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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Its prominent features are fibrosis, vasculopathy and impaired immune response. Disease can also affect eyes leading to various findings in ophthalmological examination. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of ocular involvement in patients with SSc. A systematic literature review was conducted using electronic databases. A combination of following keywords was used: “systemic sclerosis” and ophthalmology-related search terms, including the keywords “eye”, “ocular” and “ophthalmic”. In conclusion, eyelid and conjunctival abnormalities and dry eye disease are among the most common ocular manifestations of SSc. Their diversity is connected to complexity of the disease.

With sustainable energy being the key to reaching climate neutrality, the utilization of non-wooden biomass is a necessity. This article compares the emissions and efficiency of combusting a number of types of agrobiomass and wood pellets. A comparison was made on a moving grate pellet burner mounted in a boiler, where flue gas had a vertical flow via two pass heat exchangers with turbulization elements. Tests were conducted on wood pellets (ENPlus), miscanthus straw pellets, sunflower husk pellets, and corn stover pellets. During combustion, both wood and miscanthus pellets met the PN-EN 303-5:2012 emission and efficiency requirements. Corn stover pellets met the requirement on the nominal capacity. Sunflower husk pellets are characterized by excessive CO and particulate matter emissions. Sunflower husk pellets were the most problematic fuel from the point of view of the results of this research. During combustion of the miscanthus straw pellets there was a need to decrease the nominal heating capacity due to ash sintering.

The Centre of Sustainable Development and Energy Savings of the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection of AGH University of Science and Technology in Miekinia conducts research and educational activities in the field of renewable sources of energy, geothermal heat pumps especially. Growing interest in using the renewable energy sources (RES) is reflected upon the interest in such a discipline of studies. Many people declare intention of studying RES. This is a modern discipline, opened at AGH University of Science and Technology in 2003 as the first in Poland. Since 2012, when the Centre was open ca. 8000 people (including students, pupils, local governments and communities) were educated here. Not only geothermal energy is a main focus attention field. In the Centre other renewable sources of energy are also researched. This include solar energy (both photovoltaic and thermal), solid fuel boilers and wind energy. The Centre is heated by heat pumps with ground sources which are simultaneously use by students for practice and measurements. There are didactic heat pumps with temperature and pressure sensors and electric meters to be used by students during measurements. The Centre is in disposal of self-constructed Thermal Response Test device for thermal parameters measurements. In a stand for testing ground-source brine heat pumps for central heating and hot domestic water preparation research are conducted on the COP heat pump efficiency in accordance with the PN-EN 14511 standard. The Centre works on the prototyping of new, innovative heat pumps.

The Centre of Sustainable Development and Energy Saving in Miękinia conducts broad didactic activities for various groups of students. For its own purposes, and also as a concept to use for other didactic centers, a low-cost didactic stand in the scope of heat pumps was designed and implemented. The constructed device presents the operating principles and schematically describes the basic elements of the ground source heat pump system. The device was constructed using a used piston and hermetic compressor from an old fridge. As an evaporator and condenser, a heat exchanger made from copper pipe curved meandering was used. A carefully selected capillary tube was used as an expansion element. The distribution of the components and the visualization of the didactic rig were devised. The whole concept assumed the usage of propane (R290) as an ecological refrigerant. The project also includes cost statements for creating an alternative to a commercial, low-cost stand for teaching purposes at various levels of education and suggests ways of using the set.

The article presents the results of research on the efficiency of photovoltaic modules cooled by water. The purpose of the experiment was to improve the working conditions of the solar cells. Lowering the cell temperature increases the power generated by the device. The decrease in the temperature of the PV module was obtained by pouring water on the upper surface of the cells, as rain imitation or a water film. The power of the cooled and non-cooled devices were compared. The best results were achieved by cooling cells with a water film since there were no water splashes. The continuous cooling of cells surface causes a 20% increase of device's power. During the test, the non-cooled module reached the maximum power of 172 W, while the cooled one - 205 W. Cooling the module resulted in an increase in power by 33 W. In addition, the temperature of the cells dropped to almost 25°C. At this time, the temperature of the non-cooled module was 45°C. The presented solution may be an interesting proposition for small installations. The solution can also be an alternative for cleaning the modules due to the improvement in the power of the module after the test in terms of their power before.

