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Difference between revisions of "Air Conditioner"

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m (→‎Heating)
(Update power and efficiency remarks for new update. Add tip to chain them to reach large temperature differences.)
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  | name            = Air Conditioner
 
  | name            = Air Conditioner
 
  | image            = [[File:Atmospherics front.jpg]]
 
  | image            = [[File:Atmospherics front.jpg]]
−
  | power_usage      = Up to 7000W based on temperature difference
+
  | power_usage      = 10 W when idle 355 W when running
 
  | placed_with_item = [[Kit (Atmospherics)]]
 
  | placed_with_item = [[Kit (Atmospherics)]]
 
  | placed_on_grid  = Small Grid
 
  | placed_on_grid  = Small Grid
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==Characteristics==
 
==Characteristics==
 
* It has a manual power switch.
 
* It has a manual power switch.
−
* It consumes 5W of [[Power]] per [[Tick]] when idle.
+
* It consumes 10W of [[Power]] per [[Tick]] when idle.
 +
* It consumes 350W of [[Power]] per [[Tick]] when active.
 +
* Basically, both speed and true efficiency is best at small temperature differences. For large temperature differences, more airco units need to be put in series.
 
* It has a separate [[Power Port]] and [[Data Port]].
 
* It has a separate [[Power Port]] and [[Data Port]].
 
* It has a touchpad that provides manual temperature control.
 
* It has a touchpad that provides manual temperature control.
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* It has a pipe port (labelled "Output") for the gases that '''have been''' heated or cooled to the designated temperature.
 
* It has a pipe port (labelled "Output") for the gases that '''have been''' heated or cooled to the designated temperature.
 
* It has a pipe port (labelled "Waste") for gases to or from which heat will be transferred to raise or lower the input gases' temperature.
 
* It has a pipe port (labelled "Waste") for gases to or from which heat will be transferred to raise or lower the input gases' temperature.
−
* If the Waste pipe network is below 100kpa, input gases will be diverted to the Waste pipe network to raise its pressure.
+
* Performance drops significantly if the temperature difference becomes too great. Chaining multiple systems, where each airco cooling/heating the waste pipe of the previous, seems the best way to reach large temperature differences.
−
* It can raise or lower gas temperature within a range from -200°C to 200°C.
+
* Efficiency changes the effective cooling or heating speed. If it is due to decreasing the volume per tick or J per tick, I do not know.
−
* It consumes from 300W to a maximum of 6005W of [[Power]] per [[Tick]] when active.
+
Efficiency is lost if:
−
* Power usage depends entirely on the temperature difference between the waste and input port
+
* you want to cool and the waste temp is higher than the input temp (and vice versa)
−
** When the waste pipe temperature reaches approximately 147.5% of the input pipe temperature, power usage reaches the maximum value
+
* Input temperature is outside optimal working temperature from -50 to 100 C.
−
** Power usage rises linearly with the waste-to-input temperature difference
+
* input temperature at 400°C ~ 33% efficency
−
** If the waste pipe to input pipe temperature difference exceeds the 147.5% value, then the A/C will continue cooling, but the cooling performance drops as the temperature difference increases
+
* input temperature at 600°C ~ 10% efficency
−
* Cooling effect does not depend on the power consumed:
+
* input temperature at 1000°C ~ 0% efficiency
−
** Each tick, the A/C unit takes a certain amount of gas (here called the "processed" gas) from the input pipe, attempts to cool it, and puts it in the output pipe
+
* Efficiency drop due to temperature difference between input and waste is not linear. From 0 difference, efficiency ramps down, after goes straight, and finally levels around T diff ~= 100 (asymptote?) reaching 0% efficiency beyond. Treating it linear anyway, roughly speaking, the efficiency drops 1% per unit temperature difference.
−
** The A/C unit can cool up to 6000J of heat energy per tick, even if the unit is only drawing 300W
+
* Efficiency drop due to temperature difference can be negative (>100%), if heat flow is in the working direction, but is low.
−
** If the processed gas can be cooled all the way down to the setpoint temperature for less than the 6000J limit, then the output temperature will be the setpoint value
+
Below, I do not know if is still true after the atmospherics update.
−
** Heat energy added to the waste pipe is the sum of the heat energy removed from the processed gas, plus 50% of the energy consumed in excess of the 300W minimum operating power
+
* The amount of gas processed in each tick depends on 2 variables: input temperature and the number of input pipe segments
−
** The amount of cooling the unit is capable of decreases from 6000J as the waste temperature difference exceeds 147.5% of the input temperature.  If the difference is twice that (waste temperature 195% of input) then it will only cool 3000J per tick.
 
