Feasibility of steam

[bob_builder]

WIth the advent of microwave tech and modern materials is a modern steam engine feasible?

[Calvesy]

The efficiency of an engine is the temperature difference of the fire divided by the ambient. In Kelvins. So for steam it may be 70/373 or 19% .With steam, the heat is dissipated by losing boiled water to the cold air, so the vehicle would need to replace water regularly or carry a heavy store. If the water were captured and recondensed this would effectively reduce the temperature difference to the heat sink and ruin the efficiency.

[Gef]

Temperature difference of the fire =70K. Ambient = 373K. Where do these figures come from? Anyway, all stem engines are feasible or they would not work.

[Hamish]

Yes it is possible. I think in Europe they are trying this. Advances in insulation and the use of oil burners rather than coal make it much more practicle. It used to take hours for a steam engine to get up enough steam. The use of microwaves is not practicle as their generation is not efficient