Steam Power:
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Alternative Energy
You could say that steam is coming back into vogue but the truth it never went out. If you
were to ask the average person on the street he would say that steam could never
compete with electricity as an energy source, but the truth is that 86% of all the
electricity used in the world is generated by steam engines. Additionally virtually all
nuclear power plants and some nuclear submarines, generate electricity by heating
water to provide steam that drives a turbine connected to an electrical generator for
main propulsion.
Advantages
The strength of the steam engine for modern purposes is in its ability to convert heat
from almost any source into mechanical work. Unlike the internal combustion engine, the
steam engine is not particular about the source of heat. Most notably, without the use of
a steam engine it would be more difficult to harness nuclear energy for useful work, as a
nuclear reactor does not directly generate either mechanical work or electrical energy—
the reactor itself simply heats or boils water. It is the steam engine which converts the
heat energy into useful work. Steam may also be produced without combustion of fuel,
through solar concentrators. A demonstration power plant has been built using a central
heat collecting tower and a large number of solar tracking mirrors.
Similar advantages are found in a different type of external combustion engine, the
Stirling engine, which can offer efficient power (with advanced regenerators and large
radiators) at the cost of a much lower power-to-size/weight ratio than even modern
steam engines with compact boilers
Some web sites offer instructions and kits for the do it yourselfer to construct steam
engines to apply to whatever power need he can imagine.
Steam power may be often over looked because of the lure of the more exotic energy
sources, but it has been around for centuries and is still going strong.
were to ask the average person on the street he would say that steam could never
compete with electricity as an energy source, but the truth is that 86% of all the
electricity used in the world is generated by steam engines. Additionally virtually all
nuclear power plants and some nuclear submarines, generate electricity by heating
water to provide steam that drives a turbine connected to an electrical generator for
main propulsion.
Advantages
The strength of the steam engine for modern purposes is in its ability to convert heat
from almost any source into mechanical work. Unlike the internal combustion engine, the
steam engine is not particular about the source of heat. Most notably, without the use of
a steam engine it would be more difficult to harness nuclear energy for useful work, as a
nuclear reactor does not directly generate either mechanical work or electrical energy—
the reactor itself simply heats or boils water. It is the steam engine which converts the
heat energy into useful work. Steam may also be produced without combustion of fuel,
through solar concentrators. A demonstration power plant has been built using a central
heat collecting tower and a large number of solar tracking mirrors.
Similar advantages are found in a different type of external combustion engine, the
Stirling engine, which can offer efficient power (with advanced regenerators and large
radiators) at the cost of a much lower power-to-size/weight ratio than even modern
steam engines with compact boilers
Some web sites offer instructions and kits for the do it yourselfer to construct steam
engines to apply to whatever power need he can imagine.
Steam power may be often over looked because of the lure of the more exotic energy
sources, but it has been around for centuries and is still going strong.
Old Technology New Again
Steam Supplies Most of the World's Electricity
One of he first alternate energy
sources was steam. The
earliest known steam powered
device, the aeolipile, was
invented by a man named Hero
of Alexandria, a Greek
mathematician, living in the first
century, in Roman Egypt. Some
of his uses for his steam power
was to perform slight of hand
type demonstrations to simulate
acts of hidden gods. Steam and
condensing water weight were
used to magically open and
close temple doors to keep the
worshippers amazed. It would
be centuries before more useful
applications would be found for
steam power.
Trough the years small gains
were made in developing a
steam engine but the big step
forward was made by James
Watt. In the 1770s the Watt
engine was introduced, where
steam is condensed by cooling
a separate connected
compartment, not the cylinder
itself. This separate condenser
meant that the steam cylinder
could be kept hot continuously,
and did not use steam simply to
heat up the cylinder at the
beginning of each stroke (ie the
first steam introduced to the
cylinder did not simply
condense straight away).
Unfortunately James Watt
heavily patented his device and
vigorously enforced prosecuted
any infringement on his
designs. He himself did not sell
steam engines. He
manufactured them and
licensed their use, thus
ensuring complete control of
the steam engine design. As a
result it was not until the early
19th century that any further
advancements were made to
the steam engine.
sources was steam. The
earliest known steam powered
device, the aeolipile, was
invented by a man named Hero
of Alexandria, a Greek
mathematician, living in the first
century, in Roman Egypt. Some
of his uses for his steam power
was to perform slight of hand
type demonstrations to simulate
acts of hidden gods. Steam and
condensing water weight were
used to magically open and
close temple doors to keep the
worshippers amazed. It would
be centuries before more useful
applications would be found for
steam power.
Trough the years small gains
were made in developing a
steam engine but the big step
forward was made by James
Watt. In the 1770s the Watt
engine was introduced, where
steam is condensed by cooling
a separate connected
compartment, not the cylinder
itself. This separate condenser
meant that the steam cylinder
could be kept hot continuously,
and did not use steam simply to
heat up the cylinder at the
beginning of each stroke (ie the
first steam introduced to the
cylinder did not simply
condense straight away).
Unfortunately James Watt
heavily patented his device and
vigorously enforced prosecuted
any infringement on his
designs. He himself did not sell
steam engines. He
manufactured them and
licensed their use, thus
ensuring complete control of
the steam engine design. As a
result it was not until the early
19th century that any further
advancements were made to
the steam engine.
A History of Steam
Steam Bicycle
Steam Driven Rotary Engine
There is currently a competition taking place in England called the British Steam Car
Challenge. You can visit the web site to watch the car as it is being developed.
Challenge. You can visit the web site to watch the car as it is being developed.
Copyright 2008 Harold R Muxlow