Proceedings, 2020, ISMO 2020

In order to refine the research on the impact of environmental factors on the concentration of pollutants in the air, in this paper, we present a mathematical model that allows the possibility of taking into account the past values of factors (explanatory variables) when modeling the current concentration of pollution. We conducted numerical analyzes based on hourly data from meteorological, traffic and air quality monitoring stations in Wrocław (Poland, Central Europe) from 2015–2017. In order to determine the optimal delay of each explanatory variable, we used a multi-objective optimization model (MO). It turned out that for the concentration of nitrogen oxides, delayed traffic flow, wind speed and sunshine duration time are more important than current ones. Then we built two random forest models: an actual model of current values of explanatory variables and a lag model with delayed variables determined by the MO method. Taking into account variables with an optimal delay (lag model) results in an increase in model accuracy for NO₂ with R² = 0.51 to 0.56 and for NO_x from 0.46 to 0.52. We deduced that in pollutant concentrations modeling, the possibility of greater influence of variables with delay should always be considered because it can significantly increase the accuracy of the model and indicate additional relationships or dependencies. Full article

The work presents an attempt to understand how three basic air pollutants in a room have an influence on indoor air quality. The aim of the study is to analyze the air quality in a conference room, determining whether (and if so, which) correlations occur among air pollutants in a room where the only sources of pollution is people. The air temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration in the air in the room were analyzed. When analyzing the correlation among the measurement results, it should be clearly stated that the impurities that come only from people are correlated with each other. Full article

The newest method for determining surface tension is being validated, which is done for the air–water interface. Since the relative differences between the benchmark values and the experimental results are very small, the newest method seems to be validated in a positive way. Full article

There is currently no common or standardized procedure for certification of the energy performance of buildings, as each EU Member State takes into account the specificities of its own construction sector when implementing the provisions of Directive 2010/31/EU. This usually depends on two features: the purpose of the building and the climate. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of the hydropower primary energy factor on assessing the energy performance of buildings. For this purpose, non-renewable primary energy factor values were analyzed regarding actual energy production and consumption data from 19 Lithuanian hydroelectric plants. The results of the studies show that the average value of the non-renewable primary energy factor of hydropower plants is 0.059. Full article

The European Commission has set the target in the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) to reduce EU primary energy consumption in 2020 by 20%. A crucial aspect of the overall assessment of energy saving measures that affect electricity demand is the primary energy factor that is used for evaluation of primary energy consumption from renewable energy resources in a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB). The analysis of the resources has revealed that energy from photovoltaics is evaluated using different methods. Therefore, this article’s aim is to investigate and evaluate the primary energy factor of energy from photovoltaics using the data of produced and consumed energy of 30 photovoltaic (PV) systems operating in Lithuania. Investigation results show that the difference of non-renewable primary energy factor between the PV systems due to capacities is 35%. In addition, the results of the studies show that the average value of the primary energy factor of PV systems in Lithuania is 1.038. Full article

Due to the increasing awareness of the depletion of fossil fuel resources and environmental issues, biodiesel as alternative fuel has become more and more attractive in the recent years. In this research, the characterization of herbal industry wastes as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production was carried out. There results of analytical identification of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) obtained in the transesterification reaction are presented. The reaction conditions were optimized, considering hexane ratio and catalyst concentration (methanol and KOH) for both steps. The FAME were extracted from the herbal samples by ultrasound-assisted extraction and subsequently were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using single ion monitoring (SIM) method. Additionally, the selected properties of some bioesters were analyzed. This study determined the compounds which are ideal for fuel production. The unsaturated fatty acids were found in higher amounts than saturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) was the major unsaturated fatty acid in herbal wastes, while palmitic acid (16:0) was the major saturated fatty acid. The application of the optimized method also revealed differences in the physical and chemical properties of isolated FAME mixtures compared to conventional diesel fuel. In this research work, for the first time, the possibilities of using the herbal industry wastes as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production are assessed. Full article

A very important element of environmental impact assessment is the selection of investment options. There are many methods of choice, including Multi Criteria Decision Aid methods, which allow for multi-criteria assessment of investment alternatives. The aim of this paper is to assess the alternatives of agricultural biogas plants. Variants were assessed using three approaches—equal criteria weights, economical, and environmental—using the TOPSIS method. This allowed us to define the differences between investors’ points of view and choose the best suited alternative. Full article

