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Old 01-02-2018, 07:57 PM   #37
Rupert
 
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
Default Re: Accumulators: A concept for GURPS Spaceships

Comparing an aircraft engine power/weight ratio with modern battery storage capacities, and considering how Spaceships systems are put together (IC engine systems include some fuel), I get an back-of-the-envelope result of 20-30 minutes of output from modern batteries at one power point (i.e. they can produce the same output as an IC engine+ hours of fuel for 20-30 minutes). If one assumes a heavier IC engine (and given aircraft engines operate in an environment that's easy to dump heat in, this is reasonable) and better batteries, an hour might be reasonable or perhaps two power points for 20 minutes (the longest Spaceships combat turn). Higher TLs would increase duration, not output, to be consistent with the way other power plants work.

Assuming a TL^ 'super battery' with more capacity is the logical way around this fairly small capacity. I expect that to fill the role the OP wants they'd have high output rather than high duration.
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