Biographical Memoirs Volume 54 (1983) / Chapter Skim
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Robert Erastus Wilson
Robert Erastus Wilson
Pages 408-434
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WILLIAM MOORE AND DONALD L CAMPBELL ROBERT ERASTUS WILSON was inspired by a competitive fervor for excellence, which he applied to such disparate fleeces as science, eclucation, business, and public affairs.
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"4 THE EARLY YEARS Robert Erastus Wilson was born March 19, 1893 in Beaver Fails, Pennsylvania. He was reared as the eldest of four children of William H
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He describes his early work as follows: My first scientific contributions were with regard to methods of measuring the vapor pressures of hydrated salts, which were described in my 5Ibid., p.
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He pointed out that the only way to reconcile the two theories was to assume that, in the case of the hydrated salt, molecules left or entered the crystal surface only at the boundary between the two phases- in other words, the water molecules on an undisturbed surface of hydrate were relatively stable, and likewise water molecules which struck a completely dehydrated surface were not able to stay, but at the boundary between the two phases, the forces were closely in balance, and the vapor pressure was that required to substantially equalize the number of molecules entering and leaving the boundary; at slightly higher vapor pressures, the water molecules would leave until it was all dehydrated and vice versa.7 7 Wilson, "Autobiographical Statement," p.
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During his early years at MIT Wilson published outstanding papers on the mechanism of corrosion of iron, the mechanism of lubrication, and the flow of fluids through pipelines, "all of which tended to bring order out of rather chaotic subjects," as he put it. He also developed accurate methods of measuring the effective volatility of motor fuels.
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in the field of oil refining, Wilson developecl many new methods of reducing evaporation Tosses in storage, improvements in cracking, and the coking of residual fuels by what is known as the "delayed coking process." He also contributed substantially to the assembly of fundamental data concerning the properties of petroleum hydrocarbons, the solvent extraction of lubricating oils, and the use of propane as a refining agent for the separation of wax or, under other conclitions, the separation of asphalt from the heavier fractions of petroleum.
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In 1940 and 1941 he served as consultant to the Petroleum Unit of the Office of Production Management, where he fostered close relationships between the Army and Navy and the petroleum industry and helped establish petroleum product specifications. In 1942 he served on four committees of the Petroleum Industry War Council, composed of seventy-eight oil company executives.
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Chairman Glenn T Seaborg of the Atomic Energy Commission stated: "The entire atomic energy program will miss Dr.
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Wilson's wide experience and wisclom, imparted with vigor and generous spirit, greatly enriched the (development of atomic energy in the United States and in the world." THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MAN Although for many years he held senior inclustrial executive positions, Wilson was recognized as one of the eminent chemical engineers in the United States. He was awardect the Chemical Industry Meclal in 1939, the Perkin Meclal in 1943, the Lord Cadman Memorial Medal in ~ 951, the Northwestern University Centennial Award in ~ 95 I, and the Washington Award in 1956.
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In 1956 the Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants bestowed its first annual Public Information Award on Dr. Wilson.
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achievements in the nuclear industry. The award has been sponsored annually, beginning in 1967, by the Nuclear Engineering Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
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H.D., University of Tulsa LL.D., Lake Forest College LL.D., William Jewel College LL.D., Hamline University H.H.D., Bradley University LL.D., University of Akron L.H.D., Shurtleff College H.H.D., Parsons College Sc.D., Drexel Institute of Technology LL.D., Washington University LL.D., Huron College LL.D., Colorado College LL.D., American University Sc.D., Geneva College (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania) 191 ~ 1917 Research Associate, Research Laboratory of Ap plied Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1919-1922 Director, Research Laboratory of Applied Chem istry, and Associate Professor of Chemical Engi neering, MIT MILITARY SERVICE 1918-1919 Captain and Major, Directing Research Division, Chemical Warfare Service GOVERNMENTAL POSITIONS 1917-1918 Consulting Chemical Engineer, Bureau of Mines 1940 Natural Gas and Petroleum Section, National De fense Advisory Commission 1940-1941 Consultant, Petroleum Unit, Office of Production Management
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Delegation, Third U.N. Con ference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy AWARDS AND HONORS 1939 1943 1951 1951 1951 1956 1956 1964 Chemical Industry Medal Perkin Medal, Society of Chemical Industry Lord Cadman Memorial Medal, British Institute of Petroleum Northwestern University Centennial Award Pennsylvania Ambassador Award, Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce Washington Award, Western Society of Engineers Public Information Award, Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants Award to Executives, American Society for Testing and Materials MEMBERSHIPS IN LEARNED SOCIETIES Alpha Chi Sigma American Chemical Society American Institute of Chemical Engineers American Nuclear Society American Philosophical Society American Society for Testing and Materials Delta Sigma Rho The Indiana Society of Chicago National Academy of Sciences Newcomen Society in North America Phi Beta Kappa Royal Society of Arts, London 25-Year Club of the Petroleum Industry
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Chem., 12: 100~1007. 1921 Humidity control by means of sulfuric acid solutions with critical compilation of vapor pressure data.
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Further data on effective volatility of motor fuels.
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Wylde. The vapor pressure of volatile solvents.
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Prevention of evaporation losses from gasoline storage tanks.
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J., 29~91:40, 98, 100; (10~:38, 127-28. 1931 Possibilities of low grade motor fuels overestimated.
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Bull., 32(10~:43~36. 1946 The petroleum industry's real reserve, technology.
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11509b. Competitive and cooperative research in the American petroleum industry (Third Cadman Memorial Lecture)
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1,603,568. Continuous process removing volatile fluids from solids using solid absorbents.
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Single vent tank through solid absorbent bed to reduce evaporation losses. (Filed 1/30/24; issued 12/22/25.)
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1,731,479. Fractioning column construction pancake reflux coils, etc.
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1,712,187. Pressure shell cracking of oils followed by lower pressure tube cracking of residue.
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1,871,937. Furnace construction vertical cylindrical radiant section, refractory target protects superimposed convection section.
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1935 2,090,907. Furnace construction multiple radiant sections with wall tubes, single roof section, single convection section.
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