Hydropower (HP) in Europe is playing an increasingly important role. Its share in final energy consumption varies from country to country, which is associated with different challenges for each of them. This article presents the challenges of HP development in three countries with a diversified domestic share, i.e., Albania (100% share in 2019), Slovenia (25.7%) and Estonia (0.3%). Particular attention was paid to issues of rational management of water resources in conjunction with the objectives of nature protection and European energy policy. As a result of the analysis, the following challenges in the development of HP were identified: the need to modernize the current HP network, conflicts related to the implementation of HP projects in naturally valuable areas, dependence on external electricity supply due to adverse environmental conditions, problems with the diversification of energy sources and lack of cooperation between environments representing different interests. The countries described have different local specificities; therefore, the challenges in the development of HP are different in each of them. The key to solving them is especially mutual cooperation between various environments, integration of energy markets and diversification of used energy sources, with an indication of renewable energy sources (RES). This will enable harmonious development of each country. Furthermore, it cannot be clearly determined whether the assumed objectives of EU energy policy will be achieved. Achieving these goals is possible because the share of RES in final energy consumption in the countries described is growing. Full article

In this paper we show the advisability of usage of solar collectors for domestic hot water (DHW) preparation in buildings located in two countries: Poland and Spain. The analysis was conducted for a single-family house with horizontal roof. During the calculations we took into account factors depending on the building location such as national rules, climatic conditions, cost of system installation, and fuel and electricity prices. Based on the total design heat losses and demand for DHW, the demand for usable energy for heating the buildings and DHW preparation was calculated. A gas boiler was selected as the heat source of the building, and solar collectors (flat-plate and vacuum pipe) were chosen as the source of DHW preparation. Installation investment costs and annual operating costs have been stamped. Calculations show that for buildings located in Spain, heat losses were 36.5% lower and the demand for thermal power for DHW was 59.5% lower than for buildings located in Poland. Annual operating costs of the heating installation for both buildings were at similar levels, due to high fuel prices in Spain, while the operating costs of DHW installations were 28.2% higher for locations in Poland. The results show that the use of solar collectors in Poland is economically justified. Full article

Municipal waste treatment plants are a special kind of municipal facility, which, in addition to the benefits of waste management, are also an important source of energy from the biogas captured. However, the processes and unit operations carried out at waste management plants are associated with the emission of dust and chemical compounds. This paper presents the results of research aimed at analyzing indoor air conditions at a biogas plant having an installation for mechanical-biological waste treatment in places where employees work. Tests include measuring the respirable and non-respirable dust fractions and measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia (NH₃). Full article

In recent years, modern and energy-saving solutions, such as heat pumps or solar collectors, have enjoyed great popularity in the heating and cooling sector, which is conditioned by political and environmental factors. The aim of this paper was to analyze the advisability of the employment of renewable energy sources, such as a heat pump, for heating and cooling in single-family buildings in Poland and Spain. Based on the calculations made for a traditional house, located in two cities with different climatic conditions—Wroclaw and Cordoba, the heat losses and gains were determined. On that basis, the heating and cooling demand for these locations were calculated and next—taking into account the obtained results—reversible air–water heat pumps were selected. In addition, the investment expenditures for purchase and assembly of the heat pumps were estimated, as well as the operating costs of the installation. After a deep analysis, it was found that the total cost of using an air-source heat pump, is almost 44% lower for Cordoba, than for Wroclaw. Full article

This paper presents the process of autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD). The installations used in municipal sewage treatment plants in Poland were reviewed. The adopted solutions for sludge management and parameters of operating installations were presented. Attention was also drawn to the energy consumption of the process. On the basis of research carried out in the years 2003–2019 in the plants in question, the characteristics of sludge after the ATAD process were presented. The parameters that determine the usefulness of the sludge as an organic fertilizer are indicated above all. Full article

For the construction of a carbon zero school building, it is necessary to choose a proper technological solution for the external wall in the early stages of the design process. At the same time, the material to be used for the insulation layer must be defined. The main aim of the presented study is to analyze five different technological solutions for the external wall combined with four different materials for the insulation layer. The solutions will be used in a new typological model for kindergarten and analyzed and compared with respect to both environmental impact and energy performance. Full article