In the municipal and residential sector in Poland, as many as 50% of households are heated by solid fuel boilers. Most often these are, unfortunately, inefficient boilers, fired with low-quality coal. This study characterizes the market of boilers for solid fuels in Poland, and also presents the main apportionment of these devices, due to the different criteria that characterize them. The current legal changes in the scope of energy and emission requirements for solid fuel boilers are also discussed. The main purpose of this work is to analyze the real efficiency of the solid fuel over-fired boiler used, depending on the fuel burned in it. The process of burning selected fuels (seasoned wood, coal and pea coal) in the boiler was preceded by tests of these fuels to determine their energy parameters, such as moisture, ash content, the share of volatile matter and calorific value. In the next step, the energy efficiency obtained by the tested solid fuel boiler during the combustion of selected solid fuels was compared. The highest efficiency was achieved during the combustion of pea coal, and the lowest was achieved during the combustion of wood. In any case, the nominal efficiency value was achieved. Solutions that could improve the quality of the combustion process in this type of boiler were proposed.

The outdoor measurements (during two months experiment) of photovoltaic silicon and CIGS modules as well as simulation of energy production during the period experiment are presented in this paper. This paper offer comparison of construction and electrical characteristics of multicrystalline silicon based modules and CIGS based modules. The measuring system for PV modules efficiency research is shown. The nominal power of installed modules is 250 W for m-Si and 280 W for CIGS modules. The energy production in outdoor conditions at direct current side and alternating current side of each photovoltaic panel was measured. Each PV panel was also equipped with temperature sensor for screening panel temperature. The photovoltaic panels were connected to the electrical network with micro inverters. To determine the influence of irradiance at sunshine on power conversion efficiency of PV panels, the pyranometer was installed in the plane of the modules. Measurement of the instantaneous power and irradiance gave the information about the efficiency of a particular photovoltaic panels. In the paper all data from research installation were analysed to present the influence of solar cell technology on the power conversion efficiency. The results of energy production show that m-Si module produced more energy from square meter (30.9 kWh/m2) than CIGS module (28.0 kWh/m2). Thin film module shows the higher production per kWp than multicrystalline module: 217.3 kWh/kWp for CIGS and 201.9 kWh/kWp for m-Si. The energy production simulation (made by PV SOL software and outdoor measurements test are in the good agreement. Temperature power coefficient for the CIGS module is twice lower than for the multicrystalline silicon module: 0.56%/°C and 0.35%/°C for m-Si and CIGS modules, respectively. The obtained results revealed strong influence of irradiance and temperature on energy production by PV panels. Performed studies have a large field of potential application and could improve designing process of PV installation.

In the paper, the authors focused on the environmental problems of pollution emissions caused by households using batch boilers fired with solid fuels. The aim of this study is to analyse the course of changes in the actual efficiency and emission of a solid fuel updraft boiler, the most popular type of batch boilers used in Poland in recent years. The subject of analysis is the comparison of the values of atmospheric emissions of harmful substances depending on the type of wood burnt in the boiler. The investigation comprises the combustion characteristics of three types of woody biomass (in billets), i.e., pine, birch, and beech. Based on the carried out research of all billets, the beech has the lowest values of CO (3497 mg/m3) and particulate matter (116.9 mg/m3). Despite this, obtained results exceed the current permissible limits based on the standard PN:EN 303-5:2012. The highest efficiency (54.13%) was obtained for birch billets, the lowest for pine (45.13%). The research has shown that the real heating efficiency during the combustion of wood, irrespective of the type of wood being burnt, is low. To summarise, the outdated installations contribute to air pollution several times higher, which indicates the need to replace inefficient heat sources using solid fuels with modern equipment that meets the most stringent standards.

The AGH-UST Educational and Research Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving in Miekinia utilizes shallow geothermal heat by means of heat pumps. The article describes efficiency tests regarding two shallow geothermal systems based on borehole heat exchangers. Temperature parameters and power exploited from the ground was checked during two heating seasons. Additionally, the performance factor of the installations was monitored. In the second testing season effective length of borehole heat exchangers was reduced in two installations. It enabled checking changes of the seasonal performance factor of the system and the possibility of stable heat pump operation using only one of three borehole heat exchanger. Both tests brought positive results.

As the low emission of particulate matter (PM, or ‘floating dust’) and gaseous pollutants from coal-fired boilers is the main source of air pollution in Poland, more environmental-friendly alternatives for coal combustion should be considered. One of them is the co-combustion of coal and biomass. The following article describes the experimental co-combustion of different coal-biomass blends with the use of Galmet boiler, which is a part of a mobile educational installation designed by the AGH University of Science and Technology and Galmet. The research is concentrated on flue gas composition changes connected to the rising content of biomass in the blends. The flue gas composition was measured with the use of Testo 350 and Testo 380 probes. The combusted coal-biomass blends contained 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt% of biomass pellets. The flue gas composition was also compared to the flue gas produced during the coal combustion in the same boiler. The results show that with the rise of the biomass content in the blend, the NO and NO2 content drops significantly, and in the case of blend with 30 wt% of biomass, no NO2 emission was detected. The SO2 content in the case of 10 wt% blend is slightly higher than the SO2 content in flue gas from coal combustion, but its content drops in the case of the 20 wt% and 30 wt% blends. No clear correlation between PM emissions and the biomass content in the blends was observed.

