Watt, James

Categories: Biographical notes

James Watt  (1736 – 1819) was a Scottish engineer and chemist who developed more efficient steam engines – considered an important factor in the progress of the industrial revolution. A key contribution was inventing the discrete condenser that avoided steam being condensed in the main cylinder, and so cooling it each cycle.

The S.I. unit of power is named after Watt.

 

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.