Czech Republic

Purpose and focus of the Pilot Centre

The primary aim of the PC is to support the engagement of the Czech research groups in the international research projects and to coordinate their activities in the ERCOFTAC, especially in Special Interest Groups. As well the PC stimulates collaborative programmes and research projects between academician research institutions and industrial partners.

Organisational structure

The seat of the Czech Pilot Centre is the Institute of Thermomechanics AS CR. The PC is headed by the coordinator and by the board formed by representatives of Czech ERCOFTAC members. Prof. Tomáš Bodnár is the coordinator for, Prof. Jiří Fürst and Prof. Jan Macek are members of the Scientific Programme Committee as representatives for research and for industry respectively.

The Czech Pilot Centre has currently three members from academician institutions: Institute of Thermomechanics AS CR Prague (contact person: Dr David Šimurda); Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Technology, Prague (contact person Prof. Jan Macek), and Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno (contact person Dr. Pavel Rudolf).

Research and other activities of ERCOFTAC members

a) Institute of Thermomechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

b) Czech Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Automotive and Aerospace Engineering – Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Engineering

The Josef Božek Research Centre of Engine and Automotive Technology has been established as a part of the Czech Technical University in Prague using the support of the Ministry of Education for years 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. The Centre provides research and development of spark ignition and diesel engines in the field of thermodynamics, aerodynamics, turbocharging, emissions, motor management, engine dynamics and structural strength applied to the design optimisation. The Centre collaborates in engine aerothermodynamics with VW AG, John Deere, Renault, Mercedes Benz Engineering, and many Czech Companies (ŠKODA Auto, ČKD MOTORY –large bore diesel and NG engine manufacturer, TEDOM – NG co-generation units, turbocharger manufacturers, etc.).

Department of Technical Mathematics

Besides teaching in bachelor's, graduate and doctoral study programmes, the Department of Technical Mathematics deals mainly with problems of numerical mathematics, especially with qualitative properties of numerical solutions PDE describing flow problems (finite difference, finite volume, and finite element methods), and with qualitative properties of Navier-Stokes equations for compressible and incompressible flows. Numerical simulations are concentrated on solution of various physical and engineering problems of fluid dynamics. CFD methods based on modern numerical schemes of FVM and FEM are applied for solution of incompressible turbulent flows in mechanical engineering and biomechanics, internal and external transonic flows in power engineering and aeronautics, and problems of atmospheric boundary layer. All numerical simulations are carried out using in-house developed numerical codes.

c) Institute of Power Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Brno 

Two departments of the Institute of Power Engineering are focused on study of fluid flow and combustion: the Viktor Kaplan Department of Fluid Engineering and the Department of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering.

Viktor Kaplan Department of Fluid Engineering

Research activities of the Dept. of Fluid Engineering are concentrated on flow not only in hydraulic machines (water turbines and pumps), but also in various applications including jetting technologies, waste water treatment devices (multiphase flows), and biomechanics of cardiovascular system. The Department has a long tradition dating back to invention of Kaplan turbine in 1910 in Brno. Particular success, meaning return to these traditions, was achieved with the design of a new type of hydraulic turbine – swirl turbine – suitable for low heads up to 3 meters which was recently developed and patented. First prototypes have already been manufactured and putin operation, while research has been going on aiming on further increase of efficiency and specific speed. The Department of Fluids Engineering has a strong orientation towards cooperation with industry and provides research and development services toal most all companies producing hydraulic machines and equipment in the Czech Republic. The theoretical research comprises study of flow instabilities (study of vortex rope in draft tubes of hydraulic turbines), flows with moving boundaries (artificial heart) and fluid structure interactions. The commercial software (FLUENT, FIDAP) as well as in-house codes for flows with moving boundaries are used for simulations. The Department disposes of heavy laboratory for testing hydraulic machines and laboratories of fluid structure inter action and biomechanics. 

Department of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering.

Research activities at the Dept. of Thermodynamics and Environmental Engineering are focused on problems of industrial and residential ventilation, ducting and heat exchangers, fuel injectors and spraying systems, special exhaust system (reinforced or Aaberg exhaust system), dispersion of pollutants in city micro-scale (vehicular tunnels,street canyons, intersections, etc), as well as on use of solar energy for HVAC systems (double skin facade, solar air collectors, solar chimney) and on research of high efficiency recuperators for microturbines and of continuous casting. The research is supported by experimental (LDA,PDA, Mach-Zehnder interferometer) and computational (work stations, computer cluster, various CFD codes) equipment.