What crucial innovation did Thomas Watt introduce to improve efficiency?
Answer
The separate condenser, keeping the main cylinder hot throughout the cycle.
The primary flaw of the Newcomen engine was the thermal wastage caused by repeatedly cooling the main cylinder during condensation. Thomas Watt's crucial refinement was the introduction of the separate condenser. This allowed the condensation of steam to happen in a vessel distinct from the main cylinder. Consequently, the large working cylinder could remain constantly hot, as it was never subjected to the cold water injection. This kept the heat energy concentrated where it was needed—to keep the steam expansive—leading to a drastic reduction in wasted heat and resulting in efficiency improvements estimated to be as high as 75 percent over the original design.
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