Which mechanism limited early steam engine efficiency despite increasing boiler pressure?

💡 Explanation

When early steam engines increased boiler pressure, cylinder condensation heat loss became significant because the temperature difference between the hot steam and the cooler cylinder walls increased, causing steam to condense on the walls, reducing pressure. Therefore cylinder condensation limits efficiency, rather than blade failure, friction losses, or flywheel instability which depend on different factors.

• Which mechanism causes the collapse of poorly constructed dry stone walls over extended time periods?
• Which mechanism prevented structural collapse of Hagia Sophia's dome immediately after its original construction?
• Which risk increases when supporting walls fail during pre-Columbian terracing?
• Which instrumental drift affected early astrolabes during prolonged solar observations?
• Which long-term benefit resulted from the development of chinampa agriculture by pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica?
• Which benefit did the 'waru waru' ridged field system provide to agriculture in the Andean highlands?