Laszlo Heller
Encyclopedia
Heller László was a Hungarian professor
accredited with inventing the Heller–Forgó cooling system for power stations.
in 1931 at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule
in Zürich
. In the 1940s the first high-pressure industrial power station was built according to his plans. It was around this time that he invented the Heller - Forgó system. In 1951 he was awarded the Kossuth Prize
. He organized the Department of Energetics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
, where he worked as a professor. He was a large contributor to the domain of statics
, and helped establish the concept of entropy
for engineering practices. In 1962 he became a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
. Heller's nephew graduated from USC
, obtaining a degree in Mechanical engineering.
The Heller–Forgó system solved an important problem at power stations by utilizing cooling water more efficiently. The main point of their invention was to condense the vacuum steam using an injection of cool water. The still-warm water enters into the fine-gilled heat exchanger
, cools down and becomes usable again for when the cycle is repeated. The system is known and used all over the world.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
accredited with inventing the Heller–Forgó cooling system for power stations.
Biography
Born in Nagyvárad, Heller took a degree in mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1931 at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. In the 1940s the first high-pressure industrial power station was built according to his plans. It was around this time that he invented the Heller - Forgó system. In 1951 he was awarded the Kossuth Prize
Kossuth Prize
The Kossuth Prize is a state-sponsored award in Hungary, named after the Hungarian politician and revolutionary Lajos Kossuth. The Prize was established in 1948 by the Hungarian National Assembly, to acknowledge outstanding personal and group achievements in the fields of...
. He organized the Department of Energetics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics , in hungarian abbreviated as BME, English official abbreviation BUTE, is the most significant University of Technology in Hungary and is also one of the oldest Institutes of Technology in the world, having been founded in 1782.-History:BME is...
, where he worked as a professor. He was a large contributor to the domain of statics
Statics
Statics is the branch of mechanics concerned with the analysis of loads on physical systems in static equilibrium, that is, in a state where the relative positions of subsystems do not vary over time, or where components and structures are at a constant velocity...
, and helped establish the concept of entropy
Entropy
Entropy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to determine the energy available for useful work in a thermodynamic process, such as in energy conversion devices, engines, or machines. Such devices can only be driven by convertible energy, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency when...
for engineering practices. In 1962 he became a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest.-History:...
. Heller's nephew graduated from USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, obtaining a degree in Mechanical engineering.
The Heller–Forgó System, or Indirect Dry Cooling System
The system is named after Heller and Forgó László, the active collaborator in the industrial implementation of the system.The Heller–Forgó system solved an important problem at power stations by utilizing cooling water more efficiently. The main point of their invention was to condense the vacuum steam using an injection of cool water. The still-warm water enters into the fine-gilled heat exchanger
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is a piece of equipment built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact...
, cools down and becomes usable again for when the cycle is repeated. The system is known and used all over the world.