Focus of the department's scientific activities
The Department of Thermal Engineering has long been profiled as a research center focused on the study of thermal processes, heat and mass transfer, energy processes and the behavior of materials at elevated and high temperatures. The department's research activities connect basic physical principles with applied research, with emphasis on solving current problems in energy, industrial technologies and sustainable development.
A significant area of professional interest is the accumulation of thermal energy, the effective use of energy in technological processes and the development of low-emission and material-saving solutions. The department also focuses on the energy use of secondary raw materials and industrial waste, including the study of their thermal and technical properties, stability and the possibilities of further material or energy recovery.
Another part of the research is focused on the preparation, development and testing of composite, ceramic, silicate and geopolymer components using 3D printing, including the determination of their thermal, mechanical and corrosion resistance, with the aim of using them in industrial applications.
An integral part of the research is also experimental and numerical modeling, which allows for a detailed description and optimization of real technological processes.
Currently, the department's staff is significantly involved in solving two large-scale research projects - MATUR and CirkArena, which represent key platforms for the development of applied research with direct impact on industrial practice.
In the MATUR project, the department is involved in two research activities. The first is focused on the research and development of materials for high-temperature energy storage systems, specifically oxide ceramics with a high bulk density for the cyclic process of accumulation and release of thermal energy. The second research activity deals with Silicates for 3D printing technologies, where the research focuses on the development and verification of silicate mixtures for 3D printing and on the optimization of the entire technological path of additive manufacturing with the aim of ensuring the stability and required properties of the resulting products and the use of these products in practice.
The CirkArena project focuses on the principles of circular economy, energy and material utilization of waste streams and the design of sustainable technological solutions. The department focuses here on the effective separation of fine-grained waste from the production and processing of metallurgical products and the use of scale as color pigments for building elements and ceramic products. Thanks to its involvement in these projects, the department systematically develops international cooperation, interdisciplinary research and the connection of science with practice, while at the same time creating high-quality conditions for the involvement of students and doctoral candidates in top-notch research activities.