Superheated steam

Superheated steam is steam at a temperature higher than its vaporization (boiling) point at the absolute pressure where the temperature is measured.

The steam can therefore cool (lose internal energy) by some amount, resulting in a lowering of its temperature without changing state (i.e., condensing) from a gas, to a mixture of saturated vapor and liquid. If saturated steam (a mixture of both gas and saturated vapor) is heated at constant pressure, its temperature will also remain constant as the vapor quality (think dryness, or percent saturated vapor) increases towards 100%, and becomes dry (i.e., no saturated liquid) saturated steam. Continued heat input will then "super" heat the dry saturated steam. This will occur if saturated steam contacts a surface with a higher temperature.

Superheated steam and liquid water cannot coexist under thermodynamic equilibrium, as any additional heat simply evaporates more water and the steam will become saturated steam. However this restriction may be violated temporarily in dynamic (non-equilibrium) situations. To produce superheated steam in a power plant or for processes (such as drying paper) the saturated steam drawn from a boiler is passed through a separate heating device (a superheater) which transfers additional heat to the steam by contact or by radiation.

Imagination Station

Imagination Station (formerly the Center of Science and Industry (COSI)) is a non-profit, hands-on science museum located on the riverfront in downtown Toledo, Ohio. The facility has over 300 exhibits for "children of all ages."

After tax levies failed in 2006 and 2007, COSI closed its doors to the public on the last day of 2007 due to lack of funding. In 2008, voters approved an operating levy to reopen the facility using The Toledo Science Center as its interim name. The Imagination Station opened on 10 October 2009.

History

In 1984, the Portside Festival Marketplace shopping mall opened along the Maumee River, on the site of the former Tiedtke's department store, with the hope of revitalizing downtown Toledo. In 1990, the marketplace closed, leaving a vacant 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m²) modern facility. A committee, appointed by the mayor, was charged with finding the best use for the site. Researching options, committee members heard repeatedly the need for an educational family attraction. As a result, COSI Columbus was approached regarding the development of a similar institution in Toledo. Together, a structure was developed making COSI Toledo an independent, not-for-profit organization with a board of trustees from Northwest Ohio, while taking advantage of the experience and resources of COSI Columbus.