For reciprocating steam engines, what was the historical factor tied to efficiency improvements?
Answer
Increasing the expansion ratio
Efficiency improvements in reciprocating engines were historically linked to increasing the expansion ratio, which is the ratio of initial steam volume to the final volume before exhaust.
#Videos
The most simple and efficient steam engine in history - YouTube
Related Questions
For reciprocating steam engines, what was the historical factor tied to efficiency improvements?What key innovation by James Watt significantly boosted engine performance?How does a compound engine extract more work compared to a simple expansion engine?What was the typical peak thermal efficiency range achieved by highly optimized triple-expansion reciprocating engines?What critical feature distinguishes highly efficient condensing engines from non-condensing versions?What mechanical constraint primarily led to the theoretical limit of reciprocating steam engines?How do steam turbines fundamentally overcome the limitations faced by reciprocating engines?What thermal efficiency level can modern, large-scale steam turbines operating on advanced cycles approach?What concept is central to maximizing efficiency in modern steam power plants?What specific design compromise penalized the peak thermal efficiency of railway steam locomotives?