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Prof. Alberto Fichera
Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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0 Energy Management
0 Renewable Energy
0 Sustainable Cities
0 CFD
0 energy policies

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Journal article
Published: 19 July 2020 in Energies
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Complexity is a widely acknowledged feature of urban areas. Among the different levels to which this definition applies, the energy sector is one of the most representative of this way of conceiving cities. An evidence of this complexity can be detected in the growing impact of prosumers. Prosumers produce energy to meet their own demands, distribute it directly to neighbors and, eventually, store the energy neither consumed nor distributed. The modelling of distribution networks is a challenging task that requires ad hoc models to simulate the mutual energy exchanges occurring among prosumers. To serve at this scope, this paper proposes an agent-based model aiming at determining which operating conditions enhance the energy distribution among prosumers and diminish the supply from traditional power plants. An application of the model within a residential territory is then presented and simulations are conducted under two scenarios: the first investigating the distribution among prosumers equipped with photovoltaics (PV) systems, the second integrating energy storage systems to PV panels. Both scenarios are studied at varying the installed PV capacity within the territory, the allowed distance of connection among prosumers, as well as the rate of utilization of the links of the network. Results from the simulated case study reveal that the energy distribution among prosumers can be enhanced by providing short-range links for the electricity exchange. Similar advantages can be achieved by integrating storage systems to PV, along with a significant reduction in the electricity requested to the centralized grid.

ACS Style

Alberto Fichera; Alessandro Pluchino; Rosaria Volpe. Modelling Energy Distribution in Residential Areas: A Case Study Including Energy Storage Systems in Catania, Southern Italy. Energies 2020, 13, 3715 .

AMA Style

Alberto Fichera, Alessandro Pluchino, Rosaria Volpe. Modelling Energy Distribution in Residential Areas: A Case Study Including Energy Storage Systems in Catania, Southern Italy. Energies. 2020; 13 (14):3715.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Fichera; Alessandro Pluchino; Rosaria Volpe. 2020. "Modelling Energy Distribution in Residential Areas: A Case Study Including Energy Storage Systems in Catania, Southern Italy." Energies 13, no. 14: 3715.

Journal article
Published: 21 June 2020 in Energies
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This paper proposes an analytical model for natural convection in a closed rectangular enclosure filled by a fluid, with imposed heat fluxes at the vertical walls and adiabatic horizontal walls. The analytical model offers a simplified, but easy to handle, description of the temperature and velocity fields. The predicted temperature, velocity, and pressure fields are shown to be in agreement with those obtained from a reliable numerical model. The Nusselt numbers for both the analytical and numerical solutions are then calculated and compared, varying both the aspect ratio of the enclosure and the Rayleigh number. Based on the comparisons, it is possible to assess the dependence of the reliability of the analytical model on the aspect ratio of the enclosure, showing that the prediction error rapidly decreases with the increase of the enclosure slenderness.

ACS Style

Alberto Fichera; Manuel Marcoux; Arturo Pagano; Rosaria Volpe. An Analytical Model for Natural Convection in a Rectangular Enclosure with Differentially Heated Vertical Walls. Energies 2020, 13, 3220 .

AMA Style

Alberto Fichera, Manuel Marcoux, Arturo Pagano, Rosaria Volpe. An Analytical Model for Natural Convection in a Rectangular Enclosure with Differentially Heated Vertical Walls. Energies. 2020; 13 (12):3220.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alberto Fichera; Manuel Marcoux; Arturo Pagano; Rosaria Volpe. 2020. "An Analytical Model for Natural Convection in a Rectangular Enclosure with Differentially Heated Vertical Walls." Energies 13, no. 12: 3220.

Conference paper
Published: 20 November 2017 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
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The thermal fluidynamic behaviour of a variety of fluids filling either vertical cylinders or vertical annuli under external conditions giving rise to natural convective motions has been thoroughly investigated, both experimentally and numerically, because of the several possible engineering applications that can be well approximated and described by these kinds of configurations. This study aims at investing through a numerical analysis the mixed convection arising inside cavities formed between two horizontal adiabatic disks and two isothermally and differentially heated vertical cylindrical walls, one of which is rotating. Previous studies reported and discussed the role played by both the Rayleigh number the Reynolds number for the case of the rotation of either the inner or the external wall and for a specified geometry of the cavity. The focus of the present study is to analyse the role played by the aspect ratio, A=H/(Re-Ri), for the case of rotating inner cylinder. It is reported that this role is particular relevant with respect to the flow structures established within the cavity and, as a consequence, also with respect to the Nusselt number.

ACS Style

A Fichera; M Marcoux; A Pagano. On the effect of the aspect ratio on the mixed convection in a vertical cylindrical cavity with rotating inner wall. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2017, 923, 12051 .

