Full-time study

4 years

doc. Ing. Pavel Rudolf, Ph.D.

Chairman :
doc. Ing. Pavel Rudolf, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
prof. Ing. Jan Jedelský, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Zdeněk Jegla, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Jaroslav Katolický, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jiří Pospíšil, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
Ing. Milan Kořista, Ph.D.

The aim of the doctoral study in the suggested programme is:
• Training of creative highly educated workers in the field of energy engineering and closely related engineering fields, who will be prepared to work in research and development in industrial companies, research institutes and organizations in our country and abroad.
• To enable the doctoral student to develop talent for creative activities and further development of a scientific or engineering personality. To ensure the development of his ability to process scientific knowledge in the field of study and related fields.
• Graduates will be able to do independent scientific work, especially in the field of applied but also basic research.
• The doctoral student is guided not only to gain knowledge in the field studied, but also to its further development.
• The focus of the study is primarily on basic and applied research in the following areas: design, development and operation of energy and fluid machines and equipment, combustion, environmental engineering, process engineering, fluid mechanics, thermomechanics.
• The graduate has a very good knowledge of field theory and modern approaches in the field of computational and experimental modeling.
• The graduate has skills and abilities in the field of publishing and sharing R&D results in Czech and especially English.

• The profile of the graduate corresponds to the current state of scientific knowledge in the field of energy engineering and allows him to further develop research in the field.
• The graduate is a creative personality capable of independent and team scientific work, has sufficient skills for the preparation, implementation and management of R&D projects.
• The graduate is able to transfer results between basic and applied research and collaborate in multidisciplinary international scientific teams.
• During the study, the doctoral student will gain broad knowledge and skills in the field of fluid flow, heat transfer, design and operation of energy machines, equipment and systems.
• It is assumed that graduates will find employment as R&D workers in academic research organizations or in research institutes and departments of applied research of industrial enterprises in the Czech Republic and abroad, in ordinary and senior positions.

The graduate of the doctoral study programme in Energy Engineering will be prepared for independent and team R&D work in the academic environment, research organizations or research departments of industrial companies in the field of energy, both domestic and foreign.
The graduate will have a comprehensive view of current challenges and problems in the field of energy and will be able to respond by analysing the issue, design of appropriate models or technical measures and equipment. Therefore, they will be a suitable candidate not only for positions in the field of R&D, but also in public administration, consulting companies or managerial positions of companies focusing on energy.

See applicable regulations, DEAN’S GUIDELINE Rules for the organization of studies at FME (supplement to BUT Study and Examination Rules)

The rules and conditions of study programmes are determined by:
BUT STUDY AND EXAMINATION RULES
BUT STUDY PROGRAMME STANDARDS,
STUDY AND EXAMINATION RULES of Brno University of Technology (USING "ECTS"),
DEAN’S GUIDELINE Rules for the organization of studies at FME (supplement to BUT Study and Examination Rules)
DEAN´S GUIDELINE Rules of Procedure of Doctoral Board of FME Study Programmes
Students in doctoral programmes do not follow the credit system. The grades “Passed” and “Failed” are used to grade examinations, doctoral state examination is graded “Passed” or “Failed”.

Brno University of Technology acknowledges the need for equal access to higher education. There is no direct or indirect discrimination during the admission procedure or the study period. Students with specific educational needs (learning disabilities, physical and sensory handicap, chronic somatic diseases, autism spectrum disorders, impaired communication abilities, mental illness) can find help and counselling at Lifelong Learning Institute of Brno University of Technology. This issue is dealt with in detail in Rector's Guideline No. 11/2017 "Applicants and Students with Specific Needs at BUT". Furthermore, in Rector's Guideline No 71/2017 "Accommodation and Social Scholarship“ students can find information on a system of social scholarships.

