Refueling Station Help on Design

[Solaros]

I posted a few pictures of the Refueling Station I am trying to use in space. I actually launched it and have it in high orbit. I did dock a vessel to the top of the station, but I cannot get the refueling to work. I can Alt-Right click two canisters next to each other on the outer ring to move fuel in and out, but I can't get fuel down to the little fuel bubbles that are on the bottom near the docking ports. I also couldn't get fuel to the poodle engine on the bottom to do some orbital fine tuning. I double checked that every component on the station allows for a fuel crossfeed (the girder struts, the fuselage in the center, and the observation pods. I'm not sure why I can't get fuel down there to the engine nor to the docking port at the top of the station. I'm sure I can dock to the sides and refuel, but haven't gotten that far yet. Any thoughts?? Thanks much!

[Spaceisbeautifulul]

You can't connect fuel lines to the small (compared to the rest of that beast) radial RCS tanks.

[maackey]

Wow... this is the most inefficient refueler I've ever seen... the thought of using it to resupply my ships gives me chills... but anyway:

The "fuel bubbles"... are you referring to the monoprop tanks or the structural hulls they are attached to? Structural tanks don't carry fuel at all. The radial RCS monopropellant tanks shouldn't need any fuel crossfeed, it doesn't matter where they are on the ship they can transfer monoprop. However like the structural tanks, they don't carry rocket fuel either.

I don't think the Cupola module fuel-crossfed. Try attaching the engine directly to a fuel tank, or connecting a fuel pipe from a tank to the engine directly. Although there is literally no point for that cupola pod: it is incredibly heavy, it is pointed the wrong way -- the windows are blocked by structural tanks and garbage, and it is yet another part which slows down the physics calculations. But judging from the insane amount of useless parts on your ship I'm sure your computer must be monstrous and you aren't really worried about high part counts...

[stupid_chris]

To half reply to the previous post, I think the goal of this refuelling station was the looks, not the efficiency. I must say I'm actually impressed he got that into orbit, so props to you my friend!

Now for the problem at hand. Well like said earlier, those "bubbles" are RCS fuel tanks. And the cupola module does allow crossfeed. Your problem might be that you created a fuel flow loop up there with all the fuel lines and the game doesn't like it. It's probably your problem, you should keep the sections independant one of each other and make them only connect via the center module.

[Johnno]

I don't think RCS tanks give functionality to fuel lines. Your fuel lines from the outside ring go to the inside by connecting from the RCS tanks at the bottom. Essentially your outer ring of fuel tanks (and RCS tanks) aren't connected to the rest of your ship, crossfeedwise. Move those fuel lines to the white fuel tanks on the outside ring and it should work.

edited for clarification

[Cryocasm]

I suppose my Jumbo tank with 2 docking ports and mechjeb as the pod have become way too overrated...

[georgTF]

You really want to have as few parts as possible. The station looks good though.

[stupid_chris]

I don't think RCS tanks give functionality to fuel lines. Your fuel lines from the outside ring go to the inside by connecting from the RCS tanks at the bottom. Essentially your outer ring of fuel tanks (and RCS tanks) aren't connected to the rest of your ship, crossfeedwise. Move those fuel lines to the white fuel tanks on the outside ring and it should work.

edited for clarification

Actually, as long as it's in the same stack and allows fuel crossfeed it should be okay. I remember attaching fuel lines to parachutes and the crossfeed worked.

[Solaros]

OOPs - I didn't think I had hit submit on this post - I reposted below.

Edited June 5, 2013 by Solaros
Accidental Submission

[Solaros]

Thanks all - I think the problem actually ended up being the Yellow Propulsion lines going from the tanks to the fusealage... i noticed in the one that i have in space that a light cut off the line. I actually thought the fuel line was going to be decorative as everything on the station is cross-feed capable. Anyways, I put a second one into a higher orbit (240K+ so that I could time warp faster), docked, and it is all refueling nicely.

I was inspired by this youtube video http://youtu.be/zri-Wep7Fv0 and am pretty happy with the appearance, definintely not efficient (nor was the 48 rockets I used to get it into orbit) Kerbal Logic --- just add more rockets

Love the game, been playing it for a few days now, landed on the Mun, sent up a rover, and now docked with a refueling station... I'm really excited about the possibilities!!

JJ

[Johnno]

Actually, as long as it's in the same stack and allows fuel crossfeed it should be okay. I remember attaching fuel lines to parachutes and the crossfeed worked.

I just did a quick test to confirm this and I stand corrected. Fuel does transfer from the same stack even if you connect to the RCS tank, you can also use monoprop fuel from unconnected stuff as it's shipwide, while fuel from the same stack is untouched.

Thanks for the correction stupid_chris

[stupid_chris]

I just did a quick test to confirm this and I stand corrected. Fuel does transfer from the same stack even if you connect to the RCS tank, you can also use monoprop fuel from unconnected stuff as it's shipwide, while fuel from the same stack is untouched.

Thanks for the correction stupid_chris

Don't worry, I found that weird too at first. It's a bit counter intuitive lol.