Waste tires (granulate) and selected plastics from the automotive industry were evaluated by using the tertiary (pyrolysis) and quaternary (calorimetry) recovering. Pyrolysis is proving to be an environmentally friendly alternative to incineration and inefficient landfilling. Currently, the main challenges for pyrolysis of plastic waste are unavailability and inconsistent quality of feedstock, inefficient and hence costly sorting, and last but not least insufficient regulations around plastic waste management. Waste plastics and tire materials were characterized by TG/DTG analysis, Py-GC/MS analysis and calorimetry. TG analysis of the investigated materials gives the typical decomposition curves of synthetic polymers. The tested samples had the highest rate of weight loss process in the temperature range from 375 °C to 480 °C. Analytical pyrolysis of the tested polymers provided information on a wide variety of organic compounds that were released upon thermal loading of these materials without access to oxygen. Analytical pyrolysis offers valuable information on the spectrum of degradation products and their potential uses. Based on the results of calorimetry, it can be stated that the determined calorific value of selected plastic and rubber materials was ranging from 26.261 to 45.245 MJ/kg depending on the ash content and its composition.

The main tasks of this research are an extended analysis of the technological rut formation process’s geometric, force, and energy characteristics as a result of repeated passage of a forest machine on the soil surface. Existing experimental studies of the rutting process are associated with significant material costs and disruption of the forest ecosystem. The purpose of this study is to obtain similar experimental data in laboratory conditions, as well as establishing the correspondence of these experimental results to the results of field studies. The experiments were carried out on the specialized “soil channel” stand of Technical University in Zvolen (Slovakia), as well as in natural conditions in Brody Forestry of the Lviv Region (Ukraine). Geometric track characteristics were determined by length gauges. Power and energy characteristics of the track development process were determined using dynamometers, ammeters, and voltmeters. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil with which the mover interacted were determined by a dynamic hardness tester, a penetrometer, and a moisture meter. The characteristics of rut development processes in natural and laboratory conditions are similar to each other. This makes it possible to carry out a wide range of studies of a wheel with soil on a specialized stand and save considerable money during the implementation of full-scale experiments. So, the process of track development can be analyzed with the help of the geometric, force, and energy characteristics of the “wheel-soil” system obtained on laboratory equipment.

W artykule przedstawiono ocenę celowości zastosowania magazynu energii w instalacji fotowoltaicznej o mocy 5 kWp, która pracuje w ramach programu Prosument, zgodnie z przepisami obowiązującymi od 2022 roku. Analiza została wykonana w oparciu o dane rzeczywiste uzyskane w czasie trzyletniej eksploatacji systemu fotowoltaicznego. Na podstawie zebranych danych określono ilość energii wyprodukowanej przez system fotowoltaiczny, wielkość nadwyżki, którą przesłano do sieci oraz ilość energii pobranej. Dane te pozwoliły na optymalny dobór pojemności zestawu akumulatorów, oszacowanie ilości energii, która może zostać zmagazynowana, kosztów inwestycyjnych oraz wartości rocznych korzyści związanych z zastosowaniem systemu. Następnie dokonano oceny efektywności ekonomicznej dla zaproponowanego układu magazynowania energii.

The aim of the research was to create a universal system for monitoring and evaluating the operating parameters of the haulage vehicles used for the haulage of wood with self-maintenance. The article presents partial results from the entire research. Data for research into the operational reliability of IVECO, SCANIA, and TATRA vehicles were obtained from the real-world operating conditions of two companies dealing with the mining/transportation process. Information from the operating conditions was obtained according to the test plan [n, R, t], according to which n objects were simultaneously tested, and the objects that were damaged during the tests were replaced with new ones; the tests ended after the test time t for each of the n positions. Based on the results and statistical analyses, it can be said that the best operational reliability is achieved by IVECO, followed by SCANIA, and only then by TATRA. The resolution of the above conclusions in operating conditions will contribute to the efficiency of the operation of the investigated facilities and the extension of the technical life of the means of transportation.

This research deals with the processing of wood using a circular saw, which is associated with several risks and factors that affect the wood-splitting process. One of them is the wear of the teeth of the saw blade that change the magnitude of the cutting forces. The aim of this study is to compare real measured values and theoretical values when processing Norway spruce wood using two types of saw blades, i.e., sintered carbide (SC) and high-speed steel (HSS), with a diameter of 600 mm and 54 and 56 teeth, respectively. Experimental measurements were carried out on a special test device with the possibility of moving the tested wood into the cutting devices and a simple saw blade replacement system. The results of the contributions show significant differences, based on defined factors which represent the cutting and feed speed, which are supported by FEM analysis of cutting forces in the process of cutting wood—when changing the design of the saw blade. The results of the experiment show that the cutting conditions (cutting speed and feed speed) do not have a significant effect on the size of the cutting forces. The theoretical and real stress values for HSS discs ranged from 14 to 22 MPa. Significantly larger differences were recorded for discs with SC, where the real values of the maximum stresses were around 14 MPa and the theoretical ones around 25 MPa. When cutting spruce with a disc with SC slices, the maximum values of the theoretical cutting forces were in the range of 76 to 94 N and the maximum values of the measured cutting forces were in the range of 40 to 44 N.

This study focuses on analyzing transportation vehicles using Ishikawa diagrams to understand random events (fault conditions) in the operation of monitored transportation vehicles. Creation of a universal system for monitoring and evaluating the operating parameters of trucks used for wood transportation and wood material with self-service maintenance. Currently, the priority of all companies is to minimize costs and maximize profits, which can be achieved through a properly set maintenance system and proper care for transportation vehicles. The article presents only partial results of the entire research. Data for the study of the operational reliability of IVECO, SCANIA, and TATRA vehicles were obtained from real operating conditions of two companies engaged in the timber cutting and transportation process. The mentioned vehicle brands were chosen due to their use in the Slovak forest economy and management. Using Ishikawa diagrams for individual design groups of monitored transportation vehicles, operators were provided with a proposal on how to influence operational reliability. The study’s results, based on the real needs of the companies mentioned, can serve as a valuable analysis for the operation of the transport vehicles in use.