Design and Process Engineering
· Designing, construction, calculation, technology of manufacturing, technical preparation of manufacturing including assembly and testing,
· Thermal and nuclear power plant devices such as steam and combustion turbines, steam generators, steam power plants and heating plants including nuclear power stations, industrial power engineering and their environmental aspects,
· Water turbines, hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pumps, piping systems, hydroelectric power plants, and pumping stations,
· Machinary and devices for chemical industry, food-stuff industry, and biotechnological treatment lines,
· Construction, modelling and theoretical studies of machines and devices for cutting, forming machines, industrial robots, and manipulators,
· Machine parts and mechanisms, methodology of designing machine elements and working mechanisms of general application with consideration of stochastic qualities of inputs, including the application of special types of machines and devices,
· Cars, vans and lorries, buses, trailers, semi-trailers, and motorcycles,
· Combustion engines for all types of vehicle drives, simulation of combustion engine thermomechanical systems, dynamics of driving gear, engine accessories, ecology,
· Machines and devices for in-plant handling of material and handling between operations, for the mining and transport of building materials, for passenger conveyance in buildings,
· Aerodynamic calculation and designing, flight mechanics, fatigue and durability of aircraft constructions, aeroelasticity of aircraft,
· Quality of machine industry production.

prof. Ing. Martin Hartl, Ph.D.

1. A study of the flow and instabilities in the journal bearing with magnetic fluid

   Research of the solutions of the fluid flow in journal bearings. The study of vortex structures typical for such devices, the selection of a suitable and commonly used equipment for experiments, computer modeling and prediction of the desirable and undesirable vortex structures, design modifications of existing bearings based on the simulation results. Simulations and experiments extended into the effect of magnetic and immiscible fluid.

   Tutor: Fialová Simona, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Application of fractal geometry in fluid mechanics

   Fractal geometry is based on self-similar shapes and is very frequent in nature (e.g. plant leaves). Therefore it is suggested to use the fractal geometry for design of fluid devices and elements, where it might lead to decrease of pressure losses and pulsations or extension of the operating range. Research within the PhD thesis will be extension of previous successful application of fractal geometry at our department (design of fractal orifices) and will exploit both computational simulations and experimental modelling.

   Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Cavitating flow dynamics

   Cavitation phenomenon has its negative (cavitation erosion) and positive (e.g. water disinfection) aspects. Results of our experimental and computational modelling show that huge pressure pulsations are associated with passing of the pressure wave through bubbly flow. Sudden synchronized collapse of cavitation bubbles gives rise to pressure pulsations with significant destructive potential. Research within the PhD thesis will focus on experimental modelling of this phenomenon (pressure measurements, high-speed video) and CFD modelling with the aim to set up a 1D model, which will describe both qualitatively and quantitatively the sudden collapse of the cavitation cloud. close cooperation with foreighn research teams is assumed.

   Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Cavitating flow dynamics

   Cavitation phenomenon has its negative (cavitation erosion) and positive (e.g. water disinfection) aspects. Results of our experimental and computational modelling show that huge pressure pulsations are associated with passing of the pressure wave through bubbly flow. Sudden synchronized collapse of cavitation bubbles gives rise to pressure pulsations with significant destructive potential. Research within the PhD thesis will focus on experimental modelling of this phenomenon (pressure measurements, high-speed video) and CFD modelling with the aim to set up a 1D model, which will describe both qualitatively and quantitatively the sudden collapse of the cavitation cloud. close cooperation with foreighn research teams is assumed.

   Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Cavitation erosion model

   Cavitation, i.e. local inception of vapor bubbles due to low presure, can occur during operation of hydraulic machines. Consequent condensation (collapse) of the bubbles generates strong pressure pulses, which cause erosion of the machine surface. Goal of the PhD study is to create description of the vapor bubble behavior and then predict locations of the erosion and its intensity, i.e. to set up a cavitation erosion model. Model will be mainly based on numerical solution of Rayleigh-Plesset equation, which describes change of the bubble radius in variable pressure field. Model will be experimentally validated in hydraulic lab of our department and in cooperation with material engineers.

   Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Control of the fluid stream in the open channels

   It is necessary to solve a problem of a balanced inflow to water turbines in case of hydropower plants. A velocity profile before water turbine inlets can be unsuitable for turbine operation. It can be caused by wrong shape of an intake channel. Some water turbine can be fed better than the other one. It influences a power and efficiency of the turbines. This problem is possible to solve by changing shape of intake channel or by inserting of a rib. The change of channel shape is more often restricted by a zoning plan. An inserting of the rib into the channel leads to the cross-section area decreasing and losses increasing. The aim of this thesis will be to find different solutions how to adjust the velocity profile in accordance with the turbine intake requirements. Some of these new solutions are the utilizing of the vortex structures to modifying the velocity profile or inserting of some shaped parts to modify the velocity profile. Problem will be solved with help of the CFD calculations. If it is possible it will be verified by experiment. Student will solve this problem under project of specific research in scope of Victor Kaplan’s Department of Fluid Engineering.