Cow dung biomass was collected from January 2019 to June 2019. The tests were carried out on the samples of ground biofuel with a fraction below 0.42 mm, subjected to incineration. The chemical composition of ashes and characteristic fusion temperatures were determined. Cow dung biomass ashes were found to contain chlorine, which can contribute to corrosive processes in boilers. Full article

Sustainable construction is an important part of sustainable development because of its contribution to the economy as well as the environmental and social impact of buildings on our lives. Steel is one of the most basic materials, both in structures and for finishes. It enables efficiency, durability, and recyclability, especially for office buildings. All these features of steel show its sustainable potential. Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment. They need to be able to make informed decisions about the impact of their actions. This publication aims to sets out key themes for the design and construction of sustainable buildings. Recent examples of office buildings are presented to illustrate how this is being achieved in steel construction. Full article

This paper is the research output of the laboratory ageing of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). This was carried out in order to study the changes in properties of systems consisting of combustible and non-combustible thermal insulation materials, and four different types of finishing renders. Four types of the widely used, thin-layer facade rendering systems were subjected to hydrothermal cycles in a climate chamber in conformity with ETAG 004 guidelines. Analysis of the physical and mechanical properties (i.e., variation of temperature, water absorption, bond strength and mechanical resistance) of four types of ETICS are presented. This study indicates that there are no visible defects on any renderings over the junctions between polystyrene foam (EPS) and mineral wool (MW) materials when applied in ETICS. Full article

In this study, the idea of an energy self-sufficient public utility building was presented, as well as its energy balance components and the possibility of powering it with renewable sources. The annual energy consumption profile of the building was analyzed. Current data concerning the production of electricity from Renewable Energy Systems (RES) were presented. The applicable provisions of the Directive of the European Parliament and the EU Council on energy efficiency were discussed. Full article

Sunlight is converted into electrical energy due to the photovoltaic effect in photovoltaic arrays. The energy yield of photovoltaic systems depends on the solar array location, orientation, tilt, tracking and local weather conditions. Currently, simulation software is most often used to analyze the operation of photovoltaic (PV) systems and to estimate the energy yield. In this article, the differences in energy yield calculations given by the simulation software and the measured data are determined. The analysis was carried out based on mathematical models and real measurement data, regarding the dependence of the average temperature of PV arrays on variable and difficult to predict ambient conditions. For the purpose of this analysis, thermal models for flat-plate photovoltaic arrays were used. The photovoltaic installations PV1, PV2a and PV2b, belonging to the hybrid power plant of the Bialystok University of Technology in Poland, were indicated as the data source. There is no universal mathematical model to determine the average temperature of the PV modules for every type of the installation with a small normalized root-mean-squared error. The Skoplaki model proved to be the best method in the case of a free-standing solar system. On the other hand, the data values obtained from building integrated installations were better modeled by a method which used parameters under NOCT (Normal Operating Cell Temperature) conditions. Full article

The paper presents the results of research on the environmental impact of sewage ponds serving the city of Kostanay (Kazakhstan). The scope of the research included the determination of basic quality parameters of raw and treated wastewater, an analysis of the chemical composition of groundwater in the vicinity of sewage ponds, and the analysis of the water quality of the Tobol River. The obtained results indicate that sewage from storage ponds, infiltrating into the ground, caused groundwater pollution in the area of about 100 km² around the reservoirs. Due to the fact that the groundwater aquifer in the vicinity of sewage ponds feeds the Tobol River, it also affects water quality in the river, which does not meet the requirements for most of the analyzed parameters. Full article

This study focused on the design of the power supply and the overall control structure of the electronic system, which is charged only with energy from the environment. It describes the basic finding of all the necessary information for the design and implementation with the measurement and evaluation of characteristic parameters. The paper describes the individual possibilities of obtaining energy from the surroundings with the selected energy from the heat of the pipeline. There are also various arrangements of possible elements mentioned in order to ensure the optimal solution of the whole system. Furthermore, a basic evaluation of the comparison of a possible workable solution is made. Full article

