Hard Boiled
The history of the steam engine is a
remarkable journey through man's ingenuity.
Since the invention of simple steam driven
turbines back in the first century AD to open temple doors, the
steam engine has evolved into an efficient way to power ships and
nations.
But never has the importance of steam
power been more relevant than during the industrial
revolution.
From the start the British had the
lead.
Thomas Newcomen set the pistons in motion
and famous names such as Watt, Trevithick, Stevenson and Brunel (to
name a few) further developed the power of steam.
With advances in metallurgy and design,
higher boiler pressures could be achieved and much higher
horsepower developed.
Simply put, the efficiency of
reciprocating steam engines was due to the difference in
pressures between the boiler and the atmosphere.
Today the sight and sounds of a steam
engine attracts attention whether it be a steam locomotive or a
stationary engine in a farm shed.
Schematic
of a typical 1950's British mainline express locomotive
boiler.