Magazyny energii jako elastyczny zasób wszechstronnie wspierający pracę sieci będą niezbędne, gdy zabraknie pełniących dotąd funkcje regulacyjne elektrowni cieplnych.

High-pressure die casting results in a high quality surface and good mechanical properties of castings. Under the effect of pressure, integral and solid castings are achieved without a large number of foundry defects. The correct and proper setting of technological parameters plays a very important role in minimizing casting defects. The aim of the presented article is to determine the optimum maximum piston velocity for a casting in the high-pressure casting process with two height variants, depending on their internal quality. It is because the internal quality of particular castings is important in terms of proper functionality in operations where the biggest problem is the porosity of the casting. The main cause of porosity formation is the decreasing solubility of gases (most often hydrogen) during the melt solidification. Solubility represents the maximum amount of gas that can dissolve in a metal under equilibrium conditions of temperature and pressure. Macroporosity and microporosity were determined from the sections of the surfaces in the determined zones of the castings. Here, the results was that the macroporosity decreased with increasing piston velocity. Ideal microstructure was evaluated at a piston velocity of 3 m/s for both types of castings. On the other hand, the increase in tube size has shown that velocities of 3 m/s and higher, the tube is more prone to macroporosity formation. The highest hardness was achieved at the piston velocity of 2 m/s at both tube lengths.

Aluminum alloys have low density and good mechanical properties, making them suitable for the manufacture of mechanical structures where low weight is critical. However, when these alloys are subjected to elevated temperatures, their mechanical properties deteriorate significantly. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of aluminium alloy, EN AC-Al Si12CuNiMg. For this purpose, an experimental investigation was performed at ambient and elevated temperatures on aluminium alloy samples prepared by casting. Tensile and hardness tests were carried out to characterize the mechanical properties of this material. Additionally, an optical microscope was used to examine the microstructures of this alloy. Finally, a scanning electron microscope was used to analyze the fracture modes of this material. The results show that the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, and Young's modulus of this alloy dramatically decrease when the temperature exceeds 250C. The microstructural investigation reveals several factors that are detrimental to the mechanical properties of this alloy. This includes coarse-grained structures, micro-pores, and several intermetallic compounds. Furthermore, fractography reveals a minor cleavage-like pattern and micro-cracks on the fracture surface of all failed samples under various temperatures, indicating semi-brittle fracture mode.