The newly proposed doctoral study programme in Energy Engineering is being created as a new one within the institutional accreditation of the field of education "Energy". It follows on from the bachelor's degree in the specializations of the bachelor's study programme in Energy and the subsequent master's degree programmes in Energy and Thermofluid Engineering and Process Engineering. It is an education combining solid theoretical foundations in applied mechanics, design of power machines, design and operation of power systems, knowledge and skills in computational and experimental modelling in the field of power engineering and applied fluid mechanics and thermomechanics.
In the case of applicants from other faculties or universities, it is necessary that they master the above-mentioned disciplines at the level taught in these programmes.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2026 to 31.05.2026)

1. Atomizer with adaptive spray for applications with strong interaction with the surrounding flow

   The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture and firefighting places high demands on the quality and stability of the spray. Unlike stationary applications, there is very strong interaction between the spray and the surrounding airflow. This leads to a significant risk of drift, uneven droplet deposition, and low spraying efficiency.
   The aim of the dissertation will be to develop and optimize a nozzle designed for drones. The work will focus on researching the breakdown of the liquid film, spray formation, and its interaction with a complex flow field. The work will deal with both the design of the atomizer itself and the evaluation of the influence of operating parameters and flight conditions on droplet size and trajectory.
   Modern optical diagnostic methods (e.g., high-speed camera, PIV, PDA/LDV) will be used in combination with numerical simulations (CFD, or LES) to enable a detailed description of the flow and transport of droplets.
   Based on experimental and numerical data, the potential of using machine learning and artificial intelligence methods for "smart" spray adaptation will be investigated – for example, adjusting the operating parameters of the nozzle (pressure, flow rate, turbulence) in order to minimize losses and maximize application efficiency.

   The doctoral student will participate in the design and implementation of test equipment simulating operating conditions on a drone, conduct experiments, and evaluate the measured data. The results of the work will contribute to a better understanding of the physical processes of liquid atomization in complex flow fields and to the development of advanced spray systems for UAV applications.
   The topic has full technical and material support, especially laboratory equipment, technology, and materials for experiments. Partial financial support for the student from the project is expected. The topic is related to existing or planned projects of the workplace in the field of nozzle and spray technology development. The possibility of a several-month internship abroad, participation in professional seminars, and presentation of results at international conferences is expected.

   Supervisor: Jedelský Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Development and optimization of spray systems for target applications using machine learning on an internal experimental database

   Over the past ten years, the Multiphase Fluid Mechanics Laboratory at FSI has collected an extensive set of high-quality image and numerical data on the behavior of various atomization systems under a wide range of operating conditions. The laboratory is currently focusing primarily on the development of sprays for (1) the deposition of nanoparticle/functional coatings and (2) the intensification of CO₂ capture processes.
   The aim of the dissertation is to systematically organize this data, supplement metadata and uncertainties, and create a reproducible database suitable for machine learning methods. ML models (including physically informed approaches and models with uncertainty estimation) will be used for data mining, prediction of spray quality metrics (e.g., atomization regime, SMD, cone angle, penetration, deposition efficiency, mass transfer characteristics) and for inverse design and multi-criteria optimization of atomizer geometry and operating conditions. The work will include experimental verification of selected designs and, if necessary, the design of additional experiments (DoE/active learning).
   The topic is multidisciplinary (multiphase flow, experimental diagnostics, data processing, ML/optimization) and has full technical and material support. Partial financial support for the student from the project is expected, as well as continuity with existing/submitted research projects, a several-month internship abroad, and presentation of results at conferences. Before the admission procedure, it is necessary to contact the supervisor and discuss the details.

   Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

   Supervisor: Jedelský Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Scaling of spray columns with strong gas–liquid interaction

   Spray columns used in gas cleaning or CO2 absorption processes are significantly influenced by the properties of the atomizer used and its interaction with the surrounding flow. However, when scaling up from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale, the efficiency of the process often deteriorates due to changes in the nature of the spray, flow, and droplet distribution.
   The aim of the dissertation will be to study and design methods for scaling spray columns using different atomizers. The work will address the influence of the type, number, and location of the atomizer, operating parameters, and scale of the equipment on the interfacial area and droplet distribution in the column. Experimental research using optical diagnostics will be combined with CFD simulations to identify key dimensionless parameters suitable for scaling.
   The work will include the synthesis and application of scaling laws and recommendations for the design of atomizers and spray columns to maximize the interfacial area and minimize undesirable phenomena such as liquid entrainment or uneven distribution in the column.
   The doctoral student will participate in the design and implementation of a spray column, perform experiments, and evaluate the measured data. The results of the work will contribute to a better understanding of multiphase flow in spray columns.

   The topic has full technical and material support, especially laboratory equipment, technology, and materials for experiments. Partial financial support for the student from the project is expected. The topic is related to existing or planned projects of the workplace in the field of nozzle and spray technology development. The possibility of a several-month internship abroad, participation in professional seminars, and presentation of results at international conferences is expected.

   Supervisor: Jedelský Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.