invention of steam engines was a turning point in the history of mankind.Somewhere at the turn of XVII-XVIII centuries it began replacing inefficient manual labor, water wheels and windmills on a completely new and unique mechanisms - steam engines.It is because they have become possible technical and industrial revolution and the whole progress of mankind.
But who invented the steam engine?To this duty to humanity?And when was that?All these questions and try to find answers.
More BC
history of the steam engine dates back to the first centuries BC.Hero of Alexandria described the mechanism, which starts working only when it was working couples.The device is a balloon, which were fixed nozzle.From nozzles tangentially out steam, thereby causing the motor to rotate.It was the first device that runs on steam.
creator of the steam engine (or rather, the turbine) - Taqi al-Din (Arab philosopher, engineer and astronomer).His invention became widely known in Egypt, in the XVI century.The mechanism has been arranged as follows: the flow of steam is sent directly to the mechanism of blades, and when the smoke poured - the blades rotate.Something similar in 1629 and offered the Italian engineer Giovanni Branca.The main drawback of these inventions is too high steam consumption, which in turn required a huge amount of energy and it was not appropriate.Developments have been suspended since the then scientific and technological knowledge of mankind was not enough.Furthermore, the need for such inventions completely absent.
Development
Till XVII century the creation of the steam engine was impossible.But as soon as the bracket level of human development has skyrocketed, then there were the first instances and invention.Although no one seriously at the time did not take.For example, in 1663 the English scientist published in the press the project for his invention, which he found in the Castle Raglan.His device is used to lift water to the walls of the towers.However, as with all new and unexplored, this draft was adopted with doubt, and sponsors for its further development was not.
history of the steam engine begins with the invention paroatmosfernoy machine.In 1681 a scientist from France Denis Papin invented a device that pumps water from the mines.As a driving force for the first time used the powder, and then it was replaced by steam.So there paroatmosfernaya machine.A huge contribution to its improvement made by the scientists from England and Thomas Newcomen Thomas Savery.Invaluable assistance has also self-taught Russian inventor Ivan sliders.
failed attempt Papen
Paroatmosfernaya machine, while far from perfect, has attracted particular attention in the field of shipbuilding.D. Papin their last savings spent for the purchase of a small boat, which engaged in the installation of water-lifting machines paroatmosfernoy own production.The mechanism of action lies in the fact that, falling from a height, the water begins to spin the wheel.
Its inventor tests conducted in 1707 on the river Fulda.Many people gathered to see the miracle: to move along the river ship without sails and oars.However, during the tests it was an accident: the engine exploded and killed several people.Authorities angry at hapless inventor and banned him from any work and projects.The vessel was confiscated and destroyed, and a few years later he died and Papin.
Error
The steamer Papen was the next principle.At the bottom of the cylinder had to pour a small amount of water.By themselves cylinder located roaster that served to heat the liquid.When the water began to boil, the resulting steam expands, the piston is raised.Because of the space above the piston through a specially equipped air valve is pushed out.After the water boils and steam began to fell, it was necessary to remove the brazier, to close the valve to remove the air, and by means of cold water to cool the cylinder wall.Through such actions couples, who was in the cylinder, condensed, it was formed under the piston vacuum and atmospheric pressure through the power piston returns to its original place.During its downward movement and perform useful work.However, the efficiency of the steam engine, Papin was negative.The motor ship was extremely uneconomical.And most importantly, it was too complicated and inconvenient to use.Therefore, the invention Papen had no future from the very beginning.
followers
However, the history of creation of the steam engine did not end there.Next, we have a much more successful than Papen, turned the English scientist Thomas Newcomen.He has long studied the works of his predecessors, focusing on weaknesses.And he took the best out of their work, created in 1712, its staff.The new steam engine (photo shown) was constructed as follows: Use the cylinder in an upright position, and the piston.It Newcomen took from work Papen.However pairs formed in another boiler.Around the piston was fixed one-piece skin, which increases the tightness in steam cylinder.This machine was also paroatmosfernoy (water rising out of the mine with the help of atmospheric pressure).The main disadvantage of the invention have been its cumbersome and uneconomical: the machine "ate" a huge amount of coal.However, the benefits it brought much more than the invention of Papin.Therefore, it is used for nearly fifty years in the caves and mines.It was used for pumping groundwater, as well as for drying vehicles.Thomas Newcomen attempted to convert his car so as to be able to apply it to traffic.However, his attempts were unsuccessful.
Another scientist announced himself became D. Hull from England.In 1736 he presented his invention to the world: paroatmosfernuyu car, which had been as an engine impellers.Its development has had more successful than that of Papen.Immediately it was released a few such ships.They are mostly used to tow barges, ships and other vessels.However, the reliability of the machine paroatmosfernoy not credible, and ships equipped with sails as the main driver.
Although Hull was luckier than Papen, his invention is gradually lost relevance, and they were rejected.Still, at that time paroatmosfernyh machines were many specific deficiencies.
history of the steam engine in Russia
next breakthrough came in the Russian Empire.In 1766, at a metallurgical plant in Barnaul it established the first steam engine, which was fed into furnaces air with special bellows.Creator it became Ivan Polzunov, who for his services to the motherland even given the rank of officer.The inventor presented his superiors drawings and plans "fiery car" capable of powering bellows.
