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I think that steam engines went hand in hand with the availability of coal. Even the production of steel (or iron) was hampered by the fact that there wasn't en
by chopin 8y ago
I think that steam engines went hand in hand with the availability of coal. Even the production of steel (or iron) was hampered by the fact that there wasn't enough stuff to burn.
Afaik there was much less forestry in Europe until the advent of coal as the wood was burnt for heating, cooking and iron work.
- pjc50 8y agoYes, this is a serious underappreciated problem. Before we had fossil fuels we were entirely dependent on inefficient biomass for comfort, survival and transport. And the production of coal from all but the shallowest mines requires pumps. One of the first uses of steam engines was ... pumping out coal mines.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- raverbashing 8y agoI remember whale oil being an important source of fuel for some uses as well
- abakker 8y agoFor lighting, definitely. I'm not aware of it having ever been used for heating at any scale?
- Nomentatus 8y agoCertainly the 1712 Newcomen engine exploded the amount of available coal, because water could now be pumped from mines.
- tynpeddler 8y agoI've also heard (but not confirmed) that the skills used for forging cannons and guns were necessary for developing the pistons used in lots of early steam engines