Using a compressed gas as coolant

[ArkaelDren]

Is their a plugin that requires the use of a compressed gas such as nitrogen, to maintain another parts cooling level?

Like having a tank storing a volatile gas or fuel, then without the coolant it gains heat until it explodes or starts to vent out the stored product?

Or an engine that would require the same scenario to maintain its heat levels? would be really cool to have tanks that stored Isotopes, that required radiators or compressed gas or both.

If this has been done, or its been dropped and is no longer being developed or maintained, I think it would be an excellent addition to the "Lets find .... to do" at a base or on a long delicate trip.

If this is something that has not been done before, one of you guys should take this on. Its something I have always wanted to have as another complication/addition for our KSP time. So please, someone with the skills, take this on and make some more "awesome" please. I am clueless to computer coding or any other type of creativity using the computer. Some times I think its kinda rude to ask you guys to create these kinds of Modules or Plugins but really, I cant do this stuff or I would be more than happy to do more than just talk and request.

Thx Dren

[Clockwork_werewolf]

I would like to see a compress gas cooler for part BUT most of the engines are already cooled this way. The pipes leading down to the nozzle carry cryogenic temperature fuel. This flows though the nozzle cooling it and heating the fuel. This Heating expands the fuel creating pressure and reducing the load on the fuel pumps to pressurise the fuel for injection into the combustion chamber. Oxidiser is usually too volatile to heat this way and can eat away pipes when heated.

I would like to see a helium cooling system or something for other parts though

[PlonioFludrasco]

To put physicless parts on an SRB is a stock, efficient way to prevent overheating. Cheaty? Nah...

[ArkaelDren]

Even though this is the way the engines in RL help maintain temps, its still not physics relevant to the way the game maintains cooling. I don't understand why this idea doesn't get a better response from the community as its a great way to add a bit more functionality to our game. Creating tanks that would require Ammonia or Nitrogen to maintain temps, would be another good way to make base maintenance a must. if you had storage tanks that required a compressed coolant, then as soon as they ran out, temps would rise and eventually destroy the tanks. It would also add some complexity to specialized engines or generators. Like the current system with some Nuclear power plants, as soon as they reach meltdown temps, due to inadequate cooling, they shut down. Would be much much better if they exploded.

Take it or leave it, its a mandatory issue for the more "sim" side of KSP.

[RainDreamer]

Like the current system with some Nuclear power plants, as soon as they reach meltdown temps, due to inadequate cooling, they shut down. Would be much much better if they exploded.

They shouldn't explode though. Meltdown in space would just literally be melt down. The whole thing just heat up way too much and melt itself along with anything near it, but nothing explosive would happen.

I am interested in the idea of a cooling system though. We can try to jack up heat generation and then use a deadly-reentry style resources and parts that will use it up for cooling heat.

Though I wonder how to get that to work along with Deadly reentry itself. Would the cooling system being able to help a craft being capable of atmospheric entry without proper shielding? I don't like that...Hmm

[ArkaelDren]

All I can offer is feedback and help with testing, file checking. I am clueless to any type of Modeling or plugin work. As far as that goes, I'm completely useless with Mod creation. This concept needs a couple people that know what they are doing, to pick this up and get it going. Sure would add an aspect to the game we don't currently have yet. Far as I know, it has not been discussed or worked on since Interstellar was in active development. But I don't think it ever came to fruition, due to the scale of ideas and complexity of the project.

It could start out relatively small, with a few tanks, engines and reactors using current resources. Coolant systems would require a certain amount of pressure to maintain circulation. So the system would require fuel powered compressor's(not electric), that used resources to maintain that pressure. If the compressor ran out of fuel, it would stop circulating coolant, then the temps would go critical loosing the entire containment tank, maybe taking the attached part with it. We could have a class of reactor that could not be maintained with heat ex-changer type radiators, but would require the same compressor part/module with the same results as the containment tanks, resulting in reactor meltdown. Same concept with a propulsion, requiring specialized cooling systems. The gas used to maintain the temps could have a shelf life. This would require maintenance even if you kept a watchful eye on compressor fuel levels. Maybe include a lubricant, manufactured by one of the refinery's/fabrication modules from MKS/OKS, that would be consumed over time. Shelf life is a bad term for this, but you get the point.

Lots of good ideas that could add some more complexity to the game. I wish I had the skills to develop this idea, but I don't. But you guys do.... sorry if this reads badly, I'm tired and hitting the sack.