Welcome to the campus of the Institute of Technology and Business (VŠTE) in České Budějovice.
In this nice campus, newly built laboratories are situated,
used by the Department of Transport and Logistics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering,
and Environmental Research Department.
Now let´s take a look at our projects, research, and laboratory equipment
used by our academic and research workers.
Since the beginning of 2019, we´ve been working on a project of experimental development and industrial research
we obtained together with our industrial partner, GD Druckguss in Vodňany.
This project deals with the optimization and possibilities of using returnable recycled materials from zinc alloy casting manufacturing.
For this project, we received a budget of CZK 18,600,000 from the TA CR, out of which VSTE received more than CZK 5 000 000.
Within the cooperation with our industrial partner, KOVOSVIT MAS foundry, we managed
to obtain a project of Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT CR) in the programme Trio.
This project is focused on the research and development of new high-quality ductile iron,
which will be manufactured for the conditions of this foundry.
The project duration will be 3,5 years. We are currently in the second year of the project realization;
its budget is about CZK 31 million,
where the budget for the VSTE is about CZK 11,9 million.
This project includes a wide range of operational experiments;
we will also use numerical simulations within the Magma software,
and perform extensive material analyses of samples collected from under operational conditions.
With our industrial partner, MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna,
we have been cooperating on a project focused on the research and development
of improved technologies for production of ductile iron casting.
In its framework, the outputs of 3D scanning are implemented in the quality management process.
This complex research is conducted with the support of MIT CR within the programme Trio.
This project aims to use laboratory
and a wide range of extensive operational research activities
to optimize the whole production process.
As for funding, the project is worth CZK 38,5 million,
out of which VSTE was allocated CZK 10,5 million.
In cooperation with the high-pressure foundry division of MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna,
we managed to obtain a project announced by the TA CR
the Epsilon programme, dealing with the research and development of refining technologies
for the production of aluminium alloys with a focus on pressure and low-pressure die casting.
The project duration is 4 years; we are currently in its second year.
The overall budget is ca CZK 34,8 million, out of which VSTE is allocated CZK 10 million.
The project aims to design a new production technology and refining processes in producing
aluminium alloys with a focus on pressure and high-pressure die casting.
For this project, we use a wide range of VSTE facilities and equipment.
There are also planned operational experiments
with extensive material analysis of samples taken from operating conditions.
Scanning ductile iron casting
We cooperate with our industrial partner MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna
on a project dealing with the application of modern methods of non-contact measurements.
In this specific project, it is a non-contact scanning arm equipped with laser sensor,
a technology used for the verification of shape and dimension deviations of ductile iron casting.
Here you can see an example of evaluation using PolyWorks software.
We try to implement the results of these measurements in quality management in the field of ductile iron.
Scanning of graphite rotors
Within the cooperation with the division Foundry (Slévárna) of MOTOR JIKOV, we conduct a project focused on scanning
of graphite rotors, as you can see here.
We scan the wear of the rotors using 3D scanner of this arm equipped with a laser scanner.
We are thus able to assess the wear of the rotors at the end of their service life and identify the places of wear.
Field tests of aluminium alloys
Within the cooperation with our industrial partner,
we take samples in operational conditions using this device, 3VTplus (Vacuum density tester),
which enables us to perform density index testing, Straube-Pfeifer test, and dross test.
The samples for density index test are here, on the table, these are the smaller ones,
at the back, there are the bigger samples intended for dross test
and in the middle, you can see samples for Optical Emission Spectrometry.
The device 3VT+DT enables us to carry out field tests standardly,
with the aim to optimize the refining processes.
The tests or individual samples are subsequently analysed by means of a digital scale, which you can see here on the table.
Physical modelling of aluminium alloys refining
In cooperation with the industrial company, pressure foundry MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna,
we built a physical model of a refining unit, FDU (Foundry Degassing Unit).
This physical model enables us to study the course of refining, during which we can change rotors,
revolutions, and internal geometry;
thanks to this, we can set the optimal conditions for refining in operational conditions.
The physical model consists of several parts: a control panel, a box, and gas distribution lines.
The physical model enables us to change the rotors that are used in operational conditions.
We are currently testing four types of rotors;
we also set the conditions for revolutions, gas flow, and the rotor immersion depth.
Testing the effects of external environment
Now we are in the laboratory used by the Department of Transport and Logistics.
