From: Zefram Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 22:25:57 +0000 (+0100) Subject: More manual on power generation X-Git-Url: http://81.2.79.47:8989/gitweb/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=23423ab79b3420a823ce15ace3310f674097add4;p=zefram%2Fminetest%2Ftechnic.git More manual on power generation Sections on solar and wind. Some rewording of the section on fuel-fired generators. --- diff --git a/manual.md b/manual.md index 012d2b8..0b07fa0 100644 --- a/manual.md +++ b/manual.md @@ -1061,12 +1061,13 @@ power generators ### fuel-fired generators ### -Electrical energy can be generated at any voltage (LV, MV, or HV) -by fuel-fired generators. These are all capable of burning any type -of combustible fuel, such as coal. They are relatively easy to build, -and so tend to be the first kind of generator used to power electrical -machines. In this role they form an intermediate step between the -directly fuel-fired machines and a more mature electrical network +The fiel-fired generators are electrical power generators that generate +power by the combustion of fuel. Versions of them are available for +all three voltages (LV, MV, and HV). These are all capable of burning +any type of combustible fuel, such as coal. They are relatively easy +to build, and so tend to be the first kind of generator used to power +electrical machines. In this role they form an intermediate step between +the directly fuel-fired machines and a more mature electrical network powered by means other than fuel combustion. They are also, by virtue of simplicity and controllability, a useful fallback or peak load generator for electrical networks that normally use more sophisticated generators. @@ -1088,6 +1089,25 @@ is needed to overcome the inefficiency of supply converters, so it is worth operating fuel-fired generators at a higher tier than the machines being powered. +### solar generators ### + +The solar generators are electrical power generators that generate power +from sunlight. Versions of them are available for all three voltages +(LV, MV, and HV). There are four types in total, two LV and one each +of MV and HV, forming a sequence of four tiers. The higher-tier ones +are each built mainly from three solar generators of the next tier down, +and their outputs scale in rough accordance, tripling at each tier. + +To operate, an arrayed solar generator must be at elevation +1 or above +and have a transparent block (typically air) immediately above it. +It will generate power only when the block above is well lit during +daylight hours. It will generate more power at higher elevation, +reaching maximum output at elevation +36 or higher when sunlit. The small +solar generator has similar rules with slightly different thresholds. +These rules are an attempt to ensure that the generator will only operate +from sunlight, but it is actually possible to fool them to some extent +with light sources such as meselamps. + ### hydro generator ### The hydro generator is an LV power generator that generates a small amount @@ -1118,6 +1138,15 @@ water block adjacent to the geothermal generator. This increases the generator's output, with the maximum output achieved with two adjacent blocks of each liquid. +### wind generator ### + +The wind generator is an MV power generator that generates a moderate +amount of energy from wind. To operate, the generator must be placed +atop a column of at least 20 wind mill frame blocks, and must be at +an elevation of +30 or higher. It generates more at higher elevation, +reaching maximum output at elevation +50 or higher. Its surroundings +don't otherwise matter; it doesn't actually need to be in open air. + administrative world anchor --------------------------- @@ -1180,8 +1209,6 @@ subjects missing from this manual This manual needs to be extended with sections on: * power generators - * wind - * solar * nuclear * powered tools * tool charging