This thesis investigates the effect of the ripple current on the output power of solar cells. A solar panel with several metal halide lamps is set up to emulate the photovoltaic power system, which is cascaded by a boost converter and a buck-boost converter to extract triangular and trapezoidal currents, respectively. All experiments are operated under the room temperature with different current ripples and frequencies. The measured current and voltage waveforms at the output powers indicate that the dynamic characteristics are very different from static ones obtained from the dc loads. It is found that the output voltage lags the current when the peak of the rippled current goes beyond the maximum power point (MPP), leading to a declination in the average output power. This phenomenon becomes more severe for a higher peak, lower frequency, and larger charge of the rippled current exceeding the MPP. In addition, the declination in the average power may cause a shift of the MPP.

Studying the dynamic characteristics and evolution laws of the ballast bed under low-temperature, rain and snow environments has practical significance for the driving stability of railways in alpine. In this paper, a full-scale ballasted track model was constructed in a programmable temperature control laboratory, and the frequency response function (FRF) curves of the ballast bed under different temperature and humidity conditions were measured. Then the vibration characteristics and the evolution laws of the ballast bed under different conditions were analyzed. The longitudinal transfer behavior and the dissipation of the vibration energy in the ballast bed under different humidity and temperature environments were discussed combined with the finite element method. The results show that the influence of temperature on the vibration characteristics of the ballast bed is not significant in the dry and water-rich environments, but the vibration characteristics of the ballast bed in the frozen environment change dramatically with the decrease of temperature. The vibration energy is harder to dissipate in the frozen ballast bed than in the dry and water-rich ballast beds, and the frozen ballast bed is more prone to be sudden damaged when a train passes due to the significant increase in its stiffness. Thus, the performance monitoring and emergency maintenance of the ballast bed in those environments should be strengthened.

Master thesis presents overview of existing types of check valves, their features, uses and issue called "cracking". Experimental part of this thesis focuses on the lift and swing check valves. Results of the measurement are evaluated from non-stationary flow point of view by developing and analyzing static and dynamic characteristics. This thesis takes into account losses and dynamic effects as main viewpoints. Two methods for measuring non-stationary velocities are used. Direct method called Gibson and indirect method laser doppler anemometry. Goal of the master thesis is to increase understanding of the check valves and their applicability.