Nicolae Vasilescu Karpen

  (n. December 10, 1870, Craiova - d. March 2, 1964, Bucharest), was a Romanian scientist, engineer, physicist and inventor. He has done an important pioneering work in the field of elasticity, thermodynamics, electrochemistry and civil engineering. He was a full member of the Romanian Academy (since 1923).

He studied and made batteries known as Karpen cells, which operate using heat from the environment.