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 01.04.2023 to 30.04.2023)

1. Coordination and monitoring of voltage quality in the transmission system

   The paradigm of electrical network (EN) operation with connection and customer behaviour at different levels of the distribution system (DS) is changing. The transition can be characterized by a move away from central generators in the transmission system (TS) to the integration of distributed generation into the HV and LV DS; the installation and operation of related technologies and equipment in these systems to meet the sub-economic and technical objectives of DS users; and efforts to transfer part of the DS customers to direct TS users. However, this also fundamentally changes the conditions for ensuring and maintaining electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and voltage quality (VQ) at the various DS and TS levels. One of the challenges across Europe is the implementation of an EMC and VQ system for PS and its integration into the existing concept for DS. Together with the ongoing efforts to standardise the limits of the levels of the different types of disturbances and the limits for the individual contributors, it is essential to investigate propagation of these phenomena in the EN, but also to identify the source of the disturbance. The aim of this work is to systematically map and characterize the propagation mechanisms of the main types of disturbances (rapid voltage changes and fluctuations, harmonics, asymmetries, etc.) and to identify the sources of each disturbance, focusing on the environment of a meshed TS network. The objective is to develop and validate methods for describing the propagation of interference in the PS, identifying its origin, while using data provided by standard Class A power quality analysers. Collaboration with TSOs and DSOs, and international scientific cooperation are foreseen. Part of the PhD studies includes an internship at a foreign research institute, e.g. TU Dresden, DE. Information: drapela@vut.cz.

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

2. Coordination and monitoring of voltage quality in the transmission system

   The paradigm of electrical network (EN) operation with connection and customer behaviour at different levels of the distribution system (DS) is changing. The transition can be characterized by a move away from central generators in the transmission system (TS) to the integration of distributed generation into the HV and LV DS; the installation and operation of related technologies and equipment in these systems to meet the sub-economic and technical objectives of DS users; and efforts to transfer part of the DS customers to direct TS users. However, this also fundamentally changes the conditions for ensuring and maintaining electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and voltage quality (VQ) at the various DS and TS levels. One of the challenges across Europe is the implementation of an EMC and VQ system for PS and its integration into the existing concept for DS. Together with the ongoing efforts to standardise the limits of the levels of the different types of disturbances and the limits for the individual contributors, it is essential to investigate propagation of these phenomena in the EN, but also to identify the source of the disturbance. The aim of this work is to systematically map and characterize the propagation mechanisms of the main types of disturbances (rapid voltage changes and fluctuations, harmonics, asymmetries, etc.) and to identify the sources of each disturbance, focusing on the environment of a meshed TS network. The objective is to develop and validate methods for describing the propagation of interference in the PS, identifying its origin, while using data provided by standard Class A power quality analysers. Collaboration with TSOs and DSOs, and international scientific cooperation are foreseen. Part of the PhD studies includes an internship at a foreign research institute, e.g. TU Dresden, DE. Information: drapela@vut.cz.

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

3. Integrating Electric Vehicles into Energy Systems

   The increase in electromobility is now a historically documented fact and is therefore not a short-term technology anomaly. On the contrary, there is a very significant increase in support for this technology worldwide, both from companies, governments and users. The conversion of mobility to electric power will undoubtedly increase the demand for electricity, regardless of the mix of sources. In the Czech Republic, a range of 20-30 TWh of electricity to cover transport is expected when the entire fleet is fully electrified. However, the seemingly high figure will be spread over a multi-year transition period. However, the electric car should not be seen as just the classic appliance we are used to, but as a completely different technological concept with its own energy system. The mobility of the vehicles makes them a very flexible load with a large spare capacity and strong fluctuation. The possibility of a two-way flow of energy from vehicles can create significant sources of storage, but also sources of other services - e.g. connectivity to the internet, camera systems, lighting, computing capacity. The task of the PhD thesis will be to monitor in detail the energy flows within different vehicles from conventional personal electric vehicles, to trucks, rail vehicles but on the other hand also to so-called micro-mobility in the form of bicycles, scooters and other personal mobile assistants. Furthermore, the topic will focus on the optimization of energy flows within the resource base and integration into smaller units such as the local distribution network. One of the outputs of the work could be algorithms for optimizing vehicle charging, vehicle sharing, reservation of charging points, etc. Collaboration with foreign universities where intensive research in the field of electromobility is taking place and where knowledge in the energy sector is lacking, e.g. TU Graz, is suggested.

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

4. Optimization of plasma radiation transfer calculations

   Calculation of optimal band distribution for mean absorption coefficients. Evaluation of the electric arc configuration and plasma composition on frequency band boundaries. Comparison of different numerical optimization algorithms and their application to the problem of radiative heat transfer in plasma. An international internship is mandatory during the doctoral study. Expected place of internship is LAPLACE laboratory of the University of Toulouse.

   Supervisor: Aubrecht Vladimír, prof. RNDr., CSc.

5. Thermal analysis of electrical machines using modern numerical methods

   Modelling of thermal processes in electrical machines is now becoming an essential part of their analysis and synthesis. These thermal processes are modelled by means of a so-called thermal model of the machine, which provides a prediction of the temperatures of important parts of the machine such as windings, rotor cage or magnets. A key prerequisite for obtaining relevant results is the correct modelling of the cooling medium either inside or outside the machine. The core of the dissertation focuses on the development of thermal models of electrical machines, in which a modern approach based on CFD analyses is used to model the cooling medium. It is expected that the results will be published at conferences and in impacted journals and it is expected to complete an internship at a foreign university.

   Supervisor: Cipín Radoslav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.