La miniaturisation toujours plus poussée des composants électroniques génère des contraintes thermiques de plus en plus importantes. Les boucles diphasiques à pompage thermo-capillaire ou LHP suscitent actuellement un intérêt croissant en raison de leurs bonnes performances thermiques, de leur fiabilité et de leur géométrie permettant une grande souplesse d’implantation. Cependant, une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes en jeu dans ces systèmes est essentielle pour optimiser leur conception et prédire leur comportement de manière fiable. Dans ce travail, un modèle analytique est développé qui intègre les paramètres de fonctionnement d’une LHP, afin d’étudier leur influence en fonction des conditions opératoires. Son originalité principale réside dans la détermination précise de la répartition des différents flux thermiques dans l’évaporateur. Une étude de sensibilité est menée pour évaluer les influences de la résistance de contact entre la structure capillaire poreuse et l’enveloppe de l’évaporateur, de la conductivité thermique équivalente du matériau poreux, du coefficient d’accommodation lié aux transferts de chaleur par évaporation et des coefficients de transfert thermique entre la paroi et le milieu ambiant ou la source froide. Cette analyse montre que les paramètres mentionnés ci-dessus peuvent être estimés individuellement, en comparant le modèle à des données expérimentales judicieusement choisies. Un banc expérimental a également été conçu et fabriqué. Partiellement transparent, il permet l’observation de la position des phases liquide et vapeur au cours du fonctionnement. Les influences de la puissance thermique appliquée, de la présence de gaz incondensables et de la température de la source froide sont analysées. Aux puissances thermiques élevées, un régime d’ébullition nucléée est observé dans le réservoir, qui se traduit par une augmentation des flux parasites vers le réservoir donc une dégradation des performances de la LHP. Plusieurs phénomènes oscillatoires sont également observés et corrélés aux observations visuelles des écoulements. Enfin, différents régimes de condensation sont observés et les mécanismes conduisant au détachement des bulles dans le condenseur sont décrits. Un modèle numérique a été développé, afin de simuler le comportement du banc expérimental en se rapprochant au plus près de ses caractéristiques géométriques et thermophysiques. La comparaison entre les prédictions du modèle et les données expérimentales montre les carences des modèles de pertes de charges dans les écoulements diphasiques, pour la configuration étudiée. Les transferts de chaleur et de masse dans l’évaporateur sont analysés, ainsi que l’influence de l’apparition de l’ébullition dans le réservoir et celle de la conductivité thermique de l’enveloppe de l’évaporateur. Les résultats mettent également en évidence l’importance de la conduction thermique longitudinale dans les canalisations dans le cas d’un matériau conducteur. / The increasing development of electronics leads to higher constraints regarding their thermal management. Loop heat pipes (LHP) become more and more attractive because they offer thermal efficiency, reliability and large implementation flexibility. However, a better understanding of the physical phenomena involved within them is required in order to optimise their design and predict accurately their operation. An analytical model is developed to highlight the main parameters of a LHP and their influence depending on the operating conditions. Its main originality lies in a thorough consideration of heat transfer in the evaporator. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to study the influence of the contact thermal resistance between the wick and the body of the evaporator, of the effective thermal conductivity of the wick, of the accommodation coefficient linked to the evaporation heat transfer and of the heat transfer with the ambient and with the heat sink. This analysis shows that these parameters can be individually and separately estimated by comparing the model to a set of well-chosen experimental data. An experimental setup is designed and built. It is partially transparent, to observe the location of the liquid and vapour phases in operating conditions. The effects of the heat input, non-condensable gases and of the heat sink temperature are discussed. Nucleate boiling is observed inside the reservoir for high heat fluxes. This phenomenon increases significantly the parasitic heat flux towards the reservoir and therefore decreases the performance of the LHP. Several oscillating phenomena are also observed and correlated to the flow patterns. Finally, distinct condensation regimes are investigated and the mechanisms leading to the bubble detachment in the condenser are discussed. A numerical model is developed in accordance with the geometrical and thermophysical characteristics of the experimental setup. The model is compared with the experimental data. The comparison shows the lack of accuracy of the two-phase pressure drops models in this configuration. Heat and mass transfer in the evaporator are discussed and the effects of boiling in the reservoir and of the thermal conductivity inside the evaporator casing are investigated. The results highlight the importance of the longitudinal thermal conduction inside the tube in the case of conductive materials.

