Non-burner heat source possible?

[Dustine]

Is there a way to have a heat source generator (something with a heat_buffer that produces heat, not consume it) that doesn't use a burner energy source type?

Reactors use an obligatory burner field and adding heat_buffer to entities beyond reactors and heat pipes doesn't seem to have any effect.

Alternatively, if that's impossible, is there a way to generate/create heat without using the entity type reactor?

[Reika]

Is there a way to have a heat source generator (something with a heat_buffer that produces heat, not consume it) that doesn't use a burner energy source type?

Reactors use an obligatory burner field and adding heat_buffer to entities beyond reactors and heat pipes doesn't seem to have any effect.

Alternatively, if that's impossible, is there a way to generate/create heat without using the entity type reactor?

I second this exact question.

[bobingabout]

As far as I know from the modding perspective, the only entity capable of creating heat right now is the reactor, which has a "burner=" tag as the fuel input, meaning...

No, there is not a non-burner heat source entity.

You might however (untested, not looked into it) be able to inject heat into a heatpipe via a script.

[Islandir]

Silly idea but.
For the reactor, it states that it uses nuclear as fuel_category.
Now it also states that fuel_inventory_size is 1 and burnt_inventory_size is 1. As we know it will transform the fuel cell in used fuel cell.
Now looking at item.lua. I see that for uranium fuel cell: burnt_result = "used-up-uranium-fuel-cell"
Now that is another item.
Not sure what you want to do but what about creating a new item like permanent_fuel_cell which has: burnt_result = "permanent-fuel-cell" and with fuel_category = "permanent-fuel'
So basically when it burns it creates another of himself.
Then create a reactor that uses that fuel category and with also a fuel_inventory_size of 1 and burnt of 1.
Now just place an inserter than takes from the reactor to a chest and another one that take from chest and put back in the reactor and .... you now have a permanent reactor.
Just allow the user to create the first of those permanent fuel cells from whatever and in a special assembly and you are done.

It is not exactly what you wanted to do as you need that first step to create one of those permanent fuel cells for each of your reactors and you need that pair of inserters and a chest but .... maybe that is enough for you ?
Note: I did not try it so not sure they will accept that burnt is the same element as the one it comes from.

[bobingabout]

I think he meant, like, using an electric heat source.

[Dustine]

I think he meant, like, using an electric heat source.

For me personally either that or a way to have a electrical-energy-interface, but like, for heat. This gal doesn't need to convert power for heat specifically, only to have a way to create heat without outside hacks or further scripting ^^"