[Spaceships] Alternate System Usage Questions

weby · 05-25-2015, 04:40 PM

Ramscoops: as RogerBW said, likely at reduced speed if ramscoops actually work.

Solar Mirrors: The problem with solar panels is really that the required area to get anything comparable to the other power plants is ridiculously large and that the real energy received is so variable based on distance so really solar panels would work fine as the axillary power system for things close to stars like at earth orbit, but not for high energy systems like weapons.

As example the SM +10 major battery as beam weapon outputs 3GJ and thus you likely need a lot more than that to fire it due to inefficiencies.

Total Solar radiation at distance of 1 AU is on average 1.36 kw/m^3, so with a super science 73.5% efficiency(where normal efficient solar cell today is maybe 20%) you would have 1kw/square meter and to get 1 GW(allowing you to shoot maybe every 5-15 seconds depending n your weapon efficiency) you would need a solar panel 1 km by 1 km(SM +19)

And going to mars you would need more than double the area.

So adding solar mirrors you would thus need similar areas of mirror...

A solar mirror is likely usable as weapon.. just not at any sort of range as the focusing of such is likely optimized to do the primary job. But if you want to boil someone on your ship hull, it is likely fully possible. (Also note the relatively low energy you get compared to any weapon unless your mirror that huge thing listed above for solar panels)

Yes, a solar boiler should likely be on hull, though it is possible to build heat exchanges on the hull with connections deeper, but that would likely add extra mass compared to a on the hull system.

Force wings and such: whatever the GM chooses.

05-25-2015, 04:40 PM	#3
weby Join Date: Oct 2008	Re: [Spaceships] Alternate System Usage Questions Ramscoops: as RogerBW said, likely at reduced speed if ramscoops actually work. Solar Mirrors: The problem with solar panels is really that the required area to get anything comparable to the other power plants is ridiculously large and that the real energy received is so variable based on distance so really solar panels would work fine as the axillary power system for things close to stars like at earth orbit, but not for high energy systems like weapons. As example the SM +10 major battery as beam weapon outputs 3GJ and thus you likely need a lot more than that to fire it due to inefficiencies. Total Solar radiation at distance of 1 AU is on average 1.36 kw/m^3, so with a super science 73.5% efficiency(where normal efficient solar cell today is maybe 20%) you would have 1kw/square meter and to get 1 GW(allowing you to shoot maybe every 5-15 seconds depending n your weapon efficiency) you would need a solar panel 1 km by 1 km(SM +19) And going to mars you would need more than double the area. So adding solar mirrors you would thus need similar areas of mirror... A solar mirror is likely usable as weapon.. just not at any sort of range as the focusing of such is likely optimized to do the primary job. But if you want to boil someone on your ship hull, it is likely fully possible. (Also note the relatively low energy you get compared to any weapon unless your mirror that huge thing listed above for solar panels) Yes, a solar boiler should likely be on hull, though it is possible to build heat exchanges on the hull with connections deeper, but that would likely add extra mass compared to a on the hull system. Force wings and such: whatever the GM chooses.