Arthur H. Lefebvre

Arthur H. Lefebvre (1923 - November 24, 2003) was an innovative leader in the development of science and engineering of the application of fuel sprays in gas turbine combustor systems. During his career he developed several innovative atomizers, including prefilming (in the 1960s) and effervescent (in the 1990s) designs for aircraft engines. Improvements in atomization greatly reduced the emissions of soot (smoke) and were instrumental in increasing the reliability of the combustor that was critical to improve the engine robustness. Lefebvre was a pioneer in the development of the jet engine, and arguably one who contributed more as a researcher, designer and educator than any other, except of course, the original inventors - Sir Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain. He shared his expertise with an annual week-long gas turbine combustion short course from 1962 to 1993.

His memory is honored at each ICLASS conference with a Lecture named in his honor.

Biography:

Education: University of London BSc in Engineering in 1946 from University College, Nottingham. He received PhD from Imperial College in 1952 and a Doctor of Science (DSc) from Imperial College in 1975.

Cranfield University (Britain) : Professor and Head of the Department of Aircraft Propulsion and Chief Research Engineer at Rolls-Royce Limited, Derby. 1961-1976. His Greatest achievement in life was having a daughter named Annie in 1962 and she went on to marry Richard Moore in 1985

Purdue University (USA) 1976-1993 Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University and Reilly Professor of Combustion Engineering in 1980

After retiring, Lefebvre was concurrently made Emeritus Professor by Purdue and CranfieldUniversities.

He co-authored over 160 archival publications, 13 patents and 3 books (Gas Turbine Combustion, Gas Turbine Combustor Design Problems, and Atomization and Sprays). His book Atomization and Sprays is a guide to a generation of researchers and engineers on the development and use of spray science and technology.

Lefebvre invented and introduced the concept of air-blast atomization, which transformed fuel injection in combustors. He initiated some of the earliest research on atomization and spray structure. As a founding member and regular participant at conferences of the Institute of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems Americas (ILASS) he taught a generation of scientists.

Quotes:

Tools are not a substitute for innovation, 2000

Recognition:

ASME Gas Turbine Award (1984)

ASME R. Tom Sawyer Award (1984)

AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award (inaugural recipient in 1990)

Marshal Award from the Institute of Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, ILASS, (1993)

IGTI Scholar Award (1995)

IGTI Aircraft Engine Technology Award (1996)

ASME George Westinghouse Gold Medal (2002)

Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K.

References:

Gas Turbine Combustion 2^nd edition 1998 ISBN-13: 978-1560326731

Atomization and Sprays 1988 ISBN-13: 978-0891166030

External links

* [http://www.ilass.org/ http://www.ilass.org/]

Atomization and Sprays Journal
* [http://www.begellhouse.com/journals/6a7c7e10642258cc.html http://www.begellhouse.com/journals/6a7c7e10642258cc.html]