What is the use of the default_temperature of the liquid?

[Adil]

Back in the old days nuclear power mods worked by adding a reaction, that would produce a very hot liquid, which hotness was defined in the prototype as a `default_temperature`.
However, I've recently added a liquid with `default_temperature=300` and when that one was piped to steam engine, nothing happened until I've added a boiler with the coal at which point the setup started giving minimal power.

prototype

Code: Select all

{type = "fluid",
	name = "raw-power",
	default_temperature = 300,
	max_temperature = 301,
	heat_capacity = "1MJ",
	base_color = {r=201/255, g=38/255, b=188/255},
	flow_color = {r=122/255, g=0, b=112/255},
	icon = "__base__/graphics/icons/fluid/water.png",
	order = "zpower",
	pressure_to_speed_ratio = 0.5,
	flow_to_energy_ratio = 0.5,
	order='asdjbw3riuwef4kjwef',
	}

So, apparently, only the heat added by boiler counts for power production. The question is: What is the point of having the temperature fields then?

[Yoyobuae]

Can make two liquids both of which heat up to 100°C max, but with different min temperatures. The one with highest min temperature is the least efficient for steam engine production. Also I assume in 0.15 version steam produced will have 100°C as min temp but have a much higher max temp.

In other words, it looks pretty. You know a "boiler" only takes liquids to 100°C max. And because "steam" will not go under 100°C. And so on.

Now, it would be neat if there was some kind of heat exchanger. Then temperature differences between liquids would be significant.

[Klonan]

Steam engines calculate their power based on the difference between the current temperature and the default temperature

[Adil]

Do they also account for heat_capacity or is that value only used for heating liquid up?

[Adil]

Well, tests show that low heat capacity liquid indeed can be used to bring engine to a full power with a single boiler.