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Long live the steam engine too!

• Someone 11y ago
  That remark in combination with its parent made me imagine what formula 1 with steam engines would look like. Steam engines can provide lots of torque at low speed, so they should be able to accelerate reasonably fast from zero speed when using a high-tech, low weight boiler. Top speed would not be that high, though, due to the inefficiency of steam engines. It also could be quite a bit on the too dangerous side due to exploding boilers.
  • angersock 11y ago
    You're thinking about this the wrong way...use them the way they are supposed to be used: drive turbines with them. Steam engines, treated as powerplants, are actually remarkably efficient.
    • TheLoneWolfling 11y ago
      Yep. There's a reason why fossil fuel power generation is mainly steam turbine based. There are other problems with steam turbines, however. The efficiency band can be relatively small, and it doesn't change power levels particularly quickly.
      • beachstartup 11y ago
        steam generators are also used in nuclear power plants.