Steam Powered NY

[Keeper]

You're site is not being affected by the steam shortage in NY, is it? :)

I just read on the news about the steam explosion, and I was suprised to learn that NY runs mostly on steam  :icon_wink:  Is that because of the electricity blackouts a couple of years ago?  :icon_wink:

More seriously, though.  Can anyone tell me why there are steam pipes under the streets of NY?  I'm quite well read and I've never heard of steam being piped under cities before ...  :icon_scratch: Seems a bit, well, Victorian.  :detective:  :shrug:

[Baldemyr]

Without it the devil rats would reign.

[Dr.Evil]

Keep it warm in the winter.  :icon_wink:

[Baldemyr]

I think Wristaction and I pretty well have NYC covered.

[Custom_Hobby]

Here in NYC they use Steam to power a lot of the high rise buildings. They have been using steam for a long time now. The pipe that exploded was 83 years old. Steam is used for just about everything (even air conditioning). As an example at my brothers job they use steam for the AC and also for their backup generator. Steam is environmentally friendly, cheaper and reduced the load on the electrical system during the summer. In most cases the steam pipes are very deep. Some are up to 120 feet under.

The problem now with the one that exploded is that there is asbestos that needs to get cleaned up.

There is some good info on steam power here: http://www.coned.com/steam/pdf/Steam_ops_overview.pdf

[Keeper]

Thats all quite interesting, thanks Mike.  I feel I've grown through learning :)

Reading it, though, still brings names to mind like Trevithick, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and George Stephenson :icon_wink:  I guess that must be a result of my education.  You're going to tell me now that you've not heard of any of these guys, right?

[Baldemyr]

Ive never heard of any of those guys :(

[Keeper]

"Use the wiki, Luke."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevithick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephenson

There you go.  Today's industrial history lesson, in a nutshell.

[Dr.Evil]

Thats all quite interesting, thanks Mike.  I feel I've grown through learning :)

Reading it, though, still brings names to mind like Trevithick, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and George Stephenson :icon_wink:  I guess that must be a result of my education.  You're going to tell me now that you've not heard of any of these guys, right?

Thought they were the group "The Monkeys".  :icon_scratch:

[Keeper]

Thats all quite interesting, thanks Mike.  I feel I've grown through learning :)

Reading it, though, still brings names to mind like Trevithick, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and George Stephenson :icon_wink:  I guess that must be a result of my education.  You're going to tell me now that you've not heard of any of these guys, right?

Thought they were the group "The Monkeys".  :icon_scratch:

Nah, predecessors.  They only had their own radio show :icon_wink:

But they could wield rivets the size of small cars! :D

[alrith72]

I remember watching a cartoon at school about Isembard Kingdom Brunel and it had a very catchy song that i still remember some of to this day.

"Get a big top hat if you want to get ahead
It doesn't really matter if you're not at all well bred"