Les suspensivores ont la tâche importante de séparer les particules de l'eau. Bien qu'une grande gamme de morphologies existe pour les structures d'alimentation, elles sont pratiquement toutes constituées de rangées de cylindres qui interagissent avec leur environnement fluide. Le mécanisme de capture des particules utilisé dépend des contraintes morphologiques, des besoins énergétiques et des conditions d'écoulement. Comme nos objectifs étaient de comprendre ces relations, nous avons eu recours à des études de comparaison pour interpréter les tendances en nature et pour comprendre les conditions qui provoquent de nouveaux fonctionnements. Nous avons utilisé la dynamique des fluides numérique (computational fluid dynamics, CFD) pour créer des expériences contrôlées et pour simplifier les analyses. Notre première étude démontre que les coûts énergétiques associés au pompage dans les espaces petits sont élevés. De plus, le CFD suggère que les fentes branchiales des ptérobranches sont des structures rudimentaires, d'un ancêtre plus grande. Ce dernier point confirme l'hypothèse qu'un ver se nourrit par filtration tel que l'ancêtre des deuterostomes. Notre deuxième étude détermine la gamme du nombre de Reynolds number critique où la performance d'un filtre de balane change. Quand le Re est très bas, les différences morphologiques n'ont pas un grand effet sur le fonctionnement. Cependant, une pagaie devient une passoire lorsque le Re se trouve entre 1 et 3,5. Le CFD s’est dévoilé être un outil très utile qui a permis d’obtenir des détails sur les microfluides. Ces études montrent comment la morphologie et les dynamiques des fluides interagissent avec la mécanisme de capture ou de structures utilisées, ainsi que comment des petits changements de taille, de forme, ou de vitesse d'écoulement peuvent conduire à un nouveau fonctionnement. / Suspension feeders have the important task of separating particles from the liquid medium surrounding them. Although a wide range of morphologies exist for feeding structures, essentially all consist of arrays of cylinders interacting with their fluid environment. The particle capture mechanism employed depends on morphological constraints, energy requirements, and flow conditions, therefore our objectives were to understand these relationships through comparison studies to interpret trends in nature and to understand the conditions in which novel functioning arises. Our studies used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to create controlled experiments and to simplify analyses. The first study demonstrates the unfeasibly high energetic costs of pumping in small and medium pharynx sizes of hemichordates, implying the gill pores of pterobranchs are likely vestigial structures from a larger ancestor. This last point further supports the hypothesis of an acorn worm as the ancestor to all deuterostomes. Our second study determined the critical Reynolds number (Re) range where barnacle filters transition from a paddle to a sieve. At very low Re, morphological differences have no major effect on functioning and filters behave as paddles, however, at Re 1 - 3.5, these differences dictate when a paddle becomes a sieve. CFD proved to be a very useful tool for simplifying studies and providing detailed microfluidics. These studies demonstrate how morphology and fluid dynamics interact to dictate the capture mechanisms or appendages employed and how simple changes in size, shape, or flow speed can lead to novel functioning.

