Professor Dariusz Mikielewicz became a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at the Gdańsk University of Technology

– This is a kind of crowning of the scientific plans, appreciation by a body of the most renowned representatives of Polish science - says professor Mikielewicz – My tasks remain constant: active operation in the scientific field, raising a new generation of PhD's and professors, paying attention to the highest quality of the conducted scientific research, in order for them to be on the highest world level. These should be groundbreaking subjects that will contribute to worldwide changes, but this is yet another dream of mine.  

Bioeconomy and energy prodoctuion

Professor Mikielewicz emphasizes that science creates lots of tasks to be completed. The 21st century will be based on artificial intelligence, biotechnologica applications, closed-circuit economy, bioeconomy. Perhaps these areas are not directly linked to energy production or heat exchange as basic sciences, however, they can have an extensive impact. I am currently conducting a project entitled "Negative CO2 emission gas power plant", one of the assumptions includes using sewage waste and it contributes to the production of a renewable fuel and this would influence modern energy production – says the professor. 

The project started in November 2020. A concept of the whole circuit was developed, basic parameters for the operation of the system elements were defined. This project is very challenging. One of the requirements includes the production of gaseous fuel from the sewage waste. We employ the so called plasma technology here, which has not been researched yet. There are some premisses that it will work, however, as of now there is no technology that would guarantee success. Next, the fuel needs to be skillfully combusted. The combustion will occur in extremely high temperatures, its cooling will be researched so that the materials can withstand the temperature. The third element of the project consists in separating the carbon dioxide from the mixture of steam and CO2. In the end we will have to propose a method of applying the carbon dioxide in a useful product – says Dariusz Mikielewicz. 

New generations of PhD's

Regarding the raising of a new generation of PhD's, professor Mikielewicz currently supervises six doctoral students. Under his supervision they are actively participating in the project described above in the area of preparation of the renewable fuel and using CO2 to a useful product. 

One of the PhD thesis is written in cooperation with Medical University of Gdańsk and La Sapienza University of Rome and it is connected with applying particles of gold to combat neoplasms, a phenomenon of the so-called photothermal ablation. 

Nanoparticles of gold are conductors of a kind, sources of heat. Due to their exposure of to laser rays, the area of the neoplasm will be burned out with the aid of hot nanoparticles. Conducting this operation with a laser would be much more precise than if it were conducted surgically - says professor Mikielewicz. 

As far as his scientific plans are concerned, professor Mikielewicz intends to continue and develop work on boiling and condensation in the flow. These areas contributed to the theses of GUT professors Michał Klugmann, Rafał Andrzejczyk and Blanka Jakubowska. - I also anticipate refreshing the subject of heat pipes with circuil loop. They are very efficient in transferring heat to large distances. Another current subjects includes various research services provided for the industry - sums up professor Mikielewicz.  

The status of the member of the Polish Academy of Sciences will be effective for the newly elected members from January 1, 2022.