Levan Artilakva

Scientist · engineer · inventor

From engineering solutions in chemical production to international expert activity

Stages of Professional Activity ↓

1954born in Batumi

1987Chernobyl accident cleanup

18patent publications

2014elected Academician of the UAS — an all-Ukrainian public organization of scientists

01 — Biography

An engineering path,
based on analysis

Levan Artilakva is a scientist, engineer and inventor. Born on 3 September 1954 in Batumi, he specialises in high-energy and high-temperature chemistry, chemical engineering and compressor equipment and works as a technical expert.

His professional path combines work at a major chemical production facility, the solution of non-standard emergency repair tasks, international expert activity, inventive work and participation in the cleanup of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

A characteristic feature of his work is the search for a solution through mechanics, machine dynamics and the thermodynamics of a specific process when standard repair procedures are insufficient.

02 — Education

Professional training

Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering

From 1976 to 1981, Levan Artilakva studied at the Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering (MIKhM), the USSR’s leading higher-education and research centre in chemical machinery, chemical engineering processes and equipment, compressor engineering and cryogenic technology.

He undertook specialist training under Professor Alexander Adolfovich Gukhman.

Building of the Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering — MIKhM · Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering

At different periods, distinguished scientists taught and headed research departments at MIKhM: Nobel Prize laureate Academician Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa; Academicians Ivan Ivanovich Artobolevsky, Mikhail Viktorovich Kirpichev, Anatoly Maksimovich Kutepov and Yakov Mikhailovich Kolotyrkin; Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Viktor Vyacheslavovich Kafarov; and Professors Alexander Adolfovich Gukhman, Alexander Nikolayevich Planovsky, Georgy Lvovich Vikhman, Alexander Nikolayevich Sherstyuk, Viktor Mikhailovich Brodyansky and Vladimir Andreyevich Yudin. Their scientific schools shaped the development of chemical machinery, engineering thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, cryogenic technology, theory of machines and mathematical modelling of chemical engineering processes.

His studies at MIKhM gave Levan Artilakva a fundamental engineering education and formed the basis of his subsequent work in high-energy and high-temperature chemistry, compressor engineering and the modernisation of industrial production facilities.

Levan Artilakva — Engineering solutions →

03 — Engineering activity

Solutions for particularly complex equipment

A significant part of his professional activity is connected with the Severodonetsk Production Association “Azot” and Borsig, Esslingen, Halberg, Schwarzkopf and 2ShLK-1420 compressors.

2ShLK-1420 · 1986

Restoring a crankshaft main journal without dismantling

In 1986, melting of a main bearing on a 2ShLK-1420 compressor damaged the surface of its 550 mm diameter main journal. Conventional repair required dismantling the crankshaft together with the main motor rotor, with a total mass of 62 tonnes, and sending it to the manufacturer.

Levan Artilakva developed and implemented a method for machining the damaged journal in place. He designed a special lathe mounted on the compressor frame. The shaft retained its standard support at the sound main journal, while an installed steady rest supported it near the journal being machined.

The standard turning gear rotated the shaft through the ring gear on the main motor rotor. The end crank drove the longitudinal carriage feed: a pusher and Maltese cross transmitted its motion to the lead screw, providing intermittent cutting-tool feed synchronized with shaft revolutions.

The compressor frame thus served as the lathe base, the standard turning gear provided rotation, and the crankshaft itself drove the tool-feed mechanism. Rough machining removed 2 mm of metal, and finishing removed 0.1 mm. The solution made it possible to machine the damaged main journal without dismantling the heavy assembly.

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Borsig · 1988

Redistribution of dynamic loads

Another characteristic example of the engineering approach was the situation with a Borsig compressor when a crack was discovered in a critical part of the frame. Instead of ordering an expensive new frame from the manufacturer, with a three-year production time, and carrying out extensive work to replace it, an analysis was made of the dynamic loads arising during operation of the crank mechanism. On the basis of this analysis, it was proposed to reverse the direction of rotation of the main electric motor. Changing the direction of rotation changed the direction of action of the components of the dynamic forces and made it possible to unload the damaged section of the frame almost completely. The solution was based not on local reinforcement of the defective area, but on redistribution of forces within the entire mechanical system of the unit. This solution made it possible to fully restore safe, normal operation of the compressor within 10 working days. The absence of stress concentration was confirmed by strain-gauge monitoring of the damaged area of the frame under different compressor operating conditions. The Borsig compressor is an eight-row, six-stage opposed compressor with a capacity of 25,000 Nm³/h, a gas-mixture discharge pressure of 320 atmospheres, a power rating of 7.6 MW and a mass of 220 tonnes.

