Kids set the bar for tomorrow’s compressor valve steel
Committed to developing the next generation compressor valve steel, Sandvik has reached out to young school children as well as global appliance manufacturer Electrolux to collect their visions of the future.
The valves are key components to a compressor – if a valve breaks, the compressor stops working. This makes the choice of valve material extra important.
Today’s compressors generally work at a frequency of 50–60 Hz (50–60 cycles per second), but there is a trend introducing compressors working at frequencies up to 200 Hz.
We want to raise the bar and provide material that meets these higher demands.
“This means a much higher number of cycles,” says Anders Hoel, Senior Research Engineer at Sandvik, who is heading Sandvik’s program of hardened and tempered compressor valve steel. We want to raise the bar and provide material that meets these higher demands and that can cope with them for more cycles.”
To accomplish this, Hoel and his R&D team are mapping out what the future needs will be. “We want to learn everything about the processes and the products to be able to bring that knowledge into new applications, new designs and new steel grades,” Hoel says.
Kids’ drawings become the TIM Fridge
Sandvik turned to the next generation of consumers for help. Hoel visited the British International School of Stockholm, Sweden, and asked 7 to 8-year-old children to draw their vision of a future fridge.
With help from Electrolux, Sandvik selected some the most creative ideas and created the TIM Fridge concept, which was presented back to the children.
The entire experience has been documented through films and articles at Sandvik's website for stainless steels and special alloys