Steam Engine facts
While investigating facts about Steam Engine Train and Steam Engine Vape, I found out little known, but curios details like:
James Watt calculated horsepower by measuring the output of an actual horse in order to quantify how many horses his steam engines could replace.
how steam engine works?
Balls out" or "balls to the wall" has nothing to do with testicles. It refers to the governor a steam engine uses when running at full speed.
What steam engines are used for?
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what steam engines are used for today. Here are 50 of the best facts about Steam Engine Industrial Revolution and Steam Engine History I managed to collect.
who at first invented steam engine?
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Ancient Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria invented the first vending machine which dispensed holy water after you put in a coin. He also invented the first steam engine and the first wind powered machine, 2000 years before the industrial revolution.
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James Watt needed to convince skeptics to ditch their draft horses&buy his steam engine. To prove its superiority, he measured a horse walking in circles to turn a grindstone in a mill. He multiplied distance it walked by its ~180 pounds of pulling force&came up with a new measure: horsepower
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The Chernobyl disaster would have been a lot worse if three engineers hadn't volunteered to swim through radioactive water to open valves and drain the liquid to prevent a steam explosion
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The oldest subway tunnel in the world has had its only entrance welded shut, and it contains a 100+ year old steam engine.
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A 3 mile journey on a steam train, which would have taken 1,000 gallons of water and a tonne of coal, can be replaced by a diesel engine burning 18 gallons of fuel; that's a 98% fall in energy use between the two technologies.
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A single Boeing 777 Engine delivers twice the horsepower of all the Titanic's steam engines combined.
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Benjamin Bradley in 1856 invented the first steam engine powerful enough to fuel a naval ship, but he was unable to patent his invention because he was a slave
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About steam train driver Wally Oaks who heroically gave his life to stop his train after an accident engulfed the engine in flames. He saved all passengers and was posthumously awarded a George Cross for bravery.
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One of the last types of steam locomotive was maintained while the boiler was still in steam, by men in asbestos clothes entering the 220°F firebox and repairing the engine, while it was still under pressure. This was done to reduce downtime and allow a 6-day-a-week schedule.
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the first Steam Engine was invented in Alexandria,Egypt in the 1st century AD. The Egyptians couldnt find any practical use to it and the tecnology was lost in history until beeing re-invented in the 17 century!
Why steam engine was invented?
You can easily fact check why steam engine are used by examining the linked well-known sources.
The U.S. put strict regulations on steam engines because they were dangerous to operate. To get around this law, one company made boilers full of boiling gasoline instead of water.
First diesel ships were confusing to other captains, as there was no steam exhaust to signify a ship was under movement (say, from a steam engine), causing ships to unintentionally cross paths. - source
The Confederate States of America created explosives disguised as pieces of coal. Saboteurs mixed the "coal torpedoes" with regular coal and when workers shoveled them into the steam engines they detonated, damaging or destroying the ship.
As an adult he managed the family brewery and in 1840 he became interested in replacing the brewery's steam engines with ones driven by electric motors.
When steam engine invented?
Some WW2 steam powered battleships were "turbo charged" by pressurising the boiler rooms and everyone working in them [Chris Barrie's Massive Engines]
How steam engine changed the world?
Herber Valley Railroad in Utah has a popular steam engine and passenger railroad cars. They are so popular they were featured in 31 movies in 20 years.
The diesel engine was developed further and replaced the steam engine in most applications.
He studied bookkeeping at Goldsmith, Bryant & Stratton Business College in Detroit and was hired by Westinghouse to service their steam engines.
Submarines use a variety of power sources including batteries, nuclear power, and engines. Early submarines used gas, steam, and even human power.
The first vending machine was constructed by Hero of Alexandria (c. 10 AD - c.70 AD); when a coin was introduced via a slot on the top of the machine, a set amount of holy water was dispensed. His other inventions include a fire engine pump, a wind operated organ, and the first steam engine.