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Here on HN I read about the theory, that one of the main reasons that the time of the steam engines came, was the rise of the cannon. Over generations, every k
by hutzlibu 3y ago
Here on HN I read about the theory, that one of the main reasons that the time of the steam engines came, was the rise of the cannon.
Over generations, every king wanted to have the best cannons as that translated into power - and once you can build a cannon, you can build something that can contain high pressures and give that pressure a direction. In other words, to take that toy further, they would have also had to greatly improve their metallurgy first. Otherwise a smart greek inventor would have just created spectacular (and dangerous) booms, but nothing that could reliable do more work, than a ordinary slave.
- antonhowes 3y agoHmm, I don't think Savery's engine would have required that - it's just a copper vessel, and the pipes were often even made of wood. I've often seen the cannon theory applied to piston-using engines, but that was the next stage with Papin and Newcomen and beyond (hopefully our chapter II)
- hutzlibu 3y agoNot an expert, but apperently this design was hard even with the modern tech_ "Second, the next stage of the process required high-pressure steam to force the water up, and the pump's soldered joints were barely capable of withstanding high pressure steam and needed frequent repair." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Savery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Savery
- freitzkriesler2 3y agoI see that but we know the Romans had lead pipes. I'm curious how much steam those pipes could withstand. Perhaps enough to get some sort of rotary tool. Regardless, it's a fun hypothetical to think of an ancient Roman and Greek steam age.