Does have to be a Fusion Plant?

[infojunky]

Considering the high fuel usage in CT book2 , a High efficiency Fuel cell makes as much sense as a "Fusion" plant...

 

[atpollard]

Doesn’t a fuel cell need O2?

 

[kilemall]

How Fuel Cells Are Used in Space Travel - Fuelcellsworks

Space agencies are no stranger to hydrogen as a fuel or propellant. The Centaur and Apollo launches and even the space shuttle relied on liquid hydrogen to carr...

fuelcellsworks.com

 

[AnotherDilbert]

JTAS#24, p35, "Jumpspace":
REQUIRED ITEMS
An operating jump drive requires several basic components which, when operating together, make jump possible.
Power Source: Jump uses large amounts of energy to rip open the barriers between normal space and jump space. Normally, only a fusion power plant can supply this energy. Some alternate systems make use of solar power generators (which operate much more slowly), or anti-matter power systems (rare and very high-tech).

Interplanetary craft can use fuel cells, but a chemical power plant would presumably use a lot more fuel than a nuclear power plant.

 

[Spinward Flow]

a chemical power plant would presumably use a lot more fuel than a nuclear power plant.

The other problem is power density.

Sure, you can use fuel cells for the job ... but what kind of tonnage cost (fuel, oxidizer plus power plant) are you looking at per 1EP=250MW if you go chemical power instead of fusion power?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Sure, you can use fuel cells for the job ... but what kind of tonnage cost (fuel, oxidizer plus power plant) are you looking at per 1EP=250MW if you go chemical power instead of fusion power?

FF&S has stats, measuring fuel in m³ per year for fusion and m³ per hour for fuel cells...

 

[infojunky]

Doesn’t a fuel cell need O2?

Kinda, well a oxidizer, But considering the waste product I would stipulate that the oxidizer is more easily recoverable than the hydrogen...

 

[infojunky]

Ok guys to be clear in CT sans Striker, "fusion" plants in things like ATVs use water as fuel.

But the question is definitional in that either "fuel cell" or "fusion plant" either using the same amount of hydrogen the result is the same.

Note High efficacy Fuel Cells run HOT.

 

[whulorigan]

Kinda, well a oxidizer, But considering the waste product I would stipulate that the oxidizer is more easily recoverable than the hydrogen...

So if you are running an H₂ / O₂ reaction producing H₂O:

1. Use the H₂O product as a potable or other non-potable water resource aboard the craft
2. Use deployed solar panels (or other external electricity source post-jump) to electrolyze the H₂O product and either:
   • Produce Cabin O₂ for the crew and recover the H₂ to the reactant tank;
   • Recover both the H₂ and O₂ in a closed cycle and return them to the reactant tanks

 

[Baroun Tardis]

If the solar panels produce enough juice to run the closed cycle... why not just use the solar panels and skip all the rest?

I could see another use case though:

• H2 and O2 tanks for fuel and oxydizer
• Run it through the fuel cell
• Fuel cell gets very hot...
• Use water as coolant, producing steam
• Use the steam for a long-running, low thrust rocket while also dumping the heat.

 

[whulorigan]

If the solar panels produce enough juice to run the closed cycle... why not just use the solar panels and skip all the rest?

Solar panels won't work in Jump space, or work well at certain low-light intensity levels (or in a planetary shadow).

I could see another use case though:

• H2 and O2 tanks for fuel and oxydizer
• Run it through the fuel cell
• Fuel cell gets very hot...
• Use water as coolant, producing steam
• Use the steam for a long-running, low thrust rocket while also dumping the heat.

Good idea for an auxiliary thrust motor, if nothing else.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Use the steam for a long-running, low thrust rocket while also dumping the heat.

HEPlaSTEAMR !!

 

[Jame]

I always assumed that plant fuel use got more efficient after TL 8. So TL 10 fusion would be good for a while.

 

[Baroun Tardis]

Solar panels won't work in Jump space, or work well at certain low-light intensity levels (or in a planetary shadow).

Ya know, when you think about how a solar->fuel cell->jump->recharge cycle would work, that's starting to sound like the Annic Nova
And the T5 Collector rules

 

[Spinward Flow]

Ya know, when you think about how a solar->fuel cell->jump->recharge cycle would work, that's starting to sound like the Annic Nova
And the T5 Collector rules

You don't say ...