Steam Engine (2D) 🚂

Side-view piston–crank–flywheel mechanism with a live PV indicator diagram of the real thermodynamic cycle.

Controls

Steam pressure: 8.0 bar Cutoff timing (valve closes at): 45% Flywheel load / friction: 40%

Live readout

Flywheel RPM—

Crank angle—

Cylinder pressure—

Indicated power (est.)—

Torque (inst.)—

Work / cycle—

How it works. Boiler steam admits into the cylinder until the crank passes the cutoff angle, then the trapped steam expands (≈ PV = const), pushing the piston. The connecting rod turns this reciprocating motion into rotation at the crank, and the flywheel's inertia carries it through the low-torque part of the cycle. The engine is driven purely by the piston force computed each frame — raise the load to see the flywheel settle at a lower RPM, or raise pressure/cutoff to push it higher.