Gustaf Dalén facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gustaf Dalén
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Dalen c. 1900s
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| Born | 30 November 1869 |
| Died | 9 December 1937 (aged 68) Lidingö, Sweden
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| Nationality | Swedish |
| Alma mater | Chalmers University of Technology, Polytechnikum, Zürich |
| Known for | Sun valve and other lighthouse regulators |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Physics (1912) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, mechanical engineering |
| Institutions | AGA |
Nils Gustaf Dalén (30 November 1869 – 9 December 1937) was a brilliant Swedish engineer, inventor, and businessman. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1912 for creating "automatic regulators" that helped lighthouses and buoys light up using gas. He was also the long-time CEO of the AGA company and invented the AGA cooker and the Dalén light.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gustaf Dalén was born in Stenstorp, a small village in Sweden. He grew up managing his family's farm. He even expanded it to include a market garden, a seed shop, and a dairy.
In 1892, he invented a device to test the quality of milk. He traveled to Stockholm to show his invention to another famous inventor, Gustaf de Laval. De Laval was very impressed by Dalén, who had taught himself so much. He encouraged Dalén to get a proper technical education.
Dalén then went to the Chalmers University of Technology. He earned his Master's degree and a Doctorate there, finishing his studies in 1896. Dalén was a lot like de Laval in his inventing style. He wasn't afraid to try out "impossible" ideas. However, Dalén was also very careful with money. He made sure a product had a good market before he launched it.
Working with AGA
In 1906, Dalén became the chief engineer at the Gas Accumulator Company. This company made and sold acetylene gas. In 1909, the company changed its name to AGA, and Dalén became its managing director.
During Dalén's time, AGA was one of the most creative companies in Sweden. They made many different products. In 1910, the company bought a large piece of land in Lidingö. They built a new production plant there, which was finished around 1912. Then, they moved all their operations from Stockholm to this new location.
The Dalén Light
Dalén first worked with acetylene. This is a gas that can catch fire easily and sometimes explode. Dalén invented a special material called Agamassan (or Aga). This material could absorb the gas, making it safe to store. This invention allowed acetylene to be used for many things.
Acetylene made a very bright white light. It was much brighter than other fuels like LPG. Because of this, it became the best choice for lighting up lighthouses.
Dalén used this new fuel to create the Dalén light. This light included another one of his inventions, the sun valve. This clever device allowed the lighthouse light to turn on only at night. This saved a lot of fuel and meant lighthouses could work for over a year without needing new fuel.
He also invented the 'Dalen Flasher'. This device only used gas when the light flashed, except for a tiny pilot light. This reduced gas use by more than 90%. AGA lighthouse equipment didn't need electricity. This made them very reliable.
For places with rough coastlines like Scandinavia, Dalén's inventions were a huge help. His buoys were strong, needed little care, and were made in large numbers. They greatly improved safety for ships. AGA lighthouses were even used all along the Panama Canal.
The AGA Cooker
In 1922, Dalén received a patent for his invention, the AGA cooker. He did most of the testing for this cooker in his own kitchen. This kitchen was in his home, Villa Ekbacken, which was built in 1912. Sadly, because of an accident, he never actually saw his home with his own eyes. His family helped him develop the cooker. They checked temperatures and airflow as he worked on the design.
Personal Life
Gustaf Dalén's parents were Anders and Lovisa Dalén. In 1901, he married Elma Persson. They had four children together:
- Maja (1904–1995)
- Gunnar (1905–1970)
- Anders (1907–1994)
- Inga-Lisa (1910–2004)
The Accident of 1912
In early 1912, Dalén was testing how much pressure his gas storage units could handle. During this test, there was an acetylene explosion. Sadly, this accident caused Dalén to become blind.
Later that same year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on lighthouse technology. He was too ill to go to the award ceremony himself. So, his brother, Albin Dalén, who was an eye doctor, accepted the prize for him.
The speech at the Nobel Prize ceremony praised Dalén for risking his own safety for science. This was a great compliment, comparing him to Alfred Nobel himself. Even though he was blind, Dalén continued to lead the AGA company until he passed away in 1937. He received over 100 patents during his lifetime.
Gustaf Dalén died on 9 December 1937, at the age of 68.
Awards and Recognition
- Nobel Prize for Physics 1912
- Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Member of the Academy of Science and Engineering
Image gallery
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The AGA production and development center around 1920.
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Some of the remaining AGA-buildings, today working as a center for small companies. The AGA head office with about 150 employees is still in some of the buildings. Photo: October 2009.
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Gustaf Dalén, 1926 at the peak of his career as the managing director for AGA industry.
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Villa Ekbacken, the private residence for the Dalén family, built in 1912 close to AGA production plant. Today the residence for Canada's ambassador in Sweden.
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Gustaf Dalén and his wife Elma, outside Villa Ekbacken, 1937.
See also
In Spanish: Nils Gustaf Dalén para niños