   Tutor: Štigler Jaroslav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Digital image processing used for measurement of fluid phenomena

   Thesis will focus on a digital image processing of video sequences captured during hydraulic phenomena. Watching the cavitation of inlet vortices and similar phenomena, which could be caught with a high-speed camera, will be the main part of the work.

   Tutor: Habán Vladimír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Dynamic damper for fluid systems

   A mathematical model of various dynamic shock absorbers will be developed to suppress hydrodynamic instabilities and pressure pulsations.

   Tutor: Pochylý František, prof. Ing., CSc.

9. Elimination of microorganisms using cavitation

   Cavitation is not only negative phenomenon in operation of hydraulic machines, but can be also positively exploited for water desinfection. PhD student will focus especially on mechanical effects leading to desintegration of cyanobacteria and bacteria during cavitation proces. Investigation will be based on experimental testing on cavitation circuit in V. Kaplan Dept. of Fluid Engineering and computational simulations (CFD) . Goal of the thesis will be to describe effect of cavitation bubble implosion on cyanobacteria and bacteria cells for different operating conditions and different types of cavitation devices. Close cooperation with foreigh research teams is assumed.

   Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

10. Hydraulic losses for unsteady flow of liquids.

    Same model for computation of hydraulic losses is used for steady and unsteady flows in numerical modeling. However this approach is very inaccurate when damping is evaluated. Losses can be modeled using the second viscosity, but for high steady velocities its influence should be included into the model.

    Tutor: Habán Vladimír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

11. Interference of the oscillating body and the pulsating fluid.

    In the interior of hydraulic machines there is vibration of mechanical parts and pressure pulsations in the flowing fluid. These two phenomena can not be separated from one another and must be solved together. At present, there is a frequent approach to determining additional fluid spills in mechanical parts. Methodology for determining these properties will be developed.

    Tutor: Habán Vladimír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

12. Investigation of inlet recirculation in centrifugal pumps

    Inlet recirculation occurs if centrifugal pumps are operated with low discharge. Recirculation has significant impact on pumo operation (blockage, cavitation, etc.)PhD study will be focused on analysis and description of this phenomenon and search of possible remedies.

    Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

13. Radial – axial pump with counter rotating runners

    This theme will be aimed to multistage pumps (radial-axial), without stator vanes. The stator vanes will be replaced by next counter-rotating impeller. This solution will be applied to runners for low specific speed (radial-axial runners).

    Tutor: Haluza Miloslav, doc. Ing., CSc.

14. Removing chemical substances from waste waters using hydrodynamic cavitation and advanced oxidation technologies

    Current methods for waste water treatment do not enable removal of some chemical substances (e.g. organic volatile compounds), residuals of drugs (antidepressants, analgetics, contraception). PhD study will be focused on utilization of hydrodynamic cavitation in combination with some other methods (ozone, hydrogen peroxide) to eliminate these substances. Close collaboration within international multidisciplinary team is assumed.

    Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

15. Shock induced cavitation collapse

    Cavitation phenomenon has both negative (cavitation erosion) and positive (water disinfection) effects. Shock initiated cavitation cloud collapse has bigger erosion potential than collapse of an isolated bubble. Goal of the PhD thesis will be investigation of the shock induced cavitation collpase by implemenation of numerical model within CFD code. Close collaboration with foreign institutions is assumed.

    Tutor: Rudolf Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

16. The Unsteady Fluid Flow Through the Pipe Junction.

    The new mathematical model of the fluid flow trhough pipe junction was developed at the Departmnet of Fluid Engineering. This mathematical model was prooved for the steady fluid flow in pipe junction. It is necessary to prove it also for unsteady fluid flow and if it is necessary, modify it in agreement with expreiments.

    Tutor: Štigler Jaroslav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

17. Turbulent mean velocity profile analysis in a pipe of ring shape cross-section.

    The research is focused on the turbulent velocity profile for flow between two concentric cylinders. The fluid is moving in direction of cylinder axis. Fluid flow is induced by pressure gradient at the end of cylinders. The ratio of gap between cylinders and the outer cylinder radius is not negligible. The aim of this research is the analytical mean velocity profile derivation for this type of fluid flow. Parameters of this analytical expression will be set up on the basis of numerical fluid flow solution or on the basis of experimental data. Numerical solution will be done for more Reynolds numbers to be able find the dependence of this parameters on the Reynolds number.

    Tutor: Štigler Jaroslav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.