Czech Technical University In Prague Research Articles

Application of a second order kinetic model for the preliminary design of an adsorption bed system using ammonium molybdophosphate–polyacrylonitrile for the removal of 137Cs from acidic nuclear waste solutions

Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) immobilized on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is an engineered form of cesium selective sorbent material developed at the Czech Technical University in Prague. A form of a second order kinetic model is applied to experimental AMP–PAN breakthrough data. A system utilizing three fixed beds in series is described that allows for continuous nuclear waste processing at approximately 890 l/h. This process would yield a product stream that is below the NRC Class A low level waste limit for 137Cs, and would result in high activity waste volume reduction factors of approximately 2200 and 570 for liquid sodium bearing waste and dissolved calcine waste, respectively, which are currently stored at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

Evaluation of ammonium molybdophosphate-polyacrylonitrile (AMP-PAN) as a cesium selective sorbent for the removal of 137Cs from acidic nuclear waste solutions

Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) immobilized on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is an engineered form of cesium selective sorbent material developed at the Czech Technical University in Prague. The selective cesium capacity of this inorganic ion exchange media was evaluated with simulated sodium bearing waste (SBW) and dissolved pilot plant calcine at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). Equilibrium isotherms were obtained at 23°C and 50°C with 48-h equilibrium contact times. The equilibrium isotherms were of the ‘favorable’ type and showed asymptotic maximum cesium loading of approximately 8.7% by weight of dry AMP. Dynamic column tests were performed with similar feeds using a 1.5-cm 3 bed in an up-flow configuration. Complete breakthrough curves were generated at feed rates up to 100 bed volumes (BV) per hour and sorbent capacities were determined to be approximately 32 g Cs/kg AMP-PAN (dry) at 100% breakthrough. Stop flow data were also obtained from the column tests. These stop flow data, in conjunction with column rate data, imply that cesium mass transfer is predominately particle diffusion limited at feed rates below 40 BV/h.

Technical Teachers and Technical Teacher Education - Research Results

Chartered engineers who are new teachers of technical subjects at various educational institutions receive technical teacher education in the accredited bachelor programme at the Czech Technical University in Prague. This paper presents the results of a recent survey in which engineers expressed their opinions on technical teacher education.

Education for Production and Operations Management

The Department of Mechanical Engineering Enterprise Management at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague has its own doctoral programme, and runs postgraduate and master's courses. The Department is engaged in a great deal of research in the field of marketing, financial and mainly operations management. A new Production and Operations Management programme was started in 1997. The programme consists of: Management of Change and the Importance of Innovations, Forecasting and Operations Strategy, Design of Work Systems, Total Quality Management and Inventory Control, Material Requirements Planning and Just-In-Time Systems, Logistics and Practical exercises. The study programme is organised in two stages, winter and summer semesters. The study programme has a strong international orientation. The teaching goal is to prepare students for dealing with real-world settings and implementing the most effective up-to-date practices. The Department aspires to lead in research, and in developing modern concepts and tools. Research is being conducted in the mechanical engineering industry under a grant from the EU LEONARDO programme. We invite you to email with questions or to schedule a visit to the Department at any time.

Determination of a Solid Phase Mass Transfer Coefficient for Modeling an Adsorption Bed System Using Ammonium Molybdophosphate-Polyacrylonitrile (AMP-PAN) as a Sorbent for the Removal of 137 Cs from Acidic Nuclear Waste Solutions

Ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP) immobilized on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support is an engineered form of cesium selective sorbent material developed at the Czech Technical University in Prague. This material is being investigated as a sorbent for removing 137Cs from Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) acidic sodium bearing waste (SBW) solution. As part of this study, a computer program to solve the partial differential equations (PDE's) for continuity and rate of exchange in a fixed bed system has been developed using numerical finite difference algorithms. These equations are solved iteratively in order to derive a mass transfer coefficient that agrees with the results of bench scale column experiments. This mass transfer coefficient is then applied in the PDE solutions to predict breakthrough behavior in a semi-scale column experiment. The model provided excellent agreement with the semi-scale data with a mass transfer coefficient of 0.0126 min−1.

