Waldemar Jungner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waldemar Jungner
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Waldemar Jungner
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| Born | 19 June 1869  |
| Died | 30 August 1924 (aged 55) |
| Occupation | Inventor |
Ernst Waldemar Jungner (born June 19, 1869 – died August 30, 1924) was a clever Swedish inventor and engineer. He is best known for creating several important types of rechargeable batteries.
In 1898, he invented the nickel-iron battery (NiFe) and the nickel-cadmium battery (NiCd). He also created the rechargeable alkaline silver-cadmium battery (AgCd). Besides batteries, Jungner also designed a fire alarm and worked on other inventions.
Contents
Early Life and Health
Ernst Waldemar Jungner was born in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. His parents were ministers. Sadly, his father passed away when Waldemar was only 13 years old.
The year he was born, 1869, was a tough time in Sweden. Bad harvests led to a famine, which means there wasn't enough food. This affected Jungner's health from a young age. He also got sick with measles and scarlet fever.
Education and Learning
Jungner went to Skara upper secondary school. He loved to learn and studied many subjects at Uppsala University. These included chemistry, math, astronomy, and geology.
He continued his studies at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. This helped him become the skilled engineer and inventor he was.
Starting a Business
In 1900, Jungner started his own company called "Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner." This company focused on his battery inventions.
He had a long legal fight over patents with the famous inventor Thomas Edison. Edison had more money and resources, so he eventually won the dispute. This caused big problems for Jungner's company.
To survive, the company changed its name slightly in 1904 to "Nya Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner." Jungner stepped down from managing the company but stayed on as a consultant. The company eventually closed in 1910.
However, a new company, also called "Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner," was created. This new company used updated technology and became very successful. A company that came from Jungner's original work, "NiFe Junger," later became part of Saft Groupe S.A. in 1991.
How Jungner's Batteries Were Used
Jungner's nickel-cadmium batteries were very important. They were used in the power systems of rockets and artificial satellites in the 1960s and 1970s. People also used them in portable electronic devices on Earth.
One amazing story shows how reliable his batteries were. In 1928, during a rescue mission for explorer Umberto Nobile near the North Pole, batteries were dropped from an airplane. These were meant to power the expedition's radio. Only Jungner's NiFe battery worked in the extreme cold!
Later Inventions and Awards
Jungner continued to invent throughout his life. In 1907, he patented designs for a fuel cell. He also studied how to make cement and how to get radium from rocks.
In 1922, Jungner became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. This was a big honor. In 1924, he received the Oscar Carlson Medal from the Swedish Chemical Society.
Waldemar Jungner passed away on August 30, 1924, at the age of 55. He died from pneumonia. His inventions, especially his batteries, had a lasting impact on technology.
See also
- Batteries in space
