Henri Giffard
Quick Summary
Henri Giffard was a French engineer who invented the steam injector in 1859. This device used a high-velocity steam jet to force water into a boiler, a concept that initially generated significant interest due to its seemingly counterintuitive operation.1
The steam injector was historically important because it could use exhaust steam at atmospheric pressure to deliver feed water at pressures up to 1 megapascal. This principle is similar to that of an ejector, where condensing steam imparts momentum to feed water, converting kinetic energy into pressure. While these injectors are now largely replaced by centrifugal boiler feed pumps and are primarily of historical interest, Giffard's invention was a notable engineering achievement of its time.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
