Power Generators

[Blaster]

After a lot of KSP, I have noticed some things. For all of the parts available for thrust and flight and science, we still have only two dedicated power generators available. Solar Panels and Radioisotope Thermal Generators. This feels lacking, as spaceships from the dawn of space have had power generation that falls under neither category.

1: Fuel Cells - Definitely

Fuel Cells make power by combining the fuel and oxydizer. It would be an excellent early tech power system, which would slowly consume a little fuel and oxydizer to make a little power.

2: Engine Generator - Maybe

This is technically feasible, if one can make an engine that works in space (feed fuel and oxydizer and manage the vaccum backpressure problem) for more power in early tech. Also would mean you can say you have a diesel punk spaceship.

3: Nuclear Reactor - The Big Daddy

Nuclear Reactor in space? Science isn't about "Why?", it's about "Why not?" Instead of a giant corncob of wimpy little RTG's, you can just plant a nuke on your interplanetary mothership. Lots of power available for sure, but you can think of consequences.

Got any other ideas for power generators? Have a shout.

[Tery215]

Solar panels and RTG's are useful, but they're obtained in midgame.

KSP probably uses them because constant power is necessary to stay alive (implemented only for probe cores right now) in space, as well as for orientation. Generators dependent on burning chemicals are relatively heavy and the chemicals don't last forever. On the other hand, solar panels are relatively light, and don't require any additional mass to operate.

So:

Fuel cells - Definitely

[theend3r]

A complex power generation and transmission system is already incorporated in KSPI and it works quite well. Stock game has nothing that would benefit from it though, so it doesn't make sense right now.

[Blaster]

A complex power generation and transmission system is already incorporated in KSPI and it works quite well. Stock game has nothing that would benefit from it though, so it doesn't make sense right now.

It does on the tech tree. Fuel Cells or Engine Generators should be the first kind of dedicated power generators, not solar panels. If Kerbals are discovering electricity from rocket engines, they should be devising the first power generators from engines then, not solar power, which should be higher up on the tech tree.

Also, engine type generators use fuel to generate power - as long as you have the fuel, you will have power. It will use a very small amount compared to rocket engines, but nonetheless, you don't have to deal with the dark side of the planet or having the colossal weight and parts count of an RTG corncob.

By the same logic, we do not need RAPIER engine, or RCS engines, or monoprop engines, or a billion different parts for planes.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Blaster

[LABHOUSE]

We have the second one in a way. But I agree.

[dryer_lint]

The first one would be nice. The second one... hmm, not really. As for the third one, only if we get nuclear explosions along with it!

[mdosogne]

Fuel cells would be nice, but I'd rather Squad add reasons to need electricity, especially later in the tech tree *cough*life-support*cough*