Höyrymoottorien

Höyrymoottori (Finnish for steam engine) is a type of thermal engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The fundamental principle involves heating water to produce steam, which then expands and pushes against a piston or turbine, generating mechanical motion. This motion can then be used to power various machines.

The development of the steam engine was a pivotal moment in the Industrial Revolution. Early designs focused on using atmospheric pressure to create a vacuum after steam condensation, such as Thomas Newcomen's atmospheric engine, which was primarily used for pumping water out of mines. James Watt's improvements, most notably the separate condenser, significantly increased the engine's efficiency and versatility, making it suitable for a much wider range of applications.

Watt's engine paved the way for steam power to be used in factories, for transportation like locomotives and steamships, and in agriculture. Steam engines convert the thermal energy of steam into kinetic energy through a series of cycles involving steam intake, expansion, exhaust, and condensation or release. While largely superseded by internal combustion engines and electric motors in many applications, steam turbines still play a crucial role in electricity generation in thermal power plants, where they are driven by steam produced from burning fossil fuels, nuclear reactions, or geothermal heat. The core concept of using expanding steam to generate power remains a foundational principle in thermodynamics and mechanical engineering.