The+Power+of+Steam

=THE POWER OF STEAM= by Dave Griffin

What is Steam Power?
Essentially, steam power is based off many of the same principals that allow gas power to work. First off, steam and gas both work off of the ideas of harnessing combustion. In the case of steam power, water is combusted to form steam which can be used to push a piston or turn a turbine. Then the turbine and/or piston will turn a generator which will in turn generate electricity.(Below is a diagram of a steam powered system.)

Early Inventions Involving Steam
The first references to steam engines come from the first century A.D under the writings of the Greeks. But it wasn't until around the late 1600's that steam inventions came into play. Dennis Papin, a French scientist sought to use the powers of steam to help cook the fats out of different meats. Little did he know that his new pressure cooker would lead Thomas Savery, an english inventor, to create the first steam engine. While it was crude, it allowed for the basic idea to become popularized. One downside that was quickly realized was the steam systems tendency to explode. The first steam engine that was popularized and helped pave the way for the industrial revolution was the Atmospheric Engine built in 1712 which was a basic build and release system.(displayed below to the right)

Popularization and Advancement
As steam power became widely used in factories it allowed for less workers. Seeing opportunities to better their countries or their pockets many inventors went to work, trying to perfect the steam system. It wasn't until 1775 that James Watt, a Scott, started production on the Watt Steam Engine. The Watt Steam Engine was in essence a re-worked model of the Atmospheric Engine. It cut down on many of the flaws and increased efficiency dramatically. Whats more, it could be used in a wide variety of jobs from textile factories to mining. (See Below)



The Steamship Revolution
While the development of the steamboat was happening all across the globe the man accredited with the mass production and invention of the steam powered boat was an american named Robert Fullerton. This invention was incredibly useful in the United States because it allowed easy navigation up the Mississippi River which was previously a nightmare.

> "Mr. Fulton's ingenious steamboat, invented with a view to the navigation of the Mississippi, from New Orleans upward, sails today from the North River, near State's Prison, to Albany. The velocity of the steamboat is calculated at four miles an hour. It is said it will make a progress of two against the current of the Mississippi, and if so it will certainly be a very valuable acquisition to the commerce of Western States." -//The American Citizen// This also rocked the world of sailing because a steamship could travel a consistent 20 knots across the ocean while a sailboat, no matter how big would never be able to go any where without the wind which at beast is unpredictable. As time went on, sailboats became less and less prevalent. 

WHAT HAPPENED?
Well, as steam was hitting its stride in popularity, the gas combustion engine was coming into light. Also, It quickly came to light that steam powered devices were not all together safe which has something to do with the eventual combustion of many of these devices. Also, the demand for labor in the countries that had previously used steam power was dwindling out. The large manufacturing countries like the United States and Britain were at a lull period in-between the late 1800's and World War One. Now, in our modern culture run on gasoline we see steam power as a vintage novelty. What was once a mighty giant of industry is now just a figure in the shadow of the new reigning world champion, Gasoline. Bibliography: History of Steamboats: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamship.htm, Mary Bellis, 2009, retrieved feb 15th 2012

History of Steam Engines:  http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm, Mary Bellis, 2009, retrieved feb 15th 2012

How Steam Power Changed the World:  http://www.livescience.com/2612-steam-engine-changed-world.html, Heather Whipps, June 16th, 2008, retrieved feb 15th, 2012

The Discovery of Steam Power:  http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rochelle.f/The-Discovery-of-steam-power.html, Rochelle Forrester, 2002, retrieved 2012