Steam turbine-powered locomotives never really caught on. Similar to gas turbine engines, steam turbines are efficient at certain rpm, and extremely inefficient at many others. At high speeds, they ...

(Editor’s Note: This story originally ran in November 2008 and has proved a perennial favorite of Power Engineering readers. With the New Year we thought we’d share it again. Click here to see the ...

Steam gets scary in many ways at very high temperatures, and a Rankine cycle isn't all that efficient (although can be (and generally is) improved with "reheat" cycles ... which are needed in the ...

Steam turbine technology is not stagnant. Advanced designs are incorporating innovations in blade design, advanced materials, precision manufacturing, and high-energy steam cycles, delivering ...

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If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...