The Use Of Steam Power

Authored By Admin  :  Category: Man's Inventions

Steam Engine (http://www NULL.mygreenhealth NULL.com)

Steam Engine

Steam produced by burning coal was the energy that drove the Industrial Revolution. Steam power was the miracle replacement for human power and horsepower. The first use of steam power was pumping water from mines.

The early steam engines weren’t very efficient, but over the years the steam engine was improved, modified, and upgraded. The steam engine was the most important technology of the Industrial Revolution and has as much impact on the world of that day as computers have had on our modern world.

English engineer by the name of Thomas Savery built a steam engine to pump water from mines in 1689. He patented the engine on July 2, 1698. Describing his invention, Savery said, it is  “a new invention for raiseing of water and occasioning motion to all sorts of mill work by the impellent force of fire, which will be of great use and advantage for drayning mines, serveing townes with water, and for the working of all sorts of mills where they have not the benefitt of water nor constant windes.” Savery was a great inventor but apparently a really lousy speller; nevertheless, his assessment was accurate.

The steam engine changed the world. By 1712 Thomas Newcomen who was also an English engineer, came up with a vastly improved version of Savery’s steam engine. The changes (improvements) made by Newcomen made the steam engine adaptable to many more uses than just pumping water from mines.

Savery’s patent, however, was a problem, and Newcomen was forced to go into partnership with Savery. Newcomen’s modifications made the steam engine adaptable even in places that weren’t near a water supply, and that modification truly pushed the Industrial Revolution to new and dizzying heights.

There were others who made major contributions to the evolution of the steam engine; the most notable ones were James Watt and Matthew Boulton.

Steam power contributed a lot to the modern progress we are reaping these days!

Related Posts with Thumbnails (http://www NULL.linkwithin NULL.com/)