Who Invented The Steam Engine

The invention of the steam engine is credited to British inventor Thomas Newcomen. In 1712, Newcomen invented the atmospheric steam engine, the first practical steam-powered device. The Newcomen engine worked with steam, but unlike previous inventions, it did not use steam to directly power a machine. Instead, steam was used to create a vacuum and then water was used to create a vacuum under the piston which allowed the plunger to move and create energy. This was the first engine to utilize the power of steam in a practical way and became the basis for all future engine designs.

James Watt, a Scottish engineer and instrument maker, improved upon Newcomen’s design in the 1770s. Watt made the engine much more efficient and was the first to use the power of steam to directly drive machines. His design used a separate condenser, an expansion chamber which allowed the steam to expand and contract and a separate cylinder in which the piston worked. This is the design that is still used in modern steam engines.

James Watt’s improvements to the steam engine ushered in the Industrial Revolution and allowed for rapid growth of industry and technology during this time. It is due to his inventions and innovations that today, we can enjoy the power of the steam engine for both commercial and residential uses.