Projects

National

NANOFLIT – Nano-funkcionalizácia kvapalín pre olejové transformátory
Nano-functionalization of liquids for liquid-immersed transformers
Program: SRDA
Project leader: RNDr. Rajňák Michal, PhD.
Annotation: The current increase in electricity consumption and the greening of its distribution, together with the increase in the price of materials for the production of distribution transformers, represent a challenge for applied research in electric power engineering. The intention of the presented project is to respond to this challenge by functionalizing the current liquids used in electrical transformers in order to increase their cooling efficiency while maintaining or improving their dielectric and insulating properties. For this project, the liquids used in the distribution transformers of the manufacturer interested in this research will be selected. These are commercial liquids primarily based on liquefied natural gas, synthetic and natural esters. Based on current state of the art, the liquids will be functionalized by means of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials, which can significantly improve thermal conductivity, natural and thermomagnetic convection, and thus make the overall heat transport in the liquids more efficient. The functionalizing nanoadditives will be mainly made from carbon (fullerene, nanodiamond) and iron oxides or other ferromagnetic elements. The functionalized liquids will undergo laboratory measurements of physico-chemical, electrical, magnetic and thermal properties. Based on the analyzes of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations, nanofluids with the greatest potential for improving the thermal and insulating properties of the transformer will be selected. The selected nanofluids will be tested by the industrial partner (the customer of the research results) and applied in the selected distribution transformer. The transformer will be subjected to electrical and temperature rise tests. One can expect that the nanofunctionalization of the liquids will result in a lower operating temperature of the transformer, which can lead to an extension of the transformer service life and to the production of smaller transformers.
Duration: 1.7.2023 – 30.6.2027
Procesy samousporiadania v mäkkých hybridných zmesiach kvapalných kryštálov a nanočastíc
Self-organization processes in soft hybrid mixtures of liquid crystals and nanoparticles
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Tomašovičová Natália, CSc.
Annotation: The proposal aims to approach the research of liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles of different kind from anovel perspective of the self-organization that has an indisputable importance covering all fields of naturalsciences, and has also a deep impact in social sciences. In such composite systems a subtle interplay amongthe nanoparticles, the self-assembling matrix and the topological defects commands the self-organizationprocess. We will focus on the electric/magnetic field induced self-organization in such systems experimentally on different length scales by investigating the processes in different phases, isotropic, nematic, cholesteric with the anticipation that our results can be exploited in applications such as guided material transport, magnetic/electric switches/sensors, chemical/biosensors, in microfluidic/lab-on-a-chip devices, etc. We are convinced that systematic studies in this topic may change fundamentally current knowledge.
Duration: 1.1.2021 – 31.12.2024
NANOELEN – Nanokvapaliny v elektrotechnike
Nanofluids in Electrical Engineering
Program: SRDA
Project leader: RNDr. Rajňák Michal, PhD.
Annotation: The submitted project is oriented on research into nanofluids based on alternative cooling and insulating liquidmedia such as oils based on liquefied natural gas, natural esters and new types of transformer oils. We willprepare novel nanofluids based on these oils by dispersing magnetic nanoparticles, fullerenes, graphenenanoplatelets or carbon nanotubes. The purpose of the nanofluids preparation is to enhance the coolingeffectiveness of the liquid media. The nanofluids will be investigated from dielectric, insulating, magnetic andheat transfer properties point of view. Finally, their cooling effectiveness will be tested in loaded powertransformers. Therefore, the aim of this project is the development of advanced liquid media for cooling andinsulating in electrical engineering, the application of which will have a potential impact on electric power saving,electrical equipment service life and protection of the environment.
Duration: 1.7.2019 – 30.6.2023
Slzná tekutina a sliny v preventívnej, prediktívnej a personalizovanej medicíne
Tear fluid and saliva in preventive, predictive and personalized medicine
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Tomašovičová Natália, CSc.
Annotation: Tear fluid and saliva are non-traditional biological collected material. Collection is non-invasive, which is anadvantage compared to blood collection as a standard biological material. It is not colored, contains water andelectrolytes, proteins, lipids, hormones and others. Characterization of its composition in various inflammatorydiseases with a focus on amyloid formation by using several methods represents an approach of preventive,predictive and personalized medicine. Body fluid content in patients with pathological conditions variessignificantly compared to healthy subjects. There are still unexplained interindividual changes in non-traditionalbody fluids in clinical-diagnostic practice, but these differences may allow personal diagnosis and application oftailor-made treatments.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2022
Vplyv veľkosti nanočastíc na ac susceptibilitu feronematík
Program: DoktoGrant
Project leader: RNDr. Kónyová Katarína, PhD.
Duration: 1.1.2020 – 31.12.2021
Makroskopicky anizotrópne kompozity na báze kvapalnych kryštálov a magnetických nanočastíc
Macroscopic anisotropic composites based on liquid crystals and magnetic nanoparticles
Program: VEGA
Project leader: RNDr. Tomašovičová Natália, CSc.
Annotation: The proposal targets basic research on composite materials consisting of liquid crystals and various magnetic nanoparticles. Combination of the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals with the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles results in composites with unique magnetic and optical properties that the component materials themselves do not possess. The proposed studies concentrate on the increase of the sensitivity of our composite soft matter materials (liquid state) to magnetic fields and prepare new materials having unique dielectric, magnetic and optical properties. The main goal of the proposal is to influence the sensitivity of these anisotropicsystems to external magnetic field by adding suitable magnetic nanoparticles and by this way make a step forward towards potential applications in various magneto-optical or dielectric devices as for example sensors of low magnetic fields or light shutter.
Duration: 1.1.2017 – 31.12.2020