Auxiliary Power Units, Nuclear Generators, Disable Alternators, and Ram Air Turbines

[Samniss Arandeen]

We have fuel cells that convert LF/O to electricity (screwy as they currently are...just make the damn things toggleable, tweakable, and resource tanks assignable to certain parts), so why not an airbreathing auxiliary power unit? It would be a great way to power Laythe bases and keep batteries charged on aircraft in atmosphere. I could go into why one more body with oxygenated atmosphere would be a great thing to have, but that's out of this post's purview.

Invert the Alternator on the Nerv. If we have enough thermal energy from the nuclear reaction to provide appreciable thrust, then logically, shouldn't we be able to use it as a nuclear power plant when the heat isn't driving the spacecraft?

Ram Air Turbines see use on real life aircraft to drive hydraulics and electrics. It's about time we had air intakes (either dedicated parts or tweakables on engine-breathing parts) that could generate electricity instead of ventilating engines. Electricity gain would vary based on angle of attack, atmospheric thickness, and airspeed, and function in any atmosphere, oxygen or no. Reversely, let's see ducted fans use electricity to move atmospheric air and provide thrust.

Finally, with the exception of the Nerv with its inverse alternator, let us disable alternators on engines that have them. This could give a nice boost to thrust or maybe and definitely - more energy from the combustion is impulse rather than electricity - increase specific impulse. Alternator output can be a tweakable just like the thrust limiter, and Isp/thrust bonuses prorated accordingly.

Edited August 2, 2015 by Samniss Arandeen
Adding to original idea. Edits in red.

[Feradose]

All genius ideas! I hope these get stock

[klgraham1013]

I give these ideas two thumbs up.

[Azimech]

Fuel cells are already toggleable thanks to this MM patch, I'm working on a patch to include heat production.

An airbreathing aux power unit is pretty easy to make, I guess. I'll try so tomorrow.

Edited August 2, 2015 by Azimech