Erico Spinadel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erico Spinadel
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| Born | 6 May 1929 Vienna, Austria
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| Died | 25 February 2020 (aged 90) Pinamar, Argentina
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| Nationality | Austrian, Argentine |
| Education | University of Buenos Aires |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Spouse(s) | Vera W. de Spinadel |
| Children | Laura P. Spinadel, Pablo Spinadel, Irene Spinadel, Andrea Gisela Spinadel |
Erico Spinadel (born May 6, 1929 – died February 25, 2020) was an important engineer from Austria and Argentina. He was a specialist in wind power, which is about using wind to create energy. Spinadel was born in Vienna, Austria. He later earned his highest degree (a PhD) from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina in 2004.
Contents
Starting with Nuclear Energy
Erico Spinadel began working at the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) in 1956. In January 1959, he made history by being the first person to operate a nuclear reactor (called RA 1) in the Southern Hemisphere. This was a big step! It meant that nuclear energy could start being used in this part of the world. This energy helped produce electricity and also made special materials (radioisotopes) for hospitals and for use in industries.
A Career in Teaching and Wind Energy
Erico Spinadel was a dedicated teacher and leader.
University Professor
From 1986 to 1994, he was the Director of the Electricity Department at the School of Engineering, University of Buenos Aires. Later, between 1994 and 2001, he worked as a Consulting Full Professor at the same university. He also became a Consulting Emeritus Professor at the National University of Lujan in 1994. An "Emeritus Professor" is a retired professor who keeps their title because of their important contributions.
Leading Wind Energy Groups
Spinadel was very active in the world of wind energy. In 1994, he became the President of the Argentine Wind Energy Association (AAEE). From 2008, he served as a Regional Director for the Latin American Wind Energy Association (LAWEA). He was also a member of the board for the World Wind Energy Association. These roles show how much he helped guide the use of wind power in Argentina and Latin America.
International Wind Power Expert
Since 1992, Dr. Erico Spinadel was a wind energy consultant for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). This meant he traveled to places like Indonesia and other countries in the Far East to share his knowledge about wind power. He was invited by governments to help them develop their own wind energy projects.
Dr. Spinadel was known worldwide for his special way of looking at wind power. He believed in a "systemic multidisciplinary approach." This means he thought about all the different parts of a system – like technology, people, and the environment – when planning wind energy for developing countries. He wrote more than 7 books and published over 50 research papers about his ideas. He passed away in Pinamar, Argentina.
Family Life
Erico Spinadel was married to Vera Martha Winitzky, who was a mathematician. They had four children together: Laura, Pablo, Irene, and Andrea.
Books by Erico Spinadel
Erico Spinadel wrote several books, mainly about electrical topics and wind energy. Here are a few of his important works:
- Electrical and Magnetic Circuits and Special Topics, published in 1982 and a second edition in 2004.
- Transformers, published in 1984 and a second edition in 2004.
- Wind Energy Systemic Multidisciplinary Approach, published in 2009 and a second part in 2015. These books helped many people learn about how wind power works and how to use it in different countries.
Awards and Recognition
Erico Spinadel received several awards for his important work:
- He earned a Gold Medal for 30 years of university teaching at FI UBA.
- He won the First Prize at the BIEL light + building BIEL'95'Award.
- In 2011, he was named an Emeritus Professor at the National University of Luján.
- In 2010, the Argentine Association of Wind Energy, which he led, received the Big Prize of the Civic Parliament of the Humanity for its great contributions to the community.
See also
In Spanish: Erico Spinadel para niños
