{"id":160,"date":"2022-02-06T12:12:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T12:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2022.robocupjunior.eu\/rcj\/?page_id=160"},"modified":"2022-05-31T17:51:26","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T17:51:26","slug":"steam-engine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/2022.robocupjunior.eu\/rcj\/index.php\/workshops\/miniature-machines\/steam-engine\/","title":{"rendered":"Steam Engine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Steam Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n

Mechanical device that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy by evaporating water into steam and using that steam to power a machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Components:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Heat source: e.g. burning coal in a furnace<\/li>
  2. Boiler with water: the boiler contains water which is heated to form steam<\/li>
  3. Valve: controls the flow of steam into the chamber<\/li>
  4. Cylinder and piston: the steam actuates the piston in a reciprocating movement<\/li>
  5. Crankshaft: to convert linear motion into circular motion (e.g. a steam locomotive of a train)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Working Principle:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The heat source is used to heat the water inside the boiler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It produces high pressure steam which is then piped through the valve into a tightly sealed piston inside a chamber. The pressure pushes the piston out which in turn is connected to a crankshaft that converts linear motion into circular motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As the gas expands it loses kinetic energy and condenses into water (or colder steam), reducing the pressure inside the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The piston is driven back by the combined action of reduced pressure in the chamber and the inertia of the moving crankshaft – exhaust stroke. As the condensed water (or cold steam) is expelled the valve switches allowing new high pressure steam to come in and the process repeats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In a locomotive there are typically two cylinders (one on each side) out of phase with one another to provide continuous motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Limitations of the steam engine:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n