Dr. Ulrich von Pidoll
Scientific Researcher in Electrostatics at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
Dr. Ulrich von Pidoll was born on February 24 1956 in the German city of Cologne. He is the son of the architect Dipl. Ing. Heinrich von Pidoll and his wife Angelika, nee Gambs. From his grandfather, Dr. von Pidoll learned to read and write and to love cars, music and antiques. At the age of twelve, he tinkered radio receivers from old pre-war radio fragments taken from air-raid shelters in the neighborhood. One old radio with reaction coupling is still playing today in his home. At 16 years of age, he gave repetitional lessons and used his earnings to buy vintage records, his favorite artists being Francesco Tamagno and Dave Dee & Co.
From 1975 to 1980, Dr. von Pidoll studied Physical Chemistry at the Technical University of Darmstadt and earned a book prize in mathematics 1976. It was during this time that he developed a medical compound with more efficient enzyme liberation to improve the therapy of pancreatic insufficiency (German Patent application OS 3642853).
From 1981 to 1984, Dr. von Pidoll was a scientific researcher in the group of Prof. Dr. K. H. Homann in Darmstadt and obtained the degree of a Dr. Ing.. His dissertation was a mass spectrometric study of the pyrolysis of typical compounds in the exhaust gas of rich flames. It was during this time period that Dr. von Pidoll also found time to research and write a book on his family history.
From 1985-1990, Dr. von Pidoll was a scientific referent at the Feldmuehle AG in Plochingen, Germany. He was involved in developing patents, advertising and new products, including German patent PS 4013473. By this time, Dr. von Pidoll has owned five VW-beetles, and he used his experience to write a successful book about this popular model. The car of his student days, a beetle from 1958, remains in good condition, and he still uses it for leisurely drives on sunny days.
Since 1990, Dr. von Pidoll has been scientific researcher at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany. Working in the laboratory "physical ignition sources", he is expert in hazards due to electrostatic charging, especially in electrostatic varnishing, gasoline stations and automotive fuel systems. His job includes writing experts opinion about the electrostatic safety of new products, developing new test methods and safety concepts and determining the reasons for unexplainable explosions and fires. This work requires the expectation of the unexpected, a detective's instinct in questioning witnesses of an accident and creative ideas leading to new solutions.
In 1993, Dr. von Pidoll won together with Dr. Helmut Kraemer the Helmholtz prize for his work about the safety of powder varnishing. He later conducted scientific experiments to determine the flammability limits of flock clouds and liquid paint spray during the electrostatic paint spraying and flocking process. He also mainly contributed to the European standards EN 50050, EN 50176, EN 50177, EN 50223, EN 50348, CLC TR 50404 and prIEC 61340-4-6.
In 2000 Dr. von Pidoll developed universal applicable methods for
the evaluation of any product of process intended for use in explosive
atmosphere. His ideas have been honored with a Helmholtz prize 2004 and
the James Melcher paper prize in 2005.
Since 2001, Dr. von Pidoll is convenor of international working
groups working in the fields of electrostatic ignition hazards.
When Dr. von Pidoll is not at work or attending committee meetings, he likes to drive his old VW beetle, listen to music, watch old films, or play on the piano.