Interactive diagram. Open PDF ↗

NEUMAN & ESSER · 1999

Independent thermodynamic expertise

In 1999, during commissioning of a NEUMAN & ESSER compressor, the process parameters were found not to correspond to the specified values. In particular, the discharge temperature of stage IV exceeded the permissible value. The measures undertaken by the manufacturer's engineers did not produce a positive result. Levan Artilakva was invited as an independent expert. After carrying out a thorough thermodynamic analysis of the compressor parameters, he determined that the polytropic exponent calculated from the final parameters exceeded the isentropic exponent of the compressed gas. He concluded that the system was being heated externally and proposed changing the compressor process scheme by redistributing the gas flow. The problem was solved, and the manufacturer acknowledged an error at the design stage.

Open larger visualization ↗

04 — International work

1993

China

Through the All-Union Foreign Trade Association “Tekhmashimport,” he participated in installation supervision and commissioning work at a methanol production facility in Heilongjiang Province, Yilan County — Dalianhe.

1995—1999

Bulgaria

He was engaged as a technical expert and consultant. At the “Himko” plant in Vratsa, the work was connected with Nuovo Pignone compressors; in Stara Zagora, with the equipment of facility 1-G.

Chemical industrial complex — International engineering and expert work at chemical enterprises

05 — Chernobyl

23 February — 6 June 1987

Head of the radiometric laboratory

Levan Artilakva was sent by the Severodonetsk Military Commissariat to participate in the cleanup of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

In military unit 35810, he performed the duties of head of the radiometric laboratory. The work was directly related to ensuring radiation monitoring and required technical competence, organisational responsibility and strict compliance with the safety regime.

His contribution was recognised by an official commendation from the command, signed, among others, by Colonel General Ryakhov.

The original 1987 documents are available in a separate online publication.

Open archival documents →

06 — Research and production activity

1995—2022

Work at the Research and Production Company “Khimmash-Compressor Service”

From 1995 to 2022, Levan Artilakva, together with Director Leonid Vladimirovich Panasovsky, worked as Technical Director of the Research and Production Company “Khimmash-Compressor Service.”

During the years of their joint management, the Research and Production Company “Khimmash-Compressor Service” carried out modernisation and reconstruction work at chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical enterprises both in Ukraine and abroad.

The company was repeatedly recognised as a leader in its branch of industry.

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 1

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 2

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 3

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 4

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 5

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 6

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 7

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 8

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 9

Work of “Khimmash-Compressor Service,” photograph 10

Separate patent catalogue →

07 — Patents and recognition

From a production idea
to international patenting

The developments cover seals for reciprocating machines, impellers of centrifugal compressors and equipment for acetylene production.

UA35079U

Method for manufacturing a plain bearing shell

Filed: 29 Apr 2008 · Published: 26 Aug 2008

Inventors: Levan Artilakva, Leonid Panasovsky, Yevgen Tretiakov, Ihor Neshcheret

Utility model · Patent no longer in force (registry, 30 Sep 2026)

Levan Artilakva

An engineering path,based on analysis

Moscow Institute of Chemical Engineering

Solutions for particularly complex equipment

Restoring a crankshaft main journal without dismantling

Redistribution of dynamic loads

Independent thermodynamic expertise

China

Bulgaria

Head of the radiometric laboratory

Work at the Research and Production Company “Khimmash-Compressor Service”

From a production ideato international patenting

Method for manufacturing a plain bearing shell

Knurling head

Method for centering a reciprocating compressor

Gland seal

Packing seal

Method to improve burner of acetylene production reactor

Burner for acetylene production reactor

Impeller of a centrifugal compressor

Impeller of centrifugal compressor

Centrifugal compressor impeller

Impeller of centrifugal compressor

Artilakva–Panasovsky burner for producing acetylene

Acetylene production burner

Burner for producing acetylene

Acetylene-producing burner

Centrifugal compressor impeller

Centrifugal compressor impeller

Centrifugal compressor impeller

Scientific publications

Opposed reciprocating compressor with linear electric motors built into the crossheads and kinematic synchronization, without conversion of rotary motion into reciprocating motion

On the feasibility of venting gas from the clearance volume of a reciprocating compressor cylinder to a lower stage

Dynamics of heat balance components during inertial reheating. Calculation of residual energy, temperatures and conditional prediction bounds with the introduction of an inertial thermal rebound parameter

Determination of the optimal number of blades in a centrifugal compressor impeller

An engineering path,
based on analysis

From a production idea
to international patenting