MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Do geothermal power plants exist in Mongoose rules? If so, where? Please and thank you.
Geothermal power?
- Thread starter MasterGwydion
- Start date
Arkathan
Emperor Mongoose
The theoretical maximum efficiency of a steam plant is 40%. TL 6 fission plants are steam plants. The current maximum efficiency of geothermal plants is 20.7%. The norm is 10-17%. This is due to numerous losses and the lower pressure of the steam. Rocks don't do well with the pressure of a constant stream of superheated steam at 1600F running through them 24/7.
From this, we can extrapolate from the HG fission plant that produces 8 power per ton that a geothermal installation would generate between 2 and 4 power per ton (so 3). This does not include the borehole to reach the heat source, which can be up to two miles deep. You can either use water pumped into the bore, removed as steam, and pumped back in, or use the water in the reservoir to heat a secondary fluid, run through separate piping.
These are high install cost, low operational cost installations. However, modern cost comparisons for construction are similar to a coal fired plant, which means you should be able to use the Chemical engine price per ton. Give them the ease of repair trait to show the reduced maintenance costs, although for NPC base purposes, that becomes hand-wavium.
Naturally, You can use tech modifications to improve the power generation, as well.
Oh yeah, and some installations are placed directly over geysers. But now you are dependent upon the cycle of the geyser unless you pump more water into the reservoir to maintain a steady output.
From this, we can extrapolate from the HG fission plant that produces 8 power per ton that a geothermal installation would generate between 2 and 4 power per ton (so 3). This does not include the borehole to reach the heat source, which can be up to two miles deep. You can either use water pumped into the bore, removed as steam, and pumped back in, or use the water in the reservoir to heat a secondary fluid, run through separate piping.
These are high install cost, low operational cost installations. However, modern cost comparisons for construction are similar to a coal fired plant, which means you should be able to use the Chemical engine price per ton. Give them the ease of repair trait to show the reduced maintenance costs, although for NPC base purposes, that becomes hand-wavium.
Naturally, You can use tech modifications to improve the power generation, as well.
Oh yeah, and some installations are placed directly over geysers. But now you are dependent upon the cycle of the geyser unless you pump more water into the reservoir to maintain a steady output.
Last edited:
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Sure.
Probably easier to locate ideal locations to drill down, and material science might have better solutions to more efficiently utilize the energy.
They're certainly used for planetary defence facilities.
Probably easier to locate ideal locations to drill down, and material science might have better solutions to more efficiently utilize the energy.
They're certainly used for planetary defence facilities.
