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

The Institute of Thermomechanics deals with fundamental and applied research in applied physics with the aim to the mechanics of solid and fluid phases and their interactions. At present, the research is focused partly on following fields of applied physics - fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, dynamics of mechanical systems, solid mechanics, and material diagnostics, and partly to the solution of interdisciplinary problems, as fluid/body interactions, environmental aerodynamics, and biomechanics. Simultaneously with solving of individual problems, experimental methods and measuring techniques as well as device and computer aided equipments are developed. Laboratories of the Institute are equipped with large experimental facilities and with necessary instrumentation.

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.

Related Events

Stochastics in Fluids 2023

PC Czech Republic and SIG14 Summer School 21st - 25th August 2023 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic The problems of stochastics in fluids is one of the most challenging areas in physics, numerics as well as in mathematics. The aim of

21 Aug 2023

Topical Problems of Fluid Mechanics 2023

P​C Czech Republic Conference Topical Problems of Fluid Mechanics 2023 Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 22nd - 24th February 2023 O​rganisers: Prof. Tomáš Bodnár Prof. Cedric Galusinski Dr. David Šimurda Aim of the Conference The aim of the conference

22 Feb 2023

ERCOFTAC Spring Festival 2022: Prague, Czech Republic

ERCOFTAC Spring Festival 2022 6th - 7th - 8th April 2022 hosted by PC Czech Republic Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technická 4, Prague 6 – Dejvice, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic https://www.fs.cvut.cz/en/faculty/contact/buildings/dejvice/

7 Apr 2022

Topical Problems of Fluid Mechanics 2022

Topical Problems of Fluid Mechanics 2022 Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences 16th - 18th February 2022 Institute of Thermomechanics AS CR, v.v.i.​ Dolejškova 1402/5​ Prague 18200​ Czech Republic Read more

16 Feb 2022

Fluids under Control - 23rd - 27th August 2021 !!!

ERCOFTAC Summer School 2020 Fluids under Control 23rd - 27th August 2021 Location: Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Date: 23rd - 27th August 2021 SIG/PC: PC Czech Republic Organisers: Tomáš Bodnár, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic T he

23 Aug 2021

Related News

ERCOFTAC Spring Festival 2022: 7th-8th April 2022

ERCOFTAC Spring Festival 2022 - the date has been announced: 7th - 8th April 2022 Organised by PC Czech Republic with location in Prague, Czech Republic Please save the date and do spread the word. Read more

26 Oct 2021

Summer School ”Fluids under Control” 2021 - Report

ERCOFTAC Summer School ”Fluids under Control” organised by Tomas Bodnar, PC Czech Republic, took place on the 23rd - 27th August 2021 at Department of Technical Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic. The summer school was organized as a

24 Oct 2021

Onset of Turbulence and Singular Flows - Report

Workshop "Onset of Turbulence and Singular Flows" organised by Henri Benard Pilot Centre , SIG14 , SIG35 took place on the 7th - 10th July 2021 at IGESA, Porquerolles Island, France. The workshop was first motivated by two very recent studies: the first one is by Berangere Dubrulle and

23 Jul 2021

Call for Nominations for the 16th ERCOFTAC da Vinci Competition: 26th July 2021

Call for Nominations for the 16th ERCOFTAC da Vinci Competition 2021 All nomination received by 26th July 2021 will be considered. Eligible candidates are PhD students or recent PhD graduates from a university associated with an ERCOFTAC Pilot Centre ( www.ercoftac.org/pilot_centres ) who have

22 Jun 2021

Call for Nominations Da Vinci Competition 2020 - 15th July 2020 Deadline for submission of nominations !!!

Call for Nominations: 15th ERCOFTAC da Vinci Competition 15th July 2020 Deadline for submission of nominations !!! The ERCOFTAC da Vinci Prize for young researchers is awarded annually in recognition of an excellent PhD thesis in theoretical and applied fluid dynamics and outstanding

18 Jun 2020