The Evolution Of The Parsons Steam Turbine

The steam turbine is a machine that uses steam to turn a shaft. This machine was invented by Charles Parsons in 1884 and became the primary means of generating electricity. Over the years, the steam turbine has been used in a variety of ways, including in marine transport and naval warfare. Alexander Richardson wrote a book about the steam turbine's history in 1911, and it features more than 170 illustrative plates. This book is a valuable source of information about the development of this important technology.

Responsible for the generation of most of the world's electricity, and with applications to sea and land transport, the steam turbine may be regarded as a pivotal invention in the creation of a technologically advanced modern society. Charles Parsons (1854-1931) built the first practical steam turbine in 1884, and he remained at the forefront of its development for nearly fifty years, as he saw his invention become first the prime means by which thermal energy could be turned into electricity, and then the power behind pioneering cruise liners and warships. Alexander Richardson (1864-1928), an engineer and politician, had access to the inventor's papers when writing this account of the turbine's history. Published in 1911, and featuring more than 170 illustrative plates, it provides a valuable insight into the development of a technology that revolutionised power generation, marine transport and naval warfare.