Here, in this environmental chamber,
e. g. materials for 3D printing are tested.
In the chamber, it is possible to simulate both high
and low temperatures or humidity for materials used for 3D printing.
The test range of the chamber is from +200 °C to -40 °C;
regulated humidity is from 10 % to 90 % of relative humidity.
Use of drones in research
The Department of Transport and Logistics is also involved in the research addressing the use of drones for various research purposes.
For example, we use drones for monitoring traffic flow.
We record the traffic and subsequently evaluate its quality using specialized software.
In 2015, we participated in the competition European Satellite Navigation Competition,
where we won the national round and qualified for the international round.
We participated in the competition with the project Biological protection of airports using drones.
Drones can be used for other purposes, e.g. for research on photogrammetry,
in warehousing, where drones are used for stocktaking in large logistics centres and warehouses,
and in other types of research, for example in agriculture, transport, etc.
Experimental laboratories of Department of Civil Engineering
Welcome to experimental laboratories of the Department of Civil Engineering.
Now we are in the so-called “heavy” laboratory,
which is primarily intended for the preparation, treatment,
and testing of samples for material engineering,
that is, various building composites, lump materials, etc.
For this purpose, we use various types of technical equipment
both for the preparation, such as various moulds, mixing devices, vibrating tables,
and treatment of units, various types of environmental chambers, drying chambers, etc.
Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the tested objects,
this is done using a saw with a diamond blade or grinding mill.
In the case of bulk materials, their granulometry needs to be adjusted;
for this, we use sieve shakers.
Strength is of high importance in the case of building materials;
it is tested using various types of mechanical or hydraulic presses, or tearing devices.
Moreover, we use the so-called “black” laboratory complemented by exterior exposition,
where there are tested performance characteristics and durability of asphalt strips
and hydro-insulation foils, which are used as multiple layer in the construction of flat roofs.
The Department of Civil Engineering conducts and is involved in various types of research projects,
mainly the projects of TA CR.
One of them is health-safe surfaces produced on the basis of recycled rubber.
The project goal is to design and experimentally verify
the methods of rubber recycler treatment
resulting in the reduction of the amount of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon,
thus minimizing health risks of their application on playground and sportsground surfaces.
Another project is the so-called safe cities for pedestrians and seniors,
where the layout of the cities, i.e. streets, car parks, and parks,
is modified to reduce the motorized transport,
thus reducing the volume of harmful substances in the air or eliminating the consequences of accidents.
This project also aims to encourage the senior´s mobility
and make important facilities available to them.
The last project is intergenerational management to support digitization in civil engineering,
which aims to help with creating personal electronic portfolio
especially of elder employees in companies,
thus reduce and overcome their problems with ever increasing digitization.
The project aims to share experience and skills of these elder employees more effectively
and minimize the risk of losing job.
Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering
Now we are in the laboratory of chip machining, where we provide practical training with practical demonstrations
within the subjects Engineering Technologies, Technologies of machine and CNC machining,
and partly also Technologies of metals and non-metals welding.
Our laboratory is equipped with common machine tools,
such as CNC lathe, milling machine, band-saw for cutting material, and workshop press.
This laboratory is primarily intended for practical trainings
as well as for basic preparation of samples for experiments.
This laboratory also ensures small-series or one-off production
for external orders placed by companies either cooperating with our school on an intensive basis or not.
Laboratory of fluid mechanics and thermomechanics
We are now in the lab of fluid mechanics and thermomechanics,
where we focus on general thermal processes, which are a part of thermomechanics,
and fluid mechanics, which deals with aerodynamics or flow in general.
One of the experimental facilities here is this model heat exchanger,
which is used to present the students within their study programme with the principles of heat sharing,
and to teach them to work with it,
to measure various physical quantities, such as temperatures or flows.
Heat exchanger is a device used to share heat,
i.e. one heat conductor passes heat to another object.
In our case, it is a pipe heat exchanger, with water on both sides,
where warm water passes heat to cold water.
Fluid mechanics does not consist only in internal or external aerodynamics;
it also deals with machines that work with fluids, e.g. pumps or turbines.
This experimental stent is designed to compare the operation of pumps.
There are two identical pumps, it is possible to measure the characteristics of one or both pumps.
A pair of pumps can work either arranged in series or in parallel.
