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Making Solar Generators viable. (Beta) |
Sandals Fleet Admiral Agents
Joined: January 21, 2002 Posts: 2001 From: Redmond,WA,USA
| Posted: 2003-11-13 00:34  
Hmmm....
Basic idea: Solar generators have an "energy" level, similar to DBs,Shields, etc.
When in sunlight, this energy level goes up slowly. When in darkness, the solar generators produces energy at 1/2 the rate as it does in sunlight but the energy level goes down. The rates are exactly the same. So a solar gen starting at 0% when it enters sunlight will charge up to X %. WHen it exits sunlight, it will begin discharging, and should reach approximately zero% exactlt when it reenters sunlight. The energy battery would be huge - enough so that it oculd only ever charge up to 100% on the very largest planets.
A solar generator at 0% power will generate no juice.
Solar generators will still be better than Fusion gens when distributed equally around a planet on a sunny world. (Not sure - it might require a small hike in solar generator efficiency). To simplify, outflow would always be either 100% or 50% of the possible for that distance from the equator. The other angle to the sun doesnt matter - it's always either in a state of "in sun" or "not in sun". The extra power generated based on angle is assumed to always go into the energy battery.
Implications:
Solar generators would need to be distributed around a planet to maintain a fairly even flow of power. Efficiency would probably have to be boosted to make them worthwhile. They are more vulnerable to attacks than Fusion generators are but allow more structures to be devoted towards other purposes. As always it depends on distance from the sun as to which is "better". The optimal position will nearly always be equidistant around the equator.
Thoughts? Any flaws that I've missed?
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Tiggy Midshipman Terra Squadron
Joined: May 30, 2003 Posts: 282 From: Western Australia
| Posted: 2003-11-13 05:23  
Here's a thought I've been having. Why do we need solar? Why not another form of power? UGTO Proton? KLuth Anti-Matter Or Bio? ICC Fusion?
Then, the basic plants can be replaced with steam. (You all know that all powerplants these days are steam.)
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ScottyderEchte Fleet Admiral Pitch Black
Joined: February 15, 2002 Posts: 657 From: Nuernberg, Germany
| Posted: 2003-11-13 05:51  
Then the Kluth could use Homans as Bio fuel
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Jim Starluck Marshal Templar Knights
Joined: October 22, 2001 Posts: 2232 From: Cincinnati, OH
| Posted: 2003-11-13 06:31  
I agree with Tiggy...I've always thought Fusion Generators should be better than Solars.
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DOM700 [-IMO-] Fleet Admiral
Joined: July 26, 2001 Posts: 3175 From: Eckental, Germany, Sol-System
| Posted: 2003-11-13 09:48  
@Jimmy Fusion reactors should use something for the fusion, well, they dont, maybe they should drastically use hydrogen and produce some other important resources (of your choice), like metals, heavy metals, urdanium, whatever, this should go along with a lower power production to make solar gens be a chose again
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Axianda The Royal Fleet Admiral Terra Squadron
Joined: November 20, 2001 Posts: 4273 From: Axianda
| Posted: 2003-11-13 13:55  
I posted an idea about this a while ago.
it was about letting planets have a power storage just like a ship....
the generators were needed to keep it stocked but when the planet came alive * attack * the planet would run out of power sooner or later * prolly later *
cutting generators would mean sooner thus reducing the planets abilety to recharge * black outs *
read here for more on my first idea maybe it can help
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Antdizzle
Joined: February 07, 2003 Posts: 860
| Posted: 2003-11-13 14:18  
maybe a building called "battery" or something that way its not autmatic....
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