New York City steam system
Encyclopedia
The New York City steam system is a district heating
system which takes steam
produced by steam generating stations and carries it under the streets of Manhattan
to heat, cool, or supply power to high rise buildings and businesses. Some New York businesses and facilities also use the steam for cleaning, climate control and disinfection.
The New York Steam Company began providing service in lower Manhattan
in 1882. Today, Consolidated Edison
operates the largest commercial steam system
in the United States. The organization within Con Edison that is responsible for the system's operation is known as Steam Operations, providing steam service to nearly 1,800 customers and serving more than 100,000 commercial and residential establishments in Manhattan from Battery Park
to 96th Street
uptown on the West side and 89th Street on the East side of Manhattan. Roughly 30 billion lbs. (just under 13.64 megatons) of steam flow through the system every year.
and Heat Recovery Steam Generation (HRSG) significantly increase the efficiency of fuel usage and thereby reduces the emission of pollutants
, such as NOx
, SO2
, CO2
, and particulate matter, and reduce the city's carbon footprint
. Approximately 30% of the ConEd steam system’s installed capacity and 50% of the annual steam generated comes from cogeneration. Con Edison is promoting the use of steam for cooling in the summer months, something that can be accomplished with the installation of absorption chillers. Such trigeneration
systems result in additional energy and pollution savings, while reducing peak electrical loads.
Clouds of condensation can sometimes be seen rising from manhole
s in Manhattan, although this is usually caused by external water being boiled by contact with the steam pipes, rather than leaks in the steam system itself.
At least 12 steam pipe explosions have occurred in New York City since 1987.
Other steam companies:
District heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
system which takes steam
Steam
Steam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air...
produced by steam generating stations and carries it under the streets of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
to heat, cool, or supply power to high rise buildings and businesses. Some New York businesses and facilities also use the steam for cleaning, climate control and disinfection.
The New York Steam Company began providing service in lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
in 1882. Today, Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
operates the largest commercial steam system
District heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
in the United States. The organization within Con Edison that is responsible for the system's operation is known as Steam Operations, providing steam service to nearly 1,800 customers and serving more than 100,000 commercial and residential establishments in Manhattan from Battery Park
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
to 96th Street
96th Street (Manhattan)
96th Street is a major two-way street in East Harlem and the Upper West Side, which is a part of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from the East River at the FDR Drive to the Henry Hudson Parkway at the Hudson River...
uptown on the West side and 89th Street on the East side of Manhattan. Roughly 30 billion lbs. (just under 13.64 megatons) of steam flow through the system every year.
Effects on the environment
CogenerationCogeneration
Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
and Heat Recovery Steam Generation (HRSG) significantly increase the efficiency of fuel usage and thereby reduces the emission of pollutants
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
, such as NOx
NOx
NOx is a generic term for the mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 . They are produced from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in the air during combustion, especially at high temperatures...
, SO2
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is released by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide unless the sulfur compounds are removed before burning the fuel...
, CO2
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
, and particulate matter, and reduce the city's carbon footprint
Carbon footprint
A carbon footprint has historically been defined as "the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.". However, calculating a carbon footprint which conforms to this definition is often impracticable due to the large amount of data required, which is...
. Approximately 30% of the ConEd steam system’s installed capacity and 50% of the annual steam generated comes from cogeneration. Con Edison is promoting the use of steam for cooling in the summer months, something that can be accomplished with the installation of absorption chillers. Such trigeneration
Trigeneration
Trigeneration, also called CCHP , refers to the simultaneous generation of electricity, useful heating and useful cooling from the same original heat source such as fuel or solar energy...
systems result in additional energy and pollution savings, while reducing peak electrical loads.
Clouds of condensation can sometimes be seen rising from manhole
Manhole
A manhole is an opening used to gain access to sewers or other underground structures, usually for maintenance.Manhole may also refer to:* Manhole , a metal band from Los Angeles* The Manhole, a computer game...
s in Manhattan, although this is usually caused by external water being boiled by contact with the steam pipes, rather than leaks in the steam system itself.
At least 12 steam pipe explosions have occurred in New York City since 1987.
Plants
- 74th Street Station (at FDR Drive) 40.767727°N 73.951059°W
- Ravenswood StationBig AllisBig Allis, formally known as Ravenswood No. 3, is a giant electric power generator originally commissioned by Consolidated Edison Company and built by the Allis-Chalmers Corporation in 1965...
(Vernon Blvd., QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
) 40.759192°N 73.945295°W - 60th Street Station (at York Ave.) 40.758705°N 73.959109°W
- 59th Street Station (at 11th Ave.) 40.771605°N 73.991097°W
- East River Station (14th St. and FDR) (cogenerationCogenerationCogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
) 40.727932°N 73.973729°W - Hudson Avenue Station (at John St. BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
) 40.704306°N 73.980212°W - BNYCP Plant (Brooklyn Navy YardBrooklyn Navy YardThe United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
Cogeneration Partners) (cogenerationCogenerationCogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
) 40.699314°N 73.976086°W
See also
- CogenerationCogenerationCogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
- District heatingDistrict heatingDistrict heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
- 2007 New York City steam explosion2007 New York City steam explosionThe July 18, 2007 New York City steam explosion sent a geyser of hot steam up from beneath a busy intersection, with a 40-story-high shower of mud and flying debris raining down on the crowded streets of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States.It was caused by the failure of a...
Other steam companies:
- American District Steam Company
- Boston Heating Company
- Compagnie Parisienne de Chauffage Urbain