Konstantin Khrenov
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Konstantinovich Khrenov was a Soviet engineer and inventor who in 1932 introduced underwater welding
and cutting of metal
s. For this method, extensively used by the Soviet Navy
during World War II
, Khrenov was awarded the State Stalin Prize in 1946.
, a town in Kaluga Oblast
, Russia
, located just south from its border with the Moscow Oblast
. In 1918, he graduated from the department of electrochemistry of Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University
(ETU). After graduation, he continued his research at ETU and worked there as a lecturer between 1921 and 1925. He then moved to Moscow and between 1928 and 1947 was teaching at the Moscow Institute of Electromechanical Engineering (Railway Transport); in 1933 he became a professor there. In parallel, between 1931 and 1947 Khrenov was teaching at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University – one of the oldest and largest Russian technical universities.
In the 1940s, Khrenov moved to Ukraine where he assumed professor positions at the following institutions:
Khrenov dedicated his entire career to the development of welding techniques and equipment. He invented methods of electric welding and cutting metals under water, designed power sources for arc and spot welding, ceramic fluxes, electrode coatings, methods of cold pressure welding, diffusion welding, plasma cutting and many others. His breakthrough achievement was development of the electrodes for underwater welding in 1932. Their successful test at the Black Sea in the same year was the first practical realization of underwater welding. In this method, the gas bubbles formed as a result of welding reactions were generating a stable flow which shielded the arc from water. Underwater welding had quickly found practical application and already in 1936–1938 was used in the lifting of the ship Boris sunk in the Black Sea, as well as in the repair of bridges and other ships, especially during World War II
.
in 1946. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and of the Russian Academy of Sciences
in 1945 and 1953, respectively. His lifetime achievements were later acknowledged by the Council of Ministers (Soviet Union) Prize (1982), and USSR State Prize
(1986, posthumously). His other decorations include Order of Lenin
, Order of the October Revolution
and several other lesser orders.
Hyperbaric welding
Hyperbaric welding is the process of welding at elevated pressures, normally underwater. Hyperbaric welding can either take place wet in the water itself or dry inside a specially constructed positive pressure enclosure and hence a dry environment...
and cutting of metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
s. For this method, extensively used by the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Khrenov was awarded the State Stalin Prize in 1946.
Biography
Khrenov was born in 1894 in BorovskBorovsk
Borovsk is a town and the administrative center of Borovsky District of Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located just south from the oblast's border with Moscow Oblast. It is situated on the Protva River, about southwest of Moscow.Population: 12,000 ....
, a town in Kaluga Oblast
Kaluga Oblast
Kaluga Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kaluga.-Geography:Kaluga Oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain. The Smolensk Highland lays in the western and north-western part of the oblast, while the Central Russian Highland -...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located just south from its border with the Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
. In 1918, he graduated from the department of electrochemistry of Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University
Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University
Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University founded in 1886, and is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Saint Petersburg....
(ETU). After graduation, he continued his research at ETU and worked there as a lecturer between 1921 and 1925. He then moved to Moscow and between 1928 and 1947 was teaching at the Moscow Institute of Electromechanical Engineering (Railway Transport); in 1933 he became a professor there. In parallel, between 1931 and 1947 Khrenov was teaching at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University – one of the oldest and largest Russian technical universities.
In the 1940s, Khrenov moved to Ukraine where he assumed professor positions at the following institutions:
- 1945–48 – Institute of Electric Welding
- 1948–1952 – Institute of Structural Mechanics
- 1952–1963 – Institute of Electrical Engineering
- 1947–1958 – Kiev Polytechnic InstituteKiev Polytechnic InstituteThe National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” is a major university in Kiev, Ukraine.-History:The institute was founded in 1898. At that time it had four departments: Mechanical, Chemical, Agricultural, and Civil Engineering. The first enrolment constituted 360 students...
- 1963–till retirement – Institute of Electric Welding.
Achievements
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Awards
For his pioneering work in underwater welding, Khrenov was awarded the State Stalin PrizeUSSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
in 1946. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
in 1945 and 1953, respectively. His lifetime achievements were later acknowledged by the Council of Ministers (Soviet Union) Prize (1982), and USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
(1986, posthumously). His other decorations include Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, Order of the October Revolution
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
and several other lesser orders.
Books
- Хренов К. К., Ярхо В. И. Технология дуговой электросварки (Technology of electric arc welding, 1080 pages). М.-Л.: 1940.
- Хренов К. К. Подводная электрическая сварка и резка металлов. М.: 1946.
- Хренов К. К., Назаров Т. С. Автоматическая дуговая электросварка, Гос. научно-тех. изд-во машиностроит. лит-ры, 1949 (273 pages)
- Хренов К. К. Электрическая сварочная дуга. Киев М.: 1949.
- Хренов К. К. Сварка, резка и пайка металлов. Киев М.: 1952.
- Хренов К. К., Кушнарев Д. М. Керамические флюсы для автоматической дуговой сварки. Киев: 1954.
- Хренов К. К. Сварка, резка и пайка металлов, Машгиз, 1959 (415 pages)
- Хренов К. К. Сварка, резка и пайка металлов, 4 изд., М., Машиностроение 1973 (407 pages).