giovedì 11 novembre 2021, ore 17.30
Entering the Solar Century - The role of thermodynamics to keep the energy debate clean
prof. Bruno D'Aguanno
Aula 5 Palazzo Antonini, via Petracco 8, Udine
In this Lecture, accessible to the general public, Prof. D'Aguanno will give an overview of the existing
renewable energies based on the Sun and will contrast those with the non-renewable sources, using thermodynamics
as a powerful tool of analysis. Thermodynamics is a descriptive science, which allows a qualitative and quantitative
description of our planet. Sustainability is, instead, a normative issue, and it belongs to the dimension of desirability
(what kind of world do we want to live in today and in the future?). Thermodynamics is an essential tool in
evaluating which resources to use, and to analyze the complex equilibrium between these resources and the waste
materials produced. Therefore, thermodynamics contributes to clarify the natural constraints within which to move,
before a choice about our future is made on the basis of some normative criteria.
Bruno D'Aguanno is a condensed matter physicist. His current research interests include the development of
models and algorithms for the design of: (i) nanomaterials, nano-structured materials, polymeric membranes, and
simple and complex uids, (ii) innovative systems for thermal energy storage, (iii) Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
and Regenerative Fuel Cells, as well as (iv) heliostat elds for Concentrated Solar Power applications. In his career he
joined the CIC Energigune (Spain), the CRS4 (Italy), the Konstanz University (Germany), and the Free University
of Berlin (Germany). Presently, he is a faculty member of the Centre for Nanotechnology Research, VIT University,
Vellore, India.