−
* The amount of gas processed each tick depends on 2 variables: input temperature and the number of input pipe segments
 
 
** The formula used appears to be: n x T x S x R = 10123
 
** The formula used appears to be: n x T x S x R = 10123
 
*** n = the number of moles of gas processed
 
*** n = the number of moles of gas processed
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*** R = 8.3144
 
*** R = 8.3144
 
* Once the amount of processed gas is known, the output temperature can be calculated
 
* Once the amount of processed gas is known, the output temperature can be calculated
−
** (Assuming the waste pipe temperature is no more than 147.5% of the input temperature)
 
 
** T2 = T1 - 6000 / (n x H)
 
** T2 = T1 - 6000 / (n x H)
 
*** T2 = output processed gas temperature
 
*** T2 = output processed gas temperature
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*** n = number of moles of processed gas, see above
 
*** n = number of moles of processed gas, see above
 
*** H = heat capacity of the gas in J/(mol x K), i.e. for CO2 it's 28.2 J/mol*K
 
*** H = heat capacity of the gas in J/(mol x K), i.e. for CO2 it's 28.2 J/mol*K
−
 
−
Since the amount of gas processed is inversely proportional to the number of pipe segments attached to the input of the A/C unit, if the unit won't cool down to the desired setpoint temperature, add more input pipe sections, which will "throttle" the input and allow less gas through.  This will allow the A/C unit to cool that gas down cooler and will lower the output temperature.  Note that passive vents attached to the pipe network count towards the pipe section count.
 
−
 
−
The "traditional" way of connecting the A/C unit (with the input and output connected to base air and the waste connected to external air) is only efficient on cool planets such as Mars or Europa, where the outside temperature is less than the base temperature.  For hot planets such as Venus or Vulcan, the temperature difference between the input (base air) and waste (external air) will be very high and the power usage will be very high.  On these planets, it's more efficient to connect the waste and input to external air (so the power usage is limited to 300W), set the setpoint to -200C, and add enough pipe segments to the input that the output temperature drops close to the setpoint.  This ultra-cold gas can then be used as coolant to cool your base.  You can run it through pipes and use radiators or wall coolers to transfer the heat from your base into the coolant pipe.
 
  
 
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Revision as of 15:38, 7 July 2023


Air Conditioner
Atmospherics front.jpg
Operation
Power Usage 10 W when idle 355 W when running
Construction
Placed with Kit (Atmospherics)
Placed on Small Grid
Stage 1
Deconstruction
Deconstructed with Hand Drill
Item received Kit (Atmospherics)

Description

Used to lower or raise the temperature of Gas in a pipe network. It has a range of -200 through 200 Celsius for the temperature output. Guide (Air Conditioning) provides additional information regarding the function, construction, and operation of an Air Conditioner.

Usage

Once you have placed the Air Conditioner Unit in your desired location, there are 3 separate connections that will need to be made:

  1. Input - The starting gas that is desired to be cooled or heated
  2. Output - The exhausted gas after energy has been transferred to or from the Coolant in the waste pipe network
  3. Waste - Connection where energy is transferred to the Coolant in the pipe network

Cooling

The Air Conditioner will take the excess heat from the input gas and transfer it to the Coolant stored in the waste pipe network. Attached to the waste pipe network should be either Pipe Radiators or Medium Radiators to either convect heat in a pressurized environment or radiate heat in a vacuum environment. Make the pipe network loop on back to the waste port after the radiators for slightly better efficiency.

Heating

Ensuring the temperature of the coolant is higher than the temperature of the gas you want attempting to heat will allow the Air Conditioner Unit to heat the gas being run through the input port. Attaching a Pipe Heater is a quick method of raising the temperature of the coolant in the waste pipe network.

Waste Pipe Network

A connected gas pipe network containing any desired Coolant. The Air Conditioner Unit will draw or expel heat from/to the coolant to adjust the input gas temperature to match the selected output temperature.

If the waste pipe network is below 100kPa pressure upon starting the Air Conditioning Unit, it will divert inputted gas from the output port to the waste port until the minimum 100kPa pressure threshold is met within the waste pipe network.

