Search results

The research purpose of this paper is to confirm that internal overvoltages in the push–pull power inverter can be used to improve the discharge ignition in the gliding arc discharge (GAD) plasma reactor.

Investigations are based on the acquisition of voltage changes that occur together with the development of the discharge column and the imaging the GAD with the use of a high-speed camera.

The power supply has the distinctive feature of not having the switching overvoltages completely extinguished, as it is in typical push–pull inverters. The overvoltages still exist but only dangerous peaks are cut off. The remaining ones, of a dumped resonance character (Figure 3), are transferred to the secondary coil of the transformer. Correctly shaped overvoltages are used for ignition improvement in the GAD reactor.

GAD plasma reactors have many applications for pollution control, disinfection and sterilization of surfaces and for plasma deposition, surface functionalization, as well as in agricultural and medical treatment. Investigations prove the push–pull inverter’s advantages in comparison with the transformer-type power supply. Properly configured push–pull inverters have good ignition properties and control options, allowing to generate, desirable for many applications, homogeneous non-thermal plasma.

The idea of using switching overvoltages in transistors of push–pull switching-mode power supplies is new and has not been previously used to improve discharges ignition in a non-thermal plasma reactor.

This study aims to investigate the human resources management of regional tourism organizations (RTOs) in Poland as a condition for organization effectiveness and presents a model of RTO operation in destination management organizations for improved effectiveness.

The study was of qualitative nature because of the scope of the examined features and analyses of RTO effectiveness (here in relation to human resources). The research involved the following stages: desk research of secondary sources, pilot diagnostic survey and diagnostic survey proper, qualitative and statistical analyses. First, an analysis of secondary sources regarding conditions of RTO operation effectiveness took place. Next, a questionnaire was used to collect empirical data from 137 respondents from the same 13 group types, in equal numbers from each organization in the entire population of 16 RTOs.

The research identified 197 organizational effectiveness variables, in four feature groups: the effectiveness of statutory and economic objectives, stakeholders’ benefits from cooperating with RTOs and general characteristics of RTO operation effectiveness. The findings suggest that the characteristics of RTO employees influence organizational effectiveness, especially from the perspective of the organization’s stakeholders. There is a need for strong support for RTO employee structures as a measure to raise organization effectiveness.

Specific human resources practices are identified for the effectiveness of non-enterprise organizations (employee character and structure) that constitute an essential component of the management system at regional and national levels. New directions for RTO operations are also proposed.

The study fills a substantial and identified knowledge gap in assessing organization effectiveness level against the quality characteristics of RTO human resources. The analysis allowed the creation of a multidimensional and universal model of RTO effectiveness investigation, which facilitates comparative analysis of organizations despite their strong diversity. It can be implemented in assessing the effectiveness of other non-enterprise organizations in the context of tourism.