'Simple' Fuel Transfer Flow improvement suggestions

[donfede]

Fuel flow is a challenge that can quickly devolve into micromanagement and waiting. A couple 'simple' improvements to the fuel transfer flow from one tank to another (ex: liquid fuel, mono-propellant, or xenon gas) are:

a) Allow for 'quick' fuel transfer by clicks on the progress bar by the user. The behaviour would mimic that of tweakables in the VAB.

There already appear to be different fuel transfer rates, depending on the size of tanks being used. A jumbo-64 tank transfers fuel much more quickly than the little bit of mono-propellant in a command capsule. Unfortunately, it seems that the slower rate always trumps in the current version (0.23). As both tanks can pull or push fuel, different transfer rates could be used, depending on the initiating fuel tank. Transferring fuel from a jumbo-64 to a t100 tank might be fast, while initiating the transfer from the t100 would be slower.

thanks for the excellent game,

kdonfede

[Guest]

What I'd personally like to see is a clamped fuel transfer rate. That is, all fuel transfers at a set rate rather than it being determined by the smallest tank size. To increase the rate, one would add fuel lines. Also, have the flow rate be tweakable for better management of smaller tanks. This doesn't have to affect engine performance because some of the (ridiculous) stock engine mass can be assumed to be the pumps required for the engine to function; transfer rate would only affect tank to tank transfers.

[Kruleworld]

To increase the rate, one would add fuel lines.

that makes a lot of sense. i can see my rocket now, with a nasty network of pipes everywhere!

[Kasuha]

I'm totally for the a) option, with another option to bind LF and oxidizer levels so I end up with appropriate amounts of each.

Regarding fuel transfer, it apparently always depends on size of destination tank. Small tank to large goes fast. Large to small goes slow. Time to fill an empty tank appears to be always the same regardless of tank size.

FL-T800 to Jumbo (360 units): 3 s

Jumbo to FL-T800 (360 units): 20.5 s

FL-T100 to Jumbo (45 units): 0.6 s

Jumbo to FL-T100 (45 units): 20.5 s

FL-T100 to FL-T800 (45 units): 2.8 s

FL-T800 to FL-T100 (45 units): 20.5 s

[Guest]

that makes a lot of sense. i can see my rocket now, with a nasty network of pipes everywhere!

Right? I think the optimum flow rate without lines should be less than that from one of those little Oscar tanks, how about you?

[donfede]

Right? I think the optimum flow rate without lines should be less than that from one of those little Oscar tanks, how about you?

In-line with Kasuha's comment, my fuel flow rates are in reference to transfer from one tank to another when docking or refueling. I don't believe I've experienced any problems with fuel shortages using fuel lines (seem to work well enough for asparagus).

kdonfede

--

"Adding K to every word..."