Quote:
Originally Posted by munin
A TL5 Steam Engine (p. HT14) requires 250 lbs./hr. of wood and 400 lbs./hr. of water (and some amount of oxidizer without access to an atmosphere) for an 8,000-lb. engine. That implies that a Fuel Tank system would run a Steam Engine system for no more than 12 hours (depending on how much mass of oxidizer is required).
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† Charcoal might double that endurance (p. LT27), and coal might multiply it by four (p. HT14).
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Old thread, but I recently got re-interested in making my just this side of reality dirigible...
You left out one important thing. What SM ship would make an 8000 lb engine roughly one system using Spaceships?
Using 650 lbs per hour for 12 hours gives 7800 lbs which is between SM 5 and SM 6 fuel tanks of 3000 lbs and 10,000 lbs respectively.
Assuming charcoal has double the energy density of wood doesn't affect the need for water, so it wouldn't double the endurance.