Le vieillissement musculaire est caractérisé par des pertes progressives de masse et de fonction. Des altérations de l’énergétique mitochondriale pourraient être impliquées dans ce processus. Dans cette thèse, l’analyse modulaire du contrôle métabolique a été appliquée chez le rat à différents niveaux d’intégration pour caractériser les effets du vieillissement sur la fonction mitochondriale. Combinée à la spectroscopie RMN du 31P, cette approche a permis de montrer in vivo dans le muscle gastrocnemius une diminution de la réponse de phosphorylation oxydative mitochondriale face à des variations de concentration des intermédiaires énergétiques chez les rats âgés (21 mois vs. 6 mois). Suivant les principes de l’analyse Top-Down, les propriétés de la phosphorylation oxydative ont été étudiées sur des mitochondries isolées à partir du muscle gastrocnemius. La capacité maximale de production d’ATP est réduite chez les rats âgés, alors que le rendement maximal (rapport ATP/O) de la phosphorylation oxydative reste inchangé. L’application de l’analyse modulaire in vitro a révélé chez les rats âgés une augmentation de la réponse (élasticité) du module phosphorylation face à des variations du potentiel de membrane. Cette élasticité plus élevée explique la modification du schéma de contrôle de la phosphorylation oxydative pour des activités de phosphorylation compatibles avec celles étudiées in vivo. Elle explique également le plus faible potentiel de membrane généré par les mitochondries de rats âgés pour un même niveau d’activité de phosphorylation. De nombreux processus pourraient de fait être affectés : production de radicaux libres, homéostasie calcique, voies de signalisation impliquées dans le contrôle de la masse musculaire. Les modifications des propriétés fonctionnelles de l’ANT démontrées dans cette thèse sont en mesure d’expliquer, au moins en partie, les modifications de l’énergétique mitochondriale révélées à la fois in vitro et in vivo chez les rats âgés. / Skeletal muscle aging is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and function. Involvement in this process of an impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics was proposed but is still extensively debated. The aim of this thesis was to take adventage of the capabilities of modular control analysis approach to get better insights in the effects of aging on mitochondrial function. We first studied the integrated muscle energetics in adult (6 months) and aged (21 months) rats using the modular control analysis approach combined with non-invasive 31P NMR spectroscopy measurements of energetic intermediates. The in vivo activation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in response to an increase in ATP demand was markedly decreased in the gastrocnemius muscle of aged rats. To further define the effects of aging on mitochondrial energetics, we thus studied the oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle. Maximal oxidative phosphorylation capacity is clearly reduced in aged rats, while mitochondrial efficiency is unaffected. Application of modular control analysis to the study of oxidative phosphorylation revealed an increased sensitivity (elasticity) of the phosphorylation module in response to changes in membrane potential in aged rats. This increased elasticity is responsible for a modified control pattern of oxidative phosphorylation under low phosphorylation activities. Interestingly these low activities certainly correspond to those we studied in vivo. This increased elasticity of the phosphorylation module is responsible for a modified mitochondrial response toward changes in cellular ATP demand, leading to a decreased membrane potential, which may in turn affect many cellular processes such as ROS production, calcium homeostasis and some signaling pathways involved in the control of muscle mass. The modified ANT properties evidenced in this thesis certainly explain, at least in part, the modified mitochondrial energetics reaveled both in vitro and in vivo in aged rats.

Main purpose of this thesis is to find out how self sufficient concerning the energy raw materials are countries within Visegrad group. Further purpose of my thesis is to analyse total primary energy supply, the structure of energy supply in countries of Visegrad group and its developments in last 4 decades. Furher I want to reveal how the structure of total primary energy supply and structure of electricity generation reflect the disponibility of raw materials in these countries and transformation of economics in the nineties. A sub-objective of my work will examine how countries of the Visegrad Four use the potential of renewable energy sources and how they support it.

The aim of this master's thesis is to create a project of a small power plant in the Czech republic, which would be powered by geothermal energy as a renewable energy source. Followed by evaluation of economic effectiveness and return of that investment. For which I use known methods for evaluation and investment decision making.

