Steam Engine: The Power House of The

Industrial Revolution
Imagine being able to run at speeds of more
than 100 mph while surviving just on coal and
water. That’s exactly what a steam locomotive
could do. Although the majority of the world's
railroads no longer use these enormous
mechanical dinosaurs, steam technology
continues to hold a special place in people's
hearts, and locomotives like these still operate
as tourist attractions on many historic lines.

Steam locomotives were powered by steam

engines, and deserve to be remembered for their role in the Industrial
Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, when they revolutionised the
world. Among the greatest inventions of all time, steam engines rank
among automobiles, aircraft, telephones, radio, and television.

Steam engines were the first successful engines invented and

were arguably the power house behind the industrial revolution.

What is a steam engine?

A steam engine is a device that burns coal to release the heat energy it
contains. It resembles a massive kettle on top of a coal burner. The heat
from the fire causes the water in the kettle to boil, creating steam. The
steam is then used to power a machine.
History!
Industrial Power (Pre 1750):
The majority of British and European industry relied mostly on water
as a source of power before 1750. This was a proven technology
that was extensively available in the British environment and used
streams and waterwheels. You had to be close to appropriate water
source, which could take you to remote areas and present problems
because it tended to freeze or dry up. However, it was inexpensive.
Rivers and coastal trade both depended on water for transportation.
The use of animals for both power and transportation was also
common, but the cost of feeding and caring for them made it
prohibitive. Alternative sources of power were necessary for rapid
industrialization.

The Development of Steam:

In order to solve power issues, people had been experimenting with
steam-powered engines since the seventeenth century. Thomas
Savery created his "Machine for Raising Water by Fire" in 1698. This
was a water pump used in Cornish tin mines, but it had a very
narrow range of application and couldn't be used on machines.
Additionally, it had a propensity to blow up, and Savery's patent,
which he owned for 35 years, prevented the development of steam.
Thomas Newcomen overcame the patents in 1712 by creating a
unique type of engine. This was first employed in Staffordshire coal
mines, had many of the same drawbacks as the previous
technology, cost a lot to operate, but stood out for not exploding.

James Watt was an inventor

who contributed significantly to
the development of steam
technology in the second half
of the eighteenth century by
building on the work of others.
Watt saved gasoline by
equipping Newcomen's engine
with a separate condenser in
1763. After that, Watt
partnered with a former toy
manufacturer who had changed careers. Watt, former toymaker
Boulton, and Murdoch constructed the "rotary action steam engine"
in 1781. This was a significant development since it could be used to
drive machinery, and in 1788 a centrifugal governor was added to
maintain a consistent pace. There was now a substitute energy
source for the larger industry. Steam engines were first produced in
bulk after 1800, but adoption was gradual.

What Powers a Steam Engine:

Coal was the most popular fuel until the early 20th century since it is
abundant on Earth, making it cheap and easily accessible. It was used to
power everything from ships to trains because it was so accessible and
affordable.

Based on the element carbon, coal is an organic substance. Over the

course of millions of years, coal is created when the remains of dead
plants are buried beneath rocks,
compressed by pressure, and heated by
the Earth's internal heat. It is referred to
as a fossil fuel for this reason. Coal
lumps are actually lumps of energy.
Chemical bonds hold the carbon atoms
inside them to the atoms of oxygen and
hydrogen. In the process of burning
coal, the bonds disintegrate and heat is
produced.

In comparison to cleaner fossil fuels like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene,

coal has around half the energy per kilogramme, which is why steam
engines must burn so much of it.

How does it work?

There are four different parts in a steam engine:

1. A fire where the coal burns.

2. A boiler full of water that the fire heats up to make steam.
3. A cylinder and piston, rather like a bicycle pump but much bigger.
Steam from the boiler is piped into the cylinder, causing the piston
to move first one way then the other. This in and out movement
(which is also known as "reciprocating") is used to drive….
4. A machine attached to the piston.

There are two primary categories of steam engines. A boiler heats

water in both cases until it turns into steam.

In one kind of engine, the steam is delivered at high pressure into a

chamber. When steam expands, it pushes up against a moving piston.
The piston returns to its initial position as soon as the steam is let out
of the chamber. More steam then enters the chamber and the cycle
repeats. Another component of the machine is connected to the piston.
The second component turns a wheel or performs some other task as a
result of the piston's back and forth movement.

In a steam turbine, steam at high pressure passes through a number of

stationary and moving blades. As a result, a component known as a
rotor accelerates quickly. Large amounts of electric power is produced
with steam using turbines.
 Steam engine in a steam locomotive

How did the Steam engine help in the

advancement of human civilization?
There were many different uses for steam engines, including in factories,
mines, trains, and steamboats. Soon, a wide range of industries and
applications started using steam engines. Owners of mines, cotton mills,
and waterworks all purchased them.
Without having to worry about the less prevalent presence of rivers,
steam engines made it simple to work, live, produce, market, specialise,
and develop profitably. Now, villages and cities were constructed around
factories, where many people relied on steam engines for their daily
survival. Successful local marketplaces were created by facilitating the
grouping of people. Cities expanded swiftly, and as infrastructure was
built, the standard of living finally rose. As the cost and difficulty of
acquiring materials decreased, better things could be made. Higher levels
of specialisation were the result of direct local competition as well as
abundant labour and capital. Locally and nationally, the steam-powered
towns promoted expansion.

Productivity and efficiency gains were made possible by steam engines.

The steam engine, for instance, was used to revolutionise transportation
in later inventions like the steamboat and train.

The 5 scientific terms relevant to the research question are: carbon,

efficiency, power, centrifugal, machine

In conclusion, the steam engine was a significant

invention of the Industrial Revolution and contributed to
the development of industrialization.

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