Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Prof. dr hab. Eng. Stanisław Miearańński, the founder of the Polish school of aerodynamics applications in ventilation and dust removal technology, is turning 90.

Professor was born on November 27, 1924 in Tłumacz near Stanisławów. The post-war fate threw him and his family to Krakow. He belonged to the group of the first students of the Silesian University of Technology who began their studies in 1945 in Kraków. After transferring the University to Silesia, he continued his studies in Gliwice at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, specializing in energy and movement, maintaining the Lviv traditions of the school of professors Roman Witkiewicz and Stanisław Ochęduszko.

In 1950 he obtained a master's degree in mechanical engineering. He went through all levels of a scientific career, in 1963 he defended his doctorate, the promoter of which was prof. Witold Ok-Kułak, and in 1969 he obtained a postdoctoral degree in heating and ventilation. In 1978, the Council of State awarded him the title of associate professor, and in 1991 he became a full professor.

While still a student, in 1949 he started working at the Department of Sanitary Technology of the Silesian University of Technology. He was associated with the Faculty of Sanitary Engineering and then the Faculty of Environmental Engineering since its inception in 1955. In the years 1973-76 he was the Vice-Dean for Science.

In the years 1973-81 he was the head of the Department of Heating, Ventilation and Atmospheric Protection, and then in 1981 he was appointed director of the Institute of Heating, Ventilation and Air Protection, which he held until 1994. In 1995 he reached retirement age, but for many years he remained an active research and teaching worker at the Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology at the Faculty of Environmental and Power Engineering.

The main areas of the Professor's scientific interests are:

• studies of flow phenomena in ventilation processes, especially industrial ventilation, and in the processes of gas dedusting and air-tight sealing of dust sources in industry,
• research in the field of thermal management of buildings, in particular on the rational use of thermal energy in construction.

Among his scientific activities, the use of physical modeling of aerodynamic processes in ventilation and dust removal technology deserves special attention. In order to improve the methodology of model research, the team led by the Professor developed measurement and research methods using thermoanemometry and laser anemometry. Thanks to the efforts of Professor Mieraelński, the Technology Hall of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering was created and equipped with many unique research stations. Thanks to, for those times, exceptionally good laboratory facilities, it was possible to carry out many pioneering research projects and the employees of the Department were able to gain new degrees.

During his scientific activity, he was the manager of several large research projects (also after retirement), the author of 120 scientific publications, including 3 books on aerodynamics of ventilation and dust removal. He promoted 9 doctors, including two of his later successors as the head of the Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology.

The professor was the originator and organizer of cyclical Polish Seminars "Application of Fluid Mechanics in Engineering and Environmental Protection". He also chaired the International Conference ROOMVENT'94, on the issues of air separation in ventilated rooms, which was held in 1994 in Krakow.

Prof. Mierzwiński was also active in the national and international arena. He was, among others, a long-term member of the S4 and TO7G Sections in the Scientific Research Committee, a member of the Central Committee for Scientific Title and Degrees at the Presidium of the Council of Ministers, a member of the Civil Engineering Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the chairman of the Heating and Ventilation Section of this Committee.

He also took up social activity, serving in the 1980s with his experience of NSZZ "Solidarność".

He was a representative of Poland in the international research program of the International Energy Agency (IEA) "Energy conservation in buildings and community systems". He collaborated with numerous foreign research centers, incl. in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany.

The professor is a respected and recognized authority in his field. For his contribution to Polish science, he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Silesian University of Technology in 2004.

Now, although he has not been a formal employee for several years, he still actively and with interest participates in the works and seminars of the Department of Heating, Ventilation and Dust Removal Technology, offering his knowledge, advice and assistance, especially to young scientists.

On the occasion of such a beautiful jubilee, we wish the Professor health and well-being, hoping that for many more years he will be the patron of our Department, which owes so much to him.