Definition of steam - What it is, Meaning and Concept

The steam is the state in which a gas is when it is at a level lower than its critical point; This refers to those conditions of pressure and temperature above which it is impossible to obtain a liquid by compression.If a gas is below that point, this means that it is susceptible to condensation through a reduction in its temperature ( keeping the pressure constant) or via the pressurization (with constant temperature).

It is important to clarify that a gas is a substance that meets a well-defined characteristic: to have neither its own shape nor volume.it allows it to conform to the forms of the element that contains it or to disperse if it is not contained.In some special cases, such as steam, said gas can condense to be easily manipulated; however, this is not a characteristic that all gases possess.

The water vapor is the gas obtained from the boiling (the process physical by which the entire mass of a liquid is converted to the gaseous state) or of the evaporation (the same process, but which can be achieved at an indistinct temperature and without the entire mass of the liquid reaching its boiling point) of the liquid water or the sublimation (the change from the solid to the gaseous state) of the ice.This vapor has no smell or color.

Steam locomotives

Since the Industrial Revolution, many advances have taken place in the life of societies.Among them was the invention of steam as a source of energy for means of transport; in this way the steam locomotive that allowed the movement emerged thanks to the energy arising from the combustion of components such as carbon or fuel oil in a boiler.If the water was heated and when it entered the boiling temperature, it generated a certain pressure that I moved some pistons that were connected to the wheels; these began to turn and made the carriage or the locomotive move together.

The first steam locomotive was devised by Richard Trevithick in 1804 and managed to move five wagons loaded with steel (10t) and passengers (70 people), at a speed of 8 km/h He was awarded the creation of this medium of transport, which meant an unavoidable leap in the development of societies.But there are many other names related to the steam locomotive and with the advances in the means of transport, two of them are:

* John Blenkinsop: who designed the toothed rails so that the wheels of the locomotive were fixed and could move safely.This model was used for many years and from it derives the current design of all the rails.* George Stephenson: fuel the one I improved the combustion mechanism, creating the first modern steam locomotive that distributed the heat more efficiently.It received the name of Rocket and its work system was also used in later locomotives.

But finally, when locomotives that combined a diesel and electric system appeared in the early twentieth century, based on the internal combustion of oil , steam engines slowly fell into disuse.

It is also worth mentioning that in the past many boats were powered by steam engines .These ships had boilers or steam turbines and water cooled condensers that allowed them to move without depending on the currents or winds.Thanks to the steam, the first transatlantic ships could be created.At present there are no longer any boats that use this method of propulsion.