Steam pipes

[jezebel]

What do they call those steam pipes along the sidewalks downtown? Where does the steam come from?

[Scottathew]

http://www.detroitthermal.com/

Fast-forward to the 2:00 mark to get a high-level overview:




Detroit Thermal provides many downtown and midtown businesses with steam energy that is used to heat buildings and water, as well as other functions too.

Here is a service map: http://www.detroitthermal.com/servic...vice_area.aspx

Here's another map:



Here's another map that better notes the transmission pressures: http://www.tvii.biz/detroit/LINKS/DT...450%20copy.jpg

The steam is transmitted under very high pressure through underground steam mains. Sometimes water will get into these pipes, and when that happens it causes a rapid expansion of the water and sometimes will cause scenes like this ConEd pipe in Manhattan:






I hope you find some of that interesting and helpful.

[Mikeg]

........Where does the steam come from?

Devices called "steam traps" are installed in these steam distribution systems to automatically remove harmful condensate [[water) as it forms in the piping. When the mechanical steam traps are not properly maintained, they can allow steam to escape from the trap, causing the billowing plumes you see coming from the manhole covers.

[Ray1936]

48091, beautiful response to the question. Thanks a bunch; educational.

[Scottathew]

48091, beautiful response to the question. Thanks a bunch; educational.

Thanks! Just a year ago I was asking myself a similar question when my job was relocated from the suburbs to downtown Detroit. I kept wondering, "Why the hell does steam come out of Detroit sewers, but not sewers in Warren?"

As I slowly learned more it all started making more sense. I also got to learn fun things along the way. For example, the structures in the link below are a sight on my daily commute to and from work. Each day on Madison Avenue I saw these buildings and wondered what they were.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Detroi...9.48,,0,-12.03

The closest structure is a Detroit Thermal plant where steam is produced. The structure next to it is a DTE substation where electricity is switched from transmission voltage to lower voltages for local distribution.

[Richard]

Nice information ,an additional question for me would be regarding the power stations on the factories not on the grid ,did they provide the electricity and heating for the plants ? I see them on schools and older large buildings what all did they produce?