Steam

If liquid water comes in contact with a very hot surface or depressurizes quickly below its vapour pressure, it can create a steam explosion.

In each case, water is heated in a boiler, and the steam carries the energy to a target object.

[9] In electric generation, steam is typically condensed at the end of its expansion cycle, and returned to the boiler for re-use.

[10] In other industrial applications steam is used for energy storage, which is introduced and extracted by heat transfer, usually through pipes.

These locomotives were mostly used in places where there was a risk of fire from a boiler's firebox, but were also used in factories that simply had a plentiful supply of steam to spare.

The ability to return condensed steam as water-liquid to the boiler at high pressure with relatively little expenditure of pumping power is important.

Steam is used across multiple industries for its ability to transfer heat to drive chemical reactions, sterilize or disinfect objects and to maintain constant temperatures.

In the lumber industry, steam is used in the process of wood bending, killing insects, and increasing plasticity.

Steam is also useful in melting hardened grease and oil residues, so it is useful in cleaning kitchen floors and equipment and internal combustion engines and parts.