Example A/C Setup

Characteristics

  • It has a manual power switch.
  • It consumes 10W of Power per Tick when idle.
  • It consumes 350W of Power per Tick when active.
  • Basically, both speed and true efficiency is best at small temperature differences. For large temperature differences, more airco units need to be put in series.
  • It has a separate Power Port and Data Port.
  • It has a touchpad that provides manual temperature control.
  • It has a pipe port (labelled "Input") for the gases that will be heated or cooled to the designated temperature.
  • It has a pipe port (labelled "Output") for the gases that have been heated or cooled to the designated temperature.
  • It has a pipe port (labelled "Waste") for gases to or from which heat will be transferred to raise or lower the input gases' temperature.
  • Performance drops significantly if the temperature difference becomes too great. Chaining multiple systems, where each airco cooling/heating the waste pipe of the previous, seems the best way to reach large temperature differences.
  • Efficiency changes the effective cooling or heating speed. If it is due to decreasing the volume per tick or J per tick, I do not know.

Efficiency is lost if:

  • you want to cool and the waste temp is higher than the input temp (and vice versa)
  • Input temperature is outside optimal working temperature from -50 to 100 C.
  • input temperature at 400°C ~ 33% efficency
  • input temperature at 600°C ~ 10% efficency
  • input temperature at 1000°C ~ 0% efficiency
  • Efficiency drop due to temperature difference between input and waste is not linear. From 0 difference, efficiency ramps down, after goes straight, and finally levels around T diff ~= 100 (asymptote?) reaching 0% efficiency beyond. Treating it linear anyway, roughly speaking, the efficiency drops 1% per unit temperature difference.
  • Efficiency drop due to temperature difference can be negative (>100%), if heat flow is in the working direction, but is low.

Below, I do not know if is still true after the atmospherics update.

  • The amount of gas processed in each tick depends on 2 variables: input temperature and the number of input pipe segments
    • The formula used appears to be: n x T x S x R = 10123
      • n = the number of moles of gas processed
      • T = input pipe temperature
      • S = number of input pipe segments (this is an analog for input pipe volume)
      • R = 8.3144
  • Once the amount of processed gas is known, the output temperature can be calculated
    • T2 = T1 - 6000 / (n x H)
      • T2 = output processed gas temperature
      • T1 = input pipe temperature
      • n = number of moles of processed gas, see above
      • H = heat capacity of the gas in J/(mol x K), i.e. for CO2 it's 28.2 J/mol*K

User Interface

An Air Conditioner provides the following user interface:

Name Type Function
Temperature Display Displays the current output temperature setting
+ Touchkey Increase the current output temperature setting by 10°C and by 1°C with the Quantity Modifier key pressed.
- Touchkey Decrease the current output temperature setting by 10°C and by 1°C with the Quantity Modifier key pressed.
Start Touchkey Switches Air Conditioner between idle and active.
On/Off Switch Switches Air Conditioner between turned on or turned off.

Data Network Properties

These are all Data Network properties of this device.

Data Parameters

These are all parameters that can be written with a Logic Writer, Batch Writer, or Integrated Circuit (IC10).


Parameter Name Data Type Description
Open Boolean Opens the front IC Slot cover when set to 1. CLoses when set to 0.
Mode Integer Activates the Air Conditioner when set to 1. Idles it when set to 0.
Lock Boolean Locks the Air Conditioner when set to 1. Unlocks it when set to 0.
On Boolean Powers on the Air Conditioner on when set to 1. Powers off when set to 0.

Data Outputs

These are all parameters, that can be read with a Logic Reader or a Slot Reader. The outputs are listed in the order a Logic Reader's "VAR" setting cycles through them.

Output Name Data Type Description
Power Boolean Returns whether the Air Conditioner is turned on and receives power. (0 for no, 1 for yes)
Open Boolean Returns whether the Air Conditioner's IC Slot cover is open or closed. (0 for closed, 1 for open)
Mode Integer Returns whether the Air Conditioner is active or idle. (0 for no, 1 for yes)
Error Boolean Returns whether the Air Conditioner is flashing an error. (0 for no, 1 for yes)
Lock Boolean Returns whether the Air Conditioner is locked. (0 for no, 1 for yes)
On Boolean Returns whether the Air Conditioner is turned on. (0 for no, 1 for yes)
RequiredPower Integer Returns the current amount of power in Watts required by the Air Conditioner.

See Also

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