In Memoriam: Professor Pavel Leonidovich Kirillov (Aug. 20, 1927–Oct. 10, 2021)

Professor Pavel Leonidovich KirillovProfessor Pavel L. Kirillov died on Oct. 8, 2021, on his 95th year after a life as a husband, father, and an internationally renowned scientist, researcher, and educator in the field of nuclear engineering, thermalhydraulics, heat transfer, and two-phase flow. He was passionate and dedicated in everything that he did and leaves an incredible legacy to the profession.He was born on Aug. 20, 1927 in Russia, and received his M.A.Sc. degree in thermal physics in 1950 (Moscow Power-Engineering Institute (MPEI) (Московский Энергетический Институт (МЭИ)), Faculty of Physics and Power Engineering (Физико-Энергетический Факультет), Ph.D. and Doctor of Technical Sciences degrees—in 1959 and 1969, respectively.Professor P. L. Kirillov was a Fellow of the International and National Engineering Academies; member of the Russian Nuclear Society and ASME; member of Scientific Councils of the Institute of Atomic Energy by the name of I. V. Kurchatov (ИАЭ им. И.В. Курчатова) (1985–1990) and A.I. Leypunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) (Физико-Энергетический Институт (ФЭИ)) (from 1975); member of the Journal Boards of the Atomic Energy (Атомная Энергия) (from 1977) and the ASME Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science (from 2014).After graduating from the MPEI (МЭИ) in 1950, Pavel Kirillov has joined the IPPE (ФЭИ) (Obninsk, Russia), currently, State Scientific Centre of the Russian Federation—Leypunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, Joint-Stock Company (IPPE JSC) (Акционерное общество «Государственный научный центр Российской Федерации – Физико-энергетический институт имени А.И. Лейпунского» (АО «ГНЦ РФ—ФЭИ»)) as a junior scientist in 1950 (he participated in construction and operation of the world's first nuclear power plant in Obninsk, AM-1 (“Atom Peaceful”–1 in Russian abbreviations (Атом Мирный)), which was commissioned at the IPPE on June 27, 1954), and worked there on various positions: Senior scientist (1953–1954); head of laboratory (1954–1969); head of branch (1969–1975); director of thermal-physics division (1975–1995); deputy director of thermal-physics division (1995–2010); advisor of the director of thermal-physics division (from 2010) and of the general director of IPPE JSC.He was an associate professor (1959–1965); professor (1965–1972); chair of the thermal-physics department (1972–1985); and chair of the nuclear-power-plant department at the Obninsk Branch of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI) (Обнинский филиал Московского Инженерно-Физического Института (МИФИ)) (1985–1992). Professor Pavel Kirillov has prepared a large number of undergraduate and master-degree students; and 15 Ph.D. candidates.Knowledgeable, friendly and technically informed, Dr. P.L. Kirillov was a role model and mentor to numerous generations of researchers/scientists in nuclear engineering, thermalhydraulics, heat transfer, and two-phase-flow fields. He is definitely one of the most admired and ingenious researchers in these fields. His many researches and achievements include contributions in such special areas as molten-metals nuclear-reactor coolants; supercritical water; research (BR-10 (Fast Reactor (sodium-cooled)) and BOR-60 (fast experimental reactor (sodium-cooled)); power (BN-350 and BN-600 (fast sodium power reactors)), transportation (lead-bismuth-cooled), and spacecraft (BUK and TOPAZ) nuclear reactors. Professor Kirillov is well respected among his colleagues in the nuclear-engineering community all over the world despite being heavily focused on Russian developments to which he made major contributions. His 2009 text on “Hydrodynamic Calculations” (in Russian) covered and demonstrated his encyclopedic knowledge of fluid flow and heat transfer. The earlier 2007 major text “Thermophysical Properties of Materials for Nuclear Engineering” (in English) sets the standard for excellence, breadth and depth with not only essential basic data and tabulations, but includes fundamental design information for all types of reactors.For his outstanding work, Professor P. L. Kirillov was awarded with the following honored titles: Honored Scientist of Science and Engineering of the Russian Federation (1988) (Заслуженный деятель науки и техники РСФСР) and Honored Worker of the Atomic Industry of the Russian Federation (2016) (Заслуженный работник атомной промышленности Российской Федерации); and with three state orders and a number of state and jubilee medals.During his work at the IPPE (ФЭИ) and Obninsk Branch of MEPhI (МИФИ), Professor Kirillov has published over 350 technical publications including handbooks, reference books, textbooks, papers, inventions, and reports (see selected publications listed below). His professional contributions and critical thinking continued unabated and he was fully involved in the series of articles summarizing the status of nuclear energy in the world and its future prospects.Professor Pavel Leonidovich Kirillov was a respected technical leader, mentor, and friend to innumerable students, researchers, scientists, and engineers, and he will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege to know him. He was an outstanding contributor in every aspect of his prolific work and career in the true traditions of technical excellence and critical thinking, and his irreplaceable loss is deeply felt worldwide.The official information on Professor Kirillov can be found on the following website.1On behalf of the ASME J. NERS Editorial Board, colleagues, students, and friends from around the world:

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