Buildings’ Environment and Energy Systems
Research focus
The Peer review has evaluated this group as Average
Current research aims at supplying basic knowledge, measurement and operating tools for building envelope components, building service systems and indoor microclimate analysis and control, together with rational use of energy and comfort achievement. Such research topic focus on retrofit measures, bio-climatic design, innovative envelope technologies, intelligent building automation systems, energy efficient end-use apparatus, clever integration of natural and artificial light. Thermal driven cooling technologies, tri-generation systems, emerging HVAC&R technologies based on solar energy use. Application of active solar systems. Acoustics is part of the research topic focused on human comfort and health, through the building, environmental and room acoustic engineering; while cultural heritage preservation techniques focus to characterize and analyze deterioration phenomena on ancient materials, due to microclimate parameters variations. The research is currently focused on the following topics. Building Thermal Physics Measurements of thermal conductivity and capacity of non-coherent building materials in relation with their water content. Theoretical simulation and experimental study of thermal and moisturerelated properties of building materials. Theoretical simulation and experimental study on dynamical building envelope components with consideration of their energy and comfort behaviour, comprising also of transparent components and solar shading devices. Development of building climate and energy simulation tools. Building and Energy Systems Performance Assessment and Optimization Low capacity (less then 40 kW) tri-generation system for in building energy production (distributed energy production). Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) applied to building components and to the full building system to support environmental impact analysis. Building integrated system (envelope, service system, thermal storage, ground heat exchangers, etc.) optimization through dynamical energy simulation tools (TRNSYS, ENERGYPLUS, ESPR, others) for both heating and cooling. Building usage optimization and retrofit via continuous commissioning. Passive buildings concept development for Mediterranean areas, with special regard to the cooling load problem. Acoustics Analysis of acoustic performances of building envelope components. Architectural and room acoustics studies and applications. Numerical aeroacoustics analysis and applications. Sound and noise: indoor and outdoor control, acceptability criteria and measurement (car traffic, airport noise, etc.). Equipments and systems sound power level assessment. Psychoacoustics: sound quality index assessment. Sound level meter calibration. Active solar systems Development of design and assessment simulation tools to be used in solar heating systems with interseasonal thermal storage (MINSUN). Techno-economic assessment of “Large scale solar heating systems”. Hybrid PV components: numerical models for air cooled PV panes and doubleskin PV facades. Solar thermal applications for energy service companies. Solar heat for industrial processes. Solar cooling: air-conditioning (small and large scale systems); refrigeration (food and agro industries); open systems based on desiccant and evaporative cooling cycle Cultural Heritage Preservation and Conservation Artworks and monuments preservation: studies on microclimate diagnostics, analysis and control of local environment degradation influence. Thermo-hygrometric characterization of materials. Thermohygrometric surveys on artworks and monuments.
Dipartimento di afferenza
Docenti afferenti
Full Professors
Mazzarella Livio
Assistant Professors
Motta Mario
Pagliano Lorenzo