Suggetion: Multiblock nuclear reactor overhaul
xenoulexi opened this issue · 4 comments
As the title suggests, here are some examples of how I would overhaul the large multiblock nuclear reactor, to turn it into a more realistic feeling PWR design, because currently the small and multiblock reactors feel very half-assed compared to the RBMKs
As the image suggests, the reactor must be filled with water source blocks to function, it must also be supplied by water however this water will not turn into steam, instead, the water in the reactor will be consumed like Coolant in the small reactor. The PWR reactor will instead accept coolant and produce hot coolant which will be used in heat exchangers for heating large boilers for steam production. The larger the reactor the faster it turns coolant into hot coolant. Ports on the side will accept coolant and eject hot coolant, ports on the bottom are for fuel rods. It won't use ingots of nuclear fuel like the legacy version of the multiblock reactor, instead, it will accept the same fuel rods used in the RBMK, however, it will deplete the fuel faster than the RBMK. Finally, water can be passively absorbed from any water source blocks touching the top of the reactor, the top pipe part can also be connected to fluid ducts for a more direct source of water, just like how water can be supplied to the small nuclear reactor via fluid ducts.
I've got some first-pass GUI screens put together for this. I do think an overflow mechanic for running the reactor past the critical point of water would introduce some interesting failure modes, so the boiler section has an included gauge and overflow tank. Having the PWR being to precursor progression-wise to the RBMK would be pretty nice, and ideally introduce control of a reactor to the player that isn't just a large ON/OFF button.
Pics below; note that I don't do a lot of UIs, so clean-up may be required:
