Assessment of the visibility of unprotected road users in pedestrian crossing

The article presents selected results of research on improving pedestrian traffic safety. Based on annually-updated accident statistics made available by the police, as well as the new pedestrian traffic regulations in force, detailed work was undertaken to assess the level of visibility of pedestrians by drivers in pedestrian crossing areas. The research was carried out by analyzing several characteristic cases of pedestrian crossings occurring in Poland, in which there was only dedicated lighting for crossings, only street lighting, and a variant of coexistence of both of the above lighting solutions. Illuminance measurements were made in the horizontal and vertical planes of pedestrian crossings, and the results were confronted with the relevant guidelines. The next step involved a complementary measurement of the luminance distribution of the vertical plane containing the pedestrian and a portion of the sub- and super-horizontal background. Visibility pedestrians was considered in positive and negative contrast variants, and was then related to the obtained results of the illumination distribution. The analysis of the results of the study indicated the possibility of limited visibility of pedestrians at the crossings despite the satisfactory results obtained from measurements of the illuminance distribution within the crossings

Use of the mathematical model of the ignition system to analyze the spark discharge, including the destruction of spark plug electrodes

The paper presents the results of analytical and experimental studies concerning the influence of different kinds of fuel additives on the quality of the spark discharge for different configurations of the ignition system. The wear of the spark plug electrode and the value of spark discharge were determined for various impurities and configurations of the air-fuel mixture

Permanent Magnet Generator for a Gearless Backyard Wind Turbine

This paper presents the design of a permanent magnet generator for a gearless backyard wind turbine. The magnetisation characteristics of the rotor steel and the stator at different field strength ranges were considered at the design stage and mathematically described using a model in Matlab. The detailed calculations and the design of the planar model were carried out using FEMM software. The high-quality results obtained from the calculations shown in the paper made it possible to make a real model of the generator. This paper presents views of the stator package, the rotor, the entire generator and selected test results. The parameter of this turbine that distinguishes it from a wide range of manufactured generators is its low, non-standard rotational speed and low breakaway torque, which allows the power plant to start in winds of approximately 2 m/s. Other advantages of this generator is its low weight resulting from the use of a light rotor and light alloys for the generator housing

Small lighting luminaires for illumination applications

The application of solid-state light sources in luminaires creates a new quality in illumination design works. In a confrontation with a commonly used but relatively unattractive flood method, the use of small-size luminaires allows one to present an illuminated architectural object in a more attractive way in the evening and at night. In this case, it is possible to apply the principles of illumination described in the literature, especially the principle of height amplification and the principle of depth amplification. The conceptual work of illumination with the use of a large number of small-size luminaires does not require the use of supporting graphical tools, but the specification of actual lighting equipment using only polygonal samples in this case is not possible. The paper presents selected issues of the key stages of the completed work. Using specialized computer software, a geometric model of the architectural object has been developed, facade materials have been parameterized, models of small-size illuminating equipment have been selected and, finally, calculations of luminance distribution on illuminated surfaces have been carried out. As a result of computer work, luminance distributions and photorealistic visualizations of illuminations from defined main directions of observation were obtained. The Lubomirski Palace in Przemysl is an example of the architectural object indicated for detailed works

Assessment of the Impact of Per Unit Parameters Errors on Wave and Output Parameters in a Transmission Line

The assessment of the impact of per unit length parameter errors on the determination of wave parameters, currents, and voltages at the end of the line has been presented in the paper. The impact on the above-mentioned values has been indicated. This paper presents an assessment of the impact of per unit parameter errors on the determination of both wave parameters, as well as currents and voltages at the end of a transmission line, although it is mainly focused on indicating which of the per unit parameters have the strongest impact on the above-mentioned values. For this purpose, elements of incremental sensitivity have been used

Modeling of Selected Lighting Parameters of LED Panel

Semiconductor light sources are currently the fastest growing and most energy efficient group of light sources used in lighting technology. Their lighting parameters, such as luminous flux, correlated color temperature and color rendering index depend on the value of the forward current, as well as the temperature of the junction. LED source manufacturers usually specify, in data sheets, the effect of junction temperature and forward current on the luminous flux for individual light sources. The difficulty, however, is the correct determination of temperature and then lighting parameters, by simulation methods for multi-source lighting systems. Determining the junction temperature which affects lighting parameters is particulary important in the case of LED panels and luminaires, where thermally coupled LED sources shaping the output lighting parameters are in close proximity to each other. Additionally, other factors influencing the temperature distribution of sources, such as the design and geometry of the cooling system, the design of the printed circuit and thermal interface material used, should be considered. The article is a continuation of the publication in this journal where the influence of factors influencing the temperature distribution of the LED panel is presented. The purpose of the research in this article was to confirm the possibility of using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, as well as to determine the accuracy of the results obtained in the temperature analysis of the multi-source LED panel, and in determining the output lighting parameters of the LED panel based on it. In this article, based on previously published research, a LED panel model with a cooling system was made, and then the CFD software determined the junction temperature of all light sources. The determined temperature of the LED sources constituted the basis for determining the output lighting parameters of the panel: luminous flux, color temperature and color rendering index. The simulation results were verified by real measurements on the constructed LED panel prototype. The LED panel temperature difference between the simulation results and the real results on the prototype did not exceed 5%. Moreover, the error of lighting parameters between the simulation results obtained and the results on the LED panel prototype in the worst case was 4.36%, which proves the validity and accuracy of simulation studies

Voltage modelling in ignition coil using magnetic coupling of fractional order

The paper discusses the modelling of magnetic coupling in ignition coils by fractional differential equations. The use of fractional-order coupling allows us to consider the losses caused by the non-linearity of the ferromagnetic core of the ignition coil and obtain the waveform of the ignition coil’s secondary voltage closest to the values obtained experimentally

Modeling of Internal Combustion Engine Ignition Systems with a Circuit Containing Fractional-Order Elements

This paper discusses the research and analysis of the dynamics of high-voltage generating systems. The test subject is an ignition system modelled by a set of two induction coils with an open ferromagnetic core that constitutes an ignition coil. The essence of the tests involved the application of magnetic coupling of the fractional order that enabled taking into account the non-idealities of the coils and the connector that implements the ignition point. The paper contains the results of a theoretical analysis, supported by digital simulations. The conducted experiments confirm the purposefulness of the conducted analyses and the possibility of modeling real objects based on circuits with fractional-order elements

Experimental verification of signal propagation in automotive ignition cables modelled with distributed parameter circuit

The paper analyses the possibilities of treating the ignition cable in the internal combustion engine as a distributed parameter system. It presents the experimental verification of computer simulations of signal propagation generated by ignition systems in the ignition cables, modelled by the distributed parameter system. The tests conducted to determine the wave parameters of ignition cables, as well as the results of numerical simulations and their experimental verifications, are presented. It is concluded that the modelling of the ignition cable by means of a long line gives positive results that can be used for the design of a spark plug with impedance equal to wave impedance of the ignition cable

Input-Output Transformation Using the Feedback of Nonlinear Electrical Circuits: Algorithms and Linearization Examples

This paper addresses the problem of nonlinear electrical circuit input-output linearization. The transformation algorithms for linearization of nonlinear system through changing coordinates (local diffeomorphism) with the use of closed feedback loop together with the conditions necessary for linearization are presented. The linearization stages and the results of numerical simulations are discussed