Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:35:19-1:35:37

When a propulsion technology matures too late

Steam-generator propulsion might be technically possible, but by the time it became efficient enough, competing systems offered a better route for new ships.

Naval TechnologyShip PropulsionTechnology AdoptionWarship Design
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Question

Could steam generators, rather than conventional boilers, have served as a ship's main propulsion system?

Short answer

Potentially, but by the time the approach was efficient enough, better competing systems were available.

Notes

The proposed steam-generator approach could potentially serve a ship's main propulsion. The objection is timing rather than simple impossibility. By the point at which the system became efficient enough, other propulsion options were already better. A workable technology can still miss its procurement window when competitors mature sooner.