famed steam system
Drones Are Now Inspecting NYC's Famed Steam System
The steam that keeps New Yorkers warm through the winter rolls through a labyrinth of pipes and tubes that is a nightmare to inspect. About eight times a year, Con Edison engineers don protective gear and crawl through the boilers that keep the largest steam system in the world running, to ensure everything is tip-top. You shouldn't have a fear of heights or enclosed spaces," says senior engineer Seth Flash. Beyond claustrophobia, boilers are dangerous. Ten stories high and capable of producing 1.2 million pounds of steam an hour, they feature components so tall that engineers erect scaffolding to get up close.