Background
Charles Herschel Koyl was born on August 14, 1855 in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Reverend Ephraim Lillie and Frances (Culp) Koyl. His early life was spent in Ontario.
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Charles Herschel Koyl
Edit ProfileEducation
In 1877 Koyl graduated from Victoria College, Coburg. He continued his education at Johns Hopkins University, where, after two years' study, he was made a fellow in physics.
Career
After teaching mathematics and physics at various places in the United States and Canada, in 1887 Koyl became instructor in physics and electrical engineering at Swarthmore College.
In 1890 he began the practice of engineering in New York City.
In 1895-96 he was scientific assistant to the commissioner of street cleaning of New York City, and in this capacity did notable work, becoming an authority upon the disposal of municipal wastes. While at Johns Hopkins he had become interested in municipal water treatment and he later became a pioneer in the treatment of industrial water supplies.
In 1910 he was engaged by the Great Northern Railroad as engineer of water service to lessen, if possible, the cost to the road of procuring non-alkaline water for use in the locomotive boilers. He was extraordinarily successful in this undertaking and developed many ingenious schemes for softening water. Through his efforts he was able to effect a further saving of about $4000 per locomotive per year, by systematic removal of injurious matter from the water before it was put into the boilers. This work continued to interest Koyl and in 1920 he became engineer of water service for the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad.
His activities involved not only consideration of the location and design of suitable water-supply and treatment plants, but also the important feature of intensive education and check of employees in the proper handling of the work. Here again he was remarkably successful, and he continued his association with this railroad for the remainder of his life.
He was a frequent contributor to technical journals on subjects in his special fields, among his notable papers being the following: "Municipal Refuse Disposal, " a letter discussing a paper by J. T. Fetherston; "Prevention of Pitting in Locomotive Boilers by Exclusion of Dissolved Oxygen from Feedwater"; "The Preparation of Water for Railroad Use".
Achievements
Connections
Koyl was married at Washington, D. C. , November 6, 1885, to Georgiana Thatcher Washburn. After her death, he married Adele T. Sanford, April 27, 1901.
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Born
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Died
February 18, 1931 (aged 75) -
Nationality
Canadian