Investigations were performed in relation to the thermal gasification of wood granulate using steam in an allothermal reactor with electric heaters. They studied the impact of the temperature inside the reactor and the steam flow rate on the percentage shares of H₂, CH₄, CO, and CO₂ in synthesis gas and on the calorific value of syngas. The tests were conducted at temperatures inside the reactor equal to 750, 800, and 850 °C and with a steam flow rate equal to 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 kg∙h⁻¹. The intensity of gasified biomass was 20 kg∙h⁻¹. A significant impact of the temperature on the percentages of all the components of synthesis gas and a significant impact of the steam flow rate on the content of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in syngas were found. The highest percentage of hydrogen obtained was 43.3%. The calorific value of the gas depended significantly on the temperature inside the reactor and the correlation between the temperature and the steam flow rate. Its maximum value was 13.3 MJ∙m⁻³ at 800 °C. This paper also includes an assessment of the mutual correlations of the percentage shares of the individual synthesis gas components.

Granulated beet pulp and wheat straw, first separately and then mixed in a weight ratio of 50/50%, underwent a pyrolysis process in a laboratory batch generator with process temperatures of 400 and 500 °C. The feedstock’s chemical composition and the pyrolysis products’ chemical composition (biochar and pyrolysis gas) were analysed. A synergistic effect was observed in the co-pyrolysis of the combined feedstock, which occurred as an increase the content of the arising gas in relation to the total weight of the products. and as a reduction of bio-oil content. The maximum gas proportion was 21.8% at 500 °C and the minimum between 12.6% and 18.4% for the pyrolysis of individual substrates at 400 °C. The proportions of the gases, including CO, CO₂, CH₄, H₂, and O₂, present in the resulting synthesis gases were also analysed. The usage of a higher pyrolysis final temperature strongly affected the increase of the CH₄ and H₂ concentration and the decrease of CO₂ and CO concentration in the pyrolysis gas. The highest percentage of hydrogen in the synthesis gas, around 33%_vol, occurred at 500 °C during co-pyrolysis.

The study aimed to evaluate how airflow from a small drone’s rotor affects the accuracy and consistency of liquid coverage on individual plants or small plant groups during low-altitude spraying. The research focused on the future possibility of using drones - unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as autonomous robots for plant protection. The effects of UAV propellers’ rotation on changes in droplet stream, produced from a single spray flat fan nozzle, as well as the influence of altitude, flight speed, and leaf area index (LAI), on the liquid coverage uniformity (CU) of application on plants were examined. The rotational speeds of the UAV propellers were set at 0.0, 5000, and 6400 rpm. Rapeseed and potato plants were selected for testing because they are common food crops and sources of raw materials for biofuel production. The UAV, on a laboratory test stand, was moved at two heights (H = 0.5 and 1.0 m) at two speeds (v = 0.54 and 1.0 m·s ^-1 ). The airflow from the UAV’s rotors narrowed the droplet stream produced by the nozzle by about 20% and increased the liquid volume in the center of the droplet stream, especially at a UAV height of H = 1.0 m. The leaf area index (LAI) for rapeseed was 0.877, and for potatoes it was 6.273. These LAI differences resulted in the liquid sprayed from the UAV settling more evenly on rapeseed plants than on potato plants. UAV flight altitude and leaf area index (LAI) appeared to be key factors affecting the amount of liquid applied to plants. Lower altitudes (H = 0.5 m) improved liquid application uniformity and enabled deeper penetration into dense foliage. High LAI values significantly hampered liquid penetration into lower plant levels and reduced the uniformity of liquid application.