Tweakables for fuel ducts

[LethalDose]

I'd like the ability to be selective about what resources can is transported through fuel ducts. Specifically, ducts that only transport LiquidFuel or Oxidizer. To avoid part bloatd, I think would be best implemented as a tweakable option, with one button for "enable/disable LiquidFuel flow" and a separate button for "enable/disable Oxidizer flow".

I've had some space plane designs where it would have been nice to have better control over automated resource flow.

[Random Tank]

Hmmmm... But couldn't you just click on that little green arrow for the tanks Oxidizer to stop flow? I'm struggling to think of a case where this idea would be useful vs. the Tank Flow stop... :s

[LethalDose]

Hmmmm... But couldn't you just click on that little green arrow for the tanks Oxidizer to stop flow? I'm struggling to think of a case where this idea would be useful vs. the Tank Flow stop... :s

Sometimes I want the Oxidizer to be flowing from that tank, just not to the engines being fed by the ducts. Changing the green arrow also requires clicking the tank and changing the setting. This takes a few seconds, and can lead to fuel imbalances, which in turn can lead to planes not flying straight, which can lead to having a bad day.

For example, I could build the center of a spaceplane with Mk2 fuselages, and standard rocket tanks on pylons port & starboard. I put an LVT-45 on the central fuselage and turbojets on the pylons. I want to send Oxidizer to central fuselage, but I don't want the LVT-45 to use the fuel from the pylons. I also can't lock out the fuel to the plyons, because then the turbojets have no fuel.

This is one example, I have had others.

Making the green arrow/red circle togglable by actions groups could help some, but it wouldn't have the full functionality of what I'm requesting.

[Kasuha]

I was testing similar design just recently. Of course I did not route oxidizer and liquid fuel individually, I just made sure all engines have access to whole storage and it worked just right. I don't have the design available just now but below is the essence.

With that, I have no problems with fuel pipes being tweakable to only conduct oxidizer or liquid fuel. It does not collide with the fuel flow implementation so it should be simple enough and it might help with some designs.

Edited June 17, 2014 by Kasuha

[Random Tank]

For example, I could build the center of a spaceplane with Mk2 fuselages, and standard rocket tanks on pylons port & starboard. I put an LVT-45 on the central fuselage and turbojets on the pylons. I want to send Oxidizer to central fuselage, but I don't want the LVT-45 to use the fuel from the pylons. I also can't lock out the fuel to the plyons, because then the turbojets have no fuel.

Oh ok, that's a good point, more useful for controlling the Dry CoM I spose. Not a hard one to implement, I just genuinely couldn't think of a use :3

+1

[Kasuha]

By the way, there is a design hack that allows routing liquid fuel and oxidizer separately at a cost of mounting some extra parts.

The engine draws liquid fuel from the left tank and oxidizer from the right tank. The two small fuel tanks were initially empty and only serve as fuel switches.

[Justin Kerbice]

@LethalDose: take a look at Goodspeed fuel pump, it does exactly what you need, as you can set priority to tank and choose to pump/balance all/one of the resources (when using "options" in context menu).

But it can be also seen as cheat because it breaks fuel cross-feed property of parts (you can magically balance LF through a decoupler for example)

[LethalDose]

@LethalDose: take a look at Goodspeed fuel pump, it does exactly what you need, as you can set priority to tank and choose to pump/balance all/one of the resources (when using "options" in context menu).

But it can be also seen as cheat because it breaks fuel cross-feed property of parts (you can magically balance LF through a decoupler for example)

Although I've had need for this functionality in the past, I don't currently. In the example above, I was simply demonstrating a use for the requested feature. If I find myself in need to do this again, I'll look at this mod (at least I assume it's a mod). Thank you for the suggestion.

However, as I placed this thread in the suggestion section, the point is that I'm recommending fuel ducts be tweakable in stock.

[StrandedonEarth]

And make them reversible!