BromoSeltzer Tower Steam Line Tour With Infrared Video Camera

Gordo

Shown here is a quick infrared video tour of the top the steam supply lines that feed the downward steam supplies in the Bromoseltzer Tower in Baltimore, Md.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek-XHAOgSvk

Phil53

Thanks for sharing this. Too bad we don't build things like this anymore. Corporations don't seem to want to pay taxes or hire Americans anymore, much less create architectural treasures like this. If I ever get to Baltimore will try to see this building. In our little city (Aurora, IL) we had a district steam set up from the local power company to heat buildings in our downtown area. They closed the plant in the early 60's and all the buildings had to install boilers. Since the steam pipes ran under the sidewalks, never had to deal with snow in the winter. Environmentally this makes so much sense but we seem to want to go backwards instead of forward. Hope Baltimore will be able to keep and maintain their system. Once again thanks for sharing. BTW is Bromo still in Baltimore or does it still exist?

hot_rod

great tour, thanks. A high tech look at the color of steam.
Why does the clock face show so warm, heated by the nearby steam lines?

MilanD

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Is this on districts steam or is there a boiler in the basement? I'm curiois, do you recall what the op pressure is and is this 2 pipe or 1 pipe? Just beautiful!

Gordo

@MilanD You are most welcome! This is a two pipe system. This is on district steam...please see my other Bromo video for a basement view.

Gordo

@hot rod : Those clock faces appear warm because it was a very warm sunny day. A great day to fire up an over-sized and under insulated steam system!

MilanD

@Gordo - thanks again - just watched it!! Fantastic - like a time machine!

Gordo

@Phil53 : Where to begin?

Sadly, Bromoseltzer was bought out by some corporation sometime ago and the downtown factory that the Tower was attached to was demolished in 1968.

In its place is Baltimore City's most active fire station.

The local steam utility has changed hands several times in the past several years as they try to milk it for all its worth. Most Baltimore folks are not even aware that there even is a district steam utility here.

The melting streets and steam bellowing forth from various manhole covers is just backround scenery.

They had an explosion not far from the Tower earlier this year. New Yorkers would find that grimly amusing.

H.L. Mencken said that there are two opinions of the Tower: Those that find it beautiful. And those that know better.

I find it beautiful.

BobC

I would love to read Mencken's comments on what goes on these days, it would have to be printed on asbestos.

Bob

Mark Eatherton

Great video. It show the MEAN of Mean radiant temperature...

ME

DanHolohan

Gordo, you and Steamhead are true treasures. Thanks.

newagedawn

great video, a true gem

Gordo

Thank you all for your views and comments!

Just want to reiterate a few points here:

In the video, the first main pipe you see is 4-1/2". Wrought iron (not steel). Installed in 1911.

All Steamed Up tied a steel 4" riser from the basement onto the 4-1/2" pipe in 2007.

The 4-1/2" riser starts about the 5th floor (where it used to be fed from the no-longer-existing factory). That riser expands, as it heats up, about 1.75 inches upward, inexorably, and so you can see the expansion loop in the video designed to accommodate this force.

JUGHNE

Gordo, have you used your FLIR to locate steam leaks?
I have the very basic hand gun and can see steam wafting out of a leak. From the floor about 12' up. Invisible to the naked eye.
Very slow and patience process, but there it was.
That would be a neat video.

Gordo

@JUGHNE : Not yet, but yes, if I do, I'll be sure to post it!

An interesting use for the FLIR is to find and show to the customer hidden heating pipes under the floor and in the walls.

JUGHNE

Last season while just looking a 2 pipe orifice system with no traps on most of rads, this rad was it's 60% or so heat across as intended. But the FLIR gun showed the empty trap body glowing hot. This system usually has cool condensate returning.
Going to the basement I could trace the hot/steam return pipe back to the next room that did have a failed trap and no orifice in valve.
This would have gone unnoticed on this quick walk thru without the FLIR gun.
Many uses.......not just seeing that the dog's heat signature left where he had been on the couch until I walked into the room.