A water tower is up in the air. How do they keep the water from freezing in the winter? I'm guessing there is some sort of heater up there....
2006-11-15 15:47:21 · 9 answers · asked by kansas_city_phunk 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Nuke66 does not have the answer entirely right.
1. It would not take months to freeze up a water tank ! Try to live in British columbia and you will see.
2. If the top layer freezes entirely instead of providing insulation it will jam the water from flowing in the pipes below it. Ever tried to suck liquid through a straw and quickly close the top of the straw with your thumb? Even though there is liquid in the straw it never falls down because the air never gets in to displace the liquid from the straw.
3. Even though water keeps flowing through the water tank and keeps the pipe somewhat from freezing - the pipes are still insulated so that the water flow is never compromised.
The answer is: Water tanks are highly insulated and there are devices installed which stirs water occasionally to prevent from freezing in extreme situations.
2006-11-15 17:03:25 · answer #1 · answered by MrBombastic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water in the towers usually doesn't freeze for two reasons, first is the quantity of water. This means it takes a lot of cooling to drop it's temperature to the freezing point. Second is that they use water out of the tower, and replace it with fresh water. The fresh water is usually much warmer then the outside temperature, at least 68 degrees, so it add some heat back to the tower.
2006-11-16 02:20:31 · answer #2 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water in a water tower is usually being pumped in from somewhere else, like the water works near a water source such as a lake or river. It is filtered, chlorinated and pumped through pipes in the ground that are buried under the frost line. Once you get below the frost line the temperature is always about 55 degrees, this warms up the water. Since the water in a town is constantly being used, new "warm" water is always entering the tower. This keeps it from ever freezing.
2006-11-15 17:37:25 · answer #3 · answered by waldon l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is often adequate quantity of water in those tanks that freezing could be uncommon. as long as there's a call for for the water, the point in the tank will variety by way of fact the supply pump(s) is cycled on and stale. the hot water getting into the tank would be warmer. If the situations are extreme and the projected call for is small, like at night, a call for could nicely be created via the applying. If the situations are projected to be extreme and prolonged, the tank ought to be drained.
2016-10-22 04:25:19 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is soooo much water up there that all of it freezing will take months atleast
the top layer will freeze first and provide insulation for the liquid part below
also, since water is always flowing through the pipes, it doesnt get time to freeze in there
2006-11-15 15:56:27 · answer #5 · answered by nukeu666 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gravity
2006-11-15 15:55:27 · answer #6 · answered by unnoneuser 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the sheer mass of water prevents it from being frozen. That's a lot of water and it's being circulated. Constantly withdrawn and replenished.
2006-11-15 15:58:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
circulation, i think
a number of awnsers are right
but we dont have water towers in BC
we have too many lakes
2006-11-15 17:56:02 · answer #8 · answered by tim s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"nukeu666" has the answer dead-on.
2006-11-15 15:57:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