Energy and conversions etc etc

[Cheith]

Originally Posted by OranjeJus

This is quite similar to what I'm going to do and Cheith has saved me the effort of describing the process (although it is Thermal Generators that give the 30k EU.) It might not be the most efficient, but it is an interesting stepping stone before hitting up something for huge power generation, which I'm developing a plan for.


- OJ

Indeed it is Thermal Generators, well spotted.

One thing to note is that you can sometimes get glitches with feeding the magma generator cobble causing the conduits feeding the generator it to overload and explode. Ideally this would not happen, but I have seen it happening more often with one of my two power rooms.

I think it is a timing issue and just need to spend time to fix it (probably a gold transport pipe would do it, it only happens on start-up).
Cheith.

[OranjeJus]

Originally Posted by Cheith

I think it is a timing issue and just need to spend time to fix it (probably a gold transport pipe would do it, it only happens on start-up).
Cheith.

If you're using BC pips, are you using gates to control the rate of the feed? Perhaps using the redpower stuff to regulate the supply also? I need to be able to get stable on server before I can start setting it up myself so thanks for the heads up in advance of a possible issue.

By the way, how many Thermal generators can 1 crucible supply?


- OJ

[Irimar]

Originally Posted by Cheith

Indeed it is Thermal Generators, well spotted.

One thing to note is that you can sometimes get glitches with feeding the magma generator cobble causing the conduits feeding the generator it to overload and explode. Ideally this would not happen, but I have seen it happening more often with one of my two power rooms.

I think it is a timing issue and just need to spend time to fix it (probably a gold transport pipe would do it, it only happens on start-up).
Cheith.

Use liquiduct. It doesn't blow up.

[Cheith]

I only use one thermal generator per magma generator. You might be able to run 2 magma into one, not sure. The timing cycle may be a little short.

Thanks for the info on liquiduct, etc, and I may well look at the other pipes. The real issue is that the pipe supplying power crosses a chunk boundary and every so often the pipe on the far side of the chunk just stops accepting power causing it to back up and blow the pipes (I only figured this out last night).

The only issue with the redpower pipes is I use gates to auto shut off the combustion engines if they overheat which sit on those power pipes. I guess, though, I can probably figure something else out if the gates will not sit on redpower pipes.

Is liquiduct gate compatible?
Cheith.

[Irimar]

Liquiduct isn't gate compatible, but it just won't take liquid if there's nowhere to put it. Similarly, redstone energy conduit transfers MJ like conductive pipe, but cannot be overloaded.

[OranjeJus]

Originally Posted by Cheith

The only issue with the redpower pipes is I use gates to auto shut off the combustion engines if they overheat which sit on those power pipes. I guess, though, I can probably figure something else out if the gates will not sit on redpower pipes.

That's easy =)

Just put a single piece of structure pipe next to the engine and put the gate on that (or if you're getting the signal from elsewhere and need wires, run a line of structure pipes.) I do this a lot when my stuff isn't connected to BC pipes (like an engine attached directly to a machine with no power pipe at all for example.)

Structure Pipes - Minecraft buildcraft Wiki


- OJ

[white_bear_84]

Originally Posted by OranjeJus

This is quite similar to what I'm going to do and Cheith has saved me the effort of describing the process (although it is Thermal Generators that give the 30k EU.) It might not be the most efficient, but it is an interesting stepping stone before hitting up something for huge power generation, which I'm developing a plan for.
- OJ

Same. I have a natural cave which is just under my plot that has a wad of lava.. ..its a resource that is there so i might as well use it!

So far i have my geothermal generators and a pump.. ..i just need to get working on my pipes and get my magma crucible built...

[Cheith]

Originally Posted by OranjeJus

That's easy =)

Just put a single piece of structure pipe next to the engine and put the gate on that (or if you're getting the signal from elsewhere and need wires, run a line of structure pipes.) I do this a lot when my stuff isn't connected to BC pipes (like an engine attached directly to a machine with no power pipe at all for example.)

Structure Pipes - Minecraft buildcraft Wiki


- OJ

Yeah, was thinking that, just didn't want moar pipes running around. A combustion engine (if fully automated) has an output power pipe, input water pipe, input fuel pipe and a redstone control. Now I need a structure pipe! Oy vey! Plus I run three together to connect to the magma generator, which connects to the thermal generator. The room is a mess!

