High-Burn Thrusters: Fuel Requirements And Performance

how much reaction fuel does a high burn thruster need

High Burn Thrusters (HBT) are auxiliary chemical rockets designed to provide temporary speed boosts to ships. They are especially useful for small craft in combat, allowing them to engage in dogfights and manoeuvre around larger ships. The fuel requirements for HBTs depend on various factors, including the size and number of thrusters, the duration of operation, and the desired level of efficiency. HBTs can use different types of fuel, including powerful chemical rockets, liquid hydrogen, and solid-rocket propellants. While they may offer greater speed and manoeuvrability, HBTs can also be fuel-inefficient, requiring up to 50% more fuel than normal thrusters.

Characteristics Values
Fuel type Chemical, possibly hydrogen
Fuel cost Negligible, possibly 1000 Cr per dTon of fuel
Fuel efficiency 25% more fuel than normal, 50% more with two disadvantages
Fuel oxidizer Required, along with thruster fuel, for combustion
Fuel mixture 1:1 ratio of fuel to oxidizer
Fuel storage Cannot be barreled, must be produced by collecting asteroids
Fuel supply Must be limited to maintain game balance

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High burn thrusters require 25% more fuel than normal

High-burn thrusters are auxiliary chemical rockets designed to temporarily boost a ship's speed. They are easily mounted on a ship by adding an additional reaction drive. While they are fuel-inefficient, requiring 25% more fuel than normal, they are still advantageous in certain situations. For instance, they are extremely useful for small craft, especially in dogfighting scenarios, as they enable them to enter fur-balls and perform super close-range manoeuvres around larger craft.

The high fuel requirement of high-burn thrusters can be attributed to their high power output. The technology exceeds the known theoretical chemical energy from a chemical reaction, and as a result, the tech level must be cranked up to at least 13 or higher. This makes it challenging to store and handle the fuel safely. Additionally, the fuel's bulk may only be available on TL7 or above planets, with an oxidizer or other key ingredients sourced from planets with the same TL as the drive or higher.

The high-burn thruster's fuel is described as "chemical" in nature, akin to a powerful chemical rocket. This fuel is likely in liquid form, similar to the liquid hydrogen used in power plants. However, the specific chemical composition of the fuel in high-burn thrusters remains a topic of discussion. Some speculate that it might be solid-rocket propellant, similar to the assist rockets on the Space Shuttle.

The performance of high-burn thrusters can be enhanced by utilising multiple units. By installing two units, each comprising 40% of the size of an M-Drive, one thruster can be kept active as long as there is fuel. Allocating the remaining 60% of the M-Drive volume to fuel can result in 12 hours of continuous operation, offering superior performance and cost-effectiveness compared to the standard Reaction M-Drive.

While high-burn thrusters offer significant advantages, their fuel consumption and associated costs are important considerations. The fuel costs for these thrusters can be significant, and the availability of fuel may vary depending on the narrative universe and the presence of pirate bases or lawless areas. Therefore, players and designers must carefully weigh the benefits of high-burn thrusters against the challenges of refuelling and the potential impact on game balance.

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The fuel is a powerful chemical rocket fuel

A high-burn thruster is an auxiliary chemical rocket designed to give a temporary speed boost to a ship. It is likely to require less fuel than a ship that relies on a reaction drive alone for thrust. The fuel used in a high-burn thruster is described as a "powerful chemical rocket fuel". This fuel is not based on any current Earth science and its power output exceeds known theoretical chemical energy from a chemical reaction.

The exact chemical makeup of this powerful rocket fuel is not specified, but it is likely to be a solid-rocket propellant, similar to the assist rockets on the Space Shuttle. One possibility is that it is a powerful, lightweight, low-volume propellant such as metallic hydrogen. Another possibility is that it is a tripropellant of lithium, fluorine, and hydrogen, which has been test-fired and produced a specific impulse of 542 seconds, the highest for a chemical propellant. However, this combination is impractical due to the difference in temperatures and the toxicity and poor storability of its components.

Other powerful chemical rocket fuels that have been used or considered include pentaborane, which provides a specific impulse of about 340/365 seconds in the atmosphere and can be used as a storable propellant as it is liquid at room temperature; and hydrogen peroxide, which has been used in monopropellant rockets and has found widespread use due to its storability, simplicity of use, and ability to provide tiny impulses.

The fuel used in a high-burn thruster could also be a type of liquid fuel, such as RP-1, which was first introduced in the United States in 1957 to address the need for a clean-burning petroleum rocket fuel. Another option is liquid hydrogen, which delivers a specific impulse about 30%-40% higher than most other rocket fuels and has been used in the high-efficiency main engines of the Space Shuttle, although it has the drawback of being difficult to store over long periods of time due to its low temperature.

