[Spaceships] Alternate System Usage Questions

[DaltonS]

Originally Posted by weby

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...

1. Does that mean each solar mirror system reflecting on a solar panel array provides the same energy as another solar panel? (Mirrors are cheaper than solar panels, after all.)
2. Is there a maximum power limit that a solar panel array can handle without damage?
3. Since both are “exposed systems”, could they be made retractable like exposed radiator panels (perhaps by doubling the cost)?

Dalton “It seemed like a bright idea at the time” Spence