A compound steam engine is a steam engine in which steam expands in two or more successive stages rather than once, typically passing from a smaller high pressure cylinder into one or more larger low pressure cylinders. Dividing the expansion this way reduces the cooling losses that occur when steam expands fully in a single cylinder, making higher expansion ratios practical and improving overall efficiency. Jonathan Hornblower patented an early compound design in 1781, but legal disputes with James Watt blocked its development, and it was Arthur Woolf high pressure compound engine of around 1804 that made the approach practical, leading to widespread use in Lancashire textile mills by 1850 and in marine engines after 1880. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Technology TypeMulti-stage expansion steam engine 1 Invented YearJonathan Hornblower had patented an earlier double-cylinder compound design in 1781, but Arthur Woolf's 1804 stationary compound engine, patented in 1805 as the Woolf high pressure compound engine, is the design credited with making the compound principle practical. Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Compound steam engine
Compound steam engine, opening definition
A compound steam engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.
Compound steam engine, History section, Woolf engine
A solution to the dilemma was invented in 1804 by British engineer Arthur Woolf, who patented his Woolf high pressure compound engine in 1805.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.