THEMATIC AREAS

• STI

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING with a specialization in ENERGY, Catania (Italy), obtained on 05/04/2001
• Ph.D., 23rd cycle, in Engineering and Materials Chemistry. School of Doctoral Research in Engineering and Physical Technology Sciences at the University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Awarded on 22/06/2011.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 01/09/2001–28/02/2003 – Researcher, scholarship recipient, at C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy, in Messina, on the topic: “Development of a prototype adsorption air conditioner for vehicles.” C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy, Messina, Italy.
• 01/03/2003–28/02/2006 – Researcher at C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy in Messina, as the recipient of a research grant under the research program “Solid sorption system for cooling in trigeneration (SOCOOL).” C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy, Messina, Italy.
• 01/03/2006–12/10/2008 – Researcher at C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy in Messina, as the recipient of a research grant on the theme “Design and testing of test stations for energy technologies.” C.N.R – ITAE, Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy, Messina, Italy.
• 13/10/2008–31/08/2011 – Researcher level III at CNR – Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano,” with a fixed-term employment contract
  National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
• 01/09/2011–31/12/2022 – Researcher level III at CNR – Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano,” with a permanent employment contract. National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
• 01/01/2023–present – Senior Researcher level II at CNR – Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano.” National Research Council, Rome, Italy.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Advanced energy systems, renewable sources, trigeneration, advanced cooling and heat storage systems. The scientific activities include:

1. Study of adsorption heat pumps and thermal storage systems with a focus on efficiency and sustainability.
2. Modelling of trigeneration systems based on adsorption heat pumps.
3. Development of thermodynamic and dynamic models for advanced adsorption machines and thermal storage systems.
4. Design and construction of prototypes and test facilities for EU-funded research projects.
5. Development of control algorithms for advanced energy systems.
6. Investigation of Solar Cooling systems for hot climatic regions.
7. Technical-economic assessment and design of integrated energy solutions and energy efficiency strategies in the building sector.

PUBLICATIONS

• Sapienza A., Brancato V., Aristov Y., Vasta S., “Plastic heat exchangers for adsorption cooling: Thermodynamic and dynamic performance”, Applied Thermal Engineering, Volume 188April 2021 Article number 116622, DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.116622.
• Lombardo, W., Sapienza, A., Ottaviano, S., Branchini, L., De Pascale, A., Vasta, S., “A CCHP system based on ORC cogenerator and adsorption chiller experimental prototypes: Energy and economic analysis for NZEB applications”, (2021), Applied Thermal Engineering, 183, art. no. 116119, DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.116119.
• Vasta, S., Palomba, V., La Rosa, D., Bonanno, A. “Experimental assessment and numerical study of a pump-assisted loop heat pipe for high capacity thermal systems”, (2020), Applied Thermal Engineering, 180, art. no. 115828, DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115828.
• Palomba, V., Wittstadt, U., Bonanno, A., Tanne, M., Harborth, N., Vasta, S. ,“Components and design guidelines for solar cooling systems: The experience of ZEOSOL”, (2019) Renewable Energy, 141, pp. 678-692, DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.018.
• Vasta, V. Brancato, D. La Rosa, V. Palomba, G. Restuccia, A. Sapienza, A. Frazzica, “Adsorption heat storage: State-of-the-art and future perspectives”, Nanomaterials, vol. 8, 522, 2018, ISSN: 2079-4991, doi: 10.3390/nano8070522.