AMA Style

A Fichera, M Marcoux, A Pagano. On the effect of the aspect ratio on the mixed convection in a vertical cylindrical cavity with rotating inner wall. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2017; 923 ():12051.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A Fichera; M Marcoux; A Pagano. 2017. "On the effect of the aspect ratio on the mixed convection in a vertical cylindrical cavity with rotating inner wall." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 923, no. : 12051.

Conference paper
Published: 01 January 2017 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
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ACS Style

D Angeli; M A Corticelli; A Fichera; A Pagano. Application of Recurrence Analysis to the period doubling cascade of a confined buoyant flow. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2017, 796, 12005 .

AMA Style

D Angeli, M A Corticelli, A Fichera, A Pagano. Application of Recurrence Analysis to the period doubling cascade of a confined buoyant flow. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2017; 796 ():12005.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D Angeli; M A Corticelli; A Fichera; A Pagano. 2017. "Application of Recurrence Analysis to the period doubling cascade of a confined buoyant flow." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 796, no. : 12005.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2015 in Energy Procedia
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The present study aims at assessing a flexible and light modeling methodology specifically oriented to the short-term prediction of the dynamics of the void fraction of experimental two-phase flows. The proposed strategy consists in the assessment and optimisation of a generalised NARMAX model for the input-output identification of the dynamics of the experimental time series of the void fraction, detected through a high resolution resistive probe during an extensive experimental campaign. Such a model has been implemented by means of Multilayer Perceptron artificial neural networks, trained using input-output data detected during experiments expressing different flow patterns. Reported results show that a satisfactory agreement is reached between simulated and experimental data, showing that the model is able to predict two-phase flow dynamics.

ACS Style

A. Fichera; Arturo Pagano. Assessment of an Identification Strategy for the Prediction of the Dynamics of Two-phase Flows. Energy Procedia 2015, 82, 316 -321.

AMA Style

A. Fichera, Arturo Pagano. Assessment of an Identification Strategy for the Prediction of the Dynamics of Two-phase Flows. Energy Procedia. 2015; 82 ():316-321.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Fichera; Arturo Pagano. 2015. "Assessment of an Identification Strategy for the Prediction of the Dynamics of Two-phase Flows." Energy Procedia 82, no. : 316-321.

Conference paper
Published: 16 November 2015 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
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ACS Style

D Angeli; M A Corticelli; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. Heat transfer along the route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2015, 655, 012055 .

AMA Style

D Angeli, M A Corticelli, A Fichera, Arturo Pagano. Heat transfer along the route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2015; 655 ():012055.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D Angeli; M A Corticelli; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. 2015. "Heat transfer along the route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 655, no. : 012055.

Conference paper
Published: 10 April 2014 in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
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ACS Style

Diego Angeli; Mauro Alessandro Corticelli; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. Appearance of quasiperiodicity within a period doubling route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2014, 501, 012022 .

AMA Style

Diego Angeli, Mauro Alessandro Corticelli, A Fichera, Arturo Pagano. Appearance of quasiperiodicity within a period doubling route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2014; 501 ():012022.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Diego Angeli; Mauro Alessandro Corticelli; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. 2014. "Appearance of quasiperiodicity within a period doubling route to chaos of a swaying thermal plume." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 501, no. : 012022.

Research article
Published: 23 August 2011 in Journal of Thermodynamics
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Two-phase flow dynamics are highly complex, due to the strong coupling of various independent mechanisms and as demonstrated by the existence of a variety of flow patterns. The adoption of appropriate tools for nonlinear time series analysis tools may lead to a deeper insight in this complexity but requires high quality time series. This study describes a procedure appositely assessed in order to realise an impedance void fraction sensor of resistive type characterised by high-spatial and -temporal resolution. These characteristics have been accomplished through an appropriate geometrical design of the probe electrodes, aiming at obtaining a thin measurement volume so to improve the probe spatial resolution, and through the electronic assessment of the data acquisition system, improving its temporal resolution. A new calibration procedure has been also defined, based on an estimation of void fraction through a code for automatic extraction of bubble contours and the correction of image distortions.

ACS Style

L. Cantelli; A. Fichera; A. Pagano. A High-Resolution Resistive Probe for Nonlinear Analysis of Two-Phase Flows. Journal of Thermodynamics 2011, 2011, 1 -10.

AMA Style

L. Cantelli, A. Fichera, A. Pagano. A High-Resolution Resistive Probe for Nonlinear Analysis of Two-Phase Flows. Journal of Thermodynamics. 2011; 2011 ():1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

L. Cantelli; A. Fichera; A. Pagano. 2011. "A High-Resolution Resistive Probe for Nonlinear Analysis of Two-Phase Flows." Journal of Thermodynamics 2011, no. : 1-10.

