European Grand Prix
The Jury's Grand Prix was awarded to Dr Julián BLANCO GALVEZ et Dr Sixto MALATO RODRIGUEZ, CIEMAT, Plataforma Solar de Almeria, (SP) for their research which has made possible the first ever practical utilisation of solar energy to the mineralization of industrial hazardous non-biodegradable organic compounds. The process is based on the solar photocatalytic generation of powerful hydroxyl radicals, using either titanium dioxide photocatalyst or the so-called photo Fenton method, developing a full new technology which incorporate innovative low-cost Compound Parabolic solar Concentrators (CPC) adapted to these processes. The solar photo-generation of hydroxyl radicals together with the simultaneous solar production of singlet oxygen, using CPC collectors, could also permit the bacteriological disinfection of drinking water in rural areas of developing countries with the only use of sunlight and without any chemical addition. This innovative process, currently under technological development, has demonstrated to have residual bactericide effect even in absence of sunlight.Information:
The Pan-European Grand Prix was awarded to Prof. Helmut FUCHS, Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik, Stuttgart (D) for his Broadband Compact Absorbers BCA were developed to enable room acoustic and noise control measures over the whole range of audio frequencies from 50 to 8000 Hz in one shot. Their thickness is no more than 100 mm and their amazingly simple and resistive design qualify the BCA as universally applicable acoustic tool. It now becomes possible for the first time to reduce intolerable noise levels at e.g. musicians in orchestra pits, teachers in class rooms, or call-centre agents in open plan offices. Wherever intense communication takes place in closed spaces like conference rooms or restaurants the efficiency of the Compound Panel Absorber CPA with its closed metallic surface facing the sources is particularly superior to that of conventional ceiling, cladding, curtains and carpets. BCA thus enable very cost effective acoustic improvements, when either mounted in front of or integrated into the walls of noisy rooms. Architects and users may equally benefit from an optically attractive, non-fibrous non-polluting and fully recyclable sound absorbers with unprecedented acoustic performance