Power Generation Systems

Power Generation Systems

First, review Propulsion Systems.

As previously discussed the Warp Drive, Impulse Drive, and Reaction Control System provide power not only for propulsive purposes, but energy purposes as well. The only addition to maintenance tasks previously mentioned is the monitoring of the EPS power taps.

Backup Fusion

The backup fusion generators are used in case the propulsive power units are unable to provide enough power for normal operations. These function just as the Impulse Drive’s fusion generators, and thus have the same maintenance requirements.

Batteries

There are times when an abundance of power is created during normal operations. This energy is stored in power cells for later use, especially during emergency situations. Monitoring the efficiency of the battery’s storage and output capacity is the primary maintenance function.

Fuel Systems

The responsibilities of an Engineer towards the fuel system is to report fuel consumption to the Commanding Officer and maintain the integrity of the tank and it's piping as well as their flow. Engineers have to keep a vigil to make sure that the containment system within the antimatter pods does not fail. If the containment began to fail it would be necessary to eject the pod. Engineers have to monitor the entire length of piping from the antimatter storage pods to the warp core and the magnetic field as well as adjust the various constriction parameters to maintain the flow.

Bussard Collectors

The Bussard Collectors are actually a series of specialized high-energy magnetic coils. They are used to pull low-grade matter from the interstellar medium. The Ramscoop pulls in tenuous gas found with in the Milky Way galaxy. The gas maybe distilled for small amounts of deuterium for contingency replenishment of the matter supply. Alignment of the magnetic coils to bring in deuterium particles must be closely synchronized with the warp drive when it is in operation.

Quantum Reversal Device

This device is used for making small amounts of antimatter. The Quantum Reversal Device takes matter, cools it to within one degree of absolute zero, and exposes to a short-period stasis field to further limit molecular vibration. As the stasis field decays, focused subspace fields drive deep within the subatomic structure to flip the charges and spin the frozen protons, neutrons, and electrons. The flipped matter, now antimatter is magnetically removed for storage. The system can normally process 0.08 m3/hr. With a ratio of 11-1 the device is inefficient for normal operation. It is reserved for emergency use only (i.e. getting a ship back to Starbase when fuel is running low).