Steam Engine

"A  steam engine  is a  heat engine  that performs  mechanical work  using  steam  as its  working fluid .  Steam engines are  external combustion engines,  where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products.  Water is heated into steam in a boiler until it reaches a high pressure. When expanded through pistons or turbines, mechanical work is done. The reduced-pressure steam is then released into the atmosphere or condensed and pumped back into the boiler. The ideal thermodynamic cycle used to analyze this process is called the  Rankine cycle . Most mobile steam engines and some smaller stationary engines discard the low-pressure steam instead of condensing it for reuse."

In the Irieun Universe, the modern steam engine was created in 1750 but popularized in 1851 sparking the Industrial Revolution. In the modern day steam engines are used for several purposes, in aeroplanes, airships, cranes, cars, ships, and for advanced industry. Steam power has had a significant effect on Irieu leading to a denser amount of wars since its creation, due to automation and mass production.

Non-Irieun Universe article on the Steam Engine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine