| | '''Steam power''' is one of the first methods developed for powering machines, and sparked the [[Industrial Revolution]]. It was developed early, because precision machining and tight-fitting pistons are not required for building effective steam engines. | | '''Steam power''' is one of the first methods developed for powering machines, and sparked the [[Industrial Revolution]]. It was developed early, because precision machining and tight-fitting pistons are not required for building effective steam engines. |
| − | Steam has been superseded by [[electricity]] and [[internal combustion]] for some classes of machines, but remains important in others. Large stationery power plants, such as those used to drive generators in electric power plants, are often steam-driven, and, in fact in most nuclear power plants, the nuclear reactor boil water into superheated steam, which in turn drives the steam turbines which drive the generators. | + | Steam has been superseded by [[electricity]] and [[internal combustion engine]]s for some classes of machines, but remains important in others. Large stationery power plants, such as those used to drive generators in electric power plants, are often steam-driven, and, in fact in most nuclear power plants, the nuclear reactor boil water into superheated steam, which in turn drives the steam turbines which drive the generators. |