The aim of article was to examine the issue of detached house heating costs depending on the type of heating system chosen. The demand for heat was defined by means of the Audytor OZC software. Based on the results obtained, the heating device was selected: a heat pump and an automatic solid fuel boiler with a coal feeder. The heat pump was chosen by means of Vito-WP software, where the seasonal performance factor was calculated. The role of selected devices was to heat and prepare hot domestic water for a family of four. Costs of energy purchase and heat generation were calculated for each solution on the basis of current market prices for eco-pea coal and electricity supply to the area. The results of the quantifying were summed up and compared with each other. Furthermore, the amount of annual operating costs usage permit the definition of economic effect and simple payback time out for the investment. Financial analysis also took into account the different prices of purchasing heating devices. Based on choice of heat source, the ecological effect was also demonstrated, permitting the amount of harmful substances emitted during normal use for each of analysed systems to be determined.

The heat pump as an ecological solution can be an option for using conventional hot water preparation. The article presents an economic analysis of domestic hot water (DWH) preparation using an air-source heat pump. The operation of the heat pump and the consumption of electricity during the one-time heating of the hot water tank were analysed. The test was carried out under real conditions. Basic parameters and test conditions were based on European Standard EN 16147:2017. Fuel and electricity prices have been determined for available energy tariffs and fuel prices in the region. Different configurations of energy tariffs were taken into account to analyse costs of DHW preparation using heat pump. Obtained costs were compared with the costs of DHW preparation using conventional heat sources: a gas boiler and an automated coal-fired boiler. Annual cost comparison were presented. The results show that average Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the heat pump working under real conditions is 2.06. The most expensive heat source for DHW heating is heat pump which works during a 24-h tariff and the best economic solution is heat pump using 100% night tariff. However, annual costs of DHW preparation are still equal to the cost of DHW preparation using gas boiler.

The emission of dust and pollutants from coal-fired boilers is the main source of air pollution in the Malopolska Region. This is due to the low awareness of inhabitants, particularly in suburban and rural areas, of the need for outdated heating systems and non-energy efficient houses to use considerable amounts of energy. The authorities of the region undertake activities aimed at educating and raising the awareness of the inhabitants. The AGH University of Science and Technology is a natural partner in these activities, especially in the field of education and popularization of energy efficient solutions. One of them is a mobile educational installation designed by AGH in cooperation with the boiler and heat pump producer Galmet. The construction of the installation was supported by a grant from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The leader of the project is the Foundation for the Support of Ecological Initiatives. The main aim of the designed installation is for didactic/educational purposes in the field of air quality and pollution reduction connected with the utilization of coal fired boilers with various efficiency classes, according the PN-EN 303-5:2012 standard. The whole installation is in a 4-wheel trailer adapted to conduct the measurements and present the results. The installation consists of two solid fuel boilers (a boiler with an automatic fuel feeder and a boiler with a manual fuel loading), heat pump, heat buffer, radiator and connection fittings (valves, pipes, circulation pumps, etc.). This allows the comparison of working conditions and pollutant emissions from each boiler. The system measures the level of pollution, analyzes exhaust gas and presents the results via a visualization system which allows mobile research to be conducted. This paper presents the methods of our research and focuses on the issue of low emissions and their impact on our environment and the inhabitants of Malopolska.

The heat pump market is growing year on year and more than 20,000 units were sold in 2015 alone. The majority were air to water heat pumps for heating or for only warming up domestic hot water utilizing inside air. The project ordered by Kolton S.C. company, co-funded by Regional Operating Programme 2014–2020 of the Lesser Poland Region, was conducted in the AGH-UST Educational and Research Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving in Miekinia and had the following goals: defining the type of air-water heat pumps, determining the refrigerant, design, developed and testing the prototype. According to EU F-gas regulations, the use of refrigerant with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) will be limited. It was one of the reasons to develop a heat pump using an environmentally friendly and natural refrigerant—R290. The type of construction used in the heat pump is monobloc, which simplifies the installation. It uses components dedicated for R290, such as a scroll compressor, evaporator and condenser, 4-way valve, electronic expansion valve, etc. The first tests of the device gave the following results: for an air temperature of 2 °C and a water temperature of 35 °C the heating power was 13.2 kW and COP was 3.69. Further tests will be conducted to optimize the parameters of the heat pump and the controlling algorithm.

