The energy source in a steam engine is the heat source that converts water into steam thus creating pressure. The heat source itself can be a coal, wood, gas or petroleum burner but can also be something different like a solar panel or a nuclear reactor (most nuclear reactors are themselves steam engines-generators).
steam engine uses thermal energy to convert water into steam and then uses pressure of steam to move the engine .thus thermal energy into pressure and further pressure into mechanical energy.
water
ENCYCLOPEDIA
The steam engine was the first convenient source of power. It powered the industrial revolution as well as ships and trains in it's day.
The energy source, usually coal is burned. The heat that is produced from this process is then used to boil water which becomes pressurized. The water vapor pressure then moves turbines to translate from kinetic to electric energy.
A steam engine uses a hydrocarbon based fuel source. The combustion of the fuel releases the chemical energy in the bonds in the form of thermal energy.
steam engine
Other to coal I suppose you mean. Burning of any fuel like oil, wood, etc. Nuclear reactors. I suspect solar energy would make steam. It would be possible to use natural steam from deep in the ground.
steam engine uses thermal energy to convert water into steam and then uses pressure of steam to move the engine .thus thermal energy into pressure and further pressure into mechanical energy.
Steam engine
A steam engine. Like used in a steam locomotive
The function of the steam engine is to convert heat energy into motive power, mechanical energy. A boiler generates steam by the application of heat, that steam is then expanded (losing its heat energy) into a steam engine which moves a load (locomotive, line shaft, pump, machine, generator, etc.).
Thermal engine is an engine that uses heat as a source of energy. Steam engine, diesel engine, gasoline engine, Stirling engine and drinking bird a common toy that is also a heat engine are the examples or types of engines that uses thermal energy.
both petrol and diesel are i.c. engines, being that the energy is created inside the cylinder (internally) by burning the fuel therein, as compared to say steam engine which creates energy source (pressurised steam) externally in the boiler prior to delivery to the cylinder(s)
basically, a steam angine is able to harness the energy of steam to move machinery. it is a fairly clean source of enegry. steam angine were used to great effect htp://americanhistory.about.com/od/industrialrev/p/steamengine.htm
Thermal energy, when absorbed by water
steam engine