heating in Antarctica

carol_3

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.

singh

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.



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Timco

My fyrite 125 pro does not have a setting for jet fuel...I would think that is the coldest place on earth?

Tim

Vernon P. James_2

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.

David Nadle

What's the internet like there?

Do you have broadband service?

Darin Cook_8

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.

steveex

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 ?.

Unknown

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.

Mike C._4

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.

Tim_41

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.

Unknown

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.

carol_3

carol_3

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.

carol_3

Yep. Internet is just like in the US. Maybe just a little slower at times.

carol_3

Your guesses are correct!

carol_3

M0st people love it here. I know several who have been here on and off for 20 years.

carol_3

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.

carol_3

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.

jp_2

10F to -10F sounds pleasant

anyone cross county ski for fun down there?

Vernon P. James_2

What a small world! tell her I said Hi and that the fire department is falling apart and no fun without her.

Unknown

Do they sell,,,

postcards at the gift shop?

Unknown

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?

NRTDave

The nuke is for the sauna...

Wait until you see the blog entry for the "300" club... ;-)


Have a great time Carol.

carol_3

Yes, we can check out skiis from the rec dept and take off on approved trails.

carol_3

Yes, lots of postcards.

carol_3

They closed down the nuclear.

Unknown

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!

Jim_64

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.