Thermo-Electric Generator: Difference between revisions

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(Re-explained the setup to be more comprehensive, Filled the maintaining TEG with tasks to ensure the TEG's longevity, Filled the troubleshooting with common issues people have when learning the TEG, Filled out the sabotage part with sabotages from minor i)
(Updates the guide to the one written by User:Wandering Host)
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{{Needs revision
|reason = TEG has only recently been implemented onto BoxStation. The page itself is not as comprehensive as the other engine pages, such as the [[Tesla]] and the [[Singulo]] and should be remedied.
|user = Veeblefetzer
}}
=Introduction=
=Introduction=
The Thermo-electric generator gets its power from the thermal difference of the two pipes going through it.
The Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) is an atmospherics-based generator that operates on the simple principle of cold air loop plus hot air loop equals power. As long as the set-up is appropriate, the TEG's output will scale up and can make anywhere between almost no power to enough power to satisfy the energy draw of 1000 space stations.
[[File:TEG.png|650px|thumb]]
[[File:TEG.png|650px|thumb]]
=How to Set Up the TEG=
=How to Set Up the TEG=
#{{anchor|step one}}First assemble the TEG machines with the provided boards, cable and metal in the engine room (circulators on either end, TEG board in the middle).
#{{anchor|step one}}Screwdriver and wrench the circulators from the ground.
#To connect the assembled TEG, you must ensure that the circulators are set to cold and hot, and oriented in the correct direction. When the access panel is open on a circulator with a screwdriver, you can use a multitool to swap from hot to cold, a wrench to secure and unsecure and once unsecured alt+click to rotate.  
#Move the circulators to the squares beside the generator. Wrench down once in place. (''make sure to orientate them with the notches beside the generator before wrenching [alt-click to turn]).''
#When all circulators are oriented and set, use a wrench on the center machine to check the circulators. If everything is aligned, the TEG will lock in and become active. If not, something is likely not aligned, or a circulator is on the wrong setting.
#Now in place we need to multi tool the circulators. Changing the mode, once done then screwdriver shut (''1 tap = cold 2 taps = hot'').
#Wrench down all four CO2 canisters next to the blue cold loop and activate the pump to fill the cold loop with CO2.
#Wrench down the center to complete the engine assembly.
#Turn the gas pumps to space and back into the engine room on and to max. Turn the cold loop filter on and keep filtering nothing.
#Turn on pumps and max them, open valves, press buttons if need be (''Follow the orange and cyan pipes.'').
#Wrench down the oxygen and plasma canisters and set the oxygen to plasma ratio, node 2 is oxygen.
#Wrench down some of the CO2 canisters to the connectors and turn on pumps.
#Close the burn chamber to space from the observation desk and activate the igniter switch.
#Go to the incinerator and check if the blast doors are closed. If not, then press the buttons on the table.
#Turn the gas pump to the burn chamber to max and on.
#Open up the air alarm and enter the scrubber menu, find the scrubber in the incinerator chamber and set range: '''Expanded'''. (skip if there isnt a scrubber)
#Whilst the chamber burns, wrench down the two CO2 canisters and turn the gas pump on and keep the pressure low.
#Prepare burn mix, (''different ratios alter heat output and gas production''), then turn on mixer to max pressure. Then turn on igniter. (''NOTE: burn mix is tested to last nearly 50 minutes if you empty both tanks).''
#Turn on the gas pumps around the hot loop to cycle the CO2, set these to max.
=TEG Fundamentals=
#Set the filter by the observation desk on and keep the filter set to nothing.
The Thermo-Electric Generator is a simple engine. This engine uses hot and cold gas, (''hot and cold sides of the circulators'') to generate energy. To make more power, you will need to scale the hot and cold gasses and maintain the temperature difference between them. The limiting factor being how the engine is set up and having too great of a difference in gas temperature. A great difference in temperature can overpower the other circulator, preventing power generation. However, an unmodified engine will usually lead you into the biggest, most common problem: clogs.
#Set the SMES up, the TEG should make more power than the maximum total input.


[[Thermo-Electric Generator optimizations]]
Clogging happens when gasses in the hot loop gets too hot for the pumps to handle. Pumps, (''and valves'') are limiters to this engine, pressure pumps clog the easiest because they pass little, precise amounts of gas. Volume pumps fare better but will also eventually clog. Though there does exist a clog-less pump, the documentation for it can be found [[Thermo-Electric Generator optimizations|<u>here</u>]].
=Maintaining the TEG=
The TEG is setup but it needs a little bit of attention to ensure the hot loop is functioning correctly.  