This work is focused on the power engineering of the Czech Republic, particularly the alternative and its subset, wind power. Introduction acquaints readers with the state of energy in the country. They're the facts of the historical development of energy in Czechoslovakia and its status today. Representation of particular sources which are involved in the so-called. "Big Energy", their description and production. Each of the resources used is briefly described and discussed basic advantages and disadvantages arising from the nature of the source. It is also outlined the possible development of energy and change in the application of these resources in the future. The conclusion is devoted to alternative energy sources. Strives to cover the positive and negative aspects. It also shows the effect of alternative energy sources to power grid stability. The conclusion of this chapter is devoted to draft measures to increase the use of alternative energy sources in the energy mix of the Czech Republic. The second part is devoted to experimental measurements on small wind turbine JPT-100 from Jetpro Technology, Inc. The beginning describes the basic mathematical methods for calculating wind power and wind turbine itself. The text is accompanied by illustrative graphs. Another part deals with the actual wind turbine JPT-100. There are mentioned its characteristics, complete description of measuring workplace and measurement results.

The thesis Temelín Nuclear Power Station and Czech-Austrian Relations deals with the Temelín Nuclear Power Station and nuclear industry and its influence to the Czech-Austrian relations. The study aims to analyse the relations between the Czech Republic and Austria in the context of the power station from 1993 to 2013. Initially, the thesis introduces the theory of constructivism in the International Relations. Afterwards, it aims to explain the differences between the relations to the nuclear energy by Czechs and by Austrians on the basis of the theory of constructivism. Moreover, the thesis introduces the historical, legal and technical circumstances of the Czech-Austrian dispute. The main objective of the thesis is to ascertain, what effect on the Czech-Austrian relations have mediums, which publish articles about the Temelín Nuclear Power Station. There are four Czech relevant newspapers (Blesk, MF DNES, Právo and Lidové noviny) and four Austrian relevant newspapers (Kronen Zeitung, Kurier, Der Standard and Die Presse) inquired in the thesis. Particular articles are evaluated by the stances on the issue (pronuclear, antinuclear or impartial). The thesis identifies, which of the mediums have impact on deterioration/improvement of the Czech-Austrian relations. The study also deals with the process of...

<p> Inclement challenges of a changing climate and humanity's desire to explore extraterrestrial environments both necessitate efficient methods to obtain freshwater. To accommodate next generation water technology, there is a need for understanding and defining the energy efficiency for unconventional water sources over a broad range of environments. Exergy analysis provides a common description for efficiency that may be used to evaluate technologies and water sources for energy feasibility. This work uses robust thermodynamic theory coupled with atmospheric and planetary data to define water capture efficiency, explore its variation across climate conditions, and identify technological niches and development needs.  </p> <p><br></p> <p> We find that desalinating saline liquid brines, even when highly saline, could be the most energetically favorable option for obtaining water outside of Earth. The energy required to access water vapor may be four to ten times higher than accessing ice deposits, however it offers the capacity for decentralized systems. Considering atmospheric water vapor harvesting on Earth, we find that the thermodynamic minimum is anywhere from 0x (RH≥ 100%) to upwards of 250x (RH<10\%) the minimum energy requirement of seawater desalination. Sorbents, modelled as metal organic frameworks (MOFs), have a particular niche in arid and semi-arid regions (20-30%). Membrane-systems are best at low relative humidity and the region of applicability is strongly affected by the vacuum pumping efficiency. Dew harvesting is best at higher humidity and fog harvesting is optimal when super-saturated conditions exist. Component (e.g., pump, chiller, etc.) inefficiencies are the largest barrier in increasing process-level efficiency and strongly impact the regions optimal technology deployment. The analysis elucidates a fundamental basis for comparing water systems energy efficiency for outer space applications and provides the first thermodynamics-based comparison of classes of atmospheric water harvesting technologies on Earth.</p>

