Fusion Reactor not feeding plasma to all generators

[NJMorf]

I don't know if this is my lack of comprehension or a bug (though it seems to be reported as a bug here): I've got a four-reactor array that won't reliably or consistently feed all of the attached generators. That bug report thinks it might be because at least one generator's plasma output is coincident with a reactor's plasma output, but I'm not so sure.

I've been testing this BP in a sandbox with a substantial load (about 1.2GW):

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

Copy blueprint

When I stamp this down and prime it, it sometimes works correctly for a while, but usually at least two of the reactors report "output full" and only two generators on each side get any plasma:

Working, with the problem generators circled:

12-28-2025, 22-53-51.png (3.02 MiB) Viewed 55 times

Stopped, with only two generators per side showing plasma and active:

12-28-2025, 22-54-54.png (2.94 MiB) Viewed 55 times

Same, without alt mode:

12-28-2025, 22-55-26.png (2.83 MiB) Viewed 55 times

If I remove the two marked generators, the system usually fully activates the remaining generators on both sides. The plasma flow is clearly capable of reaching all generators, and you can see the links (both plasma and pipes) appear between all of the linked reactors and generators. It just fails to supply plasma beyond the first two generators when all fourteen are connected on either side.

The bug report thinks that placing a generator in a position where it's plasma output matches up with the reactor's plasma output breaks the system. This seems to match the symptoms, but I'd be surprised if the code allows two outputs to be joined like that. Nevertheless, in my BP I can remove the marked generators and place them elsewhere and the system starts working as expected with a max output of 1.4GW.

Does anyone know why this breaks? Am I doing something wrong, or misunderstanding how this is supposed to work? Is it actually a bug?

Thanks in advance.

[eugenekay]

This happens because the Plasma fluid network forms a Loop. You can ensure that no Generator Outputs are connected to a Reactor Input/Output to prevent it from happening.

129371 is marked as “Fixed for 2.1”