Mathematical modeling of the heating and cooling of the ceramic lining of the wind heater in order to achieve the highest possible temperature of the wind blown into the blast furnace. The work subsequently led to a project focused on heat exchange research in similar devices.

It is a so-called prediction model, which, based on input information about the quantities and composition of individual input materials (pellets, ore, agglomerate), predicts the amount and quality of blast furnace gas generated by the wind. The use of this model is especially at a time when the operator optimizes the operation from the point of view of production possibilities, but also sales and by planning the use of the generated blast furnace gas in other operations of the plant, when it is necessary to know not only its quantity, but also its quality, which is transferred to the energy value.

Operators of various technologies, whether for heating metallic or non-metallic materials, but also for their melting, use information only from the manufacturer of the given equipment. Considering the age of some technologies, their innovation or improvement of operation is necessary to reduce energy consumption. The performed material and thermal analyzes subsequently provide a relevant insight into the possibilities of where and in what way it is possible to save energy, or also the possibilities of increasing the productivity of the given technology.

It is aimed either at reducing energy consumption per unit of manufactured (processed) product, or at adjusting productivity (even increasing it) towards economic optimization. By using tools for mathematical modeling (e.g. programming, modeling with visualization) it is possible to model different arrangements of burners, their performance, distribution in the aggregate, but also other parameters such as e.g. thickness and properties of insulating materials depending on the heating rate or production performance. Working with these tools requires knowledge of the heating conditions of the materials. The given work was part of a package of proposals that should lead to the modernization of the line and its improvement in the context of comparison with the most modern lines in the field in Europe or in the world, without the need to invest in a new line worth tens of millions of euros.

In today's time, when a high emphasis is placed on ecology, the idea of using hydrogen as a fuel, the burning of which does not produce the greenhouse gas CO2, is coming up. And at the same time, use hydrogen as a tool for energy accumulation, because current battery systems currently have high production costs and energy losses depending on the storage time. With a view to the future, it is necessary to start solving it today and that is why we are working with names such as "power to gas", "sun storage". Since hydrogen has certain specific properties (e.g. high affinity), it is necessary to transport it to the consumer in a safe manner with low transport costs. With regard to the already developed gas system for the distribution of low-emission natural gas, the mixing of hydrogen appears as one of the ways of its distribution. Efficient and especially cheap production and transport of hydrogen are only partial tasks. Mixing hydrogen into natural gas will subsequently affect the properties of the gas mixture. Therefore, it is also necessary to address these questions, whether and how a change in the properties of the given mixture will affect the operation of not only industrial aggregates, but also household appliances such as e.g. gas boiler or gas stove.

Another topic dedicated to ecology. Many people do not agree with the incineration of waste and its energy recovery for the production of heat and electricity, because they consider this method of waste disposal to be a producer of greenhouse gases, fine particles (PM), but also other pollutants. However, they do not realize that landfilling, for example, municipal waste leads to the formation of another greenhouse gas with several times higher negative impact on the environment than CO2. Likewise, many people do not realize that to produce, for example, electricity (which would be produced by this energy recovery), another carbon-based fuel must be consumed. It makes no sense to compare only general information, because the energy mix (energy production from different sources: coal, nuclear, renewable, but also alternative energy sources) is specific for each country. In addition to classic waste, there are also other industrial wastes that have been placed in various landfills for years and their non-use threatens various ecological "catastrophes". The work is devoted to various wastes and the possibilities of their recovery, not only in the form of incineration, but also by conversion into various fuels (energy) or other usable products such as oils and feed materials for the production of metals.

Just like heat aggregates, heat distribution systems also require our attention. Each solved topic hides, not only the financial, but also the ecological side. When transporting energy media (water, steam, gases - fuels), part of the energy is consumed for their transport. At the same time, however, there is another energy loss, namely thermal, especially during the transport of hot water and steam, so it is important to deal with their location and thermal insulation. Even a suitably chosen quality, not only the thickness of the insulation, will make it possible to save not only finances for operation, but especially to save energy sources. Another factor is the way the network is operated. Especially in the summer months, when the ambient temperature is higher compared to the colder period, the heat losses of the system decrease, then it is possible to operate these hot water distribution systems at lower temperatures, which will decrease the losses again. A simple reasoning that speaks of efficiency is: "the greater the temperature difference, the faster the heat transfer occurs" is used here twice. The first time during the aforementioned heat loss in the heat distribution system and the second time directly during production, that is, even before the medium reaches the heat system.

As many of you already know, it takes energy to heat and melt materials. How to intensively and effectively use this energy? The answer to this question is provided by the kinetics of heat exchange and thus transfer phenomena. But how to do it so that the most effective methods are not economically demanding? One of the ways is the "oxy combustion" technology (combustion with oxygen). But what is it? Combustion of fuels uses air, but only oxygen is important from the air. Therefore, if we separate the other components, we will supply only the fuel and the necessary oxygen to the process. When burning, thermal energy is released, which passes into combustion products. So let's sum it up, the fewer inputs, the smaller the number of particles to which the released thermal energy will be transferred and thus they will have a higher temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the possibility of using the given fuel.

You must have heard the word "CHP". But do you know what this abbreviation means in the energy sector? CHP – is the combined production of heat and electricity. If we want to protect our environment, it is necessary to minimize the production of exhalates (emissions). The idea of CHP was created in order to save as much as possible the fuels from which energy is produced. One of the ways is to increase the efficiency of using the energy potential of the fuel. Do you also know how electricity is produced from a heat source? In general, fuel is burned, producing heat. The released heat heats the water, the water is made into steam, and the steam is directed to a steam turbine that spins the generator. The generator then produces electricity. However, the steam that leaves the turbine still has energy, which it transfers to water, and we can use it in our homes for heating, showering, bathing, or washing dishes. So, in addition to producing electricity, we produced heat from "waste". In this way, we saved energy for the production of hot water, we saved fuel. And do you know that HE CHP also exists? It is a high efficiency CHP. Let's go back again to steam, which transferred energy to water for heating and bathing. There is still a certain energy potential in it. But we don't need more heat, so what about that? It is possible to produce cold from the residual energy (heat contained in the steam). If I lead the cold to the consumer, he doesn't have to use his air conditioning units, which saves some of the electricity we produced before. With such systems, we can use more efficient energy sources, but also save fuel, which will ultimately be reflected in the amount of CO2 emissions produced.

Have you ever heard of the Joule-Thomson (J-T) phenomenon? Do you know how gas is delivered to our homes? Thus, at the beginning, a compressor is needed (e.g. at mining sites) which compresses the gas (pressure increase). The gas subsequently moves to places with lower pressure - to consumers. Especially in places where the gas line is run near houses, it is necessary that this pressure be only minimal and the pressure reduction is taken care of by the regulator. The regulator works on the principle of throttling (changing the cross-section of the pipe) and the pressure is reduced behind this throttling member. The J-T effect causes the gas to cool. If the gas cools too much, the hydrates contained in the gas will freeze and cause the pipe to leak. To prevent this from happening, either the gas is heated to a higher temperature or the pressure regulator is heated. Both of these pressure reduction methods require energy consumption. However, if we consider that friction creates heat, then when the gas passes through the cyclone (a device in the shape of an inverted cone), the gas "rubs" against its walls. This friction will cause the pressure to drop and the temperature to rise. If this device is made of steel, the generated heat can be dissipated through the wall into the surroundings. The use of this knowledge can be applied in practice, since there are no moving parts and care for the device is minimal.