Nowadays Off-Grid systems driven by intelligent data analysis, predictive models and real-time optimizations are frequently entitled as Smart Grids. They represent a future step in a sustainable energy supply for applications at various scales, from small household configurations to the systems operating on a scale of larger areas, especially parts of a town or village. One of the key characteristics of such systems is the lower short-circuit power caused by a lower and mostly stochastic nature of their power source, which is represented by a renewable energy source. This phenomenon directly implies the difficulties of sustainable power quality (PQ). Our paper presents an analysis on the lowest possible level, where the impact of household appliances is examined towards a specific kind of response due to PQ parameter variation. The analysis was performed on 120 combinations of appliances. Each combination consisted of three appliances running simultaneously in the microgrid. The measured data were subjected to a statistical analysis. This analysis finds there are several kinds of appliances we need to focus on, in order to express the PQ parameter change of a given parameter. The results show that the microwave, AC heating and drill appliances had a high impact on the total harmonic distortion of voltage (THDV) disturbance. The microwave, AC heating and mower had the highest impact on the total harmonic frequency (FREQ) and the power factor (PF). For the sake of completeness, specific features of the given appliances were examined as for their relevance to the PQ disturbance, which revealed the most relevant features to be taken into account during the development of a predictive model. Full article

Leachates are one of the main factors polluting the ground and water environment in the vicinity of landfills. This is connected with the need to systematically control the elements of the environment that are exposed to the negative impact of landfill emissions. In Poland, the scope of landfill leachate quality monitoring includes 10 obligatory parameters (pollution indicators). The paper presents an example of the application of selected statistical methods (basic statistics, statistical tests, principal component analysis) to assess the impact of individual pollution indicators on the quality of landfill leachates. Four landfills from the area of Lower Silesia were selected for analyzes, for which in the years 2018–2019 tests of leachate properties were conducted in an extended scope (in relation to the scope applicable during monitoring). Analyses of the obtained results showed significant differences between landfills, depending mainly on their age and method of operation. Specific factors for assessing differences between landfills were as follows: electrolytic conductivity, chemical oxygen demand (COD_(Cr)), organic nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, chlorides and calcium. The values of some of the parameters included in the monitoring studies did not show variability, remaining below the limit of quantification. The conducted analyses permit the determination of the level of leachate contamination from selected landfills and the proposal of indicators that could complement the monitoring range of landfills for many years. Full article

In this paper, experimental studies were performed for a solar ground source heat pump system (SGSHPS) with a vertical ground heat exchanger (VGHE). The experiment was operated during the summer in 2018. The heat from the solar collector was monitored by measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures and flow rate of the heat transfer fluids. An energy equilibrium balance carried out indicates heat extraction from the solar collector to the ground heat exchanger. It has been established that clear impact is achieved within a radius of 5 m. The average temperature of the actively regenerated borehole was higher than that of the undisturbed profile, which has a direct impact on the significant benefits of the coefficient of performance (COP) of the ground source heat pump system (GSHPS) and effectively helps soil regeneration. The average efficiency ratio of the heat transferred from solar radiation to soil in the SGSHPS was 42.3%. Full article

This article presents three technical variants of a power supply system of a tethered multirotor drone. The proposed solutions can be applied as power sources for multirotor flying constructions used, among others, for surveillance systems or air quality measurements. The paper describes the topologies of the drones’ supply systems as well as their functional analysis. Full article

The presence of greenery in the space of historic markets was conditioned depending on the historical era: function, aesthetics or ecological needs of the city. The purpose of the work is to show the contemporary functions of greenery in the space of historic markets in the context of conditions for sustainable development (ecological, social, economic and ethical) and their relationship to the latest conservation doctrines (document from Nara—1994, Cracow Card—2000, orthodox creation). The paper analyzed 52 cases of town and city markets in the Podlaskie Voivodeship (Poland), which allowed conclusions to be drawn regarding the treatment of greenery in public spaces of markets. The results of the work may be helpful in the process of designing and modernizing the markets in the Podlaskie Voivodeship and in Poland, and more widely used for further research on the use of greenery in public space and assessing the effects of its presence. Full article

The purpose of this work was to verify the binders available on the Polish market due to their physical features and effectiveness of building permanent active carbon granules. The conducted tests concerned a comparison of sorption properties and strength of activated carbon formed from hard coal depending on the type of binder used. Raw material preparation, granulation, drying and carbonization, as well as activation processes were carried out. The results obtained are presented in the form of tables. Based on the reached results, one of the most important effects in terms of operating conditions is the greatest advantage of the aqueous glycocell solution as a binder. Full article

