Janusz Mroczka

Due to the critical function and susceptibility to loading-related issues of the knee joint, the development of novel examination methods is beneficial. Vibroarthrography (VAG) is a method for analyzing vibrations generated by the knee joint in motion. While extensive literature exists on VAG...

This paper presents the results of tests of a model semi-passive RFID identifier system from the point of view of efficiency of energy harvesting from teletransmission systems. The previously developed assumptions and guidelines for the concept of implementation of a harvester system applied in...

During the operation of solar and wind power plants, it is necessary to solve issues related to the guaranteed capacity of these plants, as well as the frequency stabilisation in the power system where they operate, and maintain an operating mode of self-sufficiency conditions. One of the solutions to these problems is the use of energy storage systems. This article proposes a mathematical model for the study of frequency and power regulation processes in power systems with distributed generation, which includes renewable energy resources and energy storage systems. The novelty of the model lies in the possibility of determining energy cost indicators based on instantaneous energy power data. The model allows us to estimate the conditions under which distributed generation becomes self-sufficient. The results of the model calculations of two variants of power system operation, which includes wind generators with a capacity of 1500 MW, demonstrate the ability of the proposed model to accurately reproduce the dynamics of the frequency stabilisation process. The calculation results of the energy-economic indicators of a real power system combined with a powerful subsystem of wind generation and a battery-type energy storage system prove the competitiveness of self-sufficient renewable energy power plants.

A low electromagnetic interference (EMI), precision temperature control system for sensitive piezoelectric sensors stabilization and their thermal characteristics research was proposed. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was chosen as the device to be tested. Recently, QCMs found use in many fields of study such as biology, chemistry, and aerospace. They often operate in harsh environments and are exposed to many external factors including temperature fluctuations, to which QCMs are highly susceptible. Such disturbances can cause undesirable resonant frequency shifts resulting in measurement errors that are difficult to eliminate. The proposed solution enables measurements of QCMs thermal characteristics, effectiveness evaluation of temperature compensation methods, and testing of the frequency stability. As a part of the developed solution, two independent temperature regulators were used: first to maintain the QCM crystal at desired temperature, and second to keep the QCM oscillator circuit at fixed temperature. The single regulator consists of a thermoelectric module (TEC) used for both heating and cooling. Two considered TEC driving methods were compared in terms of EMI and their impact on the QCM signal quality. The proposed system was examined for its temperature stabilization capability showing high stability of 11 mK_p-p for one hour and the setpoint accuracy of ±15 mK in the full temperature range.

The stability of the electron thermionic emission current is one of the most important requirements for electron sources used, inter alia, in evaporators, production of rare gas excimers, and electron beam objects for high energy physics. In emission current control systems, a negative feedback signal, directly proportional to the emission current is transferred from the high-voltage anode circuit to the low-voltage cathode circuit. This technique, especially for high-voltage sources of electrons, requires the use of galvanic isolation. Alternatively, a method of converting the emission current to voltage in the cathode power supply circuit was proposed. It uses a linear cathode current intensity distribution and multiplicative-additive processing of two voltage signals, directly proportional to the values of cathode current intensity. The simulation results show that a relatively high conversion accuracy can be obtained for low values of the electron work function of the cathode material. The results of experimental tests of the dynamic parameters of the electron source and the steady-state I_e-V characteristic of the converter are presented. The implementation of the proposed I_e-V conversion method facilitates the design of the emission current controller, especially for high-voltage sources of electrons, because a negative feedback loop between the anode and cathode circuits is not required, all controller sub-components are at a common electrostatic potential.

This article proposes a new method for detecting slight refractive index changes under conditions of unknown polarization state. It is argued that an insignificant modification of the tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) structure and selecting the appropriate spectral region allows us to accurately track changes in the refractive index. It has also been proven that the method can be easily made insensitive to temperature and that the sensitivity to changes in the polarization plane of the input light can be significantly reduced, which is crucial in later practical applications. Analytes in the form of an aqueous glucose solution were used to calibrate the sensor. The proposed method, based on perpendicular tilted fiber Bragg grating (P-TFBG), has a wide range of universality because its development and slight modification will enable the detection of glucose, pathogens, and viruses.

This paper presents an application of the IpDFT spectrum interpolation method to estimate the fundamental frequency of a power waveform. Zero-crossing method (ZC) with signal prefiltering was used as a reference method. Test models of disturbances were applied, based on real disturbances recorded in power networks, including voltage harmonics and interharmonics, transient overvoltages, frequency spikes, dips and noise. It was determined that the IpDFT method is characterized by much better dynamic parameters with better estimation precision. In an example, in the presence of interharmonics, the frequency estimation error was three times larger for the reference method than that for the IpDFT method. Furthermore, during the occurrence of fast transient overvoltages, the IpDFT method reached its original accuracy about three times faster than the ZC method. Finally, using IpDFT, it was possible to identify the type of disturbances: impulsive, step changes of frequency or voltage dips.

Thermionic emission sources are key components of electron impact gas ion sources used in measuring instruments, such as mass spectrometers, ionization gauges, and apparatus for ionization cross-section measurements. The repeatability of the measurements taken with such instruments depends on the stability of the ion current, which is a function, among other things, of the electron beam current and electron accelerating voltage. In this paper, a laboratory thermionic electron beam current and accelerating voltage controller is presented, based on digital algorithm implementation. The average value of the percentage standard deviation of the emission current is 0.021%, and the maximum electron accelerating voltage change versus the emission current is smaller than 0.011% in the full operating range of the emission current. Its application as a trap current or emission current-regulated ion source power supply could be useful in many measuring instruments, such as in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mass spectrometers as universal gas sensors, where a stable emission current and electron energy are needed.

The paper introduces a research program formulated to uncover and describe a complex nature of the sleep apnea disorders. This study include the physiological sensing and the signal processing oriented towards the mapping of a dynamical profile of physiological system represented by its complexity and variability. To reconstruct a heatmap of the dynamical features significant for triggering sleep disorders we collected a set of procedures dedicated to qualitative and quantitative depiction of the intra- and inter-events, and then adapted them to the use with a polysomnography data. Research protocol was organized with reference to the patients and modified PNEUMA model, and the COMPASS Toolbox devoted to time series exploration. The outcome novelty consists in the complementary characterization of the sleep apnea dynamics, measured at various levels of the system, but also the original statements on the sensitivity of fractal and network oriented algorithms applied to physiological data has been formulated in the report in reference to the temporal patterns encoded in polysomnography data, e.g. a detection of the central sleep apnea with the use of nasal airflow has been documented. The complementary approach proposed in the paper is a prerequisite to understand the SAS phenotyping, predict that modes and the SAS states, and formulate an efficient procedures for personalized patient care.