Fredrik Ljungström

Fredrik Ljungström
RNO KVO1kl

Fredrik Ljungström (circa 1920)
Born (1875-06-16)16 June 1875
Died 18 February 1964(1964-02-18) (aged 88)
Nationality Swedish
Education Östra Real
Alma mater Royal Institute of Technology
Occupation Engineer
Technical designer
Industrialist

Fredrik Ljungström (16 June 1875 in Stockholm – 18 February 1964 in Stockholm), RNO KVO1kl, was a Swedish engineer, technical designer and industrialist, considered one of the foremost inventors from Sweden.[1][2]

Alone and in collaboration with his brother Birger Ljungström (1872–1948), he accounted for hundreds of innovative technical patents, from early bicycling techniques and mechanical automatic transmissions for vehicles, to historical steam turbines, innovative air preheaters and circular arc hulls for sailing boats. Apart from associations with industrialists such as Gustaf de Laval, Alfred Nobel, and John D. Rockefeller, Ljungström co-founded companies such as Ljungström Steam Turbine Co. and Swedish Turbine Manufacturing Co. As innovative as his ideas were in function, they also often turned out in terms of unconventional external design, such as his Ljungström steam turbine locomotives and Ljungström yachts.

At the time of World War II and its scarcity of resources, Fredrik Ljungström's innovative technology for oil shale underground gasification by electrical energy provided a significant strategical impact for the Royal Navy and Air Force.[3] In addition, Ljungström made important contributions to the first Swedish jet engine.

With Fredrik Ljungström's technology of the air preheater implemented in a vast amount of modern power stations around the world until this day, with total attributed worldwide fuel savings estimated to 4,500,000,000 tonnes (4,960,000,000 tons) of oil, "few inventions have been as successful in saving fuel as the Ljungström Air Preheater". In 1995, the Ljungström Air Preheater was distinguished as the 44th International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, rendering a permanent exhibition in the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm.[4]

Ljungström regenerative heat exchanger (circa 1930).

His works are also represented in other museums such as the Swedish Railway Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Nobel Museum, and the Lidingö Museum.

Early life and background

Born in Stockholm in 1875, Fredrik Ljungström was the son of Amalia Bernhardina and the inventor Jonas Patrik Ljungström, Junior, as well as the brother of Birger Ljungström inter alia. Fredrik Ljungtröm was educated at Östra Real, and attended the Royal Institute of Technology, where subsequently he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in 1944.

Svea Velocipede

Svea Velocipede exhibitioned at the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology.

The Svea Velocipede with locking hubs, an early invention by Fredrik and Birger Ljungström, now have units represented at the Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology and the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

Steam turbines

The turbine rotor for Ljungström steam turbine 50 MW electric generator (circa 1932).
Ljungström steam turbine locomotive prototype workshop and factory at Gåshaga, Lidingö outside Stockholm, built in 1918, where the Ljungström brothers also worked out the Ljungström heat exchanger for their locomotives.

Fredrik and Birger Ljungström worked out a new type steam turbine, the Ljungström radial turbine, patented by his brother Birger Ljungström in 1894. The turbine principle was the base for the company ALÅ (Ljungström steam turbine Co.) founded in 1908 that owned all the patents. In 1913 they founded the separate company STAL (Swedish turbine manufacturing Co.), and moved the small workshop from Stockholm to Finspång. This company handled the manufacturing and sales of complete steam turbine driven electric generators. STAL was acquired in 1916 by ASEA as they wished to market complete packages with turbine driven electric generators. The brothers then left the company but kept control over the all the patents and manufacturing licenses for the Ljungström steam turbines within the company ALÅ.

Turbine locomotives

Ljungström steam turbine locomotive at Stockholm Central Station (1922).
Ljungström steam turbine locomotive (1921).
Ljungström steam turbine locomotive with preheater (circa 1925) (Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology).

The brothers also designed a number of steam turbine locomotives, some of which were highly successful. The first attempt in 1921 was a rather odd-looking machine. Its three driving axles were located under the tender, and the cab and boiler sat on unpowered wheels. Later they changed this design with driving wheels on both the boiler carriage and the tender with separate turbines. The second design was a 2-8-0 similar to a successful freight design. Built in 1930 and 1936 by Nydqvist & Holm, these locomotives replaced conventional ones on the Grängesberg-Oxelösund Railway. No condenser was fitted, as its complexity outweighed its thermodynamic advantages. The wheels were driven by a jackshaft. These engines were not retired until the 1950s when the line was electrified.

Air preheater

Fredrik Lindström also invented an efficient air preheater, which even in a modern utility boiler provides up to 20 percent of the total heat transfer in the boiler process, but only represents 2 percent of the investment.[5]

Sailing boats

Ljungström sailboat, 1950. USPTO No. 2107303, February 8, 1938.
Fredrik Ljungström, the yacht designer, wearing a mariner cap from the Lysekil Yacht Club, onboard Vingen XII ("the Wing" XII) (1951).

Fredrik Ljungström made several inventions out of new ideas related to sailing boats. The Ljungström sailboat with the circular arc hull and the Ljungström rig, without a boom and double sail that can work as a spinnaker, is named after Fredrik Ljungström.[6] The history of the productions are represented at the Maritime Museum in Stockholm.[7] He also experimented with a vibrationless yacht motor.

Other inventions

Fredrik Ljungström also invented a technology for oil shale underground gasification by electrical energy, the Ljungström method. In addition, Ljungström made important contributions to the first Swedish jet motor.

Distinctions

The Rotor Medal, an eponymic tribute to Fredrik Ljungström founded in 1957 by Swedish Rotor Machines and designed by Swedish sculptor Leo Holmberg. On one side Fredrik Ljungström presented in profile, on the other side Prometheus and Aura, the Greek mythological figures of forethought and air.

Orders

Academic

Awards

Fellowships

Eponyms

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tekniskamuseet.se/1/1889.html
  2. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/ljungstromare/home
  3. ↑ https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/Presentation.aspx?id=9630
  4. ↑ https://www.asme.org/getmedia/c7cf3d83-508f-4946-b476-9399c390fc83/185-Ljungstrom-Air-Preheater.aspx
  5. ↑ "The Ljungström Air Preheater 1920. An International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark" (PDF) (PDF). Svenska Mekanisters Riksförening; American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  6. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/ljungstromare/links/yachting-1977
  7. ↑ http://digitaltmuseum.se/011024679896?page=5&query=fredrik%20ljungstr%C3%B6m&pos=113
  8. ↑ Samtliga pristagare kth.se, retrieved on 2009-02-05
  9. ↑ James Watt International Medal Recipients imeche.org, retrieved on 2009-02-05
  10. ↑ Svenska Dagbladet 19 March 1950, p. 3

Literature

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