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The thermal radiation of a black body is investigated using a pyroelectric infrared radiation detector. This paper presents the construction and operation principles of a simple set-up used for investigation of black body radiation in a student laboratory, and the laws of black body radiation are briefly described. Using the measuring system presented in this paper, it is possible to show the relationship between energy emitted by a black body model and its temperature, as well as verifying the Stefan-Boltzmann law. Knowledge of black body radiation laws and the operation principles of pyroelectric detectors for infrared radiation is essential to understand many processes in nature, the operation principles of different devices including certain systems used in renewable energy sources, alarm systems and methods of measurement used in science and technology.

This paper presents results of the research on the efficiency of the Diesel engines of the fleet vehicles fed with the new type of second-generation biofuel BIOXDIESEL at non-stationary and stationary conditions and natural operation on roads. The BIOXDIESEL fuel used for the laboratory testing of physical and chemical properties, engine tests and natural road operation, which is a blend of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) obtained from the waste vegetable and animal fats, bioethanol and Diesel fuel. For the testing, several different types of vehicles have been used: passenger vehicles, small parcel delivery vans, agriculture machines and heavy trucks used for long distance international transport. The results of the vehicles engines testing in non-stationary conditions, results of measurement engines performance on vehicle test bed and results of natural road operation on roads of the vehicles used for testing indicate quasi-identical efficiency of the engines, which were fueled with BIOXDIESEL fuel and standard Diesel. The paper also presents results of initial research, which indicates the direction of future research, which is related to increase the calorific value of the biofuels, which may be obtained by replacement of used bioethanol with the heavier alcohols of renewable resources. Physical and chemical properties of the heavier alcohols indicate the possibility to use them as an additive to the biofuels. The paper presents also results of initial engine tests with a blend of the fuel with different heavier alcohols.

The paper presents results of testing of the fleet of the parcel delivery vehicles, equipped with the Diesel engines fed by biofuel BIOXDIESEL, manufactured on the way of the ethanol esterification process of the waste vegetable and animal fats, with the addition of the standard diesel fuel and pure ethanol. The comparison results of the vehicles test bed on the beginning of the testing and at the end of the testing, when vehicles were fueled with standard diesel and testing biofuel. The results of the testing at non-stationary states are also presented. The paper presents also results of the drivers evaluation of the performance of the vehicles based on the questionnaire. Presented results show that the BIOXDIESEL fuel is fully replaceable to the standard diesel fuel.