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Was watching YouTube and somehow went down a steam engine rabbit hole. There's so much to say about steam engines but suffice it to say they are awesome, not lame. Heck, steam locomotives were still in use around the middle of the 20th century. Check out a steam engine power plant. They are epic machines in scale and frankly of spiritual significance to the human race. Steam is what took us from animals to beings with near unlimited power. Steam is fucking rad.

Oh and guess what, I saw this one YouTube video where they were talking about how awesome steam locomotives were because they can run on anything. Anything that burns anyways. You could even burn your W-2s to generate steam.

So I'm thinking if 0 is where we are now and 100 is mad max in what regime do gas/diesel powered generators beat steam? I estimate they only win in the 25-50 range and that's just because they're more efficient. In the 50-100 range you won't be able to buy any damn gas and in the 0-25 range steam is still infinitely cooler. Steam wins, (.75+.25×.4)% of the time, hands down, no arguments.

So I've decided to become a steam man. Like all men I've accomplished major jobs on automotive engines before but I don't know shit about steam engines.

Are there any fellow steam men here on poal? How you break into this? What about getting started with a steam powered electric generator?

Obligatory - yeah even nuclear uses steam. I mean the kind of thing where you burn coal/wood/w-2s to produce steam which then drives a spinny boy to produce the volts.

Was watching YouTube and somehow went down a steam engine rabbit hole. There's so much to say about steam engines but suffice it to say they are awesome, not lame. Heck, steam locomotives were still in use around the middle of the 20th century. Check out a steam engine power plant. They are epic machines in scale and frankly of spiritual significance to the human race. Steam is what took us from animals to beings with near unlimited power. Steam is fucking rad. Oh and guess what, I saw this one YouTube video where they were talking about how awesome steam locomotives were because they can run on anything. Anything that burns anyways. You could even burn your W-2s to generate steam. So I'm thinking if 0 is where we are now and 100 is mad max in what regime do gas/diesel powered generators beat steam? I estimate they only win in the 25-50 range and that's just because they're more efficient. In the 50-100 range you won't be able to buy any damn gas and in the 0-25 range steam is still infinitely cooler. Steam wins, (.75+.25×.4)% of the time, hands down, no arguments. So I've decided to become a steam man. Like all men I've accomplished major jobs on automotive engines before but I don't know shit about steam engines. Are there any fellow steam men here on poal? How you break into this? What about getting started with a steam powered electric generator? Obligatory - yeah even nuclear uses steam. I mean the kind of thing where you burn coal/wood/w-2s to produce steam which then drives a spinny boy to produce the volts.

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[–] • 5 pts

Sounds like you already know. But sure, in order to convert steam into mechanical motion, it needs to be pressurized so the steam pressure pushes on the piston in the same way a gasoline engine does.

In general, steam engines and gasoline engines (diesel as well) are known as heat engines. The basic principle is the same for all of them.

FYI, nuclear reactors are now used to generate steam for electricity. So while locomotives are rare, using steam to generate other types of energy is common.

[–] • 3 pts

Nuclear powered steam train!

[–] • 1 pt

I also thought that, then my brain immediately countered it with the the cooling needs, security needs (a mobile nuclear reactor that can be hi-jacked). My brain then told me I'm dumb and just have a secure power plant and electrify the train tracks, or run a power line that goes beside the train track like a street car.

[–] • 1 pt

Your brain sounds like kind of a dick.

[–] • 2 pts

Yeah, basically you are looking at a "steam cycle", look it up. The only thing that is different is the type of fuel or Heat like he said.