Fricis Rudzītis ‒ the First Latvian Electrical Engineer
2015
Valdis Gavars

Fricis Rudzītis (1897–1957) was born in Latvia in Liepaja region. In 1923 he graduated from the Electro Technical Institute in St. Petersburg. After returning to Latvia he entered the Faculty of Mechanics of University of Latvia, because the diploma issued by the Soviet State was not recognized. Rudzītis graduated from the University of Latvia in 1926 as the first engineer-electrician. He also worked at the University of Latvia as an assistant. In the following years F. Rudzītis perfected his knowledge in Germany and England. From 1930 he was taking an active part in various production processes of the factory VEF. In 1936 the construction of the Ķegums Hydropower Station started and he was among the first members of the Engineering Inspection Committee. He was one of the initiators and designers who implemented the 80 kV high voltage lines. In 1940, Fricis Rudzītis started working at the newly founded Latvian National Electricity Company “Ķegums” and was appointed Head of Technical Department. He continued working in this position even when the country was occupied by Russia and Germany. After the war Soviet authorities needed his expertise but he was not entrusted the post of Head of the Department any more. In 1946 Rudzītis was appointed Chief Engineer of the Design Department. The first Latvian 80 kV power line and substation projects wer e developed by Fricis Rudzītis, the first Latvian electrical-engineer. He was also a pioneer of the Ķegums Power Station and a creator of the unified energy grid in Latvia.


Keywords
Fricis Rudzītis, Ķegums Hydropowere station, power line,Power system in Latvia

Gavars, V. Fricis Rudzītis ‒ the First Latvian Electrical Engineer. The Humanities and Social Sciences. Vol.24, 2015, pp.13-18. ISSN 1407-9291. e-ISSN 2255-8543.

Publication language
Latvian (lv)
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