Prof. Hans-Joachim Hildebrand Prize 2017 awarded

During the evening event of the 1st Upper Lusatia Energy Symposium at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the 2017 Prof. Hans-Joachim Hildebrand Prize was awarded by the Rector, Prof. Friedrich Albrecht.

The award was presented to Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kunick of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for his outstanding scientific achievements in his PhD thesis on the topic “Rapid Calculation of Thermophysical State Variables in Complex Process Simulations Using the Spline-Based Table Look-up Method (SBTL).” His PhD thesis covers the development of highly accurate yet extremely fast algorithms for calculating material properties, as well as their application in complex energy-related process simulations. The PhD thesis was part of a project by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS).

Dr. Matthias Kunick had only recently defended his PhD thesis—which was developed as part of a cooperative doctoral program between the Department of Technical Thermodynamics at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Hans-Joachim Kretzschmar, and the Institute of Energy Technology at TU Dresden, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Gampe, had just recently defended his dissertation with the distinction “Summa cum laude,” the highest distinction awarded in a German doctoral examination. It was a special honor for him to receive this scientific award.

The founder of this award, the founding rector of the Zittau University of Applied Sciences, Professor Hans-Joachim Hildebrand, stipulated that this award is intended to recognize and honor scientific achievements in the fields of energy engineering and energy economics, that demonstrate novel theoretical and practical insights, or in which the application of known or modified principles yields significant technical and/or economic effects, or that have led to the establishment of a scientific school of thought.

Dr. Matthias Kunick met the award criteria in an outstanding manner through his scientific work. Overall, his already substantial number of publications—five of which are in English—as well as his presentations at international conferences in the U.S., Canada, and England, among other places, are also worthy of recognition.

Dr. Kunick’s outstanding scientific achievement has garnered national and international recognition beyond Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, thereby contributing to the university’s reputation.

Since 1993, the Technical Thermodynamics Division of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has been conducting extensive research under the direction of Prof. Kretzschmar in the field of “Provision of thermophysical material data for working fluids in energy technology.” This work encompasses both basic research and practical research and development projects for industry.