<p> </p> <ol> <li>This dissertation investigates the thermodynamics and transport of vacancies and interstitials of oxygen (O) and thorium (Th) in thorium dioxide (ThO₂) with varying charge states from neutral to maximum, with respect to temperature and oxygen pressure. The study also explores the impact of varying fractions of uranium (U) as a cation (<em>y</em>) on the defect disorder in mixed oxide fuels (Th_1-<em>y</em>U_<em>y</em>O₂). Understanding the properties of point defects in these oxides lays a strong foundation, as defects influence the properties of bulk materials, such as thermal transport. To accomplish the stated objectives of this dissertation, the research is structured into three sections that employ first principles density functional theory (DFT) and phonon calculations. The first section focuses on the structure, internal energy of formation, and vibrational entropy of point defects in ThO₂. The results demonstrate that defect energetics increase with an increase in defect charge for O interstitials and Th vacancies, while the opposite is true for O vacancies and Th interstitials. The lowest internal energy of formation shifts from O vacancies of charge 2+ to O interstitials and Th vacancies at various temperature ranges of 0 to 600 K, 600 to 1300 K, and 1300 to 2000 K. The second section develops a model to calculate the defect disorder and off-stoichiometry in ThO_{2±<em>x</em>} and Th_1-<em>y</em>U_<em>y</em>O_{2±<em>x</em>}. The model shows that ThO₂ exists mainly as a hypo-stoichiometric oxide between 1200 K to 2900 K for oxygen pressures ranging from 10^-30 to 10 atm, with O defects dominating this off-stoichiometric regime. The addition of U increases the thermodynamic window over which Th_1-<em>y</em>U_<em>y</em>O2 is hyper-stoichiometric, with O vacancies dominating in the hypo-stoichiometric regime, and cation vacancies and O interstitials dominating at low and high temperatures, respectively. Specifically, at low U content and low temperatures, U vacancies dominate hyper-stoichiometry, while at high U content and low temperatures, Th vacancies are dominant. This research facilitates the comprehension of the intricate changes in structural and defect equilibria that take place during nuclear fuel irradiation, where the fuel is not in a stoichiometric condition. The third section of the dissertation investigates migration barriers and diffusivities of defects and of O and Th in ThO₂. Results indicate that the migration energy of a point defect is dependent on its charge state. The average diffusivity of O vacancies exceeds that of O interstitials, while the similar is true for Th vacancies and Th interstitials above 1650 K. The self-diffusion coefficient of O and Th increases with temperature and is influenced by oxygen pressure, showing a close agreement with experimental and molecular-dynamics-based computational data. At 1500 K, the self-diffusivity of O and Th in ThO2 is 7.47 x 10^-16 m²s^-1 and 4.48 x 10^-23 m²s^-1 , respectively, while at 2500 K, the values increase to 1.06 x 10^-12 m²s^-1  and 2.28 x 10^-17 m²s^-1 , respectively. The chemical diffusion coefficients of defects decrease initially and then plateau as the hypo-stoichiometry in the oxide increases. These findings serve as a fundamental framework for understanding the diffusion-controlled processes of defects, which affect the radiation tolerance and microstructural evolution of ThO₂ as a nuclear fuel.  </li> </ol>

<p dir="ltr">Phosphor thermography is an effective technique for making spatially resolved temperature measurements on surfaces, however little consideration has been given to incorporating the phosphors inside crystalline materials to make internal measurements. Doing so would grant optical access to the phosphors through the crystal. In this work, we prepared a thermographic energetic composite via fast crash encapsulation of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu (BAM) in ammonium perchlorate (AP) crystals, which enabled the use of phosphor thermography to spatially resolve the temperature of the energetic composite. We demonstrate that the temperature measurements show good agreement with thermocouple measurements. The ability to calibrate the material was also demonstrated and compared to the response in dynamic thermal environments. Usability limits as well as thermal stability issues of the composite were also investigated and discussed. The successful encapsulation of BAM within AP and demonstration of thermographic behavior in the composite, indicate the viability of using encapsulation as a method to produce thermographic energetic composites.</p>