#As the hot loop heats up from the burn chamber the gas will expand inside the pipes, if the pipes reach a pressure over 4500kpa the pump moving gas into that pipe will cease to pump. If all the pipes around the TEG reach over 4500kpa then the hot loop will "Clog" if this happens then some gas needs to be taken out of the loop, you can do this by opening the valve on the bottom side of the hot loop. until the pipes are no longer over 4500kpa.
''NOTE: You can't have straight pipes all the way around because gas would not flow and would just stay still.''
#After this you'll find that there is usually a large quantity of plasma left over, this can still be used, simply set the filter to 100% on node 1 and it will take the remaining plasma and start putting it into the burn chamber. However, the rate at which it enters needs to be controlled, to get the most out of the plasma it is desirable to burn it in a super oxygenated environment.
 
#This has the effect of burning the plasma twice, first by plasma but then when the plasma burns it will burn into tritium and not CO2.
'''<u>If you plan to leave the engine unmodified, you will want to have a small amount of gas flowing in the hot loop</u>'''. As due to physics, gas pressure will increase as temperature increases and it will decrease as temperature decreases.
#The tritium then also burns, creating even more heat, but to do all this, a slow feed of plasma is needed, this can be done by replacing the gas pump with a volume pump and setting the volume to 1 Litre of gas.
 
#Over the next period of time the plasma will slowly feed into the burn chamber and add energy to the gas mix inside.
 
==Maintaining the SMESs==
'''TEMP DIFFERENCE (TOO COLD)!!'''
In general, the SMESs don't need maintenance. However, there are a few times when they do need to be handled specially, namely during the following instances.
 
:'''The SMESs are fully charged.''' They might as well be ramped up to full output. But it doesn't hurt to keep them at lower levels.
Self-explanatory. the gas in the cold loop is too cold compared to the hot loop, this can be caused by a number of things. however easily remedied by two things
:'''The Backup SMESs are charging.''' In this case, the SMESs will need to be ramped up to full output so that the Backups can charge faster.
*release some gas or filter it back to the storage tanks.
:'''The AI is rogue.''' Cut all power. The AI's greatest ally is electricity. Take it away. Note that the APCs' batteries will still power the station for a bit.
*increase heat to the hot loop by adding more gas to it or alter fuel ratio.
:'''There is a power sink on the ship.''' Ensure output levels are lower than input levels, but not completely off. This keeps the power sink from draining the SMESs. You can use some clever electrician tricks to [[power sink|find the power sink]] through the power lines as long as there is still output from the SMESs.
'''TEMP DIFFERENCE (TOO HOT)!!'''
Should they ever remember to, an [[Guide_to_Research_and_Development#Upgrading_Machines|RnD]] Scientist might want to upgrade the SMESs. Make sure they upgrade the SMESs one at a time, as upgrading them will result in all of the stored power being lost.
 
Like above but for too hot
*Release some gas.
*Increase coolness to the cold loop by adding more gas or expand cooling loop.
''NOTE: if these don't work then it might be needed to replace the pressure pumps with volume pumps''


=Troubleshooting=
=Troubleshooting=

Revision as of 21:40, 11 February 2024

Introduction

The Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) is an atmospherics-based generator that operates on the simple principle of cold air loop plus hot air loop equals power. As long as the set-up is appropriate, the TEG's output will scale up and can make anywhere between almost no power to enough power to satisfy the energy draw of 1000 space stations.

TEG.png

How to Set Up the TEG

  1. Screwdriver and wrench the circulators from the ground.
  2. Move the circulators to the squares beside the generator. Wrench down once in place. (make sure to orientate them with the notches beside the generator before wrenching [alt-click to turn]).
  3. Now in place we need to multi tool the circulators. Changing the mode, once done then screwdriver shut (1 tap = cold 2 taps = hot).
  4. Wrench down the center to complete the engine assembly.
  5. Turn on pumps and max them, open valves, press buttons if need be (Follow the orange and cyan pipes.).
  6. Wrench down some of the CO2 canisters to the connectors and turn on pumps.
  7. Go to the incinerator and check if the blast doors are closed. If not, then press the buttons on the table.
  8. Open up the air alarm and enter the scrubber menu, find the scrubber in the incinerator chamber and set range: Expanded. (skip if there isnt a scrubber)
  9. Prepare burn mix, (different ratios alter heat output and gas production), then turn on mixer to max pressure. Then turn on igniter. (NOTE: burn mix is tested to last nearly 50 minutes if you empty both tanks).

