[Ultra-Tech] HEDM batteries and explosives

Agemegos · 02-19-2019, 06:41 PM

Spaceships presents as a possible TL9 technology "HEDM chemical" rockets, using "high energy-density materials such as metallic hydrogen or metastable helium for fuel". The fuel tanks of HEDM rocket fuel are "volatile systems", that is they may explode if violently damaged.

The delta-vee that HEDM rocket fuels provide suggests that they contain at least eleven times as much energy as a like mass of ordinary chemical rocket fuels such as liquid oxygen + liquid hydrogen. And they are explosive….

Now the useful relative effectiveness factor of an explosive depends on more than just energy density. But energy density does establish a limit.

So consider a TL9 or TL10 setting that is using HEDM chemical rockets. Or one that has has abandoned HEDM rockets in favour of fission or fusion propulsion but doesn't want to use nuclear explosives in quarrying, demolitions, and tactical weapons. What sort of REF might the explosives have that are based on the same sort of chemistry as HEDM rocket fuel?

Also, what about batteries? Is HEDM chemistry a promising source of controllable [electric] power for high-current devices such as laser weapons? Is it at all possible that such batteries might be rechargeable?

02-19-2019, 06:41 PM	#1
Agemegos Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oz	[Ultra-Tech] HEDM batteries and explosives Spaceships presents as a possible TL9 technology "HEDM chemical" rockets, using "high energy-density materials such as metallic hydrogen or metastable helium for fuel". The fuel tanks of HEDM rocket fuel are "volatile systems", that is they may explode if violently damaged. The delta-vee that HEDM rocket fuels provide suggests that they contain at least eleven times as much energy as a like mass of ordinary chemical rocket fuels such as liquid oxygen + liquid hydrogen. And they are explosive…. Now the useful relative effectiveness factor of an explosive depends on more than just energy density. But energy density does establish a limit. So consider a TL9 or TL10 setting that is using HEDM chemical rockets. Or one that has has abandoned HEDM rockets in favour of fission or fusion propulsion but doesn't want to use nuclear explosives in quarrying, demolitions, and tactical weapons. What sort of REF might the explosives have that are based on the same sort of chemistry as HEDM rocket fuel? Also, what about batteries? Is HEDM chemistry a promising source of controllable [electric] power for high-current devices such as laser weapons? Is it at all possible that such batteries might be rechargeable? __________________ Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat.