The revolutionary discovery
- In 1764, Watt received a Newcomen steam engine to repair.
- The 1712 Newcomen engine worked by condensing steam in a cylinder, which then creates enough push to power a piston.
- While fixing the engine, James Watt noticed that more than three-quarters of the steam was wasted due to repeated heating and cooling in the same cylinder.
- He then designed a cylinder that had a separate chamber to condense the steam in. Watt's engine kept the cylinder at a stable temperature as the steam condensed in a separate chamber. This was revolutionary.
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Changing the world
James Watt and Matthew Boulton founded a manufacturing firm, where Watt spent years improving the efficiency and cost of his engine.
The demand for Watt's engine grew and was adopted across multiple industries. His steam engine became a "mechanical workhorse of the Industrial Revol...
James Watt faces difficulties
- James Watt lacked capital and was initially unable to construct a full-scale engine.
- In 1766, with investment from Joseph Black, Watt created a successful small test engine.
- A year later, Watt started a business pa...
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