Steam as a resource

In 200BC, a Greek named Hero designed a simple machine that used steam as a power source.

He began with a cauldron of water, placed above a fire. As the fire heated the cauldron, the cauldron shell transferred the heat to the water and the water reached the boiling point 100C.

It then changed form and then turned into steam. The steam passed through two pipes into a hollow sphere, pivoted at the both sides. As the steam escaped the sphere through two tubes, each bent at the angle, the sphere moved, rotating on its axis.



Intimately related to steam generation is the steam turbine, a device to change the energy of steam into mechanical work.

In the early 1600s, an Italian named Branca produces a unique invention. He first produced steam, based on Hero's aelopile.

Next, he channeled the steam to a wheel and the steam pressure caused the wheel to rotate. This marked the beginning of steam turbine developed.

Adopted from Steam, its generation and use.