Sewage sludge is a by-product of the municipal wastewater treatment process. The amount of sewage sludge generated in treatment plants in Poland and other European countries is constantly growing. Due to the growing environmental awareness, legal requirements are being established that require the appropriate treatment of sludge before it can be used for natural purposes. Therefore, operators are looking for the best solutions to ensure proper sewage sludge preparation. More and more ATAD (auto-thermophilic sewage sludge stabilization) installations are being built in Poland, which allow for simultaneous stabilization and hygienization of sludge. However, this process contributes to the formation of leachate, which is discharged into the biological reactors of municipal sewage treatment plants. The leachate after the ATAD process has a complex organic substance and is characterized by large loads of total nitrogen and total phosphorus. Biological wastewater treatment processes can be ineffective for such specific pollutants returned in ATAD leachate. Thus far, no research has been undertaken to analyze the problem presented. Full article

In recent years, the importance of architectural heritage as a factor in urban development and improving the quality of life of residents has increased in Poland. Protection and use of historic architecture should be in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The potential for historical architecture can then be fully exploited. The above topics were discussed based on examples of small towns in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Full article

The article is an attempt to capture the problem of changes occurring in the last dozen or so years in the architecture of energy-efficient houses in Europe, including Poland, in the light of economic and legal conditions. In the studies subordinated to the analysis of the literature, the focus was on those features of energy-efficient buildings that are derived from the logic of solutions of traditional country houses. The genesis of the form of the modern energy-saving house can be found in the principles of building and situating houses developed through the experience of previous generations. These principles took into account the specificity of the climate and existing local conditions. Modern energy-saving construction adds new technologies and new building materials to the traditional form. Full article

The aim of this work was to investigate magnetic field (MF) usage for urban water treatment. Currently, the popular method of ground water purification includes water aeration and filtration, which are expensive and energy intensive. MF is not used for drinking water treatment but mostly for boiler and cooling water at industrial water plants or in farming for plant growth. The authors decided to test it at a small water treatment station in Poland. An MF generator was placed on the pipe between raw water intake and aeration. The results proved higher efficiency in water treatment, especially in hardness, turbidity, Fe, Mn and NH₄ removal. Full article

The level of environmental quality is the result of many factors, and the most important of these is human activity. A responsible approach to the environment is looking for methods to eliminate pollution from the environment. Waste incineration is a way to rationally manage and process waste, minimize emissions of air pollutants and ecologically produce heat and electricity. The purpose of this article is to build and analyze a regression model describing the relationship of pollutant emissions to air from waste incineration plants depending on various factors. Full article

The purpose of this work is a comparison of indirect carbon dioxide emissions between the different heat pump types that operate in Polish climate conditions. This analysis embraces an air–water heat pump (ASHP), ground–water heat pump (GSHP), water–water heat pump (WSHP), and a WSHP with a separating heat exchanger (SHE) in the selected towns, one in each climatic zone in the country. The study starts from a computation of heat demand and electrical energy consumption in every hour of the heating season using temperature values taken from a typical meteorological year (TMY). Then, seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) values are determined, which enables an assessment of which kind of heat pump meets the European Union requirements in every location. Eventually, indirect CO₂ emissions that are caused by electrical energy production are estimated for every heat pump in each location. Full article

The aim of this paper was the analysis of the heating and cooling of a two-story office building located in northeastern Poland, which leads to making practical conclusions. The main part of the work focuses on determining the projected heat loss as well as heat profits of the building under scrutiny, in which the information serves as initial data for the selection of devices of the systems under analysis. For the analysis, we assess the installation of fan coils—underfloor—which heat or cool a room and the installation of radiators for heat, and the multi-split air conditioner for cooling. For every variant, we estimated the investment costs and the operating costs. The comparison enabled to present conclusions and advice concerning the heating and cooling of small office buildings. In the summary, the reader will be able to familiarize with conclusions concerning the price and comfort of the implementation of solutions. Full article

Total organic carbon (TOC) present in surface water consists of different fractions like dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC). BDOC may have an impact on the bacteriological quality of water as it can be a source of carbon and energy for microorganisms. It is important to consider this parameter in case of the distribution of drinking water. The aim of this research was to compare the qualities of chosen surface water in Poland and Germany in terms of concentration of total organic carbon and its fractions. The samples were taken from the reservoir in Poland and Rhine River in Germany. The first one is a source of drinking water for humans. The research showed that, considering the analyzed compounds, the water from the river has better quality. Full article