Ship Power Systems & Fuel

[Mongoose Si]

I've never really thought about this until now, but what sort of power systems and fuel do ships in B5 use? I know that Quantium-40 is used for hyperspace, but other than that I don not recall any mention of how they power their engines, weapons, life support etc.

I would guess different races would use different tech, but I'm just after any info at all. Does anyone have any ideas about this?

 

[Valarian]

I'd assume Fusion power and Hydrogen as the fuel source for Earth Alliance and other comparable technologies. The Minbari and Centauri use gravitational drives, so there is no fuel source for movement other than the gravity in the universe. They'd still need a small power plant for life support, heating and lighting. You could assume advanced fusion power, or even antimatter. It's really just flavour.

 

[pasuuli]

I'd assume Fusion power and Hydrogen as the fuel source for Earth Alliance and other comparable technologies. The Minbari and Centauri use gravitational drives, so there is no fuel source for movement other than the gravity in the universe. They'd still need a small power plant for life support, heating and lighting. You could assume advanced fusion power, or even antimatter. It's really just flavour.

As Valarian said. I think you can't go wrong with good old-fashioned fusion power... well unless you use Traveller's Power Plants as good old-fashioned fusion power.

I suspect that power in B5 is not as fuel-dependent (is that the right word?) as in Traveller.

 

[Greg Smith]

According to the Primus deckplans there are two huge fusion reactors connected to the gravity drive.

 

[Mongoose Si]

So fusion power it is then, thanks for the info

I suspect that power in B5 is not as fuel-dependent (is that the right word?) as in Traveller.

I agree, but they do definately need fueling. I do remember a couple of references, one in In the Beginning and/or Atonement when the Grey Council mention about secret refueling stops on their way to Z'ha'dum. And in Rumours, Bargains & Lies where Lenier mentions fuel systems.

Any ideas what the fuel would be? I have no idea what fuel is needed for a fusion reactor

 

[Greg Smith]

Hydrogen isotopes.

 

[Mouth of Sauron]

I've never really thought about this until now, but what sort of power systems and fuel do ships in B5 use? I know that Quantium-40 is used for hyperspace, but other than that I don not recall any mention of how they power their engines, weapons, life support etc.

I think Quantium-40 is used to build jump engines and jump gates, not as a fuel.

 

[B_Steele]

I think Quantium-40 is used to build jump engines and jump gates, not as a fuel.

That is right. Q-40 is used to build jump drives and gates, but the material degrades rapidly with use and a good supply of Q-40 must be on hand to repair problems and patch abrasions and such. It is why it became the most expensive material in the galaxy after jump travel became the norm - it was a necessary commodity.

-Bry

 

[pasuuli]

I suspect that power in B5 is not as fuel-dependent (is that the right word?) as in Traveller.

I agree, but they do definately need fueling. I do remember a couple of references, one in In the Beginning and/or Atonement when the Grey Council mention about secret refueling stops on their way to Z'ha'dum. And in Rumours, Bargains & Lies where Lenier mentions fuel systems.

Oh, OK then. Well, given that the universe is parcelled up into a dozen or more polities comprised of a (relatively) small number of systems each, it only makes sense that these ships will carry enough fuel for a month, two months, three...

Alternately I suppose they could just "burn" fuel more slowly than Traveller ships. So "ten tons per week" would become "ten tons per year".

 

[Valarian]

How much fuel can a ship that moves "at the speed of plot" use?
The fuel will only run out if the story says that it's required.

 

[pasuuli]

How much fuel can a ship that moves "at the speed of plot" use?
The fuel will only run out if the story says that it's required.

Exactly... difficult to model, for sure.

 

[Kizarvexis]

Any ideas what the fuel would be? I have no idea what fuel is needed for a fusion reactor

I think Deuterium-Hydrogen fusion is what we are working on in real life. I know that some stars go supernova because they can not fuse Iron, since it takes more energy to fuse it than you get back from the fusion.

Kizarvexis

 

[Mouth of Sauron]

I think Quantium-40 is used to build jump engines and jump gates, not as a fuel.

That is right. Q-40 is used to build jump drives and gates, but the material degrades rapidly with use and a good supply of Q-40 must be on hand to repair problems and patch abrasions and such. It is why it became the most expensive material in the galaxy after jump travel became the norm - it was a necessary commodity.

-Bry

Hey, I got it right! I didn't know it degraded and needed to be repaired though, cool.

 

[koranith]

From what I've gathered from the 1st Ed books.
Earthforce (and most of the younger races) ships use fusion reactors for power but have an ionic drive system (most likely powered by the waste or byproduct from the hydrogen fusion reators).
Vree use anti-matter for power and maybe drive system.
Minbari use gravic engines for power and drive systems.
Vorlons used bioreactors for power and had a telekensis drive.
Shadows used bioreactors for power and a hyperspace related drive system.