Difference between revisions of "Radiator"

From Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Updated (corrected) information, added more, clarifed, re-organised.)
(Extra info and re-word.)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''radiators''' are special devices that cool other parts of a craft. They dissipate heat into space (radiative) and atmosphere (convective). They will make themselves as hot as possible, transferring heat in to raise their temperature, making dissipation more efficient, but will self limit to avoid overheating to destruction.
+
The '''radiators''' are special devices that can cool other parts of a craft, consuming a small amount of electric charge when operating. They dissipate heat into space (radiative) and atmosphere (convective). They make themselves as hot as possible for greater efficiency, by transferring heat in, but self limiting to avoid overheating to destruction. Their efficiency is also limited by ambient conditions.
  
 
== Variants ==
 
== Variants ==
 
* Rigid, fixed '''Panels''', which only cool the part they are attached to and parts directly connected to that part.
 
* Rigid, fixed '''Panels''', which only cool the part they are attached to and parts directly connected to that part.
* Deployable '''Thermal Control Systems''', which take heat from every part of the vessel (as if plumbed with a cooling fluid loop).
+
* Deployable '''Thermal Control Systems''', which take heat from every part of the vessel (as if plumbed in with a cooling fluid loop). Like the deployable [[Electric_charge#Solar_panels|Solar Panels]], these automatically rotate depending on the relative direction of [[Kerbol]], but turn edge-on to ''minimise'' their exposure to the sun's radiation.
  
 
{{Stats table radiators}}
 
{{Stats table radiators}}

Revision as of 05:01, 8 March 2017

The radiators are special devices that can cool other parts of a craft, consuming a small amount of electric charge when operating. They dissipate heat into space (radiative) and atmosphere (convective). They make themselves as hot as possible for greater efficiency, by transferring heat in, but self limiting to avoid overheating to destruction. Their efficiency is also limited by ambient conditions.

Variants

  • Rigid, fixed Panels, which only cool the part they are attached to and parts directly connected to that part.
  • Deployable Thermal Control Systems, which take heat from every part of the vessel (as if plumbed in with a cooling fluid loop). Like the deployable Solar Panels, these automatically rotate depending on the relative direction of Kerbol, but turn edge-on to minimise their exposure to the sun's radiation.
Image Part Radial size Cost
(Funds)
Mass
(t)
Max. Temp.
(K)
Tolerance
(m/s)
Tolerance
(g)
Deployable Electricity
(⚡/s)
RadiatorPanelEdge.png
Radiator Panel (edge) Radial mounted 450 0.03 2 500 12 50 No 0.025
(1.5 ⚡/min)
Radiator Panel (small).png
Radiator Panel (small) Radial mounted 150 0.01 2 500 12 50 No 0.025
(1.5 ⚡/min)
Radiator Panel (large).png
Radiator Panel (large) Radial mounted 450 0.05 2 500 12 50 No 0.025
(1.5 ⚡/min)
Thermal Control System (small).png
Thermal Control System (small) Radial mounted 450 0.05 2 500 12 50 Yes 0.025
(1.5 ⚡/min)
Thermal Control System (medium).png
Thermal Control System (medium) Radial mounted 2 250 0.25 2 500 12 50 Yes 0.125
(0.1 ⚡/sec)
Thermal Control System (large).png
Thermal Control System (large) Radial mounted 9 000 1.0 2 500 12 50 Yes 0.5
(0.5 ⚡/sec)

Operation

To begin functioning, "Activate Radiator" must be selected from the part's right click interface. For the thermal control systems the "Extend/Retract Radiator" button must also have been used to deploy them. Alternatively these functions can be bound to action groups, with the "Toggle Panels" option allowing a single action group to start and stop many radiators simultaneously.

Changes

1.1
  • "Fixed" radiators now also need to be activated before they start working.