However, fate played a cruel joke with Polzunova: seven years after its draft was adopted, and the car is assembled, he fell ill and died of consumption - just one week before the test started its engine.But his instructions were sufficient to start the engine.
So, August 7, 1766 Polzunova steam engine was launched and placed under load.However, in November the same year, she broke down.The reason was too thin walls of the boiler that is not intended for the load.And the inventor wrote in his instructions that the boiler can only be used during the test.Production of the new boiler would have easily paid off, because the efficiency of the steam engine Polzunova was positive.Over 1023 hours of operation with the help of smelted silver more than 14 pounds!
But despite this, no one to repair the mechanism did not.Steam engine Polzunova more than 15 years gathering dust in a warehouse, while the world industry is not standing still and developed.And then all was dismantled for parts.Apparently, at that time Russia has not yet grown to steam engines.
time requirements
Meanwhile, life was not in place.Mankind is constantly think of ways to create a mechanism that allows not to depend on the capricious nature, and take control fate.From the sails would all like to give as soon as possible.Therefore, the establishment of a permanent mechanism of steam hung in the air.In 1753 in Paris, he was promoted competition among artists, scientists and inventors.The Academy of Sciences has announced a reward to anyone who can create a mechanism that can replace the power of the wind.But despite the fact that the competition was attended by such minds as Euler, Bernoulli, Canton de Lacroix and other sensible proposal has not made one.
Years passed.And laying the industrial revolution, more and more countries.Superiority and leadership among other powers consistently battered Britain.By the end of the eighteenth century, it became the creator of UK large-scale industry, thus won the title of world monopolist in this sector.The issue of power-driven every day becomes more and more important.And this engine was created.
first steam engine in the world
1784 was for Britain and the world turning point in the Industrial Revolution.And the man responsible for this was the English engineer James Watt.The steam engine, he created became the loudest discovery of the century.
James Watt for several years studied the drawings, the structure and principles of paroatmosfernyh machines.And on the basis of all this, he concluded that the efficiency of the engine is necessary to equalize the temperature of the water in the cylinder, and a couple that gets into gear.The main disadvantage paroatmosfernyh machines is the constant need for cooling the cylinder with water.It was uncomfortable and consumables.
new steam engine was constructed otherwise.Thus, the cylinder was to a special shirt of steam.So Wyatt made his permanent hot state.The inventor has created a special vessel, immersed in cold water (capacitor).To him join the cylinder tube.When steam is being followed in the cylinder through the pipe, and fell into the capacitor there converted back to water.While working on improving their car, Watt created a vacuum in the condenser.Thus, all the steam, passes from the cylinder, condensed therein.Thanks to this innovation greatly increases the enlargement process steam, which in turn allows you to extract the same amount of steam is much more energy.It was the crown of success.
creator of the steam engine is also changed and the principle of the air supply.Now the couple got a first piston, thereby lifting it, and then going over the piston dropping.Thus, both the stroke in the mechanism of steel workers that previously did not seem possible.A coal consumption per horsepower was four times less than, respectively, in paroatmosfernyh machine, and then sought James Watt.Steam engine very quickly won the first UK well, and then the whole world.
«Charlotte Dundas»
Once the world was struck by the invention of James Watt, began widespread use of steam engines.So, in 1802 he appeared in England the first ship a couple - boat "Charlotte Dundas".Its creators believe William Symington.The boat was used as a tow barge on the channel.The role of the propeller on the ship played a paddle wheel mounted on the stern.The boat is the first time successfully tested: two huge barges towed 18 miles in six hours.At the same time it strongly interfered with the headwind.But he did it.
Still, it was placed on the joke, because they were afraid that because of the strong waves, which were created under the paddle wheel, the banks of the channel will be blurred.By the way, in the trials, "Charlotte" was attended by the man whom the whole world is considered the creator of the first ship.
first steamboat in the world
English shipbuilder Robert Fulton with his youth dreamed of a vessel with a steam engine.And now his dream has become feasible.After the invention of steam engines has become a new impetus for the shipyards.Together with the envoy from America R. Livingston, who took over the financial side of the issue, Fulton took up the draft of the ship with a steam engine.It was a complicated invention is based on the idea oar propulsion.According to the ship's sides were drawn in a series of paddles, simulating a variety of fun.This Plics and then interfere with each other and break.Today, one can easily say that the same effect could be achieved if all three or four paddles.But from the standpoint of science and technology at the time it was impossible to see.Therefore, shipbuilders had more complicated.
In 1803, Fulton's invention has been presented around the world.The ship slowly and evenly on the Seine was, hitting the minds and imaginations of many scientists and Paris.However, the government rejected the project of Napoleon, annoyed and shipbuilders were forced to seek his fortune in America.
And in August 1807 the world's first ship named "Claremont", which was involved in the most powerful steam engine (photo shown), went on Hudson Bay.Many people simply do not believe in the success.
on its maiden voyage "Claremont" went without cargo and no passengers.No one wanted to go on a trip on board the ship fire-breathing.But on the way back there was the first passenger - a local farmer who paid six dollars for a ticket.He became the first in the history of passenger shipping company.Fulton was so much moved that gave the Braves a lifetime free travel on all their inventions.
