Article about ConEd's Manhattan steam network in "Works In Progress."

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mattmich
mattmich Posts: 232
edited December 2025 in THE MAIN WALL

I saw this article linked by David Brooks of the New York Times.

There appears to be no paywall, and aside from some quibbles, I found it interesting and well researched.

https://worksinprogress.co/issue/steam-networks/

cheers -matt

ArthurPeabody

Comments

  • ArthurPeabody
    ArthurPeabody Posts: 46

    I just read it and logged in to recommend it.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Posts: 19,007

    They totally forgot about Latent Heat, which gives steam its remarkable heat-moving capacity.

    Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Semi-retired

    Baltimore, MD, USA

    reggibburdMad Dog_2
  • amr14534
    amr14534 Posts: 4

    Rochester NY (about 50 miles from Lockport where Holly was born) has a downtown fire protection loop throughout the center of the city called "The Holly Loop". It maintains 135-140 PSI working pressure. Still in use over 125 years now. I saw an original high pressure pump on display.

    Mad Dog_2
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Posts: 19,007
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1880268#Comment_1880268

    Baltimore once had a High Pressure firefighting system- not sure they still do.

    Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Semi-retired

    Baltimore, MD, USA

    Mad Dog_2
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Posts: 8,755

    Fantastic article and history. These men made City-Dwellers' lives exponentially better. Thank you for putting us on to it. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • jumper
    jumper Posts: 2,625

    I thought that ConEd used steam from back pressure turbines? Sometimes I try to design thermocompression steam heat. Condensate may make satisfactory make up water for cooling towers. I suspect those giant oil refineries use a form of district steam heat?

    CLamb

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