Closed Cycle Hydrogen Fuel Cell Question

[DaltonS]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

That's an "artifact" of the Spaceships' rules. Factories produce at a far more than realistic rate, while the sub-optimal energy sources, like fuel cells, produce at a far more than realistic rate. Combining the two always results in obvious physics violations.

That's what makes them Murphy's Rules!

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Fuel cells produce on the order of 1/10th what the real plants should, and solar should produce around 1/100th.
Factories of all types should use rules like the 1/24 rate suggested in one or two supplements to keep from slamming out mega projects in absurdly short time frames.

Using these rules, a TL7 Fuel Cell should work for 18 minutes on internal fuel or 72 minutes per tank (with doubled efficiency for each of the next three TLs), and solar panels would be completely impractical for powering high energy systems. Employing the Slower Industrial Systems Design Switch (SS7 p.23), a Chemical Refinery could fill a fuel tank in 72-80 hours. (This by itself could keep fuel production behind standard fuel cell consumption until TL10!)

Note: Closed Cycle tanks for fuel cells should cost twice as much as regular fuel tanks, as they'd represent separate tanks for the Hydrogen-Oxygen fuel and the water produced. (Mass would remain the same, as one would empty as the other filled.)

Dalton “BTW, what is a Power Point in kw/ton of ship?” Spence