Nuclear reactor

[cicatrix]

I'll be short. Sometimes I need more power than solar arrays/RTG can offer so there is a suggestion to add a nuclear reactor to the stock (We have LV-Ns after all).

[Frozen_Heart]

I'd quite like this as well. Some of my ships are pretty power hungry and I have to stack RTGs to make them work. :/

[Vectura]

RTGs are technically nuclear reactors, but yeah. A more kerbal way would be to get 2 of the engines with alternators, pointing in opposite directions, burning all the time to generate electricity.

[Red Iron Crown]

RTGs aren't reactors, there's no fission or fusion going on.

I have to wonder what the OP is doing that requires so much electricity. Aside from ion-powered craft a couple of panels or RTGs is almost always enough.

[Random Tank]

I don't think I'd want something as fancy or advanced as a nuclear reactor, but I wish there was a fuel-consuming generator of some sort in stock though; maybe something like a Hydrogen Fuel cell! It would consume LFO and produce power; I know you can do this with engine alternators, but it's not a very efficient way of doing it, and also they have to produce thrust to do it, which can work against you....

I'd just want a 0.625m or 1.25m part, about the size of a reaction wheel, that produces 5e/sec, and is earlier than a solar panel in the Tech Tree (in the node where you get your first battery); would be great for powering things through night cycles, providing quick power boosts or using up excess fuel

[Pthigrivi]

I think both a large reactor and fuel cells will come in handy when resource processing becomes stock, but yeah... what do you need that much juice for? For an Ion sailer you should really use panels.

[adsii1970]

Maybe the point of having it is simply not because he needs that much electricity, but because he wants that much electricity! It appears that when I construct spacecraft, I follow the old Soviet model of "just enough to get by" but when I build space stations, there's the American "it would be really neat to have _______ on it!" At times I have actually thought it would be a lot easier for me to use a singular nuclear reactor for space stations than all the solar panels...

[michaelsteele3]

Also known as "The De-orbitifier"

[RainDreamer]

Maybe not nuclear reactor...just normal reactor that burn LF/O and turn into energy.

[cicatrix]

RTGs aren't reactors, there's no fission or fusion going on.

I have to wonder what the OP is doing that requires so much electricity. Aside from ion-powered craft a couple of panels or RTGs is almost always enough.

Ion powered craft is the first that comes in mind.

Besides I need electricity for mods. I need to mine karbonite or exotic matter production. I don't want to mine karbonite in order to burn karbonite to produce power to mine more karbonite.

P.S. Never forget the blast awesomeness of it!

Edited January 21, 2015 by cicatrix

[Capt Snuggler]

Id like to have a Nuclear reactor too. I'd also like several high energy consumption toys to go with it...

*edit*

by "toys" I mean things like VASIMR engines, resource processing equipment, electric propellers.

also large life support equipment but that's pretty much at the bottom of the "too hard basket".

Edited January 21, 2015 by Capt Snuggler

[Red Iron Crown]

Ion powered craft is the first that comes in mind.

Besides I need electricity for mods. I need to mine karbonite or exotic matter production. I don't want to mine karbonite in order to burn karbonite to produce power to mine more karbonite.

P.S. Never forget the blast awesomeness of it!

But...if you're using mod parts, why not just add some mod reactors? KSPi and Near Future have them IIRC.

[klgraham1013]

A generator that runs on LF sounds interesting. I may find a random part I'm not using and rig myself up one with Module Manager.

[cicatrix]

But...if you're using mod parts, why not just add some mod reactors? KSPi and Near Future have them IIRC.

This way it'll be a one mod less I would need to install. A whole KSPI for the sake of one nuclear reactor? Isn't it an overkill?

[Red Iron Crown]

Could just install the reactors rather than the whole mod, I suppose. Though I agree that's a bit of a pain.

@klgraham1013: Check out Modular Rocket Systems, it has some radially mounted fuel cell parts.

[Vectura]

I thought the breakdown of of uranium was technically a reaction. Maybe not though.

[Alias72]

I thought the breakdown of of uranium was technically a reaction. Maybe not though.

the breakdown of uranium is a nuclear reaction. but it happens with or without intervention. An RTG does not have a specialized vessel to facilitate uranium decomposition, just contain and harness the products.

from wikipedia:

• Nuclear reactor, a device for containing and controlling a nuclear reaction
  

A RTG contains a nuclear reaction. it harness it for power, but it doesn't control the reaction itself.

[Red Iron Crown]

Quote your wiki link in full: "A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction." Decay is not a chain reaction.

[Wabbit]

A generator that runs on LF sounds interesting. I may find a random part I'm not using and rig myself up one with Module Manager.

All it would take is just edit a part.cfg, takes lf or a new propellant ("Nuke Juice" XD) and uses it to convert to electric charge. It would bring more reason to launch SSTOs to deliver more fuel, and enhance the whole station experience.

[Kegereneku]

Although I would love high-consumption gear and engine, I would first like to require thermal radiator for nuclear thruster.

We regularly note how cheaty it is to be able to use LV-N on spaceplane, well, there you would only be able to use the LV-N in space (after deploying radiator (stored in the bay thanks to aerodynamic occlusion) because those would tear off in atmosphere.

[Alias72]

Quote your wiki link in full: "A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction." Decay is not a chain reaction.

sorry I used a different link. I was in reactor disambiguation. your quote also works.

[rcp27]

A generator that uses LF + O to generate electricity would be a nice addition. Such devices exist in the real world, and are used extensively in real world space explorations, in the form of fuel cells.

[Tex_NL]

The OP might be interested in the Near Future Technologies. Especially the Near Future Electrical part. It's got some nice juicy nuclear power plants.

[Laie]

I have to wonder what the OP is doing that requires so much electricity. Aside from ion-powered craft a couple of panels or RTGs is almost always enough.

Me too.

Besides I need electricity for mods. I need to mine karbonite or exotic matter production. I don't want to mine karbonite in order to burn karbonite to produce power to mine more karbonite.

A-ha! If you have a problem only because of a mod, it doesn't seem fair to ask for a stock solution. Though I agree with others that some energy-hungry appliances (ISRU etc.), and something to power them, would be a nice addition to the stock game. Also, if solar arrays tapered off more quickly (as they rightfully should)...

Assume you're a newbie. If your probe to Jool ceased working because the arrays don't deliver enough power, would that be a teachable moment (and you'll do better next time) or would that be a major nuisance (and you'd stop playing, or never try to visit Jool ever again)?

[prophet_01]

I think it wouldn't be too bad if solar arrays are almost useless near jool, not entirely though. In stock you would turn slower and run out of energy more frequently, but it shouldn't be too bad if you're not dependent on ions. Some additional sentences in the part descriptions and a warning once you pass, lets say, duna's orbit and you're done.

On topic, I would like energy to be a more important aspect, especially in 'late game'. That includes power hungry parts such as mining equipment and refineries. I would also be thrilled if we get a vasimir. Fission reactors and fuel cells could both have theire role