Guest Editor's Preface: ECLIM 2000 Special Issue

This issue of Laser and Particle Beams Journal contains the papers submitted for publication by participants of the 26th European Conference on Laser Interaction with Matter—this Conference (also known by its acronym ECLIM 2000) was organized jointly by the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and supported by the International Society for Optical Engineering, this conference was held in Prague from June 12–16, 2000.

Foreword

The idea to organize a central-european workshop on quantum optics goes back to the activity of prof. V. Buzžek (Bratislava) and prof. J. Janszky (Budapest). The first meetings were held in Budapest and Bratislava and started a tradition bringing together people working on problems related to quantum optics. Later workshops have been held at Budmerice (Slovakia), Balaton (Hungary), Olomouc and Prague (Czech republic). The already eighth central-european workshop found his way back to Prague and was organized in cooperation with the Doppler Institute and the Department of Physics of the Faculty for Nuclear Science and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague. The contributions of the participants focus on problems in quantum communication, quantum information, quantum state reconstruction, atom optics and nonlinear quantum optics. The success of the workshop was enabled by the kind cooperation of all the participants during the conference. The present collection of contributions gives a good review of topics presented. We hope that the present issue will be able to transfer the constructive and stimulating atmosphere of the workshop to the readership. I would like to thank the editor prof. D. Lüst and co-editor prof. W. P. Schleich for opening up the possibility to publish the proceedings of the workshop in the Fortschritte der Physik. It surely helps to enlarge the readership of the proceedings and promotes the idea of the central-european workshop among colleagues around the world.

Automation of TL brick dating by ADAM-1

A specially adapted machine ADAM-1 for the thermoluminescence fine grain dating of bricks was constructed in an interdisciplinary research project, undertaken by a team recruited from three faculties of the Czech Technical University in Prague. This TL-reader is able to measure and evaluate automatically numerous samples. The sample holder has 60 sample positions, which allow the irradiation and evaluation of samples taken from two locations. All procedures of alpha and beta irradiation by varying doses and the TL-signal measurement as also the age evaluation and error assessment are programmable and fully automated.

Polynomial Toolbox as an Educational Tool

The Polynomial Toolbox for Matlab version 2 (Polyx, 1999) is a new software package for computations with polynomial matrices. Though it was released just one year ago, it has already appeared a most useful tool when teaching and learning algebraic methods of control systems design (Kučera, 1991 and Kailath, 1980). In this paper we give our experience with employing the Toolbox at the lectures and labs of Algebraic Design Methods and Robust Control courses taught at the Czech Technical University in Prague. Practical examples illustrating the Toolbox performance and contribution are also included.

Engineering Courses Taught in English Language at the Czech Technical University in Prague

Summary The Czech Technical University in Prague is one of the oldest establishments of higher technical education in central Europe. This university is divided into six faculties, among them the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEE). One of the fundamental changes which has been introduced in the FEE since the Velvet Revolution is full engineering education programmes in English, leading to Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees.

The Czech Automated Library System

As a result of the lack of commercially available library packages in the Czech Republic, the Czech Technical University in Prague decided to develop their own system. This short article describes its functions and exemplifies the application at the CTU.

Shear strengthening of old concrete beams

In our March‐April issue last year, the author described work at the Czech Technical University in Prague on the use of epoxy resins to apply new flat reinforcement to old concrete beams in order to enhance or prolong their service life. Here, some further test results and general conclusions are presented on the application of this technique to shear strengthening. The author is Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University.

The education of mechanical engineers for food processing equipment design at the mechanical faculty of the Czech Technical University in Prague

The diverse Czechoslovak food industry, the second largest industry in that country, relies heavily on an adequate supply of university graduates. For almost 30 years the Czech Technical University in Prague has produced mechanical engineers trained specifically for the food industry. Details of the course structure and content are given together with other aspects of the training of these engineers and their employment in the Czechoslovak food industry and elsewhere.

Strengthening existing floor slabs

Whether done as part of general restoration work or to remedy a defect in the original construction, techniques for in situ strengthening of existing reinforced concrete structures have been considerably developed in Czechoslovakia. Here a senior lecturer in the building faculty of the Czech Technical University in Prague summarises the results of tests on old floor slabs which have been strengthened by the addition of a new concrete layer.