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Federica Scacchia

Bio: Federica Scacchia is an academic researcher from University of L'Aquila. The author has contributed to research in topics: Waste disposal & Supply chain. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 9 publications receiving 963 citations.

Papers
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated and evaluated the feasibility of biomass utilization for direct production of electric energy by means of combustion and gasification conversion processes, taking into account total capital investments, revenues from energy sale and total operating costs, also including a detailed evaluation of logistic costs.
Abstract: The substitution of conventional fossil fuels with biomass for energy production results both in a net reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and in the replacement of non-renewable energy sources. However, at present, generating energy from biomass is rather expensive due to both technological limits related to lower conversion efficiencies, and logistic constraints. In particular, the logistics of biomass fuel supply is likely to be complex owing to the intrinsic feedstock characteristics, such as the limited period of availability and the scattered geographical distribution over the territory. In this paper, the economical feasibility of biomass utilization for direct production of electric energy by means of combustion and gasification-conversion processes, has been investigated and evaluated over a capacity range from 5 to 50 MW, taking into account total capital investments, revenues from energy sale and total operating costs, also including a detailed evaluation of logistic costs. Moreover, in order to evaluate the impact of logistics on the bio-energy plants profitability, the effects of main logistic variables such as specific vehicle transport costs, vehicles capacity, specific purchased biomass costs and distribution density, have been examined. Finally, a mapping of logistic constraints on plant profitability in the specified capacity range has been carried out.

618 citations

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TL;DR: In this paper, a technical and economical analysis of thermal disposal plant solutions with energy recovery has been carried out, where the considered plants enable the combined treatment of OMW and OH which, although penalizing the energy recovery, proves to be feasible and profitable in a future legislative scenario when stricter limitation on OMW disposal will force oil producers to bear high disposal costs.

199 citations

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TL;DR: A comprehensive framework is presented, identifying a networked architecture in which different actors (universities, other R&D centers, consulting companies, the European Union, national government, local public administration) interact.
Abstract: The paper deals with technological and managerial innovation transfer to small and medium sized enterprises. A comprehensive framework is presented, identifying a networked architecture in which different actors (universities, other R&D centers, consulting companies, the European Union, national government, local public administration) interact. In so doing, the need of a specific promoting role is pointed out. Consequently, introduction of an innovation center (IC) responsible for the whole transfer process is proposed. Within this organizational unit, the role of innovation promoter (IP), that is the interface with the specific SME, is analyzed and discussed. Finally, a general scheme of IC and IP actions and competences is presented.

101 citations

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TL;DR: A model for the analysis and performance evaluation of e‐supply chains, that are supply chains in which actors are connected by Internet technologies, is proposed, which may be used to design totally new e‐SCs or to redesign the existing ones, in both manufacturing and services industries.
Abstract: This study proposes a model for the analysis and performance evaluation of e‐supply chains (e‐SCs), that are supply chains (SCs) in which actors are connected by Internet technologies. It is assumed that e‐SC performances are influenced by the network ol structures, by the criteria adopted to manage relationships among involved actors, and by the critical activities that the leading company performs. At first, the variables influencing such factors are identified and the interdependencies among them are analysed to establish existing correlations. This, in turn, enables one to group the values of the influencing factors in four coherent sets which are consistent with different business environments, thus assuring the effectiveness and efficiency to the e‐SC. The obtained reference model is then tested by applying it to literature‐based case studies. The output of this model may be used to design totally new e‐SCs or to redesign the existing ones, in both manufacturing and services industries.

47 citations

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TL;DR: The main characteristics of the proposed hardware and software architecture have been illustrated, focusing attention on the logic phases for implementation by the transport federate, and a preliminary functionality validation of the developed tool is presented with reference to simplified test cases.
Abstract: Logistic strategies represent a key factor to increase supply chain (SC) effectiveness, as the optimization of logistics networks enables transport and storage costs reduction as well as quick response leading to higher customer satisfaction. A useful approach for SC performance improvement may be pursued by resorting to advanced software tools able to analyze complex production scenarios, performing concurrent, synchronized and distributed simulations. Support to the logistics planning phase is offered by geographical information system technology, included in the simulation environment in order to manage related geographical data (i.e. warehouse location, choice of vehicle routeings, etc.). In the paper the main characteristics of the proposed hardware and software architecture have been illustrated, focusing attention on the logic phases for implementation by the transport federate. Furthermore, a preliminary functionality validation of the developed tool is presented with reference to simplified test cases.

