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Doctoral Thesis
Author of thesis: Ing. Ján Daxner, Ph.D.
Acad. year: 2025/2026
Supervisor: prof. Ing. Zdeněk Jegla, Ph.D.
Reviewers: doc. Ing. Lukáš Krátký, Ph.D., doc. Ing. Miroslav Variny, PhD.
The efficient utilization of low-potential heat in industrial processes represents a key challenge, the mastery of which significantly contributes to energy savings, the reduction of environmental impacts, the optimization of operating costs, and an overall increase in the efficiency of the production process. However, the practical application of these solutions is often challenging due to specific limiting factors, such as the quantity and availability of low-potential heat,its temperature level, ort he presence of particulate matter in the steam being utilized. The aim of this doctoral thesis is to develop and formulate a new systematic approach to the design of industrial equipment intended for the use of low-potential heat in environments with particulate fouling. The proposed system design for thermal equipment utilizing low-potential heat supplements existing standard design calculation methods with a clearly defined sequence of specific steps based on a logical decision-making process. The research focuses primarily on gaseous low-potential heat streams in which particulate fouling occurs, with a closer focus on dry colloidal particles. When fouling occurs, several interrelated problems arise during heat transfer. The main issue is the formation of a fouling layer, which acts as thermal insulation between the heat transfer surface and the working fluid, thereby making heat transfer inefficient. This also leads to an increase of operating costs, which are also associated with shorter cleaning intervals. Consequently, the negative environmental impact of equipment operated in such a fouling environment increases. The presented system design integrates new computational and operational-experimental methods into the current design process, the first of which is an environmental assessment of the use of low-potential heat. When it is unclear how low-potential heat should be utilized, the environmental assessment serves as a starting point for the design. The next section covers methods for determining critical fouling parameters. One of these is a mobile testing device suitable for the direct experimental measurement of key fouling parameters, such as pressure loss development, flow velocity through the device, the thermal resistance coefficient, the critical fouling velocity, or temperature profiles in individual parts of the device. Another component is a mathematical model suitable for use when experimental testing is not feasible. Its application allows for determining the critical fouling velocity for specific particle properties. The result of the developed systematic approach is the design of a device tailored to a specific application (“custom-made”) with a defined method of heat utilization and specific geometry based on thermal-hydraulic calculations that take into account the actual operating conditions of the given industrial application.
low-potential heat, particulate fouling, industry, optimization, heat exchange, heat exchanger, sustainability, environmental assessment, testing device
Date of defence
11.06.2026
Result of the defence
Defended (thesis was successfully defended)
Process of defence
Dizertační práce vyvinula praktický projekčně uplatnitelný systémový přístup pro spolehlivý návrh tepelných zařízení pro využití nízko potenciálního tepla v podmínkách partikulárního zanášení, který využívá specifické dílčí nově vyvinuté výpočtové a provozně testovací nástroje pro jeho zajištění. V oblasti testování je zásadním přínosem vyvinuté a ověřené mobilní testovací zařízení pro stanovování zanášení průmyslových odpadních plynných proudů s partikulárními zanášivými částicemi. Vyvinutý nový komplexní přístup umožňuje spolehlivý systémový návrh tepelných zařízení pro využití nízkopotenciálního tepla v podmínkách partikulárního zanášení.
Language of thesis
Slovak
Faculty
Fakulta strojního inženýrství
Department
Institute of Process Engineering
Study programme
Power Engineering (D-ENE-P)
Composition of Committee
prof. Ing. Petr Stehlík, CSc., dr. h. c. (předseda) doc. Ing. Martin Pavlas, Ph.D. (místopředseda) doc. Ing. Lukáš Krátký, Ph.D. (člen) doc. Ing. Vítězslav Máša, Ph.D. (člen) doc. Ing. Radovan Šomplák, Ph.D. (člen) doc. Ing. Jakub Kůdela, Ph.D. (člen) doc. Ing. Miroslav Variny, PhD. (člen)
Supervisor’s reportprof. Ing. Zdeněk Jegla, Ph.D.
Grade proposed by supervisor: A
Reviewer’s reportdoc. Ing. Lukáš Krátký, Ph.D.
Reviewer’s reportdoc. Ing. Miroslav Variny, PhD.
Responsibility: Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Odstrčilová