Scientist in the field of boiler‐creation, Professor of Kharkiv practical technological institute Oleksiy Predtechenskyy (1857‐1905): To the 160th anniversary of his birth

Maryna Gutnyk

Abstract The state of the field of the steam‐locomotive building development in the territory of Ukraine as part of the Russian Empire in the second half of the nineteenth century is shown. In particular, the information whilst about the railways and the first enterprises of transport machine building working were given. Emphasis on the actuality of opening a technological institute in Kharkiv city, as well as difficulties, which delayed the opening of the institution, was placed. The information about the equipment of the Institute at the time of its opening in 1885 was given too. It is shown that highly skilled scientists were chosen and invited for work by the director of the KhPTI, Professor V. Kyrpychov. Among such scientists was Oleksiy Predtechensky. The article presents information about his activities as a teacher of a real school (Latvia), and also as an associate professor, and later a professor of KhPTI (KhTI). Attention on the scientific achievements of O. Predtechensky is focused; in particular, his works on the design and operation of steam boilers were analyzed. It should be noted that most of the textbooks and manuals by authorship of the scientist were written after his scientific trips abroad. This gives grounds for asserting that they have contained the relevant for that time information about the development of steam locomotive building in the Russian Empire and abroad. However, in works by O. Predtechensky the main results of own experiments by the author were contained. The activity of O. Predtechensky as an expert by the invitation of the court, as well as one of the editors of the most professional at that time edition in the field of mechanical engineering – the magazine “Izvestiya Yuzhno‐Russkogo obschestva tehnologov” (“Proceedings of South‐Russian Society of Technologists”) is illustrated. It is indicated that Prof. O. Predtechensky in the summer of 1899 and in December 1901 fulfilled the duties of the director, and from September 1900 – assistant director of KhTI. The aggravation of the situation between teachers and the administration of the institution from the spring of 1903 negatively affected on the health of the scientist and he had to ask for treatment. In August 1905 the scientist died. He has left a wife and three children.

Key words: Professor Oleksiy Ivanovych Predtechensky, Kharkiv practical technological institute, technical sciences, design of steam boilers, South Russian Society of Technologists, V.L. Kyrpychov