Oh, when you do combustion engines do remember a gate to check the temperature just in case your water supply glitches out. If the engines overheat they really go bang!

I am probably going to redesign again, again anyway with another shutoff condition when the MFSU is full (which for this one has never happened as it used to be my only MFSU) and to handle automated fuel delivery in a better manner.

Cheith.

[OranjeJus]

Originally Posted by Cheith

Yeah, was thinking that, just didn't want moar pipes running around. A combustion engine (if fully automated) has an output power pipe, input water pipe, input fuel pipe and a redstone control. Now I need a structure pipe! Oy vey! Plus I run three together to connect to the magma generator, which connects to the thermal generator. The room is a mess!

I see what you're saying. But if you're using pipes for all those inputs then you have plenty of spaces for gates already =)

You can place aqueous accumulators touching the engines thus negating the need for water pipes, and they're pretty cheap to make so it's not exactly a drama to have 1 per engine (also means its water is dedicated to the engine and is almost guaranteed to mean you never have a cooling issue. Bear in mind this requires a test, as I have been using steam engines predominately (and steam boilers) and have not been using combustion engines for some time. The only danger would be if your engine was on the border of a chunk and the AA was in the neighboring one and you were just the right distance away... but you can turn on chunk borders on the minimap can't you? Then you can know where to place it so that can't happen.

I plan on setting mine up like this (excludes the fuel lines, and I may well end up with more than 3 engines. Probably will use 6 as I think the crucible can take up to 32 MJ/t) and I probably won't be using gates as it shouldn't need a safety shutdown. I'll just have a manual switch to turn the power on and off when I need the EU:

Legend:
[AA] : Aqueous Accumulator
[CE] : Combustion Engine
= : Redstone Energy Conduit
[RE] : Redstone Energy Cell
[MC] : Magma Crucible
[TG] : Thermal Generator

[AA][CE]=
[AA][CE]==[RE][MC][TG]
[AA][CE]=

Like I said tho, I need to double check that the AA's will water the CE's in this pattern.


- OJ

[Cheith]

Originally Posted by OranjeJus

I see what you're saying. But if you're using pipes for all those inputs then you have plenty of spaces for gates already =)

You can place aqueous accumulators touching the engines thus negating the need for water pipes, and they're pretty cheap to make so it's not exactly a drama to have 1 per engine (also means its water is dedicated to the engine and is almost guaranteed to mean you never have a cooling issue. Bear in mind this requires a test, as I have been using steam engines predominately (and steam boilers) and have not been using combustion engines for some time. The only danger would be if your engine was on the border of a chunk and the AA was in the neighboring one and you were just the right distance away... but you can turn on chunk borders on the minimap can't you? Then you can know where to place it so that can't happen.

I plan on setting mine up like this (excludes the fuel lines, and I may well end up with more than 3 engines. Probably will use 6 as I think the crucible can take up to 32 MJ/t) and I probably won't be using gates as it shouldn't need a safety shutdown. I'll just have a manual switch to turn the power on and off when I need the EU:

Legend:
[AA] : Aqueous Accumulator
[CE] : Combustion Engine
= : Redstone Energy Conduit
[RE] : Redstone Energy Cell
[MC] : Magma Crucible
[TG] : Thermal Generator

[AA][CE]=
[AA][CE]==[RE][MC][TG]
[AA][CE]=

Like I said tho, I need to double check that the AA's will water the CE's in this pattern.


- OJ

Be careful of the crucible, it is not as obvious as it seems!
The max draw appears to be 20 MJ/t, irrespective of what you are doing BUT it does not stay at 20 MJ/t as the cobble is consumed. It steadily drops down to about 16.5 MJ/t by the end of one cobble.

So, more than 4 engines on biofuel, or 3 on fuel is probably a waste and I assume (even with redstone pipes) the power will back up and overheat your engines (as conduits don't explode).

Personally I am redesigning my manufactury so that every building is a chunk. That way, within a building, I don't have to worry. I only have 14 buildings to redo (and their underground parts). Oh well. Fortunately they are all single story.

Cheith.