31006 - Environmental Technical Physics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has a basic knowledge of the tools used in building design, considering aspects related to comfort, energy efficiency, and the environment. This knowledge will be based on the classical macroscopic thermodynamics’ principles, thermodynamic properties of atmospheric air, and heat transmission mechanisms.

Course contents

Students enrolling in this course must be familiar with and able to use basic mathematical operators. This knowledge is normally acquired by passing the Mathematical Analysis T exam. All lessons will be delivered in Italian. Therefore, an understanding of the Italian language is required in order to effectively follow the course and make use of the teaching materials provided by the lecturer.

COURSE CONTENTS

1) APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS, ELEMENTS OF FLUID DYNAMICS, AND AIR-WATER VAPOUR MIXTURES

The nature of thermodynamics: temperature and heat - Applications of thermodynamics to the closed system - The first law of the thermodynamics: work, internal energy and energy balances - The second law of thermodynamics and formulation of entropy - The open system: conservation of mass and balance of mechanic energy -The loss term and Moody Diagram - Fluid Dynamics: continuity equation and vectorial Navier equation - Macroscopic properties of pure substances: (p,v,T) surface and (p,v) diagram - Ideal gases and equation of state - (T,s) diagram - Air and vapour mixtures: psychrometric transformation and charts - Thermodynamic cycles: Rankine cycle and refrigeration cycle.

2) HEAT TRANSFER - BUILDING PHYSICS

Thermal conduction: Fourier's law - Fourier's equation - Simple cases of steady state conduction in cartesian and cylindrical coordinates - Thermal resistance and electrical analogy: thermal resistances networks - Steady state conduction with internal heat generation in cartesian and cylindrical coordinates - Thermal convection - The Newton's law - Heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number - Dimensionless equations, Buckingam Theorem and relationships Nu = Nu (Re, Gr, Pr) - Critical insulation radius – Extended surfaces (fins) - Radiation heat transfer- Global heat transfer coefficient: thermal transmittance with reference to the building envelope.

3) APPLIED ACOUSTICS

The nature of sounds: preliminary notions and main acoustic quantities - Decibel sound levels and spectra - Decibel scale -Sound levels metrics- Room acoustics: sound absorption and reverberation time- Sound insulation: mass law and coincidence effect.

Readings/Bibliography

For exam preparation, it is sufficient to refer to lesson notes and the materials provided by the lecturer. For further study of specific topics or for independent learning, the following texts are recommended:

Y.A. Cengel, Termodinamica e trasmissione del calore - Quarta edizione, McGraw-Hill;

- G. Cammarata, Fisica Tecnica Ambientale, McGraw-Hill;

- Y.A. Çengel,G. dall’O’, L. Sarto, Fisica Tecnica Ambientale, McGraw-Hill;

- A. Cocchi, Elementi di Termofisica generale e applicata, Progetto Leonardo;

- R. Spagnolo, Manuale di Acustica Applicata, UTET;

- E. Cirillo, Acustica Applicata, McGraw-Hill.

Teaching methods

Classroom lessons and guided solution of exercises.

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a written test and an oral interview, both based on the topics covered during the course. The written test typically includes five questions: three theoretical questions and two numerical problems. To be admitted to the oral exam, students must obtain a minimum score of 18/30 in the written test. The oral exam consists of an interview aimed at assessing the candidate’s mastery and practical understanding of the key concepts presented during the course.

Teaching tools

PC projector and lecture notes downloadable from the “VIRTUALE” platform, available to students at the beginning of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Cesare Biserni