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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: S-99 on February 27, 2009, 04:31:04 am

Title: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: S-99 on February 27, 2009, 04:31:04 am

I am glad that all freespace ships retail don't have intakes. Pretty much because most of them are not jet powered and are fusion engine powered. Some fs ships are capable of atmospheric flight.

My main point is if there every was any ships to have intakes in space. The intakes would be useless in space being that it's a vacuum.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: ssmit132 on February 27, 2009, 04:35:46 am

Technically speaking, 'empty' space is not a vacuum, rather it has very minuscule amounts of hydrogen scattered around.

So someone could say that the intakes on a ship could be hydrogen ram scoops or something.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: The E on February 27, 2009, 04:40:39 am

Also, there are combined cycle engines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_Engines_SABRE) (for a fictional example, look at Serenity).

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Charismatic on February 27, 2009, 01:18:29 pm

Good ol' Serenity

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Woolie Wool on February 27, 2009, 01:51:09 pm

Quote from: S-99 on February 27, 2009, 04:31:04 am

I am glad that all freespace ships retail don't have intakes. Pretty much because most of them are not jet powered and are fusion engine powered. Some fs ships are capable of atmospheric flight.

My main point is if there every was any ships to have intakes in space. The intakes would be useless in space being that it's a vacuum.

The best way to decelerate a ship into space is fire your engines forward instead of backwards. Therefore, the most likely use for "intakes" is as nozzles used when the engine reverses thrust.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Bobboau on February 28, 2009, 05:19:46 am

if you what an honest answer it's due to the coconut effect.
(look it up)

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Commander Zane on February 28, 2009, 06:45:24 am

Quote from: Bobboau on February 28, 2009, 05:19:46 am

if you what an honest answer it's due to the coconut effect.
(look it up)

Spoiler:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Snail on February 28, 2009, 06:59:48 am

There are ships with intakes in FS. Check the old FS1 cbanims. Outlined there, in bold, barely readable red text, is "Intake".


Anyway, Nuke said they're ramscoops for deuterium, which makes a lot of sense.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: S-99 on February 28, 2009, 07:10:51 am

Quote from: Woolie Wool on February 27, 2009, 01:51:09 pm

Quote from: S-99 on February 27, 2009, 04:31:04 am

I am glad that all freespace ships retail don't have intakes. Pretty much because most of them are not jet powered and are fusion engine powered. Some fs ships are capable of atmospheric flight.

My main point is if there every was any ships to have intakes in space. The intakes would be useless in space being that it's a vacuum.

The best way to decelerate a ship into space is fire your engines forward instead of backwards. Therefore, the most likely use for "intakes" is as nozzles used when the engine reverses thrust.

Scoops for deuterium is cool and all, so is the reversing your craft idea. Space is very empty, idk how much deuterium your going to collect unless your in a nebula.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: darkdaej on February 28, 2009, 10:12:52 am

Quote from: S-99 on February 28, 2009, 07:10:51 am

Quote from: Woolie Wool on February 27, 2009, 01:51:09 pm

Quote from: S-99 on February 27, 2009, 04:31:04 am

I am glad that all freespace ships retail don't have intakes. Pretty much because most of them are not jet powered and are fusion engine powered. Some fs ships are capable of atmospheric flight.

My main point is if there every was any ships to have intakes in space. The intakes would be useless in space being that it's a vacuum.

The best way to decelerate a ship into space is fire your engines forward instead of backwards. Therefore, the most likely use for "intakes" is as nozzles used when the engine reverses thrust.

Scoops for deuterium is cool and all, so is the reversing your craft idea. Space is very empty, idk how much deuterium your going to collect unless your in a nebula.

Well deuterium is a hydrogen isotope and since it is stable, my guess is that hydrogen is being scooped into the intake and being converted to deuterium.  I doubt massive quantities of deuterium would be required to keep the ship powered, as it most likely has a fuel supply when it is launched, which simply replenishes itself as the craft flies. 

Also, Space is not only hydrogen atoms scattered, but it also contains several types of radiation, space dust, helium and other elements.  Most likely the craft can use those to power itself...

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Snail on February 28, 2009, 10:16:45 am

The deuterium or hydrogen would be gathered from the interstellar medium.

Of course this would mean the Valkyrie's intakes are a lot more than just intakes, they're giant magnetic scoops that gather the deuterium from thousands of kilometers away and draw it in. In effect making the Valkyrie (or whatever fighter we're speaking of here) a small gas miner.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: darkdaej on February 28, 2009, 10:21:33 am

Quote from: Snail on February 28, 2009, 10:16:45 am

The deuterium or hydrogen would be gathered from the interstellar medium.

Of course this would mean the Valkyrie's intakes are a lot more than just intakes, they're giant magnetic scoops that gather the deuterium from thousands of kilometers away and draw it in. In effect making the Valkyrie (or whatever fighter we're speaking of here) a small gas miner.

Which begs the question:

Why have gas miners (in fs2) in the first place?  If fighters can have a deuterium intake and refinery installed, it would mean the destroyers would also have one installed and it would remove almost all justification for mining operations in Nebula system.

If the intakes would be absorbing radiation it would be a bit more realistic, as Space is swarming with all kinds of it.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: The E on February 28, 2009, 10:25:33 am

My read on that would be that ramscoops can only supplement, not replace, onboard reaction mass. The engines CAN work with anything, but they were DESIGNED for clean fuels. And, if you're interested in acquiring special gasses (like whatever fuels the Prometheus S), you're going to want a specialized craft that can get it for you.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Snail on February 28, 2009, 10:26:18 am

Gas miners would probably be a lot more efficient at it.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: darkdaej on February 28, 2009, 10:29:51 am

Quote from: The E on February 28, 2009, 10:25:33 am

My read on that would be that ramscoops can only supplement, not replace, onboard reaction mass. The engines CAN work with anything, but they were DESIGNED for clean fuels. And, if you're interested in acquiring special gasses (like whatever fuels the Prometheus S), you're going to want a specialized craft that can get it for you.

Prometheus is powered by an Argon reactor.  (which is funny because Argon is an inert gas, who'd have thought it'd make a kickass weapon? )

Thats what i thought as well, simply as a supplement and that it's already been fueled when it is launched.

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: azile0 on February 28, 2009, 05:53:33 pm

Who knows. Maybe now people will start trying to make Argon into a weapon IRL

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: blowfish on March 01, 2009, 12:12:10 am

Well certain lasers do use argon.  Not that any fs weapon really behaves like a "laser" (http://www.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/dr-evil-photo.jpg) :D

Title: Re: Intakes on fs ships.
Post by: Galemp on March 01, 2009, 07:03:14 pm

Quote from: Bobboau on February 28, 2009, 05:19:46 am

if you what an honest answer it's due to the coconut effect.

An element that is patently unrealistic, but which you have to do anyway because viewers have been so conditioned to expect it that its absence would be even more jarring.

Look it up!! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheCoconutEffect)