OVERVIEW

The course unit aims at presenting the technological aspects for the management of hospital facilities. The student will be provided with basic knowledge on the electrical plant engineering part relating to the description of medium and low voltage systems and with basic knowledge of thermal plant engineering part relating to heating, refrigerating and air conditioning devices and systems.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is provide students with skills concerning hospital systems useful for job placement in public and private structures and for active participation in teams for the management of complex structures systems and biomedical equipment. Knowledge will cover electricity security and safety (power systems, fault protection, supply continuity, energy efficiency) and subjects related to thermal energy (mass and energy balance, air conditioning, heating and refrigeration).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will be able to, with specific reference to hospital energy systems:

- identify components in electrical and mechanical distribution diagrams

- interpret components rated and operating data

- explain main principles of committed electrical and mechanical engineering

- understand and apply technical standards, especially for continuity and safety prescription

- solve basic examples to verify correct design of technologic systems

PREREQUISITES

Learning competences acquired by attending a course unit of basic circuit theory, typically provided in engineering bachelor courses

TEACHING METHODS

In order to achieve the cited aims and learning outcomes, theory and exercises will be taught by means of frontal lectures. Visits to hospital sites will be also considered.

Students who hold valid certificates relating to Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the lecturer and the school’s disability liaison officer at the start of the course to agree on any teaching arrangements which, whilst respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles. 

The contact details for the university’s disability liaison officer are available at the following link: https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Introduction to the course: general information on electrical systems (production, transmission, distribution)
2. Review of the three-phase electrical distribution system and electrical system components
3. Effects of current on human beings. General information on protection and risk assessment systems
4. Current-time curve. Voltage-time curve. Dangerous areas for humans. In-depth study of current effects on the human body: tetanization, cardiac arrest, fibrillation. Critical current paths. Modeling.
5. State of the neutral in three-phase systems and consequences on the operation of electrical systems. Low voltage electricity distribution systems: TT, TN, IT, ELV (Extra Low Voltage) systems
6. Protection from direct contacts. Protection criteria and methodologies: barriers, isolation, distance. Full protection, partial protection. Protection by insulation. Degrees of protection. Examples
7. Protection from indirect contacts. TT system: electrical schematization and plant considerations. Low voltage distribution systems. TN system: use of thermomagnetic and differential switch. Operating principle, tripping curves. Pros and cons of using the differential switch
8. IT system. Medical IT system. Insulation transformer
9. Classification of medical premises
10. Examples of equipment consumption
11. Power supply schemes in hospital facilities. Normal emergency power supply. Classification of users. Re-power schemes following loss of external power. Power supply from UPS systems. Emergency diesel power supply
12. Power factor correction. Plant aspects
13. Energy efficiency in hospital structure. The thermal systems of a hospital structure
14. Topics relating to thermal energy: balance of mass and energy, air conditioning, heating, refrigeration
15. Mock exam questions

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Specific indications on reference bibliography will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the following weblink:

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&_lang=it&include=corso

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination on two topics of the course, with an average duration of 45 minutes. Either theoretical open questions or exercises will be posed.

Students having disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders can request suitable aids for the examinations. Such aids will be defined according to specific needs, together with the Referent for the Polytechnic School of the Committe for the inclusion of Students with Disabilites and with SLD. Students in such conditions are invited to get in touch (via e-mail) with the Teacher a sufficient time before the examination, inserting in copy the Referent for the Polytechninc School (https://unige.it/en/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.html), without sending any document about their disabilites.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

In order to assess the effective achievement of the aims and learning outcomes of the course, the oral examination will evaluate the ability of the students in correctly intepret design data, use standard clauses and apply energy engineering principles in hospital plants. Evaluation parameters will be the quality of oral presentation, the correct use of specific terminology and the appropriate use of standards clauses and analytical relationships

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) may request accommodations for exams at least 7 days prior to the exam date by filling out the “accommodation request form” (available via online services at https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti# no-back), which will be automatically forwarded by the system to the instructor in charge of the course and to the faculty liaison for students with disabilities and SLDs in their School/Department. 

The student will receive a copy of their request.