For you Steam Heads

Sweet!

Wonder if they use the exhaust steam to heat the buildings? 

Pratt Institute power plant

Another interesting steam installation in Brooklyn NY. This steam powered DC plant was originally built in 1887 and was still in daily use to generate the college power until just a few years ago. When I first visited in the late 1970's it was used to co-generate most of the campus  electric power in winter, with the exhaust steam used to heat the buildings.



http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/03/steam_whistles_pratt_inst.html



[url=http://www.asme.org/Communities/History/Landmarks/Pratt_Institute_Power_Plant.cfm]http://www.asme.org/Communities/History/Landmarks/Pratt_Institute_Power_Plant.cfm



We think of co-generation as a modern innovation, but it really goes back to the dawn of the electrical age. This installation was way ahead of its time when first built more than 100 years ago!



They stopped generating a few years ago when commercial DC power became unavailable from the local utility for backup and summer use, and they converted the remaining DC loads to utility supplied AC.



If you are ever in the Brooklyn NY area, it is well worth the time to visit. The plant is located in the lobby of one of the oldest campus buildings, with an open observation deck around the machinery. The plant engineer Conrad Milster is a friendly guy, and if he is there and not busy will give you a close up tour of the equipment.



http://www.limws.org/Thumbnail-folders/Pratt/page1.html