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heating in Antarctica
carol_3
Member Posts: 397
Take a look at my Antarctica pictures at http://carolfey.blogspot.com. I have a job there as a heating mechanic. First are pictures of my camping (yes it was very cold!) trip, then some heating--oil furnaces and boilers are fired with jet fuel here. Drop me an email at carol@carolfey.com.
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Comments
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That's cool !
Err.. I mean ,well you know.
So jet A fuel is essentially kerosene, I bet the furnaces run really good with the daily attention they get. Are there backups, or if does one go down it's big trouble?
Have fun,and stay warm.
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
My fyrite 125 pro does not have a setting for jet fuel...I would think that is the coldest place on earth?
TimJust a guy running some pipes.0 -
very interesting
Very interesting read. Our 60 + year old secretary Mary Brown of my fire department here in Saranac Lake, NY just started a 5 month stint down there as some assistant to weather observation. We haven't heard from her since she left Christchurch a few weeks ago. Maybe you crossed paths with her. Very personable outgoing little lady. Must be interesting trying to work on anything down there. No just taking a quick run to the local supply house. You don't have one in stock forget it. My TPI analyzer does't have jet fuel as a fuel choice either.0 -
What's the internet like there?
Do you have broadband service?0 -
Carol
My guard unit (109th Airlift Wing) flies the LC 130 Ski Birds for the NSF. Lots of our maintenance crews down there at McMurdo Station. Maybe you can catch a ride on one of our birds and get your picture taken by the South Pole.0 -
Hey Darin whats the deal with those very expensive telescopes in McMurdo, what are they looking for, planet X ?. And is there a hole in the earth, hollow ?.0 -
Why jet fuel?
My guesses are A. Doesn't gel when the temp goes way below zero or B. It saves space because it comes in the fuel tanks of the cargo plane and saves having to make room for an additional type of fuel in the cargo area. or maybe even C. No sulfur content casues less buildup and more reliable operation.
Cool though, (unintentional bad pun) I'd always bounced around the idea of wanting to join one of those expeditions myself some day. Hasn't happened yet however.
I wonder if the kerosene setting on the analyzers would work for jet fuel.0 -
Heating in Antartica
I would guess that jet fuel is used since it is basically kerosene and won't gel as bad as DO. All the government stuff runs on high test. After all-its your tax money. I am in the merchant marine and have colleages that have run supply ships to the south pole. They actually have a dock carved out of the ice. I doubt they carry much fuel on jets-it would be really expensive. They probably carry stuff of a more urgent nature.0 -
have fun
Looks like an adventure Carol. My cousin Chris Stevens worked ther for quite awhile. He said was one of the best things he ever did.0 -
Right,
I'm thinking they take from the regular fuel tanks which saves space in the cargo area for other stuff. Just a guess though.0 -
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We have three mechanics always on call. Luckily I don't know enough to be one of them! If a furnace goes out, they start working on it. No backups, though many of the buildings have more than one, and there are lots of portable heaters and generators.0 -
Yep. Internet is just like in the US. Maybe just a little slower at times.0 -
Your guesses are correct!0 -
M0st people love it here. I know several who have been here on and off for 20 years.0 -
The more economical way (about half the cost) to get fuel to the South Pole is what they call the South Pole Traverse. They put the fuel in large bladders and put those on sleds and pull them with bull dozer like equipment 1000 miles from McMurdo to South Pole. Takes many weeks to get there. Last year they built the road by filling in ice cravasses as they went. They expect this year to be easier.0 -
I was working on the ventilation in her dept just last week. It's 'way too hot in there! The building was designed in the '70's--before all that computer equipment that adds internal heat. I'll look for her.0 -
10F to -10F sounds pleasant
anyone cross county ski for fun down there?0 -
What a small world! tell her I said Hi and that the fire department is falling apart and no fun without her.0 -
Do they sell,,,
postcards at the gift shop?0 -
New question,,,
I refered this thread to another forum where I know there are people who would find it interesting. One of them came back with the comment that they have their own nuclear reactor on site there. Is that true? If so could you tell us a bit about it? What is it's purpose? Does it generate power? Just curious, no agenda other than that. Well, except I sometimes joke about how someday each house/building would have it's own small nuke reactor in the basement for heat and power. Sounds like this is a step in that direction?0 -
The nuke is for the sauna...
Wait until you see the blog entry for the "300" club... ;-)
Have a great time Carol.0 -
Yes, we can check out skiis from the rec dept and take off on approved trails.0 -
Yes, lots of postcards.0 -
They closed down the nuclear.0 -
Interesting,,,
I did a little search, I had no idea the place was so big!
Here's a link to wiki on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Station
There is also a lot of info on the nuke plat if you do a search. For those who are interested. Good luck Carol!0 -
refrig
I heard previously that some refrigeration coolers have some heat to prevent the food from freezing. Is that true? My cousin worked there for 2 seasons for the newspaper.0
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