33 citations


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TL;DR: In this article, the state-of-the-art hydrogen production technologies using renewable and sustainable energy resources are presented, including supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass is the most cost effective thermochemical process.
Abstract: Fossil fuel consumption in transportation system and energy-intensive sectors as the principal pillar of civilization is associated with progressive release of greenhouse gases. Hydrogen as a promising energy carrier is a perfect candidate to supply the energy demand of the world and concomitantly reduce toxic emissions. This article gives an overview of the state-of-the-art hydrogen production technologies using renewable and sustainable energy resources. Hydrogen from supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass is the most cost effective thermochemical process. Highly moisturized biomass is utilized directly in SCWG without any high cost drying process. In SCWG, hydrogen is produced at high pressure and small amount of energy is required to pressurize hydrogen in the storage tank. Tar and char formation decreases drastically in biomass SCWG. The low efficiency of solar to hydrogen system as well as expensive photovoltaic cell are the most important barriers for the widespread commercial development of solar-based hydrogen production. Since electricity costs play a crucial role on the final hydrogen price, to generate carbon free hydrogen from solar and wind energy at a competitive price with fossil fuels, the electrical energy cost should be four times less than commercial electricity prices.

1,359 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, several aspects which are associated with burning biomass in boilers have been investigated such as composition of biomass, estimating the higher heating value of biomass and comparison between biomass and other fuels.
Abstract: Currently, fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas represent the prime energy sources in the world. However, it is anticipated that these sources of energy will deplete within the next 40–50 years. Moreover, the expected environmental damages such as the global warming, acid rain and urban smog due to the production of emissions from these sources have tempted the world to try to reduce carbon emissions by 80% and shift towards utilizing a variety of renewable energy resources (RES) which are less environmentally harmful such as solar, wind, biomass etc. in a sustainable way. Biomass is one of the earliest sources of energy with very specific properties. In this review, several aspects which are associated with burning biomass in boilers have been investigated such as composition of biomass, estimating the higher heating value of biomass, comparison between biomass and other fuels, combustion of biomass, co-firing of biomass and coal, impacts of biomass, economic and social analysis of biomass, transportation of biomass, densification of biomass, problems of biomass and future of biomass. It has been found that utilizing biomass in boilers offers many economical, social and environmental benefits such as financial net saving, conservation of fossil fuel resources, job opportunities creation and CO 2 and NO x emissions reduction. However, care should be taken to other environmental impacts of biomass such as land and water resources, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and deforestation. Fouling, marketing, low heating value, storage and collections and handling are all associated problems when burning biomass in boilers. The future of biomass in boilers depends upon the development of the markets for fossil fuels and on policy decisions regarding the biomass market.

1,293 citations

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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present and analyse several gasification models based on thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetics and artificial neural networks, which are used for preliminary comparison and for process studies on the influence of the most important fuel and process parameters.
Abstract: The use of biomass as a source of energy has been further enhanced in recent years and special attention has been paid to biomass gasification. Due to the increasing interest in biomass gasification, several models have been proposed in order to explain and understand this complex process, and the design, simulation, optimisation and process analysis of gasifiers have been carried out. This paper presents and analyses several gasification models based on thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetics and artificial neural networks. The thermodynamic models are found to be a useful tool for preliminary comparison and for process studies on the influence of the most important fuel and process parameters. They have the advantage of being independent of gasifier design, but they cannot give highly accurate results for all cases. The kinetic-based models are computationally more intensive but give accurate and detailed results. However, they contain parameters that limit their applicability to different plants.

680 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, recent research studies for the valorisation of olive mill wastes performed by several authors were reviewed: second oil extraction, combustion, gasification, anaerobic digestion, composting and solid fermentation are some of the methods proposed.

679 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors considered the best option and has the largest potential, which meets energy requirements and could insure fuel supply in the future, and showed that biomass gasification offers the earliest and most economical route for the production of renewable hydrogen.

609 citations