OVERVIEW

The teaching 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

Students will acquire 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 teaching unit 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 teaching 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 with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the teacher and the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Introduction to the teaching unit: 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. Technical visit to the San Martino hospital in Genoa
16. Conclusion of the teaching unit. Exam question examples

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://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11159/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination on two topics of the teaching unit, 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 teaching unit, 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