Paolo Cattani

Another paper, in which I am a coauthor, that focuses on the combined use of two different simulation tools: a commercial tool designed to study the energy balance of buildings and my custom-developed software for AWG modelling, AWGSim.

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1839

The paper presents the first results of a broader study aimed at considering atmospheric water generation as a viable option within sustainable building design strategies. In particular, the focus is on integrated systems in which atmospheric water generator (AWG) machines, in addition to producing water, support HVAC systems. The research focuses on the combined use of two different simulation tools: a commercial tool designed to study the energy balance of buildings and a custom-developed software for AWG modelling. This is the first step of a more complex procedure of software integration that is aimed to provide designers with a method to implement AWGs in the design process of buildings, both residential or industrial. This preliminary procedure is applied to a case study concerning the link between an advanced integrated AWG and a building housing inverters and transformers that belong to a photovoltaic field. The scope of the integration consists in enhancing the energy sustainability of atmospheric water intended for hydrogen production and panel washing by means of the dry and cold air flux that comes from the cycle of vapour condensation. The results highlight the potentialities of the integrated design, which includes AWGs, to enhance the final efficiency of sustainable housing. In particular, the joint action of the simulation tools used in this study provides insights about the possibility to reduce the size of traditional chiller that serve the building by an order of magnitude, and to achieve an energy saving of 29.8 MWh a year.

A new scientific paper, in which I am a co-author, for which I was responsible for the mathematical correlation between the index and the actual energy correspondence from a physical perspective.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11793

In a world where energy savings are becoming increasingly important to reduce CO2 emissions, the development of an index to assess the most efficient configuration of heating/cooling systems and air-to-water production systems is extremely valuable. Such an index provides a clear, quantifiable method to optimize configurations, especially when retrofitting/expanding existing plants, enabling the implementation of solutions that minimize environmental impact while maximizing efficiency. By focusing on energy efficiency, these systems can contribute significantly to both sustainability and cost reduction, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

AWGSim, my simulator of AWG machines, has a new homepage:

www.paolocattani.com/awgsim.php

AWGSim is a modular, real-time simulator of an Atmospheric Water Generator based on the Vapour Compression Refrigeration Cycle (VCRC) technology. AWGSim can be used to study and prototype AWG machines, and/or to predict their actual behaviour depending upon real-life external condition (temperature, humidity). AWGSim is currently utilized in scientific research settings and has supported various scientific publications focused on atmospheric water generation and the integration of AWG machines within HVAC systems.

Yesterday, I had the honor of being one of the speakers at the seminar on Energy Sustainability and Water Extraction from Air, held in the prestigious Ugo Foscolo Hall of the University of Pavia. As part of the sustainable development festival, we discussed the current state of research and applied research on extracting water from air using integrated devices. From green hydrogen to energy improvement in buildings to process optimization, my presentation focused on the development of physical/mathematical simulation software for Air To Water technologies.

I have been studying vehicle dynamics for almost thirty years, since I set out to create my first driving simulator, Impossible Drivin’, for the Amiga platform. Over the years, I have primarily studied the complexity of the interaction between rubber and asphalt, which is responsible for 90% of the quality of the simulation, and I have developed several algorithms to effectively implement the thermomechanics of the polymer.

In this scientific paper, I publish one of the formulas I developed (and effectively used in my AVC simulation library) for the dynamic calculation of heat transfer between rubber and asphalt, a formula that replaces the simple constant Hc normally used in the literature:

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11996