Time Lapse Infrared Video Of Steam Moving Through A Radiator In A Counter-Intuitive Way

Gordo

For your viewing pleasure, wherewith is presented a time lapse infrared video (6 min. compressed) of a hot water type radiator heating up where the steam shoots along the bottom tappings first and shuts off the vent (not visible).
At the last few seconds of the video, the customer's hands can be seen touching where the vent is and verifying that the steam has shut the hot vent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZLfkKD0fM4

Hap_Hazzard

Great video, but I'm not sure what's counter-intuitive about it. Aside from the 4th and 5th sections being slow to heat, it looks about like I'd expect.

ethicalpaul

I would guess that the counter-intuitive part might be the idea (common in people's minds) that "steam rises" which, all things being equal it definitely does--however steam rising is trumped by steam (and air) going to low pressure every time. And the low pressure path was clearly along the bottom.

That's how I read his meaning.

And to correct myself a little bit...it's so easy to speak imprecisely! In open air steam doesn't really rise much. It gives up its heat to the air surrounding it, turns to condensation (becoming visible) and then that warmed air is what rises, taking the condensation with it. I'm just thinking out loud here to remind myself

Precaud

I knew steam was reasonable... but intuitive? That's a new one

Hap_Hazzard

If your intuition is informed by basic Newtonian mechanics, is it still intuition?

ethicalpaul

I would say there are lots of things in basic mechanics that many people, including people who work with them every day, don't consider intuitive.

Hap_Hazzard

To me things are counter-intuitive if they go against your understanding of how the world works. As your understanding increases over time, fewer things are counter-intuitive. The only things that are persistently conter-intuitive are paradoxical things you just can't get your head around no matter how hard you try.

ethicalpaul

Of course, @Hap_Hazzard, because you are a rare logical person!

Intplm.

@Gordo Nice vid. Thanks for sharing.

And hey ! The infrared shows that you look pretty hot too 👀


(Is that what's counter intuitive?)🙂

PRR

Looks just like most of our radiators felt. Steam heats the first section, the top header, then the bottom header. Steam then rises in each section, but all that cold iron condenses the steam and it did not quickly rise all the way up. Also it takes time for heat to come through the iron. You can have internal steam all the way to the vent (shut-off) and the inside of the casting is 212 but the outside doesn't warm right away.

Still a good movie. Better than most of YouTube.