{{Short description|Russian-American scientist and inventor (1931–2016)}} {{Infobox person | name = Alexander M. Gorlov | image = Alexander Gorlov 2001.png | caption = Alexander M Gorlov, Boston, 2001 | birth_name = Alexandr Moiseevich Gorlov (Александр Моиcеевич Горлов) | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1931|03|23}} | birth_place = Moscow, Russian Federation (formerly USSR) | death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2016|06|10|1931|3|23}} | death_place = Boston, Massachusetts, United States | occupation = Inventor, scientist, professor}}
'''Alexander M. Gorlov''' (March 23, 1931 – June 10, 2016) was a Russian mechanical engineer who was Professor Emeritus and Director of Hydro-Pneumatic Power Laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/alexander-gorlov-obituary?pid=1000000180295978|title=Alexander Gorlov Obituary - Brookline, Massachusetts|last=admin|date=30 September 2015|work=legacy.com|access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref>
== Early life == Alexander M. Gorlov was born into the family of a prosperous lawyer. His father was arrested and died in prison during Joseph Stalin's purges. His mother also spent a number of years in concentration camps in Russia, which forced young Alexander Gorlov to spend some of his childhood years in the orphanage in a remote Russian Urals area.
Gorlov received his Doctorate in engineering and had a successful scientific career in Moscow for a number of years during the relatively liberal period of the so-called Khrushchev Thaw. He was granted the Gold and two Bronze Medals for Achievements of the USSR National Economy. In 1975 because of his friendship with Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel Prize winner and outspoken critic of the communist system, Gorlov was forced to break with his Soviet life and emigrate, eventually establishing a new home in the United States.
== Career == Since 1976 Gorlov has been teaching Mechanical Engineering in the Northeastern University combining it with extensive research work in the area of harnessing renewable energy from water flows and wind. In the pursuit of his lifelong dream of creating inexpensive, environmentally friendly hydro-power, Gorlov has developed helical turbines for use in the river, tidal, and open ocean currents. His innovation has led to a series of patents for the Gorlov Helical Turbine which shows great promise for alleviating the worldwide crisis in energy use. This invention was named one of ''Popular Science'''s top 100 innovations of 2001. One of the other Gorlov's inventions - "Terrorist Truck-Bomb Protection System" - is certified by four US patents and is placed on the US Department of State list of certified equipment. That allows the system to be used for protection of vital Government installations such as nuclear power plants, military bases around the world, embassies, bridges and tunnels as well as other potential strategic targets from terrorist attacks. Gorlov has over 100 technical publications, including books, and 25 US and international patents in such fields as renewable energy, structural analysis & design, theoretical mechanics and the design of bridges and tunnels.
== International engineering activity == *Bridges and tunnels (Russia, design and construction) *Hydro power plant on Aswan Dam Project in River Nile (Egypt) *Hydro power plants on rivers Khram, Langanury (Georgia) and Lake Sevan (Armenia) *Implementation of helical turbine for extracting tidal energy in Uldolmok Strait (Korea) and Chacao Channel Chile
== Awards == *2001, Thomas Edison Award by ASME for invention of the helical turbine. *2011, Nominated for the European Inventor Award for invention of the helical turbine.
== Personal == Professor Alexander M. Gorlov was a resident of Brookline and Falmouth (both in Massachusetts, USA), where he lived with his wife Ella who is a local historian.
== Patents == *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4103490 Apparatus for harnessing tidal power], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4103490 United States Patent 4,103,490] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012839/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4103490 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Aug 1, 1978. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4464080 High volume tidal or current flow harnessing system], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4464080 United States Patent 4,464,080] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091432/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4464080 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Aug 7, 1984. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4759655 Terrorist vehicle arresting system] [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4759655 United States Patent 4,759,655] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012446/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4759655 |date=2017-12-16 }}, July 26, 1988. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5026203 Friction reduction for terrorist vehicle arresting system], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5026203 United States Patent 5,026,203] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012729/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5026203 |date=2017-12-16 }}, June 25, 1991. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5074710 Water gate array for current flow or tidal movement pneumatic harnessing system], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5074710 United States Patent 5,074,710] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012358/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5074710 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Dec 24, 1991. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5222833 Shutter for hydro-pneumatic current flow harnessing system], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5222833 United States Patent 5,222,833] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012640/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5222833 |date=2017-12-16 }}, June 29, 1993. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5451137 Unidirectional helical reaction turbine operable under reversible fluid flow for power systems], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5451137 United States Patent 5,451,137] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012427/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5451137 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Sept. 19, 1995. *''B. L. Istorik, I. B. Chpolianski, A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5451138 Unidirecional reaction turbine operable under reversible fluid from flow], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5451138 United States Patent 5,451,138] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012451/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5451138 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Sept 19, 1995. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US5642984 Helical turbine assembly operable under multidirectional fluid flow for power and propulsion systems], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5642984 United States Patent 5,642,984] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091619/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5642984 |date=2017-12-16 }}, July 1, 1997. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US6155892 Helical turbine assembly operable under multidirectional gas and water flow], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6155892 United States Patent 6,155,892] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216012847/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6155892 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Dec 5, 2000. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US6253700 Method for maintaining flotation using a helical turbine assembly], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6253700 United States Patent 6,253,700] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091544/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6253700 |date=2017-12-16 }}, July 3, 2001. *''A. M. Gorlov'', [https://patents.google.com/patent/US6293835 System for providing wind propulsion of a marine vessel using a helical turbine assembly], [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6293835 United States Patent 6,293,835] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091640/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6293835 |date=2017-12-16 }}, Sept 25, 2001.
