William H. Avery (engineer)

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For other people with the same name, see William Avery.
William Hinckley Avery
Born(1912-07-25)July 25, 1912
DiedJune 26, 2004(2004-06-26) (aged 91)
West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, US
EducationHarvard University
Known for
  • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
  • ramjet
Scientific career
Institutions
ThesisI. Viscosity in relation to photo-chemical reaction. II. Certain photo-chemical reactions of hydrogen sulfide. (1937)
Doctoral advisorGeorge Shannon Forbes

William Hinckley Avery (July 25, 1912 – June 26, 2004) was an influential

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion program which generates electricity from the temperature differential between shallow and deep ocean water.[1]

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 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.[1]

Ramjets

Avery moved to Johns Hopkins University 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.[1]

While at the Applied Physics Laboratory, Avery mentored Frederick S. Billig, the scramjet pioneer.[2]

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 Conversion program, which used the temperature difference between shallow and deep tropical seawater to generate electricity.[1]
Avery retired from the Applied Physics Laboratory in 1989.

Death

Avery died on June 26, 2004, of congestive heart failure.

References

  1. ^
    New York Times
    . Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  2. ISBN 978-0-309-12639-7. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
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