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Fuel can be purchased from Class C and up starports

A high burn thruster is an auxiliary chemical rocket designed to give a temporary speed boost to a ship. This is easily mounted on a ship by adding an additional reaction drive. A high burn thruster is fuel inefficient and requires 25% more fuel than normal. If two disadvantages are used, it will require 50% more fuel than normal.

The cost of fuel at a Class C starport may be negligible, but it doesn't have to be. It can be as high as 1000 Cr per dTon of fuel. The availability of refined fuel may be limited, but it can be purchased by contacting other ships in port.

It is important to note that the availability and cost of fuel may vary depending on the universe and the specific starport. Some universes may allow skimming fuel from giants, while others may not. Additionally, the cost of refueling and resupply services at standard-class starports can be up to double the normal price and may take longer than expected.

Overall, while high burn thrusters provide a significant speed boost, they also consume a considerable amount of fuel. Class C and up starports offer fuel purchases, but prices and availability may differ.

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High burn thrusters are cheaper and don't need a power plant

High Burn Thrusters (HBTs) are auxiliary chemical rockets that provide a temporary speed boost to a ship. They are easily mounted by adding an additional reaction drive, and they are especially useful for small craft. HBTs are cheaper and more efficient than regular Reaction M-Drives as they do not require a power plant.

The fuel used in HBTs is referred to as a "powerful chemical rocket" fuel in the source material, but the specific chemical is not named. It is likely a form of solid-rocket propellant similar to the assist rockets on the Space Shuttle. The fuel is extremely energy-dense and produces a significant amount of thrust.

The cost of HBT fuel is estimated to be 0.2 per ton for the thruster section, with an additional cost for the fuel itself. However, the fuel cost may be negligible, especially in certain universes where it is possible to skim fuel from nearby giants. In other universes, the fuel may be more expensive and harder to obtain, such as in civilized" areas where it may need to be purchased from suppliers with a streetwise connection.

The amount of fuel required by HBTs depends on the specific design and usage of the thruster. In some cases, installing two units of HBTs (40% of the size of an M-Drive) can provide 12 hours of operation if the remaining 60% of the M-Drive volume is used for fuel storage. However, HBTs are considered fuel-inefficient compared to regular reaction drives, requiring 25% more fuel, and 50% more fuel if two disadvantages are present.

The performance and efficiency of HBTs also depend on the mix of fuel and oxidizer. In some cases, a mix of slightly below 50% for both fuel and oxidizer is optimal for travel, as thrusters burn both fluids at the same rate.

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Fuel is likely to be hydrogen

A high burn thruster is an auxiliary chemical rocket designed to give a temporary speed boost to a ship. This is easily mounted on a ship by adding an additional reaction drive. The fuel cost for a high burn thruster is likely to be hydrogen.

In the game Space Engineers, hydrogen thrusters are the second type of thruster to be added to the game. Hydrogen thrusters burn hydrogen gas as fuel to propel a ship in the desired direction. They work equally well in space and in the atmosphere, making them ideal for shuttles. However, they must be connected to a large source of hydrogen, which can add extra mass and volume to a ship.

In the context of high burn thrusters, one source suggests that the fuel used is likely to be hydrogen. This is based on the assumption that the fuel is the same as that used in reaction drives, which are considered identical to high burn thrusters. Another source mentions that the fuel is likely to be a powerful chemical rocket fuel, which could potentially be hydrogen.

The amount of fuel required for a high burn thruster will depend on the specific use case and the size of the thruster. For example, in the Space Engineers game, the fuel consumption of hydrogen thrusters is dependent on the size of the thruster, with smaller thrusters being more fuel-efficient. Additionally, the use of braking thrusters and inertia dampers can impact fuel consumption.

In terms of cost, one source mentions that the cost of hydrogen fuel for a high burn thruster could be negligible, while another source suggests that it could be priced at 0.2 per ton for the thruster section.

Frequently asked questions

The amount of fuel needed depends on the size of the thruster and the length of operation. For example, if you install two high burn thruster units (40% of the size of an M-Drive), you can keep one thruster active as long as you have fuel.

If you spend the remaining 60% of the M-Drive volume on fuel, you get 12 hours of operation out of your drive system.

High burn thrusters use powerful chemical rocket fuel. This fuel is likely to be hydrogen-based, similar to the liquid hydrogen used in power plants.

High burn thrusters are fuel-inefficient, requiring 25% more fuel than normal. If two disadvantages are used, they will require 50% more fuel than normal.

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