Difference between revisions of "Wood-fired generator"

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}}{{Info|A '''wood-fired generator''' is a power source that runs by burning [[wood]] as fuel. Holds up to 75 wood max, and will provide power for roughly 3 days and 9 hours before running out, for a fuel consumption of 22 per day.}}
 
}}{{Info|A '''wood-fired generator''' is a power source that runs by burning [[wood]] as fuel. Holds up to 75 wood max, and will provide power for roughly 3 days and 9 hours before running out, for a fuel consumption of 22 per day.}}
  
It can be constructed after completing the [[Research#Electricity|Electricity]] research. It also produces a slight amount of heat as secondary effect but not enough to classify as temperature control element.  
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It can be constructed after completing the [[Research#Electricity|Electricity]] research. It also produces a slight amount of heat as secondary effect, but not enough to classify as temperature control element. However, they should not be sited in or adjacent to spaces you want to cool. Power production is constant so long as it does not run out of fuel. It can be switched off; in the off state it will neither consume fuel nor produce power.
  
Power production is constant so long as they do not run out of fuel which greatly reduces your base's need for [[battery|batteries]], but will eat into your wood reserves over time, and will add additional workload for your [[hauling|haulers]] to take care of. If you are playing on a map with ample [[tree]]s and wish to avoid dealing with weather's impact on your power supply, wood-fired generators are a reasonable solution.
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== Analysis ==
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Though having a considerable labor cost for [[Chop_Wood|chopping]] and [[hauling|hauling]] wood, the wood-fired generator nonetheless represents a big improvement in fuel efficiency from neolithic heating and cooling technology.
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For example: The [[Passive_cooler|passive cooler]] and the [[cooler|electric cooler]] have the same cooling power (meaning, they will cool the same space by the same number of degrees -- down to the passive cooler's minimum, anyway). The passive cooler uses 50 wood and cools for 5 days, for a wood consumption of 10 per cooler-day equivalent (CDE). Electric coolers use 200 W when on, meaning the wood-fired generator can power 5 of them, and its wood consumption is 22 per day. This gives a wood consumption per CDE of 4.4, which is more than a doubling of fuel efficiency! This is very noticeable if you are playing the tribal scenario.
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In comparison, the wood/CDE for a [[chemfuel_powered_generator|chemfuel powered generator]] is 1.8.  Though chemfuel has a labor cost for refining, the lessened workload for your choppers and haulers more than makes up for this; thus, the wood-fired generator is strictly obsolete once you have access to chemfuel.
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Wind turbines, the other generator type unlocked by the electricity research, require [[battery|batteries]] to provide stable power. As such, they in practice require additional research, which you may not want to wait for. They are also a bigger investment (particularly if you take the need for batteries into account), and require more space and care in their placement.
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Conclusion: If you have good access to wood, wood-fired generators are a natural choice for your first generator or two, since they provide stable power with little investment and no need for additional research. Longer-term, the labor cost of chopping down trees and hauling the wood makes the wood-fired generator unattractive compared to non-fueled generators, and it is made obsolete by chemfuel. Since it can be turned off, it can serve as emergency backup after you have made the transition to more efficient generators.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==

Revision as of 09:11, 24 June 2021

Wood-fired generator

Wood-fired generator

Produces power by consuming wood. Must be periodically loaded with wood fuel by hand.

Base Stats

Type
BuildingsPower
Market Value
265 Silver [Note]
Beauty
-20
HP
300
Flammability
100%

Building

Size
2 × 2
Placeable
Yes
Power
+ 1000 W

Creation

Skill Required
Construction 4
Work To Make
2,500 ticks (41.67 secs)
Resources to make
Steel 100 + Component 2
Deconstruct yield
Steel 75 Component 1

A wood-fired generator is a power source that runs by burning wood as fuel. Holds up to 75 wood max, and will provide power for roughly 3 days and 9 hours before running out, for a fuel consumption of 22 per day.

It can be constructed after completing the Electricity research. It also produces a slight amount of heat as secondary effect, but not enough to classify as temperature control element. However, they should not be sited in or adjacent to spaces you want to cool. Power production is constant so long as it does not run out of fuel. It can be switched off; in the off state it will neither consume fuel nor produce power.

Analysis

Though having a considerable labor cost for chopping and hauling wood, the wood-fired generator nonetheless represents a big improvement in fuel efficiency from neolithic heating and cooling technology.

For example: The passive cooler and the electric cooler have the same cooling power (meaning, they will cool the same space by the same number of degrees -- down to the passive cooler's minimum, anyway). The passive cooler uses 50 wood and cools for 5 days, for a wood consumption of 10 per cooler-day equivalent (CDE). Electric coolers use 200 W when on, meaning the wood-fired generator can power 5 of them, and its wood consumption is 22 per day. This gives a wood consumption per CDE of 4.4, which is more than a doubling of fuel efficiency! This is very noticeable if you are playing the tribal scenario.

In comparison, the wood/CDE for a chemfuel powered generator is 1.8. Though chemfuel has a labor cost for refining, the lessened workload for your choppers and haulers more than makes up for this; thus, the wood-fired generator is strictly obsolete once you have access to chemfuel.

Wind turbines, the other generator type unlocked by the electricity research, require batteries to provide stable power. As such, they in practice require additional research, which you may not want to wait for. They are also a bigger investment (particularly if you take the need for batteries into account), and require more space and care in their placement.

Conclusion: If you have good access to wood, wood-fired generators are a natural choice for your first generator or two, since they provide stable power with little investment and no need for additional research. Longer-term, the labor cost of chopping down trees and hauling the wood makes the wood-fired generator unattractive compared to non-fueled generators, and it is made obsolete by chemfuel. Since it can be turned off, it can serve as emergency backup after you have made the transition to more efficient generators.

History

  • A15 - Fueled generator will consume fuel faster. Fuel duration 5 days -> 3 days 9 hours.
  • Beta 18 - name changed from fueled generators to wood-fired generators but otherwise identical. This was changed to prevent ambiguity with the Chemfuel powered generator, which was added in the same update.