William H. Avery (engineer)
Encyclopedia
William Hinckley Avery (July 25, 1912 – June 26, 2004) was an influential aeronautical engineer. He designed the propulsion mechanism known as the ramjet
, and for heading the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
program which generates electricity
from the temperature
differential between shallow and deep ocean
water.
After studying chemistry and physics at Harvard and working as a private research chemist, Avery turned to rocket science
during World War II
. He directed a division of the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory
in Cumberland, Maryland
, that developed solid fuels for rockets later used to launch guided missiles and spacecraft.
in 1947 and soon became head of propulsion research at the Applied Physics Laboratory
. Over the next several decades, his research laid the foundation for understanding combustion in rocket and jet engines. His group invented the propulsion system for Talos
, the first surface-to-air missile to use a ramjet engine.
While at the Applied Physics Laboratory, Avery mentored Frederick S. Billig
, the scramjet
pioneer.
program, which used the temperature difference between shallow and deep tropical seawater to generate electricity.
Ramjet
A ramjet, sometimes referred to as a stovepipe jet, or an athodyd, is a form of airbreathing jet engine using the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air, without a rotary compressor. Ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed and thus cannot move an aircraft from a standstill...
, and for heading the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Ocean thermal energy conversion
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in the form of electricity....
program which generates electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
from the temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
differential between shallow and deep ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
water.
Early years
Avery was born on July 25, 1912.After studying chemistry and physics at Harvard and working as a private research chemist, Avery turned to rocket science
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
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...
. He directed a division of the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory
Allegany Ballistics Laboratory
Allegany Ballistics Laboratory located in Rocket Center, West Virginia, is a diverse industrial complex employing some 1,000 people across...
in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, that developed solid fuels for rockets later used to launch guided missiles and spacecraft.
Ramjets
Avery moved to Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1947 and soon became head of propulsion research at the Applied Physics Laboratory
Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory , located in Howard County, Maryland near Laurel and Columbia, is a not-for-profit, university-affiliated research center employing 4,500 people. APL is primarily a defense contractor. It serves as a technical resource for the Department of...
. Over the next several decades, his research laid the foundation for understanding combustion in rocket and jet engines. His group invented the propulsion system for Talos
Talos
In Greek mythology, Talos or Talon was a giant man of bronze who protected Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders by circling the island's shores three times daily while guarding it.- History :...
, the first surface-to-air missile to use a ramjet engine.
While at the Applied Physics Laboratory, Avery mentored Frederick S. Billig
Frederick S. Billig
Frederick Stucky Billig was a pioneer in the development of scramjet propulsion.Billig’s primary research was in the area of high-speed, air-breathing propulsion for advanced flight vehicles including pioneering work in external burning and supersonic combustion. He was responsible for highspeed...
, the scramjet
Scramjet
A scramjet is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow...
pioneer.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
In 1973, Avery began leading the Applied Physics Laboratory's work on emerging technologies. Searching for alternative sources of energy, he helped develop the Ocean Thermal Energy ConversionOcean thermal energy conversion
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion uses the difference between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat engine and produce useful work, usually in the form of electricity....
program, which used the temperature difference between shallow and deep tropical seawater to generate electricity.