TEG Fundamentals

The Thermo-Electric Generator is a simple engine. This engine uses hot and cold gas, (hot and cold sides of the circulators) to generate energy. To make more power, you will need to scale the hot and cold gasses and maintain the temperature difference between them. The limiting factor being how the engine is set up and having too great of a difference in gas temperature. A great difference in temperature can overpower the other circulator, preventing power generation. However, an unmodified engine will usually lead you into the biggest, most common problem: clogs.

Clogging happens when gasses in the hot loop gets too hot for the pumps to handle. Pumps, (and valves) are limiters to this engine, pressure pumps clog the easiest because they pass little, precise amounts of gas. Volume pumps fare better but will also eventually clog. Though there does exist a clog-less pump, the documentation for it can be found here.

NOTE: You can't have straight pipes all the way around because gas would not flow and would just stay still.

If you plan to leave the engine unmodified, you will want to have a small amount of gas flowing in the hot loop. As due to physics, gas pressure will increase as temperature increases and it will decrease as temperature decreases.


TEMP DIFFERENCE (TOO COLD)!!

Self-explanatory. the gas in the cold loop is too cold compared to the hot loop, this can be caused by a number of things. however easily remedied by two things

  • release some gas or filter it back to the storage tanks.
  • increase heat to the hot loop by adding more gas to it or alter fuel ratio.

TEMP DIFFERENCE (TOO HOT)!!

Like above but for too hot

  • Release some gas.
  • Increase coolness to the cold loop by adding more gas or expand cooling loop.

NOTE: if these don't work then it might be needed to replace the pressure pumps with volume pumps

Troubleshooting

Help! the TEG isn't assembling!

Answer: Keep calm, follow step one, make sure the TEG parts are rotated so the marked indent is facing the core, and that the left side circulator is set to cold with a multitool.

The TEG isn't making any power!

Answer: Look to see what's lighting up on the TEG, the TEG will tell you what's working and what's not, if the cold loop isn't working it will be dark, if it is working it will be a radiant blue. The same is true for the hot, but the colour will be red.

The cold side isn't lit up!

Answer: Check each pipe section with an analyser, see that each pipe section has gas inside of it, follow the pipes around with the pumps, one will be off or there is a break in the pipe. if the space loop has gas on one end but not on the other, go into space and check for damage to the heat pipes.

The cold side is not bright blue!

Answer: Check all the pumps are on maximum pressure, this indicates there's a flow but its not an effective flow, so there is likely a pump not pushing at all its capacity.

The hot side isn't lit up!

Answer: Check the pipes for gas, check that the pipes are not over 4500kpa. Check that all the pumps are on, check that the burn chamber is cycling hot gas.

The hot side is not bright red!

Answer: This indicates something is throttling the heat, check that the burn chamber gas cycle is functioning, check that the hot loop pumps are all at maximum pressure.

Neither side is lit up!

Answer: It is possible that you set the TEG's cold and hot loops on the wrong side, if true there should have been a short time of a loop indicating some flow before completey stopping, check inside the TEG's display that the cold loop is indeed cold and not hot. If the loops are the wrong way around, un-wrench the TEG apart, open both circulators with a screwdriver, and multitool both circulators, screwdriver both circulators closed then wrench it back together.

Sabotaging The TEG

Unfortunately for filthy traitors, the TEG is a safe engine, however that doesn't mean you cannot stop it from producing power.

  • Your greatest tool for sabotaging this engine is how daunting the pipe works look, something as simple as turning off the injector from the computer console or turning off the filter will cause the TEG to clog inside the loop and will reduce the power output until the hot loop is non-functional.
  • Making a break in the cold loop in space will also stop the engine from producing power or by engaging the valves to the waste pipe you can clear all the pipes of gas so that there is nothing to gain energy from.
  • It's also possible to intentionally clog the hot loop and stop the engine from producing power.
  • Another more complicated method is to reattach the pipes so that the only thing left inside is very hot gas but no way to send it to waste, so that when someone does come to fix the issue they instead release a large quantity of harmful hot gasses.
  • Simply opening the plasma canister at max pressure will start a plasma fire in the room that will destroy the TEG and the observation computer, this option should be done with care as atmos fuckery will often raise the ire of the admins.

There are many other creative ways to mess around with the TEG, just take care to not violate the murder bone rules, whilst a TEG won't explode its high-end damage is station ending, more so than that of a loose tesla or singularity.

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