Full-time study

4 years

prof. RNDr. Vladimír Aubrecht, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. RNDr. Vladimír Aubrecht, CSc.
Councillor internal :
doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jiří Drápela, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Pavel Vorel, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Ondřej Vítek, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Petr Toman, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
prof. Ing. Radomír Goňo, Ph.D.
Ing. Petr Modlitba, CSc.
prof. Ing. Aleš Richter, CSc.
Ing. Zdeněk Wolf

The doctor study programme is devoted to the preparation of the high quality scientific and research specialists in various branches of power electronics, control technology, design of electrical machines, electric power generation and distribution, and electric power utilization.
The aim is to provide the doctor education in all these particular branches to students educated in university magister study, to make deeper their theoretical knowledge, to give them also requisite special knowledge and practical skills and to teach them methods of scientific work.

The goal of the postgradual doctoral (PhD) study of the program "Power Systems and Power Electronics" is the education for scientific work in the area of power electrical engineering and power systems. Graduates of PhD find occupation either as scientific or research workers including industrial development, either as university teachers and in higher manager functions as well.

The graduate of the doctor study program "Power Systems and Power Electronics" obtains broad knowledge of subject of high power engineering. The knowledge is built mainly on theoretical background of the subject. Moreover, the graduate will obtain deep special knowledge aimed in direction of his/her thesis. The graduate will be able to perform scientific and/or applied research based on up to date theoretical knowledge. The graduate will be able to organize and lead a team of researchers in the studied subject.

Doctoral studies are carried out according to the individual study plan, which is prepared by the supervisor in the beginning of the study in cooperation with the doctoral student. The individual curriculum specifies all the duties determined in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Rules, which the doctoral student must fulfill to successfully finish his studies. These responsibilities are time-bound throughout the study period, they are scored and fixed at fixed deadlines.
Students will write and pass tests of obligatory subject Exam in English before the state doctoral examination, compulsory elective courses in view of the focus of his dissertation, whereas at least two are selected from: Mathematical Modelling of Electrical Power Systems, New Trends and Technologies in Power System Generation, Selected problems from power electronics and electrical drives, Topical Issues of Electrical Machines and Apparatus), and at least two optional subjects (English for PhD students; Quoting in Scientific Practice; Resolving Innovation Assignments; Scientific Publishing from A to Z).
The student may enroll for the state doctoral exam only after all the tests prescribed by his / her individual study plan have been completed. Before the state doctoral exam, the student draws up a dissertation thesis describing in detail the aims of the thesis, a thorough evaluation of the state of knowledge in the area of the dissertation solved, or the characteristics of the methods it intends to apply in the solution.
The defense of the controversy that is opposed is part of the state doctoral exam. In the next part of the exam, the student must demonstrate deep theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, electronics, electrical machines, and electrical apparatus. The state doctoral examination is in oral form and, in addition to the discussion on the dissertation thesis, it also consists of thematic areas related to compulsory and compulsory elective subjects.
To defend the dissertation, the student reports after the state doctoral examination and after fulfilling conditions for termination, such as participation in teaching, scientific and professional activity (creative activity) and at least a monthly study or work placement at a foreign institution or participation in an international creative project.

The doctoral studies of a student follow the Individual Study Plan (ISP), which is defined by the supervisor and the student at the beginning of the study period. The ISP is obligatory for the student, and specifies all duties being consistent with the Study and Examination Rules of BUT, which the student must successfully fulfill by the end of the study period. The duties are distributed throughout the whole study period, scored by credits/points and checked in defined dates. The current point evaluation of all activities of the student is summarized in the “Total point rating of doctoral student” document and is part of the ISP. At the beginning of the next study year the supervisor highlights eventual changes in ISP. By October, 15 of each study year the student submits the printed and signed ISP to Science Department of the faculty to check and archive.
Within the first four semesters the student passes the exams of compulsory, optional-specialized and/or optional-general courses to fulfill the score limit in Study area, and concurrently the student significantly deals with the study and analysis of the knowledge specific for the field defined by the dissertation thesis theme and also continuously deals with publishing these observations and own results. In the follow-up semesters the student focuses already more to the research and development that is linked to the dissertation thesis topic and to publishing the reached results and compilation of the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the second year of studies the student passes the Doctor State Exam, where the student proves the wide overview and deep knowledge in the field linked to the dissertation thesis topic. The student must apply for this exam by April, 30 in the second year of studies. Before the Doctor State Exam the student must successfully pass the exam from English language course.
In the third and fourth year of studies the student deals with the required research activities, publishes the reached results and compiles the dissertation thesis. As part of the study duties is also completing a study period at an abroad institution or participation on an international research project with results being published or presented in abroad or another form of direct participation of the student on an international cooperation activity, which must be proved by the date of submitting the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the winter term in the fourth year of study the students submit the elaborated dissertation thesis to the supervisor, who scores this elaborate. The final dissertation thesis is expected to be submitted by the student by the end of the fourth year of studies.
In full-time study form, during the study period the student is obliged to pass a pedagogical practice, i.e. participate in the education process. The participation of the student in the pedagogical activities is part of his/her research preparations. By the pedagogical practice the student gains experience in passing the knowledge and improves the presentation skills. The pedagogical practice load (exercises, laboratories, project supervision etc.) of the student is specified by the head of the department based on the agreement with the student’s supervisor. The duty of pedagogical practice does not apply to students-payers and combined study program students. The involvement of the student in the education process within the pedagogical practice is confirmed by the supervisor in the Information System of the university.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2021 to 15.05.2021)

1. Cooperation of AC/AC four-quadrant converter-based traction station with distribution system

   New concepts of powering the AC traction system from the distribution system using four-quadrant semiconductor converters is a challenge and an opportunity for distribution systems. The aim of this work is to design and verify the integration of AC / AC four-quadrant converter traction stations with the possibility of energy recovery and to identify, design and verify the extent of possible support for the operation of the distribution system with reactive power. Cooperation with DS operators, technology suppliers (ABB), designer (SUDOP) and international scientific cooperation is expected. The doctoral study includes an internship at a foreign research institute, for example at the University of Campania, IT. Information: drapela@feec.vutbr.cz.

