In a regular drive system, with an internal combustion engine, vehicle braking is connected with the unproductive dissipation of ki-netic and potential energy accumulated in the mass of the vehicle into the environment. This energy can constitute up to 70% of the energy used to drive a vehicle under urban conditions. Its recovery and reuse is one of the basic advantages of hybrid and electric vehi-cles. Modern traffic management systems as well as navigation systems should take into account the possibility of the energy recovery in the process of regenerative braking. For this purpose, a model of a regenerative braking process may be helpful, which on the one hand will enable to provide information on how traffic conditions will affect the amount of energy dissipated (wasted) into the atmosphere, on the other hand will help to optimize the route of vehicles with regenerative braking systems. This work contains an analysis of the pro-cess of the regenerative braking for the urban traffic conditions registered in Gdańsk. A model was also presented that allows calculat-ing the amount of energy available from the braking process depending on the proposed variables characterizing the vehicle traffic conditions.

The Stirling engine is a device that allows conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy with relatively high efficiency. Existing commercial designs are mainly based on the usage of high temperature heat sources, whose availability from renewable or waste heat sources is significantly lower than that of moderate temperature sources. The paper presents the results of experimental research on a prototype alpha type Stirling engine powered by a moderate temperature source of heat. Obtained results enabled calibration of the evaluated theoretical model of the Stirling engine. The model of the engine has been subsequently used for the analysis of regenerator effectiveness influenced by the charge pressure and the heating temperature. Performed study allowed to determine further development directions of the prototype engine to improve its power and efficiency. As a result of optimization, worked out design will potentially increase the indicated efficiency up to 19.5% (5.5% prototype) and the indicated power up to 369 W (114 W prototype).

Stirling engines represent a technologically important solution in combined heat and power systems. Their use enables the achievement of over 90 percent efficiency in the management of the primary energy source with a very high durability of the device, mainly due to the lack of contact of the working gas with external factors and a very small number of mechanical components. The use of a Stirling engine may be equally important when applying renewable energy sources or waste heat from other processes. The first part of the work presents an overview of available commercial Stirling engine solutions. The second part of the work presents an overview of numerical models of Stirling engine operation, which enable the correct selection of the main geometrical features of the devices and the improvement of the structure in order to maximize efficiency or power.

The paper presents a new method for modelling the warming up process of a water system with elements regulating the flow in a stochastic manner. The paper presents the basic equations describing the work of typical elements which the water installation is composed of. In the proposed method, a new computational algorithm was used in the form of an iterative procedure enabling the use of boundary conditions that can be stochastically modified during the warming-up process. A typical situation, when such a modification is processed, is the regulation of the medium flow through two-way or three-way valves or applying additional heat source. Moreover, the presented method does not require the transformation of the differential equations, describing the operation of individual elements, into a linear form, which significantly facilitates analytical work and makes it more flexible. The example of analysis of the operation of water installation used for controlling temperature of the process gases in a chemical installation shows the functionality and flexibility of the method. The adopted calculation schematics enable changing the direction of the heat flow while the heat exchanger is in operation. Additionally, the sequence of calculation processed in modules describing operation of installation elements is elective (there is no situation that output parameters from one element are used as input parameters for other element in the same calculation step).

Stirling engine is device generating mechanical energy without combustion fuel inside cylinder. This fact allows to supply engine from any power source. Example of such energy source can be solar radiation, combustion low-calorie carbon in outside combustion chamber or waste heat from other device like combustion engine mounted in bus or lorry. Use that kind of device in car allows to reduce fuel consumption through increase of efficiency of utilization thermal energy produced in combustion engine. The paper presents commercial solution of Stirling engines powered by waste energy and project of conceptual Stirling engine type alpha powered by flue gases from truck. The initial analysis results of hydraulic resistance in that engine have been also included.