This workplace enables us to measure pressure and flow rate
when all pumps are working, connected in series, in parallel, or separately.
Fluid mechanics includes aerodynamics,
which is commonly investigated in wind tunnels
or by means of computing methods using simulations.
Our lab is equipped with this small wind tunnel,
which was created on the basis of student bachelor theses,
where students designed individual components,
which were subsequently produced by means of 3D printing.
The basic wind tunnel scheme is practically always the same
but thanks to 3D printing we are able to modify the technology for specific objectives.
One of the problems tackled here is e.g. comparison of several methods for measuring pressure and speed,
or some more specific tasks, e.g. optimization of turbine propellers.
Here, we cooperated with a private company within a common project,
where e.g. the possibility of designing 3-blade, 4-blade, or 5-blade propeller was assessed,
where the geometry of the propeller was processed as an experiment, using 3D printing,
and simultaneously, using a numerical calculation.
The data obtained from the numerical calculation could thus be validated in this tunnel;
the experiment confirmed the results obtained from the numerical analysis.
Mechanical tests of cast iron
To carry out extensive material analyses, we use Charpy hammer, which you can see here, on the right.
We also use laboratory cold chamber, it´s here on the left.
Charpy hammer is used to determine mechanical properties of cast iron samples,
which are cooled to -20 °C – -40 °C.
Light microscopy
Now we will deal with light microscopy.
Within a common project with our industrial partners,
we implement light microscopy, where we use the Olympus microscopes.
Behind me, there is an inverted Olympus microscope,
which, thanks to additional installation of the Litina software
enables us to carry out a complex assessment of cast iron
in accordance with the established standards, ČSN, ISO, and ASTM.
EEG Biofeedback
Now we are in the laboratory of EEG Biofeedback at VŠTE in České Budějovice.
This room looks like any conventional room;
here, we focus on the research of psychophysiological feedback,
i.e. operant conditioning, when we try to use something that could be seen,
i.e. brainwaves, which represent the way of behaviour, thinking, and concentration of a person,
we try to use this psychophysiological feedback to train a person
in a concrete number of sessions to be able to concentrate better
to learn better, i.e. to better remember a read text,
to concentrate on a specific task for a longer period of time.
Another part of the research is increasing interpersonal adaptation.
We have submitted a TA CR project in Industry 4.0,
where interpersonal adaptation, increasing concentration
of persons in managerial positions or in positions where they are often exposed to stressed can be trained.
EEG biofeedback is a kind of feedback similar to natural feedback,
when people learn a language,
or the well-known example of a person combing himself/herself in front of the mirror,
it´s a kind of feedback on in what state his/her body is, or his/her knowledge of a foreign language.
This feedback is provided by hearing, surroundings, or mirror;
in this case, the feedback is the EEG signal, which is being processed in some way.
The trainer uses a number of parameters to regulate the feedback
that the person who is being trained
sees on the screen as a very simple game or is provided with a very simple feedback,
such as “it is going very well”, “it´s going a bit worse”, “it´s not going well at all”;
this could be seen, heard, and felt on hands.
There are three types of perceptions; they can be used
to train a person to be able to concentrate as required;
however, it should “relaxed” concentration,
not concentration conditioned by high level of adrenaline,
that is, the high level of concentration and relaxation should be well balanced.
This is important, because it is possible to have a high level of adrenaline for hours or tens of minutes to maintain attention
but it´s not healthy, it´s not sustainable without any physiological consequences.
This could be trained and investigated here.
Each of these things need a different method of implementation.
EEG signal is measured at certain points of head,
and in certain periods;
for this, it is necessary to amplify or suppress certain types of brainwaves.
This is something which is called “protocol”; this is the output of our research.
Materials chemistry
Within our working group, we focus mainly on organic, material, and analytical chemistry.
Our work consists in the synthesis of new small organic molecules.
All substances that are synthetized here are also characterized and analysed,
i.e. their structure and purity is verified.
Our work usually starts in this fume cupboard.
Basically, we are able to carry out two general types of reactions either in the air,
i.e. under air atmosphere, or reactions under inert atmosphere.
As for the common reaction, under air atmosphere, this is this yellow flask,
while the blue flask, which is connected to the glass construction, vacuum/inert line,
is the example of the reaction under inert atmosphere.
When a chemical reaction is carried out, we usually need to remove the solvent from the flask.