Journal article
Published: 30 September 2009 in Applied Energy
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Thermoacoustic instabilities in combustion chambers represent a serious threat to combustion systems, which can lead to performance degradation as well as to relevant structural damages. The nonlinearity of these phenomena represents a serious obstacle to the prediction of the evolution of the relevant system variables. The early prediction of out-of-control states in combustion chambers might represent an important step ahead in the design of accurate control system for the suppression of undesired behaviours. This study proposes the application of control charts to the prediction of out-of-control states in an experimental combustion chamber. EWMA control charts have been used because they are very useful when on line single measurements are collected from the process. In order to deal with the high level of autocorrelation characterising the deterministic nonlinear experimental measurement, the EWMA control charts have been applied to the residuals of an input–output NARMAX identification model, implemented by means of a Multilayer Perceptron artificial neural network. Obtained results show the ability of the control charts in detecting unstable combustion phenomena, pointing out the promising application of these statistical tools in the diagnostic of combustion instabilities.

ACS Style

A. Fichera; A. Pagano. Monitoring combustion unstable dynamics by means of control charts. Applied Energy 2009, 86, 1574 -1581.

AMA Style

A. Fichera, A. Pagano. Monitoring combustion unstable dynamics by means of control charts. Applied Energy. 2009; 86 (9):1574-1581.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Fichera; A. Pagano. 2009. "Monitoring combustion unstable dynamics by means of control charts." Applied Energy 86, no. 9: 1574-1581.

Journal article
Published: 31 August 2006 in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
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ACS Style

G. Desrayaud; A. Fichera; M. Marcoux; Arturo Pagano. An analytical solution for the stationary behaviour of binary mixtures and pure fluids in a horizontal annular cavity. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2006, 49, 3253 -3263.

AMA Style

G. Desrayaud, A. Fichera, M. Marcoux, Arturo Pagano. An analytical solution for the stationary behaviour of binary mixtures and pure fluids in a horizontal annular cavity. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2006; 49 (17-18):3253-3263.

Chicago/Turabian Style

G. Desrayaud; A. Fichera; M. Marcoux; Arturo Pagano. 2006. "An analytical solution for the stationary behaviour of binary mixtures and pure fluids in a horizontal annular cavity." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49, no. 17-18: 3253-3263.

Research article
Published: 01 August 2003 in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering
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ACS Style

L Cammarata; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. Designing an optimal controller for rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 2003, 217, 171 -180.

AMA Style

L Cammarata, A Fichera, Arturo Pagano. Designing an optimal controller for rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. 2003; 217 (3):171-180.

Chicago/Turabian Style

L Cammarata; A Fichera; Arturo Pagano. 2003. "Designing an optimal controller for rectangular natural circulation loops." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 217, no. 3: 171-180.

Research article
Published: 01 November 2001 in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering
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This paper presents a comparison of the dynamical behaviours manifested by two singlephase experimental natural circulation loops. Both of the loops are rectangular and symmetric, with a heat source and a heat sink placed respectively at the bottom and at the top of the loop. The main differences between the two loops are their height and width, the inner diameter of their pipes and the length of the heating and cooling sections. In order to emphasize the differences in the dynamical evolution, the comparison was performed considering the same operating conditions. A phase space representation was chosen, so as to guarantee an adequate representation of the complex non-linear process dynamics. The proposed analysis, which is based on the morphological description of the attractors and on the evaluation of their correlation dimension, aims to give a preliminary characterization of the behaviours of the natural circulation loops under comparison. The proposed approach allowed it to be demonstrated that the differences of geometry lead to substantial changes in the dynamics that the two experimental loops may manifest for the same operating condition, defined by the heat power supplied to the fluid. In particular, reported results show that for some values of the heat power one of the experimental loops displays periodic oscillations whereas the other is governed by chaos.

ACS Style

A Fichera; M Froghieri; A Pagano. Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 2001, 215, 273 -281.

AMA Style

A Fichera, M Froghieri, A Pagano. Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. 2001; 215 (4):273-281.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A Fichera; M Froghieri; A Pagano. 2001. "Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 215, no. 4: 273-281.

Conference paper
Published: 01 November 2001 in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering
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ACS Style

A Fichera; M Froghieri; Arturo Pagano. Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 2001, 215, 273 -281.

AMA Style

A Fichera, M Froghieri, Arturo Pagano. Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. 2001; 215 (4):273-281.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A Fichera; M Froghieri; Arturo Pagano. 2001. "Comparison of the dynamical behaviour of rectangular natural circulation loops." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering 215, no. 4: 273-281.

Conference paper
Published: 01 September 2001 in 2001 European Control Conference (ECC)
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ACS Style

A. Fichera; G. Muscato; Arturo Pagano; M.G. Xibilia. A neural controller for a natural circulation loop. 2001 European Control Conference (ECC) 2001, 1 .

AMA Style

A. Fichera, G. Muscato, Arturo Pagano, M.G. Xibilia. A neural controller for a natural circulation loop. 2001 European Control Conference (ECC). 2001; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Fichera; G. Muscato; Arturo Pagano; M.G. Xibilia. 2001. "A neural controller for a natural circulation loop." 2001 European Control Conference (ECC) , no. : 1.