Gašper Bizjan
Technische Universität Dresden
Supervisor: Prof. Markus Schubert
Brief Bio
Gašper is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) Fellow at the Chair of Chemical Process Engineering at TU Dresden. His current research project, CaviPRO DC9, focuses on the investigation of hydrodynamic cavitation and radical formation rates at the system level. Gašper holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ljubljana, where he completed his thesis titled "3D-printed thermoactive vibration isolation based on quasy zero stiffness," under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Janko Slavič at the Laboratory for Dynamics of Machines and Structures. The project involved developing a functional and controllable metamaterial for vibration isolation.
Following his Master's, Gašper undertook an internship at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, where he worked on the mechanical design of radiation protection around the FRS Ion Catcher as part of the FRS/SFRS experiments department. Outside of his academic and research activities, Gašper enjoys hiking with his dog, Juna.
Project Description
There are no proven relations between operating conditions, HC design and performance parameters that form the basis for engineering and operation of technical systems. Furthermore, though strong cavitation dynamics are beneficial for high OH production, accompanied shear and microstreaming induce risk for material stress and equipment failure. This PhD project aims at controlling and optimising location and intensity of cavitation via novel HC devices and internals. The goal is to improve overall yield and performance of physico-chemical transformations while minimising energy consumption. The key objectives are: 1) Develop a method to study cloud dynamics and bubble size spectra based on ultrafast X-ray tomography (ROFEX) and OptiFLOW microscopy, and investigate OH radical formation rates via chemiluminescence; 2) Investigate performance of 3D-printed HC devices with and without internals; 3) Optimise swirl and HC device surface modifications to enhance the radical formation rate. The key expected results are: 1) First-ever ultrafast X-ray tomographic imaging of cavitation cloud dynamics; 2) Unique high-resolution experimental data and new knowledge on the underlying physico-chemical relationships for validating models (for DC8 and DC10); 3) Demonstration of next-generation HC devices with internals for wastewater treatment (WP5), including 3D-printing workflows.