For this purpose, we use the so-called rotary evaporator,
where we place the flask and evaporate the solvent very effectively.
It is possible to regulate pressure and temperature,
i.e. reduce pressure and increase temperature, and thus effectively remove the solvent.
In the case we need to characterize and analyse the chemical substance,
we can use these devices, e.g. nuclear magnetic resonance,
which is used to check the reaction of atomic nuclei.
Specifically, we are able to measure C13 and 1H isotopes.
If we need to determine the thermal stability of substances,
we can use thermogravimetric analyser,
which measures the dependence of changes in the mass of the sample on increasing temperature.
If we want to determine the optical properties of an organic molecule,
i.e. if we have a dye, we can measure its absorption spectrum.
If it emits light, we can measure its fluorescence spectrum.
For these purposes, we have a combined Duetta spectrofluorometer.
Furthermore, if we want to confirm the presence of a substance that we try to synthetize,
we can use the so-called pure MS device,
which is a combination gas chromatography and mass detection.
It is a very sensitive device,
which can be used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Currently, we are working on a project that is supported by the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic.
It is a qualitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using GCMS.
These polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are analysed in the recycler from used tires.
It is a material used e.g. as an artificial surface on playgrounds or sports grounds,
which means that its eco-friendliness is important.
Optical emission spectrometry of metals and their alloys
We are now in the workplace where optical emission spectrometry is carried out
with a focus on the analysis of chemical composition of metals and their alloys.
These analyses are used for a number of our research
and development activities realized in cooperation with our industrial partners.
It is mainly research related to the study and optimization
of production processes of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys,
especially aluminium and zinc alloys.
At this moment, the device is set for zinc and its alloys,
and we will perform a small demonstration during the analysis
based on optical emission spectrometry.
We have prepared a certified reference material
and we will carry out the analysis of its chemical composition.
Before each analysis, it is necessary to clean the contact/sparkle;
we take the sample, find a non-sparking position,
close it,
start it, and this monitor will show us that the analysis is on-going.
We can hear the sound of the analyser,
where sparkling takes place,
and inside this device, Q4 Tasman,
the decomposition of the light spectrum and analysis by wavelengths takes place to determine
the chemical composition for a given material basis.
Here you can see the results.
This procedure is used to determine the results.
Several analyses are performed,
and we check whether the chemical composition of a given alloy
corresponds to the methodological regulation or standard
or, in our case, to the protocol on the chemical composition within this certified material.
Furthermore, after changing the set basis, we can analyse the samples of aluminium alloys,
where there are certain certified calibration materials,
and of course, we are able to analyse samples of iron and ferrous alloys.
In our case, in terms of the projects conducted, these are alloys called cast iron.
Environmental Research Department
My name is Josef Maroušek, I work at the Faculty of Technology at VŠTE in České Budějovice.
Behind me, you can see laboratory pyrolysis apparatus,
here is inlet, this is transport auger.
Here, behind me, a bit harder to be seen, is the main pyrolysis unit.
The main pyrolysis unit releases solid pyrolytic residue,
which can be called charcoal, and pyrolysis gas.
Pyrolysis gas contains many particles, for simplicity, we may call them soot.
We collect soot on a water filter;
what we do not capture is hot air that can be used for recycling,
or pyrolysis flue gases, which are conducted away, de facto, through a chimney.
This device is used to produce e.g. sorbent from various types of biological waste.
These sorbents are used to capture nutrients.
One of the most interesting recent application
is the activation of these sorbents with calcium chloride
and their subsequent use in wastewater treatment plants.
We are currently applying for a European patent,
and we will be glad if this idea attracts the attention of potential investors.
Numerical simulations
The results of numerical simulations carried out using the ProCAST software
are subsequently verified
on the basis of a whole range of material analyses,
including the metallographic study.
Subsequently, these models of numerical simulations
are used for predicting the development of the quality of castings produced
e.g. at the start of manufacturing new products.
Numerical simulations are also used in a number of analyses that are carried out
within the development of high-quality ductile cast iron.
In this case, we use Magma simulation software, which enables us to verify the proposal of technological conditions of casting
and to identify problems that might occur during operation
and could result in defects of individual castings.
Within numerical simulations, we can thus analyse individual technological procedures,
focus on the problems identified,
and to propose the most suitable technical and economical alternative,
which is subsequently tested under operating conditions.