Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Chemical reactions.
You stuff radioactive materials together, just enough to produce heat.
You stuff radioactive materials together, just enough to produce heat.
TL-16 Aslan world?
- Thread starter MasterGwydion
- Start date
It's turning that heat into usable power that's the trick.
In reality, Traveller likely overstates the power output of hydrogen fusion plants and undersells solar photovoltaic, which has direct current as an immediate output without needing to boil water and turn turbines or such.
But at least with solar or fission we can examine working examples. You can discuss how many homes a fission plant can power... but any home can easily power itself from its own share of rooftop solar, while providing excess to the grid. It's not without issues - mostly to do with managing peak production during the day - but those aren't insoluble. Batteries (including EVs), pumped hydro, arranging peak use of the grid to line up with peak output are all done now. It's mostly a matter of grid management.
In reality, Traveller likely overstates the power output of hydrogen fusion plants and undersells solar photovoltaic, which has direct current as an immediate output without needing to boil water and turn turbines or such.
But at least with solar or fission we can examine working examples. You can discuss how many homes a fission plant can power... but any home can easily power itself from its own share of rooftop solar, while providing excess to the grid. It's not without issues - mostly to do with managing peak production during the day - but those aren't insoluble. Batteries (including EVs), pumped hydro, arranging peak use of the grid to line up with peak output are all done now. It's mostly a matter of grid management.
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MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Yeah, but rooftop solar on an arcology? A lot less roof and a lot more power usage.
You can put panels on exterior walls too. It's not just the roofing.
Potentially roads and walkways can be collectors.
Most planets don't have or need arcologies, but sure A large percentage of people might live in them. You won't use solar in lots of specific circumstances.
Conversely, it's a lot more attractive on an asteroid - just build solar collector towers out in all directions and use that unlimited area surrounding the rock as much as the population needs. When the sun is always shining (a feature of being in space) peak power management is simpler. Removing the need to gather and process fuel is a solid reason to consider solar.
Potentially roads and walkways can be collectors.
Most planets don't have or need arcologies, but sure A large percentage of people might live in them. You won't use solar in lots of specific circumstances.
Conversely, it's a lot more attractive on an asteroid - just build solar collector towers out in all directions and use that unlimited area surrounding the rock as much as the population needs. When the sun is always shining (a feature of being in space) peak power management is simpler. Removing the need to gather and process fuel is a solid reason to consider solar.
boggo2300
Cosmic Mongoose
don't forget my tethered solar farms for asteroid habitats! (I've already written half an adventure based on them
)MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Like I said, solar works for the small stuff.
You don't need to process fuel for fusion. Unrefined fuel works just fine. Go stick the hose in the river.
Also, depends where the asteroid is. Outer Region solar collectors would be next to useless.