== Articles == * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = The Propagation of Plastic Zones Around the Tip of a Crack in a Circular Torsional Shaft | journal = Journal of Applied Mechanics | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | year = 1979 | pages = 458–459 | bibcode = 1979JAM....46..458G | doi = 10.1115/1.3424572 }} * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = Disaster of the 1-95 Mianus River bridge. Where could lateral vibration come from? | journal = Journal of Applied Mechanics | volume = 51 | issue = 3 | year = 1984 | pages = 694–696 | doi = 10.1115/1.3167697 |bibcode = 1984JAM....51..694G }} * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = A new opportunity for hydro: Using air turbines for generating electricity, Hydro Review | volume = 11 | issue = 5 | year = 1992 }} * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = The helical turbine: A new idea for low-head hydro | journal = Hydro Review | volume = 14 | issue = 5 | year = 1995 }} * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = Helical turbines for the Gulf Stream : Conceptual approach to design of a large-scale floating power farm | journal = Marine Technology | volume = 35 | issue = 3 | year = 1998 | pages = 175–182 }} * {{cite book | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | chapter-url = http://ocean.oce.uri.edu/oce311/Spring2008/Gorlov%20article%20on%20tidal%20power.pdf | chapter = Tidal energy | title = Elements of Physical Oceanography: A derivative of the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences | editor1-first = J. H. | editor1-last = Steele | editor2-first = S. A. | editor2-last = Thorpe | editor3-first = K. K. | editor3-last = Turekian | publisher = Academic Press | year = 2009 | pages = 103–109 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{cite book | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | chapter = Turbines with a twist | title = Macro-Engineering and the Earth: World Projects for the Year 2000 and Beyond | editor1-last = Kitzinger | editor1-first = U. | editor2-last = Frankel | editor2-first = E. G. | location = Chichester | publisher = Horwood Publishing | year = 1998 | pages = 1–36 }} * {{cite journal | first2 = A. N. | last2 = Gorban | author2-link = Alexander Nikolaevich Gorban | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | first3 = V. M. | last3 = Silantyev | citeseerx = 10.1.1.7.9800 | title = Limits of the Turbine Efficiency for Free Fluid Flow | journal = Journal of Energy Resources Technology | volume = 123 | year = 2001 | pages = 311–317 | doi = 10.1115/1.1414137 | issue = 4 }} * {{cite conference | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | title = The Helical Turbine and Its Applications for Hydropower Without Dams | book-title = ASME Conf. Proc. | pages =257–264 | year = 2002 | doi = 10.1115/IMECE2002-33193 }} * {{cite journal | first1 = A. M. | last1 = Gorlov | author-mask = 1 | url = http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=5997715&q=Gorlov%2C+A.+M.&uid=790701645&setcookie=yes | title = Harnessing Power from Ocean Currents and Tides | journal = Sea Technol. | volume = 45 | issue = 7 | year = 2004 | pages = 40–43 | access-date = 2011-05-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120829162436/http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=5997715&q=Gorlov,+A.+M.&uid=790701645&setcookie=yes | archive-date = 2012-08-29 | url-status = dead }}
== References == {{Reflist}} *[http://www.prototypetoday.com/tag/european-patent-office Nominees for the European Inventor Award 2011 announced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909215225/http://www.prototypetoday.com/tag/european-patent-office |date=2016-09-09 }} *[http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/05spr/gorlov1.asp Alexander's Marvelous Machine] *[http://www.epo.org/news-issues/european-inventor/finalists/2011/gorlov.html Oversized eggbeater to the rescue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017174455/http://www.epo.org/news-issues/european-inventor/finalists/2011/gorlov.html |date=2012-10-17 }} *[http://scienceblog.com/community/older/2001/C/200113694.html Northeastern University's Alexander Gorlov wins prestigious Edison Patent Award for helical turbine invention] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130202041535/http://scienceblog.com/community/older/2001/C/200113694.html |date=2013-02-02 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727003852/http://www.globalcoral.org/UNCSD%20SUMMARY.ppt Tidal Energy] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130511010214/http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002383.html Gorlov's Helical Turbine] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101117185831/http://www.northeastern.edu/bionano/bio-pdfs/brochurenew.PDF Green Energy Technologies Conference Materials]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorlov, Alexander}} Category:1931 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Inventors from Massachusetts Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States Category:American mechanical engineers Category:People associated with electricity Category:Engineers from Moscow Category:Northeastern University faculty Category:Fluid dynamicists