilot solar cooling plants were built up and experimented, this technology never really took off. A recent survey reported something more than 1000 plants operating, a very modest number with respect the great potential of solar cooling. A review of technologies as they developed in the past, operate in the present with a forecasting for the future is here proposed to follow how the technology evolved during almost half a century regarding the solar section and the relative refrigeration equipment. The analysis allows to take stock of the situation selecting solar sections, cooling machines and their coupling which seem nowadays more suitable for wide application in the near future. A study is proposed at the end to put together some energy evaluations in different climates and much more difficult economical evaluations to investigate whether a possible fossil fuel parity cost can be attained, if not today, in a near future. • the cost of the solar section in cooling plants is rapidly reducing to
The latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with melting of a suitable Phase Change Material... more The latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with melting of a suitable Phase Change Material (PCM) can be an effective way to improve Thermal Energy Storage (TES) behaviour in many applications. However the most suitable PCMs to be used in HVAC systems find intrinsic limitations due to poor heat transfer capability. This work investigates the use of Aluminum foams as heat transfer medium to improve the overall heat transfer of paraffin waxes that can be possible PCMs to be implemented in hybrid sensible-latent water TESs. The design of a new experimental testing rig is here presented together with some preliminary simulation results obtained during the phase change process of paraffin waxes with melting temperatures around 45 °C, with and without metal foams, in a water thermal storage unit. The simulation results are presented in terms of loading and unloading times of the PCM with and without Al-foam so as to assess the effects of the porous medium on the overall heat transfer performance.
International journal of scientific research, 2015
By 31st December 2020 only "nearly zero-energy" buildings shall be built. They are high... more By 31st December 2020 only "nearly zero-energy" buildings shall be built. They are high energy performance buildings, where most energy is supplied by renewable sources (2010/31 EU Directive). New and energy retrofitted buildings usually demand more cooling than heating. Free cooling techniques can be usefully used in such buildings, varying the outside air flow by the air handling unit from the minimum (ventilation air flow) to the whole inlet air flow. The paper reports on the energy and economic analysis of free cooling with direct and indirect evaporative cooling. The possible savings using such techniques with respect to traditional sensible heat recovery are evaluated in different European typical climates and different type of buildings. The analysis is based on hourly meteorological data (Typical Meteorological Year) taking into account also extra energy consumption for fans and pumps.
E3S web of conferences, 2024
Since the first COVID outbreak in 2020, schools have been considered a substantial issue with reg... more Since the first COVID outbreak in 2020, schools have been considered a substantial issue with regard to the spread of the disease, as they represent indoor environments that are continuously occupied most of the time. Several studies have underscored the crucial role of mechanical ventilation systems in the fight against any pandemic caused by airborne pathogens. AiCARR, through its associated companies, donated a mechanical ventilation system to a public school in Rho, Milan province (IT). The primary objective of the installation was to enhance safety by diluting indoor contaminants, improving indoor air quality, and ensuring thermal comfort. During the course of the project, the focus included advancing energy efficiency and reducing operational and maintenance costs. This article presents the first year operational data recorded by the monitoring system that include outdoor and indoor air temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration and unit electric consumption.
It is well-known that the use of the latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with the meltin... more It is well-known that the use of the latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with the melting process of a suitable Phase Change Material (PCM) can be considered an effective way to improve energy storage capabilities in many applications. Among PCMs, paraffin waxes show some desirable features. Unfortunately, they have also two main limitations, a low thermal conductivity and a high volume change during the melting process, that limit their potential applications as PCMs. This work investigates the use of different aluminum porous materials, either stochastic or periodic, as heat transfer medium to mitigate and/or eliminate the two main drawbacks of the paraffin waxes and to improve their overall heat transfer capabilities. In particular, the effects of six open-cell aluminum foams and of a 3-D periodic aluminum structure were experimentally investigated during the phase change process with melting temperatures of 40 °C in a hybrid water thermal storage unit.
Supermarkets are the largest energy users in the commercial sector in many countries. They are al... more Supermarkets are the largest energy users in the commercial sector in many countries. They are also responsible of a large amount of both direct and indirect CO2 emissions. Nowadays advanced supermarket systems can reduce both annual energy consumption and total equivalent warming impact. One of these advanced solutions is the water-loop self-contained refrigeration system with modulating compressors (WLSC). The most critical aspect (from the energy efficiency perspective) of a WLSC plant is that two refrigeration cycles (in the cabinet and in the water-loop chiller) might be required during the hottest period of the year. In this paper a WLSC plant is experimentally studied, evaluating above all energy performance and cost in different outside conditions: the main conclusion is that the chiller should be activated only when the external temperature is extremely high. In all the other periods, the dry-cooler utilization should be preferred. Evaporative cooling is also considered with the purpose of further reducing the water-loop temperature.
