Aurel Stodola - Slovak Men, Family and Childhood
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Aurel Stodola's Personal Details
Aurel Stodola was a Slovak engineer and inventor
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 10, 1859 |
| Died on | December 25, 1942 |
| Nationality | Slovak |
| Famous | Slovak Men, Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Inventors & Discoverers |
| Known as | Стодола, Аурель Болеслав |
| Universities |
|
| Discoveries / Inventions |
|
| Birth Place | Liptovský Mikuláš |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Liptovský Mikuláš |
| Famous as | Engineer |
| Died at Age | 83 |
// Famous Slovak Men
Aurel Stodola's photo
Who is Aurel Stodola?
Aurel Stodola was a Slovak engineer and inventor. He originated the study of thermodynamics and produced significant work in a number of scientific fields. He was a professor at the Institute of Technology in Zurich for nearly half of his lifetime and was consulted for input on developing the gas turbine. During his tenure, he educated and influenced hundreds of engineers, including some of the greatest scientific minds of our age. During the First World War, he came across a surgeon that he collaborated with to help the injured soldiers returning from war. In 1928, he invented the first heat pump which still serves as the primary source of heat generation for Geneva, Switzerland's city hall. As the father of steam turbines, he published a highly regarded manual that was eventually translated into several languages and is still used as a resource today. He constantly pursued new knowledge in a vast array of technical sciences, was given honorary doctorates by four universities, earned many awards and was an adviser to the Academy of Sciences in France. The Institute of Technology in Zurich declared 2009 the "Year of Aurel Stodola" and asteroid ‘3981 Stodola’ was named in his honor.
// Famous Mechanical Engineers
Childhood & Early Life
Aurel Stodola was born on May 10, 1859 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Austria, to Andreas Stodola, a leather manufacturer, and Anna Kovac. His two brothers, Kornel and Emil, would later become successful politicians.
He went to secondary school in Levoca before graduating from a government school in Kosice.
He attended several educational institutions between the years of 1876 and 1880, including the Budapest Technical University and the University of Zurich, before earning a degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering.
Career
His first technical experience came under the employment of the Hungarian State Railway.
During 1883 he helped rebuild his father’s tannery which had been destroyed in a fire.
From 1884 to 1892, he designed steam and water turbines and compressors for Ruston and Company in Prague.
To further his education, Stodola attended the Charlottenburg Technical University and Paris’ Sorbonne.
He began teaching in 1892 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and design. He was soon promoted to a full professorship, a position which he held until his retirement in 1929.
Working with supersonic flow, his work with the de Laval nozzle allowed him to make new insights into shock wave research.
Between the years 1915-1916, he partnered with Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch to develop an artificial hand which led to improvements on other prosthetic limbs. This collaboration was inspired by a large number of veterans returning from service in World War I as amputees.
Even after his retirement, he served as a consultant on the development of the internal combustion engine.
Major Works
He first published his most crucial work, Steam and Gas Turbines, in 1903. He would add and revise the manuscript repeatedly. The first edition numbered 220 pages but by the time it had reached the fifth edition, it numbered over 1,100 pages.
In 1931, he published ‘Thoughts on a Worldview from an Engineering Standpoint’, a commentary on scientific social responsibility.
Awards & Achievements
In 1908, he was awarded the Grashof Commemorative Medal for his work in engineering research.
In 1940, he received the James Watt International Gold Medal for the development of steam turbine structural elements.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1887, he married Darina Palka with whom he had two daughters.
In March of 1924, Stodola set up a fund for Zurich Institute of Technology. As of 2002, the account had risen to two million francs (over two million dollars). The money is used to finance research and education at his alma mater.
In the 1930s, he sought donations to help fund the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Gabon, Africa. The hospital's research division is the current leader in finding a cure for malaria.
He influenced hundreds of scientists during his lifetime, including Albert Einstein, with whom he maintained friendship until the time of his death.
He passed away on December 25, 1942 in Zurich and his remains were moved to his birthplace in 1989.
The Zurich Institute of Technology set up an award in his name that honors experts in mechanical engineering.
Trivia
His research and work fortified his reputation as the father of steam turbines.
An asteroid discovered in 1984 was named after this great Slovak engineer.
// Famous Inventors & Discoverers
Aurel Stodola biography timelines
- // 10th May 1859Aurel Stodola was born on May 10, 1859 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Austria, to Andreas Stodola, a leather manufacturer, and Anna Kovac. His two brothers, Kornel and Emil, would later become successful politicians.
- // 1876 To 1880He attended several educational institutions between the years of 1876 and 1880, including the Budapest Technical University and the University of Zurich, before earning a degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering.
- // 1883During 1883 he helped rebuild his father’s tannery which had been destroyed in a fire.
- // 1884 To 1892From 1884 to 1892, he designed steam and water turbines and compressors for Ruston and Company in Prague.
- // 1887In 1887, he married Darina Palka with whom he had two daughters.
- // 1892 To 1929He began teaching in 1892 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and design. He was soon promoted to a full professorship, a position which he held until his retirement in 1929.
- // 1903He first published his most crucial work, Steam and Gas Turbines, in 1903. He would add and revise the manuscript repeatedly. The first edition numbered 220 pages but by the time it had reached the fifth edition, it numbered over 1,100 pages.
- // 1908In 1908, he was awarded the Grashof Commemorative Medal for his work in engineering research.
- // 1915 To 1916Between the years 1915-1916, he partnered with Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch to develop an artificial hand which led to improvements on other prosthetic limbs. This collaboration was inspired by a large number of veterans returning from service in World War I as amputees.
- // 1924 To 2002In March of 1924, Stodola set up a fund for Zurich Institute of Technology. As of 2002, the account had risen to two million francs (over two million dollars). The money is used to finance research and education at his alma mater.
- // 1931In 1931, he published ‘Thoughts on a Worldview from an Engineering Standpoint’, a commentary on scientific social responsibility.
- // 1940In 1940, he received the James Watt International Gold Medal for the development of steam turbine structural elements.
- // 25th Dec 1942 To 1989He passed away on December 25, 1942 in Zurich and his remains were moved to his birthplace in 1989.
- // 1984An asteroid discovered in 1984 was named after this great Slovak engineer.
// Famous Engineers
Aurel Stodola's FAQ
What is Aurel Stodola birthday?
Aurel Stodola was born at 1859-05-10
When was Aurel Stodola died?
Aurel Stodola was died at 1942-12-25
Where was Aurel Stodola died?
Aurel Stodola was died in Zürich
Which age was Aurel Stodola died?
Aurel Stodola was died at age 83
Where is Aurel Stodola's birth place?
Aurel Stodola was born in Liptovský Mikuláš
What is Aurel Stodola nationalities?
Aurel Stodola's nationalities is Slovak
What was Aurel Stodola universities?
Aurel Stodola studied at Budapest University of Technology and Economics
What is Aurel Stodola's inventions/discoveries?
Gas Turbine was invented (or discovered) by Aurel Stodola
What is Aurel Stodola's sun sign?
Aurel Stodola is Taurus
How famous is Aurel Stodola?
Aurel Stodola is famouse as Engineer