TECHNICAL PHYSICS M - Z

At the end of this Course, the students will acquire the basic notions of:

• APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS, with special emphasis on thermal systems in buildings.
• HEAT TRANSFER, focused on the energy performance of buildings and thermal systems
• APPLIED ACOUSTICS, especially focused on room an building acoustics, noise control and technical norms

The expected learning outcomes are consistent with the Dublin indicators. In particular:

Knowledge and understanding: the students will learn, understanding their physical meaning and reciprocal relationships, the physical parameters that influence the energy and acoustic performance of both the buildings and the heating systems at their service.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the students will learn to calculate and measure the aforementioned parameters with a critical sense, solving simple design and sizing problems applied to the heating systems. They will also be able to approach the design of a building with a broader vision, which considers the relationships between design choices and thermal and acoustic performance.  

Making judgements: the knowledge acquired, and their guided application to practical cases presented by the teacher, will allow students to independently develop a judgement on the compliance with the requirements set by Italian legislation regarding the energy and acoustic performance of buildings and heating systems.

Communication skills: thanks to the knowledge acquired, students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively with specialists involved in the design of buildings and heating systems.

Learning skills: students will be able to independently keep up-to-date on the evolution of legislation, as well as to adapt their skills to various work sectors.

Lectures and class exercises.

In order to follow and understand the lessons of Building Physics, the basics of the following disciplines are needed: 

• ANALYSIS or ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR ENGINEERING
• PHYSICS

APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS: Units of Measurement. First and Second principle of Thermodynamics. Energy balances. Ideal Gas. State diagrams. Combustion processes and heat generators. Inverse cycles: chillers and heat pumps. Environmental impact of the energy systems. Moist air: definition and basic processes. Summer and winter air-conditioning. Fluid-dynamics and pressure drops in the distribution networks.

HEAT TRANSFER: Heat conduction. Convective heat transfer. Radiative heat transfer. Thermal transmittance and thermal bridges. Calculation of heat losses in buildings. Heat exchangers. Energy performance of glazing and windows. Hygrothermal performance of the building components.

APPLIED ACOUSTICS: Definition of the main acoustic parameters. Human hearing and weighing curves. Noise disturbance: NC and NR curves. Sound transmission in open spaces. Sound barriers. Room Acoustics. Sound performance of building materials. Reverberation Time. Improvement of room acoustics. Sound Reduction Index and sound insulation strategies. Noise Assessment Indexes and regulations.

"Contribution of the Course to the objectives of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”

The course contributes to raising awareness and training students on the issues and technologies that underpin Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy), Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and Goal 13 (Fight against climate change).

1. Ausili didattici di Fisica Tecnica Ambientale - Dispense del Docente

2. Evola, Marletta, Piccione. Esercizi di Fisica Tecnica risolti con PTC Mathcad. Termodinamica e Trasmissione del Calore, Città Studi Edizioni, 2023.

3. Evola, Marletta, Piccione. Esercizi di Fisica Tecnica risolti con PTC Mathcad. Acustica e Illuminotecnica, Città Studi Edizioni, 2023. 

Two ongoing tests will also be administered during the course (one on Applied Thermodynamics, one on Heat Transfer and Acoustics). The ongoing tests will last two hours and consist of three application exercises, which require the use of a calculator. They are considered an alternative to the official written test: if the average score of the ongoing tests is between 18 and a maximum of 26, the candidate may choose whether to accept the score obtained or also take the oral test  to improve the mark.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

• Application of the First Law of Thermodynamics and the continuity equation.
• Calculation of fuel consumption in a boiler.
• Calculation of the electricity consumption of a heat pump.
• Calculation of the heating and cooling coils in an air conditioning cycle (summer and winter).
• Quantification of heat transfer by convection and radiation.
• Thermal transmittance of walls and windows.
• Thermo-hygrometric verifications on building components: surface condensation and internal condensation.
• Calculation of temperatures and efficiency in a heat exchanger.
• Calculation of pressure drops in distribution pipes.
• Calculation of global sound pressure levels from a spectrum in octave bands (A-weighted and unweighted).
• Calculation of sound pressure levels in open spaces, with and without acoustic barriers.
• Calculation of the Reverberation Time in a room.
• Application of NC and NR criteria.
• Calculation of the surface of sound-absorbing materials needed to improve the acoustics of a room.
• Calculation of the soundproofing power of a partition.