   Supervisor: Drápela Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Loss analysis and parameters optimization of power transformers

   The great requirements are given to the efficiency of power transformers nowadays. The detailed loss analysis including additional loss are necessary for the fullfilments of new Eupropean ECO Design requirements. The analysis of the frame pressure force influence to the value of iron loss of the core will be necessary. Analytical formulas obtained from simulation and measurement will reduce the security tolerances and most probably will decrease the materiál requirements. The next goal of the project will be an analytical description of the additional loss in the foil winding. Such loss are about 15% of ohm loss. The analytical loss expressions will improve the results of optimalization procedure.

   Supervisor: Ondrůšek Čestmír, doc. Ing., CSc.

3. Methodology for Monitoring Artificial Light At Night Environment With a Link to The Used Light Source Technology

   The issue of artificial light in the night environment (ALAN) affects both technologies of light production, electricity, measurement, but especially affects biological systems. However, for research into biological influences, it is necessary to know the degree of artificial light. Conventional metrics are not able to cover the needs of response testing in biological systems, and new metrics will need to be found for more detailed analyzes. The proposed topic will focus on measuring light in the night environment using a luminance analyzer and finding a suitable analysis of the obtained data, which would return sufficiently relevant indicators usable for further follow-up research such as biologists, physiologists, etc. Interdisciplinary cooperation is offered here. The research will also monitor the technology platform of light sources, which will be used as a source of metadata for possible corrections of lighting technologies, if it is necessary to make technological corrections due to the limits found. Within the topic, a unique area data collection will be performed in the conditions of the Czech Republic or further to Europe and a comprehensive database of measurements should be created, including evaluation according to the obtained methodology.

   Supervisor: Baxant Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Methods for accelerating the optimization of electrical machines based on surrogate models

   Nowadays, there is high pressure to optimize and develop new types of electrical machines, whether for application in industry, electromobility, or aviation. These are often high-speed asynchronous machines with full rotors, where 2D models require significantly longer computational time compared to synchronous machines, as well as machines whose special design leads to the need to perform demanding electromagnetic calculations using 3D models. Optimization of selected types of electrical machines can be not only very time-consuming but also financially and energetically expensive. This topic seeks to respond to this problem through research and development of statistical models of electrical machines to reduce costs and time required for optimization. The created replacement models for accelerating the optimization of electrical machines, such as the RBF network, will be used in real research problems of electrical machines, where they will enable rapid optimization and verification of the developed methodologies. It is expected that the results will be published regularly at conferences and in high-level journals. During work on this topic, it will be possible to consult research and development results also with staff of JKU - the Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Institute for Electrical Drives and Power Electronics, where a mandatory foreign internship for a doctoral student is also expected.

   Supervisor: Bárta Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Nuclear reaction probabilities, cross-sections, fission and spallation reaction yields, and nuclear data uncertainties for accelerator driven subcritical nuclear reactors

   Accelerator driven neutron sources are the most intense sources of neutrons in the world. We could design subcritical nuclear reactors with these sources as external neutron sources (spallation or others). Neutron spatial density could be very high In that case; with very hard neutron spectrum. That type od reactor is able to transmute actinides, as well as major fiission products. Dissertation will be focused on nuclear reacton data for ADS. We expect international cooperation (JINR, MSU, RGU, IMP, YSU, UzhNU).

   Supervisor: Katovský Karel, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Techniques for verifying the compliance of power generation plants with the requirements of the EU Regulation

   Verification of compliance of power generating plants with the requirements is the subject of Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of generators (NC RfG), and subsequent national implementations of requirements, which are in the case of the Czech Republic: Distribution system Connection Code - Annex No. 4: Rules for parallel operation of generation and storage facilities with the network of the distribution system operator. While the national implementation of the requirements can be considered successful, the implementation of processes for verifying and demonstrating the compliance of power generating plants with the requirements is still not complete. The current method of verification and proof of conformity has major shortcomings, as a result of which a significant percentage of currently connected plants do not, in fact, meet these minimum requirements. The origin of the situation can be identified mainly in the incompleteness of the specification of the procedural framework for demonstrating compliance and in the absence of solutions for the verification itself, which are currently under development. The aim is the necessary development and definition / determination of supporting certified techniques and methodologies for verification of compliance of equipment and modules / plants and their monitoring (continuous verification of compliance duration) by testing and measurement in laboratory and operational conditions. In summary, it focuses on the processes, procedures and equipment development to achieve a successful integration of low / emission-free sources, in accordance with the trouble-free, reliable and safe operation of the electricity system. Expected cooperation with DS operators and international scientific cooperation (Germany, Italy). Information: drapela@feec.vutbr.cz.

   Supervisor: Drápela Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.