William John Macquorn Rankine
Scottish physicist and engineer with Rankine cycle

Born
July 5th, 1820
204 years ago
Died
December 24th, 1872
152 years ago — 52 years old
Category
Scientists & Innovators
Country
Scotland
Links & References
Contributions included work in thermodynamics, particularly the formulation of the Rankine cycle, which assesses the efficiency of heat engines. Developed concepts in the area of civil engineering and made significant strides in the understanding of energy and its transformations. Authored several influential texts that laid the groundwork for modern thermodynamic principles and provided a comprehensive theory of heat engines. Rankine's work bridged the gap between physics and engineering, fostering advancements in both fields.
Formulated the Rankine cycle
Authored influential texts in thermodynamics
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