More manual on power generation

Sections on solar and wind.  Some rewording of the section on fuel-fired
generators.
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Zefram 2014-08-24 23:25:57 +01:00 committed by RealBadAngel
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@ -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