Proceedings of the 25th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Montréal , Canada, August 24-30, 2019., Aug 24, 2019
The retrofitting of an existing gymnasium building located in Northern Italy is simulated by TRNS... more The retrofitting of an existing gymnasium building located in Northern Italy is simulated by TRNSYS-17 environment. The retrofitting allows to reduce heating and cooling needs of the building, as to convert it to a nearly zero energy building (nZEB). It is equipped with a solar thermal and ground source absorption heat pump system, operating with the ground as source/sink. Besides the direct use for domestic hot water and for heating, solar thermal energy is used as heat source for the heat pump, or as regeneration of ground when the system operates for summer air conditioning. In this case, condensation heat from the absorption chiller can be usefully directed to post-heating coils of the air handling units, or to regenerate the ground as well. The system simulation allows to size the plant and to evaluate its performance in terms of solar ratio and primary energy ratio.
Fuel cells are energy generating devices that allow an optimal use of natural gas (hydrogen in th... more Fuel cells are energy generating devices that allow an optimal use of natural gas (hydrogen in the long term) for the satisfaction of the thermal and electrical demands of various users; the electrochemical conversion of the fuel is almost without polluting emissions and acoustic impact. On the other hand, ejection heat pumps demand low temperature heat and slight mechanical energy, therefore, it can be convenient their employment in small size and recovery heat fed systems. The paper reports on the performances of an integrated fuel cells-ejection heat pump system, varying the operating conditions (generator, condensation and evaporation temperatures) and the type of refrigerant, with particular regard with low or null ODP fluids. Energetic analysis is carried out on the base of a simulation model of the integrated system, both for a residential and for an hotel load (the latter is particularly adapted because of the contemporary demand of heat and cooling energy for this type of users). First results show the possibility to realize high efficiency systems, with local emissions extremely reduced and acoustic impact nearly absent.
Proceedings of the 25th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Montréal , Canada, August 24-30, 2019., Aug 24, 2019
A large fraction (more than 80%) of the solar radiation impinging a PV panel is lost. A Photovolt... more A large fraction (more than 80%) of the solar radiation impinging a PV panel is lost. A Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T or PVT) module allows not only to partially recover the otherwise lost heat, but also to cool the PV and increase its electrical efficiency. A retrofitted building located in Northern Italy will be equipped by a PVT dual source heat pump, operating with the ground as source/sink, whereas the PVT drives the heat pump compressor and acts as a dual source. When the heat pump does not need heat or operates for summer air conditioning the ground is the heat sink both for the heat pump and for the PVT cooling. A dynamic simulation allowed to size the plant, revealing high values of heat pump coefficient of performance for the favorable thermal levels of the heat source, and better thermal levels of the ground source that receives heat from the PVT panels when it is not required by the heat pump.Very high efficiency and low primary energy consumption are demonstrated for the whole plant, thanks the high energy independency from the grid.
Solar Energy, Sep 1, 2018
A large fraction of cooling demand depends on solar radiation intensity, therefore a strong atten... more A large fraction of cooling demand depends on solar radiation intensity, therefore a strong attention was directed toward solar cooling immediately after the 1973 energy crisis. Whereas pilot solar cooling plants were built up and experimented, this technology never really took off. A recent survey reported something more than 1000 plants operating, a very modest number with respect the great potential of solar cooling. A review of technologies as they developed in the past, operate in the present with a forecasting for the future is here proposed to follow how the technology evolved during almost half a century regarding the solar section and the relative refrigeration equipment. The analysis allows to take stock of the situation selecting solar sections, cooling machines and their coupling which seem nowadays more suitable for wide application in the near future. A study is proposed at the end to put together some energy evaluations in different climates and much more difficult economical evaluations to investigate whether a possible fossil fuel parity cost can be attained, if not today, in a near future. • the cost of the solar section in cooling plants is rapidly reducing to
The latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with melting of a suitable Phase Change Material... more The latent heat absorption phenomenon associated with melting of a suitable Phase Change Material (PCM) can be an effective way to improve Thermal Energy Storage (TES) behaviour in many applications. However the most suitable PCMs to be used in HVAC systems find intrinsic limitations due to poor heat transfer capability. This work investigates the use of Aluminum foams as heat transfer medium to improve the overall heat transfer of paraffin waxes that can be possible PCMs to be implemented in hybrid sensible-latent water TESs. The design of a new experimental testing rig is here presented together with some preliminary simulation results obtained during the phase change process of paraffin waxes with melting temperatures around 45 °C, with and without metal foams, in a water thermal storage unit. The simulation results are presented in terms of loading and unloading times of the PCM with and without Al-foam so as to assess the effects of the porous medium on the overall heat transfer performance.
International journal of scientific research, 2015
By 31st December 2020 only "nearly zero-energy" buildings shall be built. They are high... more By 31st December 2020 only "nearly zero-energy" buildings shall be built. They are high energy performance buildings, where most energy is supplied by renewable sources (2010/31 EU Directive). New and energy retrofitted buildings usually demand more cooling than heating. Free cooling techniques can be usefully used in such buildings, varying the outside air flow by the air handling unit from the minimum (ventilation air flow) to the whole inlet air flow. The paper reports on the energy and economic analysis of free cooling with direct and indirect evaporative cooling. The possible savings using such techniques with respect to traditional sensible heat recovery are evaluated in different European typical climates and different type of buildings. The analysis is based on hourly meteorological data (Typical Meteorological Year) taking into account also extra energy consumption for fans and pumps.