To develop the laboratory of renewable energy sources in Miekinia, a new stand with a heat pump was created. The main aim of this stand is to increase the range of research in the Laboratory. This stand consists of: a heat pump module, a module to simulate the parameters of the heat source and heat sink, a module to display and register data and a remote control. This creates opportunities for research about the efficiency of heat pumps in reference to present standard PN EN 14511 and previous standard PN EN 255. The data allows us to define the impact of the methodology described in the standards on the coefficient of performance. This stand is able to calculate the coefficient of performance according to set parameters of work, like temperature of heat source, temperature of heat sink or difference between inlet temperature and outlet temperature on the heat sink side. There is also research about the effect of the superheating of refrigerant on the efficiency of heat pumps. All of the research with this stand is intended to examine the efficiency of heat pumps. This stand was also made for didactic purposes. It has the possibility to show the following, how the heat pump works, how the refrigerant circulates inside the heat pump, and what happened with the refrigerant in elements of a heat pump like a compressor, evaporator, condenser, expansion valve. There is also the possibility to show the dependence between the coefficient of efficiency and the temperature of the heat source or heat sink.

The increase in the number of cases of allergic diseases in various organs caused that they are now regarded as a social diseases. It is often interdisciplinary problem due to the simultaneous occurrence of symptoms in several organs. Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is becoming more prevalent throughout the world and is one of the most common diseases of anterior eye segment. Ectoine has been used in many aspects of medicine to reduce symptoms of allergic diseases. Preparations containing ectoine are an innovative alternative treatment for patients with allergic diseases.

Geothermal heat pumps, also known as ground source heat pumps (GSHP), are the most efficient heating and cooling technology utilized nowadays. In the AGH-UST Educational and Research Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving in Miękinia, shallow geothermal heat is utilized for heating. In the article, the seasonal efficiency of two geothermal heat pump systems are described during the 2014/2015 heating season, defined as the period between 1st October 2014 and 30th April 2015. The first system has 10.9 kW heating capacity (according to European Standard EN 14511 B0W35) and extracts heat from three vertical geothermal loops at a depth of 80m each. During the heating season, tests warmed up the buffer to 40°C. The second system has a 17.03 kW heating capacity and extracts heat from three vertical geothermal loops at a depth of 100 m each, and the temperature of the buffer was 50°C. During the entire heating season, the water temperatures of the buffers was constant. Seasonal performance factors were calculated, defined as the quotient of heat delivered by a heat pump to the system and the sum of electricity consumed by the compressor, source pump, sink pump and controller of heat pumps. The measurements and calculations give the following results: – The first system was supplied with 13 857 kWh/a of heat and consumed 3 388 kWh/a electricity. The SPF was 4.09 and the average temperature of outlet water from heat pump was 40.8°C, and the average temperature of brine flows into the evaporator was 3.7 °C; – The second system was supplied with 12 545 kWh/a of heat and consumed 3 874 kWh/a electricity. The SPF was 3.24 and the average temperature of outlet water from heat pump was 51.6°C, and the average temperature of brine flows into the evaporator was 5.3°C. To summarize, the data shown above presents the real SPF of the two systems. It will be significant in helping to predict the SPF of objects which will be equipped with ground source heat pumps.

Pellet boilers are increasingly popular on the market, largely due to the fact that their use does not demand constant control by the user, but is reduced only to replenishing fuel and cleaning the combustion chamber and heat exchanger every few days. However, this functionality creates additional costs in terms of power consumption due to the work of boiler components, such as the pellet igniter, screw conveyors motors, fan, pump and controller. The purpose of this research was the analysis of the power demand and energy consumption of the electricity devices installed on the automatic pellet boiler in two operating modes, determining the total energy consumption and costs of electricity due to heating seasons in each mode. In the first mode, the boiler worked with modulated power, and in the second the boiler was working with nominal power. To carry out the mentioned research, a pellet boiler installed in the AGH UST Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources in Miękinia was used. All the data obtained was used to simulate the total electricity consumption during one standard heating season and the costs involved. In the first case the boiler consumed 623,195 kWh of electricity per heating season and in the second the boiler consumed 304,503 kWh electricity per heating season. Although electricity consumption in the modulated mode is higher, the total cost of heating is lower, due to lower fuel consumption.