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. Advanced Technologies for High-Speed Electric Machines

   This research focuses on the electromagnetic design and development of high-speed electric machines for compressors in fuel cell cooling systems. The key challenge is to optimize the electromagnetic circuit to achieve high efficiency, minimal losses, and stability at extreme rotational speeds. The study will investigate novel approaches to reducing eddy current and hysteresis losses, optimizing magnetic circuit geometry, and selecting suitable materials for the rotor and stator. Special attention will be given to the application of advanced manufacturing technologies such as explosive cladding, which enables the creation of highly conductive and mechanically durable multilayer materials, and 3D printing, which allows for innovative structural solutions in active machine components. The research will analyze the impact of these technologies on the electromagnetic performance, mechanical durability, and thermal stability of the machine. The project will involve the development of numerical models for accurately simulating electromagnetic, mechanical, and thermal phenomena in high-speed electric machines. The experimental phase will focus on validating these models and testing prototypes. The outcome of the research will be an optimized electromagnetic system design suitable for real-world applications. A research stay at LUT University in Finland is expected, where the doctoral candidate will collaborate on the development of new high-speed electric machine concepts. Funding is expected through involvement in projects related to the dissertation topic.

   Tutor: Bárta Jan, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Integration of storage systems into the concept of electricity system support

   With the change in the energy mix concept and the increase in the share of stochastic sources (wind and photovoltaic plants), the concept of stability of the supply of electricity and its quality is closely connected. The topic is focused on the possibilities of accumulating electrical energy produced from renewable sources using modern technologies, with a focus on chemical accumulation and the use of pumped water power plants. The output of the work will be a proposal for measures in the energy system, which will solve the time disproportion between the supply and withdrawal of electricity from renewable sources and a proposal for a conceptual-technical solution for a selected part of the system in the Czech Republic. The solution is combined with modeling on a PC and experimental measurement on a functional model. The issue will be resolved in cooperation with the relevant CEZ division. It is assumed that the doctoral student will be involved in solving research projects in this area (Eco&Store). Part of the doctoral studies will be an internship at a foreign research institution (the TalTech university is pre-negotiated).

   Tutor: Mastný Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. System for distribution network operation optimization

   The Ph.D. thesis is focused on the development of adaptive system for optimization of the low and medium voltage network operation with respect to: voltage level, reactive power flows, voltage unbalance, load flow, etc. The system itself will also ensure fault location inside such networks and automatic reconfiguration. Designed system will be utilizing information from monitoring and control devices that are intended for installation in the distribution system by the operator (smartmetering, reclosers, smart DTS, etc.). To fulfill this task, a solution based on an opensource platform will be used, which will not exclude the integration of the proposed solution into dispatching control and planning systems in the future. The condition for successful defense of this work is to complete at least one month long internship at a foreign university. At present, the Aalto University (Finland) may be considered relevant, but the specific place will be updated during Ph.D. study period.

   Tutor: Topolánek David, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Utilization of real-time simulation for advanced protection systems design

   New technologies of power system behavior research during transient phenomena open the area of advanced analysis focused to large protection systems operation during faults. The main aim of this dissertation is to extend possibilities of real time simulator RTDS about simultaneous tests in real time including real devices – hardware in the loop simulation. An internship at foreign university is included. Topic is include into research project “Control, protection and cost effective operation of distribution and industrial power systems” in frame of National Centre for Energy II.

   Tutor: Toman Petr, prof. Ing., Ph.D.