Electric System Rework
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:39 am
Hello 
Is there any chance that we can get a "proper" electic system similar to the fluid system?
In my opinion energy distribution is boring and tedious at the same time.
There are currently only 5 variables that can be adjusted.
1.) Tech level/research
2.) Wire reach. (small pole: 7.5; ;substation: 18)
3.) Supply area. (small pole: 5x5 ;substation: 18x18)
4.) Material cost.
5.) Dimension. (small pole: 1x1; ;substation: 2x2)
Tech and material cost are negligible (especially in mid/late game), so we end up with 3 variables.
A first iteration of the new system could look like this:
power source ->transformer ->{large power poles -> substation -> large power poles }^N->transformer ->medium/small power poles -> factory
Power source:
-variables: volt, ampere, watt,
-infinite throughput if power sources of the same type are connected or power source is directly conneceted to a factory. (this would probably lead to the replacement of large poles with solar panels.)
-solar panels: V_1 Volt, A_1 Ampere , W_1 Watt
-steam engine: V_2 Volt, A_2 Ampere , W_2 Watt
-nuclear power: V_3 Volt, A_3 Ampere , W_3 Watt
Transformer:
Transforms eveything to e.g. 2000V, 500A , 10MW thorughput
With 98% efficency.
Large power pole:
Supports up tp 10MW throughput @ 20 KV, 500A.
Loses 0.5% Volt every 25 tiles.
Medium/small power pole:
Supports up to 2.5MW @5KV , 500A.
Loses 0.25% Volt every 10 tiles.
Tl;DR
The idea is that you have to build multiple substations to connect your power source to the network (similar to pumps
in the liqud network) and you have to build them if you want to connect distant factories to your network
(because you lose power over distance, similar to pressure).
Turbines won't need substations because they already output high volt/ampere and thus you encourge players to
build them.
I'd also like to see hugh power lines connecting generators and factories. At the moment it's like having unlimited
belt/pipe throughput and that's contradicting the factorio spirit :/
I hope you understood the stuff i wrote because i'm not a native english speaker/writer.
EDIT:
Would be fun to see a more sophisticated and realistic power network but this posts' intention is to
start a conversation and to maybe encourage the developers to implement a simple version of the power network
which can be improved upon.
Is there any chance that we can get a "proper" electic system similar to the fluid system?
In my opinion energy distribution is boring and tedious at the same time.
There are currently only 5 variables that can be adjusted.
1.) Tech level/research
2.) Wire reach. (small pole: 7.5; ;substation: 18)
3.) Supply area. (small pole: 5x5 ;substation: 18x18)
4.) Material cost.
5.) Dimension. (small pole: 1x1; ;substation: 2x2)
Tech and material cost are negligible (especially in mid/late game), so we end up with 3 variables.
A first iteration of the new system could look like this:
power source ->transformer ->{large power poles -> substation -> large power poles }^N->transformer ->medium/small power poles -> factory
Power source:
-variables: volt, ampere, watt,
-infinite throughput if power sources of the same type are connected or power source is directly conneceted to a factory. (this would probably lead to the replacement of large poles with solar panels.)
-solar panels: V_1 Volt, A_1 Ampere , W_1 Watt
-steam engine: V_2 Volt, A_2 Ampere , W_2 Watt
-nuclear power: V_3 Volt, A_3 Ampere , W_3 Watt
Transformer:
Transforms eveything to e.g. 2000V, 500A , 10MW thorughput
With 98% efficency.
Large power pole:
Supports up tp 10MW throughput @ 20 KV, 500A.
Loses 0.5% Volt every 25 tiles.
Medium/small power pole:
Supports up to 2.5MW @5KV , 500A.
Loses 0.25% Volt every 10 tiles.
Tl;DR
The idea is that you have to build multiple substations to connect your power source to the network (similar to pumps
in the liqud network) and you have to build them if you want to connect distant factories to your network
(because you lose power over distance, similar to pressure).
Turbines won't need substations because they already output high volt/ampere and thus you encourge players to
build them.
I'd also like to see hugh power lines connecting generators and factories. At the moment it's like having unlimited
belt/pipe throughput and that's contradicting the factorio spirit :/
I hope you understood the stuff i wrote because i'm not a native english speaker/writer.
EDIT:
Would be fun to see a more sophisticated and realistic power network but this posts' intention is to
start a conversation and to maybe encourage the developers to implement a simple version of the power network
which can be improved upon.
