Unlock the basics of heat, steam, and the steam engine with a classic engineering reference.
This practical, classroom-focused text from 1888 was written for students at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It surveys core ideas about combustion, heat, and how steam powers machines, and it includes guidance, definitions, and worked examples. The book combines explanations with tables, diagrams, and appendices that extend into fuel data, boiler proportions, and methods for measuring engine performance.
- Foundational topics: definition of steam, heat units, and the steam engine as a whole
- Properties of water and steam, plus the science behind evaporation and condensation
- Engineering practice: boiler design, chimney proportions, and fuel considerations
- Instrumentation and analysis: the indicator and how to interpret engine diagrams
Ideal for readers of engineering history, students seeking a solid grounding in early steam technology, and anyone exploring how classic texts approached power and efficiency.