About study programme
Hydraulics and pneumatics can be found almost everywhere. It is part of the drive mechanisms and machines in industry, construction, agriculture and transport, but in a broader sense is related to fluid flow, transfer phenomena, fluid transport, flow around objects, and many other applications. In addition to specialized subjects, which are based on fluid power, students will get acquainted with modern graphics systems, computer aided design, technical documentation. They acquire special knowledge of technical diagnostics, operation and maintenance of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, lubrication equipment, etc. Graduates find employment as designers, technicians and managers at a moderate level, acts as dealers and sales representatives. However, if the topic is interesting, they can continue their studies in Master's degree in Hydraulics and Pneumatics.
Graduate's employment
Bachelor study graduates are prepared for mid-level technical positions in businesses and in plants. They are oriented on an operational-user level as well as on the design of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment. Bachelor study graduates can find employment as technicians and team leaders providing assembly, introduction of operations, operations, maintenance, repairs, renovation, measurements, testing and diagnostics of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment as the designers of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. They can get the position of a sale representative, service technician and similar professions. However, they may work in related fields such as tribotechnics (lubrication equipment), transport of liquids and gases, pumping equipment, water, hydraulic and pneumatic pipeline transport, pipelines in the chemical industry, energy, etc.
Study aims
Bachelor degree course in "Hydraulics and Pneumatics" is a three-year study in which students in their first four semesters attend the common course “Mechanical Engineering” and after that they focus on the own study specialization. The basic course within the field is “Fluid Mechanisms”, which is supplemented by other field subjects. The main objective of the courses is to extend the theoretical knowledge of mechanics of rigid and flexible bodies, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, strength and flexibility, machine parts and mechanisms, basic automation and technological subjects. This theoretical background is further applied in the field of hydraulic and pneumatic mechanisms. Students will get acquainted with modern graphical systems and computer aided design work. Graduates are prepared to function as a general designer with special knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic mechanisms. In Bachelor Project the students work on individual projects connected with the topic of bachelor work. Bachelor Theses assumes, that students compile literature search on the topic and theoretical background of the work. In addition to solution quality, the emphasis is given sufficiently large and critical search not just in magazines and books, but also by using Internet search. Studies are completed with Bachelor thesis defence and state examination of two compulsory field courses.
Graduate's knowledge
Graduates of the bachelor program "Hydraulics and Pneumatics gain a broad knowledge of the subject and scope of the field. It consists of basic knowledge of professional courses such as Fluid Mechanics, Fluid power, and some others. It develops the knowledge acquired in the theoretical background. Graduates are familiar with the foundations of hydrostatics, the basic laws of ideal and viscous fluids flow, and they are able to apply their knowledge in practice in the construction of simple and medium complex hydraulic and pneumatic components, the analysis and synthesis of hydrostatic and pneumatic circuits and mechanisms. They can carry out the analysis of the fluid mechanism in the steady state, and continue with the basic problems of the fluid system dynamics, such as start-up of hydraulic drive, the natural frequencies of fluid mechanisms, etc. Students will learn the basics of fluid power actuators and mechanisms, basic operation, maintenance and diagnostics of fluid mechanisms.
Graduate's skills
Using their expertise, the graduates are able to solve practical problems of the field, find and organize information needed to solve the problem, they are able to construct the simpler valves, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, control units, hydraulic units and larger assemblies using computer aided design (CAD, etc.). They know how to read and draw functional diagrams of hydraulic and pneumatic circuits. Based on the problems definition from practice, they are able to assemble simple pneumatic and hydraulic circuits, suggest ways to control them, to calculate the circuit parameters in steady state and perform the basic dynamic calculations. They know how to write a technical report, prepare specification of the applied elements and instruments, to define the instructions for installation, operation and maintenance of equipment. They know how to build a diagnostic procedure and carry out the simple diagnostic measurements. They know the basic research techniques and methods of the field and how they can be used to solve practical problems.
Graduate's general competence
Graduates are able to present their findings to both non-professional and professional public, to defend their solutions, propose technical solutions with regard to the requirements of economics, environmental protection, safety, etc. They can acquire expertise in independent studies of theoretical knowledge of literature, but also on practical experience, are able to search needed data on the internet at least in one foreign language. They know how to design wider technical solutions based on a framework of the partial problem definition. These skills they demonstrate by the solution of individual projects in specialized fields, class projects and particularly Bachelor project solution and defense of thesis. They can work in a team and to some extent they are able to coordinate the team.