Search

• Affordable and adaptable VIP based internal and external retrofitting solutions. • Implementation of VIP based integral retrofitting solutions in two tertiary buildings. • Space heating energy saving analysis before and after VIP based retrofit. • Envelope heat loss coefficient reduction analysis before and after retrofitting. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) represent a huge opportunity to achieve nearly zero energy buildings, especially in the retrofitting of existing buildings. VIPs can be applied in conjunction with façade cladding elements, considerably reducing the heat losses or gains from the building by means of very slim wall construction systems or retrofit solutions. However, the fact that VIPs cannot be cut on-site, can be easily damaged during their handling, installation and use and have an envelope that can cause thermal bridging in the junction between panels or when combined with other materials, has hindered their penetration in the construction market. This paper presents two innovative façade retrofitting solutions, a rear ventilated façade and a stud mounted internal solution, that have tackled all these issues and provide thermal transmittances of 0.28 and 0.14 W/m2 K in relatively slim insulation systems of 10 cm widths. Solutions have been installed on the entire façade of two existing buildings located in Bilbao (Spain) and Malmö (Sweden) subjected to an integral rehabilitation process, covering 2100 m2. Buildings energy use have been monitored before and after the renovation, showing energy cuts of around 35% from pre-intervention status. This paper presents the lessons learnt during the design and installation process of the vacuum insulation integrating solutions in the façade of two existing buildings and the thermal performance results achieved after their retrofitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eight papers included in this special issue represent a selection of extended contributions presented at the 16th International Conference on Hybrid Artificial Intelligent Systems, HAIS 2021 held in Bilbao, Spain, September 22nd-24th, 2021, and organized by the BISITE group and the University of Deusto. The International Conference on Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Systems (HAIS 2021) has become a unique, established, and broad interdisciplinary forum for researchers and practitioners who are involved in developing and applying symbolic and sub-symbolic techniques aimed at the construction of highly robust and reliable problem-solving techniques to present the most relevant achievements in this field. HAIS Series of Conferences provides an interesting opportunity to present and discuss the latest theoretical advances and real-world applications in this multidisciplinary research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seven papers included in this special issue represent a selection of extended contributions presented at the 16th International Conference on Soft Computing Models in Industrial and Environmental Applications, SOCO 2021, held in Bilbao, Spain, September 22nd-24th, 2021, and organized by the BISITE group and the University of Deusto. The SOCO 2021 international conference represents a collection or set of computational techniques in machine learning, computer science and some engineering disciplines that investigate, simulate, and analyse very complex issues and phenomena. This special issue is aimed at practitioners, researchers, and postgraduate students who are engaged in developing and applying advanced intelligent systems principles to solve real-world problems in the mentioned fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different renovation intervention levels are evaluated. • The technoeconomic feasibility by itself does not explain the actual renovation rates. • Existing social, material and legal barriers are key for a comprehensive analysis. • Measures should be taken to boost district/building level interventions. Building is one of the main sectors in which significant energy savings can be achieved with a consequent reduction in emissions. This paper assesses the large-scale renovation of buildings, exploring the quantitative and qualitative factors that determine their replicability potential from three different perspectives, namely dwelling, building and district intervention level. Different passive and active measures are assessed, covering energy saving measures, the improvement of energy supply systems and the integration of renewable energy sources. Different scenarios are defined for each intervention level, which are evaluated using the methodology developed in the IEA-EBC Annex 75 project. The methodology is applied to a residential district located in Bilbao (Northern Spain). The analysis is based on the results obtained from the simulation of 41 combinations of different renovation options, obtained by simulation in the Design Builder software. The assessment is carried out from the evaluation of different key performance factors, including annualised cost and annual primary energy consumption, as well as the CAPEX and OPEX requirements. The results show that energy renovation of buildings offers a great opportunity for energy reduction at affordable investment costs, obtaining the cost optimal values when the intervention focus on the energy system and reaching net NRPE values close to zero when the intervention is carried out in a comprehensive way, considering energy systems and thermal improvement of the envelope. Additionally, the different energy reduction scenarios show that, while interventions at district level offer the greatest potential for minimising annual costs and primary energy consumption levels, intervening at building level offers only slightly worse results. However, there are other issues which can better explain the current low rate of renovation works in the urban environment. Thus, if the additional existing social, material and legal barriers and constraints are included in the analysis, it becomes clear why renovation from a district perspective is not actually leading the race. Given this situation, some measures and policies are proposed to realise the true potential of large-scale building renovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ESS-Bilbao neutron source, currently under construction, is conceived as a multipurpose facility. It will offer a fast neutron beam line for materials irradiation. In this paper we discuss the viability of ESS-Bilbao for experimental studies of fusion materials. Making use of the already designed target station we have calculated the neutron spectrum expected in the fast neutron line. Then, we have studied the neutron irradiation effects in two model materials: iron and silica. We have calculated the expected PKA (primary knock-on atom) spectra and light species production as well as the damage production in these materials. Regarding structural materials, we conclude that the ESS-Bilbao neutron irradiation facility will play a minor role due to the resulting low neutron fluxes (about two orders of magnitude lower than in fusion reactors). On the other hand, ESS-Bilbao turns out to be relevant for studies of final lenses in laser fusion power plants. A comparison with the conditions expected for HiPER final lenses shows that the fluxes will be only a factor 5 smaller in ESS-Bilbao and the PKA spectra will be very similar. Taking into account, in addition, that relevant effects on lenses occur from the onset of irradiation, we conclude that an appropriate irradiation cell with in situ characterisation techniques will make ESS-Bilbao very attractive for applied neutron damage studies of laser fusion final lenses. Finally, we compare ESS-Bilbao with other facilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Proton for materials (P4M) is an irradiation facility proposed for the ESS-Bilbao (ESS-B) accelerator, currently under construction in Bilbao, Spain. P4M will enable users to investigate the behavior of materials for fusion reactors when irradiated with pulsed proton beams. The requirement for such a facility was highlighted by the TechnoFusión Project as the need to improve the knowledge about the mechanical and physical properties of materials when impacted by high energy neutrons in future fusion devices. Material irradiation by protons is capable of simulating the effects of fusion generated neutrons (14MeV, target damaging and He and H production) with a reasonably fast dose rate, as predicted by theoretical calculations and previous experiments. Therefore, given that the ESS-B accelerator will provide an intense source of 50MeV protons, with average currents of a few mAs, a laboratory for fusion material testing is proposed. This paper appraises the scientific feasibility of performing fusion relevant experiments as well as the tests that can be conducted. Special emphasis is placed on material damage parameters, the beam power deposition in the sample and the consequences of material activation for the laboratory design. As first results, the consequences of high power deposition and severely activation of the specimens make essential an adapted cooling system and remote handling operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A background knowledge of marine dynamics helps harbour managers to control pollution and to manage dredging and traffic operations. This contribution studies the hydrodynamic conditions within Bilbao Harbour, which is enclosed by the Nervión Estuary (in the Basque Country, Spain). The results obtained from hydrographical surveys are compared with numerical simulations obtained using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). Hydrodynamic modelling was carried out to determine the inner harbour currents for a specific period in which data were available. Then, numerical experiments were designed in order to quantify the importance of different driving mechanisms in the harbour hydrodynamics. The results show that, in addition to the strong tidal influence on water circulation, the wind forcing and freshwater discharge also have a non-negligible influence on the currents. The computational domain is complex due to the presence of harbour infrastructures (i.e. breakwaters and piers). As a result, topographic eddies are therefore observed in the results. The freshwater influence of the Nervión river can also be observed in residual currents. This paper presents an improvement to the application of numerical modelling to a complex geometry domain, contributing to our understanding of the behaviour of the marine systems in meso-tidal harbours. This can be used to deal with harbour engineering and management problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Bilbao (Spain), an air quality network measures sulphur dioxide levels at 4 locations. The objective of this paper is to develop a practical methodology to identify redundant sensors and evaluate a network''s capability to correctly follow and represent SO2 fields in Bilbao, in the frame of a continuous network optimization process. The methodology is developed and tested at this particular location, but it is general enough to be useable at other places as well, since it is not tied neither to the particular geographical characteristics of the place nor to the phenomenology of the air quality over the area. To assess the spatial variability of SO2 measured at 4 locations in the area, three different techniques have been used: Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs), cluster analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results show that the three techniques yield the same results, but the information obtained via PCA can be helpful not only for that purpose but also to throw light on the major mechanisms involved. This might be used in future network optimization stages. The main advantage of cluster analysis and SOMs is that they provide readily interpretable results. All the calculations have been carried out using the freely available software R. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Beam Position Monitors (BPM) are non-destructive diagnostics devices used in particle accelerators to measure the transverse beam position (beam center of mass) and phase of the accelerated beam. There are various ways of realization of the BPMs in accelerators having different measurement requirements, particle type or energy. Several types of BPM pickups have been studied including the button type, grounded striplines and matched striplines. The choice and final design is based on a matched stripline to accommodate the signal transmission to electronics and provide relatively higher signal level for low velocity (β = 0.088) proton beam within MEBT. Due to mechanical space limits, all the BPMs are embedded inside quadrupoles; hence it is required to use non-magnetic materials in the BPM sensor, in particular the feedthroughs. The BPM sensor is composed of several components, which are separately machined with tolerances of 10 μ m , and then welded together by the use of electron beam welding. The analysis show for long bunches, the multi bunch transfer impedance is different than of single bunch due to bunch signals overlapping. The design, fabrication and tests of the BPM sensors were performed at ESS-Bilbao and their installation and the electrical checks at ESS-Lund. Prior to installation in the ESS accelerator tunnel, one BPM stripline was installed and the BPM system tested with the CEA-IPHI beam. This paper gives an overview of the electromagnetic and mechanical design and the fabrication of BPM striplines. Furthermore, the results of the RF measurements are compared with the simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New methodology to characterise the heating demand of building stocks at city level. • The approach is applied to Bilbao city, by constructing 17 archetype buildings. • Evidence-based calibration and validation procedures increase models' reliability. • Aggregated model results only differ around 4% from real historical data. • The methodology is verified completely feasible with existing public data sources. In the current transition towards a net-zero GHG emissions economy, residential building sector is one of the sectors with highest potential for energy efficiency. In order to assist the implementation of energy saving policies, in which the role of local authorities is crucial, the bottom-up engineering approach is the most suitable method for a reliable characterisation of the energy consumption in an existing building stock. In the present paper a methodology is proposed to characterise the space heating energy consumption of a residential stock at city level, based on archetype buildings. The methodology is focused on addressing the challenges which often such approach involves. An evidence-based calibration procedure is proposed to address occupant behavioural patterns. Attention is also given to the constructed models results validation process, by comparing them with collected real data. The methodology is applied to the residential building stock of the city of Bilbao, where seventeen typologies of archetype buildings are constructed. The results demonstrate the practicability of accurately reproducing the existing space heating energy consumption of a city-scale residential building stock with available public data sources. The methodology has been conceived to be easily replicable to any city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]