I'm working on a video that will explain how the systems work on the original Enterprise based on onscreen evidence. As part of this I'm creating some diagrams to help illustrate who these systems work. This is my first draft for the warp drive fuel flow pattern. Basically a small amount of matter and anti-matter fuel flows from the nacelles into reactor number 3. The output of this reactor controls the matter anti-matter reaction of reactors 1 and 2 in the nacelles(the domes). In future diagrams I'll be showing how the power systems work.
Nice TOS-style diagram. The "bypass" in dialog was, "The emergency bypass control of the matter-antimatter integrator is fused." Though it may apply to just the antimatter fuel, it may also be a single control valve that shunts/bypasses both fuels at the same time. Just a thought.
Yes, I considered that too. The reason I did it this way is because when Losira describes the function of the bypass it is specifically related to anti-matter. Though, I could easily be convinced to have it apply to both the matter and anti-matter fuel lines. Additionally, right now it's designed as a vent, I might provide a path back to the anti matter tanks rather than just venting it into space.
I did a bunch of the TOS style displays for the Weapons & Defense station for "The Tressaurian Intersection", and it's fun to try to make stuff that looks of a piece with the original show's displays.
I was thinking of another fuel cycle; call it a staged system or two stage system. The smaller M/AM reactor in secondary hull energizes a warp plasma. It also powers the main energizers for ship power. In order for this reactor to operate without a huge external power supply to control/confine the reaction, the reaction occurs inside dilithium crystals to reduce the confinement requirements. The first stage warp plasma powers the confinement equipment for the two bigger M/AM reactors in the nacelles (under the big orange domes). (Sort of like needing an atomic bomb to ignite a bigger fusion bomb, or better, similar to today's nuclear reactors which use two steam loops: the first one runs inside the reactor to the heat exchanger; and the second one runs from the heat exchanger to the turbines). Being in the hull near crew, the first reactor is designed to produce low radiation and other byproduct subatomic particles. The larger M/AM in the nacelles produce even more power to produce a more powerful, second stage, super plasma to drive the warp engines. The resulting radiation and subatomic particles (possibly these subatomic stuff is needed to generate the warp field?) are extreme, thus are located far away from the habitable areas of the ship. The faster the warp factor, more power is needed from both stages. The secondary hull reactor may be able the run the warp engines but only at low warp speed on its own. Lose this reactor, and the nacelle M/AM reactors can't function and you lose the warp drive. Lose the dilithium crystals and the first stage M/AM reactor can't function. Impulse power is unable (too low or it also needs all the matter/antimatter subatomic particles) to create a warp factor/threshold. If the warp engines create warp fields by warping space using huge gravity emitters (call them warp coils), then the lower power from the impulse systems may be able to partially run the gravity emitters to create an Alcubierre drive, giving FTL speeds (~10 c) without the M/AM systems nor breaching a warp threshold. (probably how the Romulan ship gets around in BOT by using her impulse power plants to power its gravity coils in each nacelle making an Alcubierre drive.)
Great analysis. I'm still not convinced that dilithium crystals were used in a reaction. My thoughts so far have been that the dilithium crystals provided the energy for perhaps the confinement of reactor three (the "primer reactor"/the smaller one). I like the idea of reactor three powering the confinement of the reactors 1&2. I was thinking something similar and that the spinning effect we see is actually the plasma circulating under the outer skin of the reactors. Something else that I've been trying to figure out is Hoe the cold start thing factors into it. In "The Naked Time" we learn that matter and anti-matter can't be mixed cold. There is some super special formula that connects time and antimatter that let's Matter and Anti-matter mix cold in a controlled implosion. So I'm trying to figure out how this all works with being able to create a controlled implosion.
Just a note. but I think it would say "space warp drive" as that's what they called it at first before the "space" was spaced and is probably what Jefferies would have put on such a display for the pilot.
That's true. And I considered that. But there is one reference where Spock calls it a star drive. That gave it enough of that "early production strangeness" vibe that I went with it.
Keeping in the above themes, I thought that I would modify the diagram to incorporate some ideas from both TOS and TAS (and a little ENT) where there may be a "matter nacelle" and a "antimatter nacelle" providing for "regenerated" fuels. I also expanded Reactor 3 to: combine (not react) the M/AM fuels in the "M/AM Integrator" via use of the "Dilithium Crystal Assembly", then react the combined fuel streams in a controlled manner in the "M/AM Reaction Chamber", then flow the reactant plasma through the "Plasm Manifold" (the pipe cathedral) to extract power for the ship's EPS Grid and combine/concentrate the flow into the "Warp Plasma". We have all speculated on the purpose/function of the Dilithium Crystals. My technobabble theory is that only the matter stream is directed through or bounced off the magic rock to flip the subatomic magnetic spin of the fuel without affecting its electrical charge. The result is a matter stream that magnetically repels antimatter. The integrator applies an external magnetic field to confine them into an intertwined combined stream (a longer version of this in the future can be called an "intermix shaft"). The combined fuel stream is transported into a horizontal M/AM Reaction Chamber were at five node points, pulsating magnet fields squeeze and force the two fuels together causing small controlled reactions. The resulting reactions generate ten lower power plasma streams transferred up through the Plasma Manifold (pipe structure). The lower portion of the manifold is used to transfer power to the ship's EPS Grid. The upper portion of the manifold combines separate streams into one high-power plasma or "Warp Plasma". The warp plasma is used to power the massive confinement systems of the M/AM Reactors in each Nacelle. These reactors directly inject regular matter and antimatter together causing powerful explosive reactions. The resulting super-charged, warp plasma is sent into the huge warp engines (warp coils or whatever) to give the space-warp propulsion system. The energy-depleted plasma is recovered/recycled to "regenerate" the matter and antimatter fuels via some other magic processes (possibly a gigantic replicator). YMMV .
Beautiful work! Are we lucky enough to have more systems diagrams coming through your hands, or are you sticking to refining this (major) one for the time being?
Hey that's a great modification. I debated including TAS. But I don't consider it canon so I ulitmated decided not to include it. Also the live action series potentially contradicts TAS by referring to anti-matter pods rather than just one. I'm still not convinced the dilithium has anything to do with the matter/anti-matter reaction. But I still need to do more research. Yes, I'll be working on this some more and I have some great revisions coming. I'll probably be working on some other as time allows. I've been busy with some other projects lately. But I think I can whip this one out pretty quickly.
The Script Search is down right now, but I too will do more homework on TOS plural references on antimatter pods, etc. Possible, but it does shutdown the warp drive/warp power without them. Maybe they are not part of the direct M/AM reaction, but the M/AM reactor(s) can't operate without them. In Elaan of Troyius, they showed a burned out spot like a beam was focused on the center spot of the crystal suggesting it is in contact with either a high powered plasma beam or an energy/electrical beam.
Yes, I agree with that. The dilithium is needed for the warp drive to function. In my mind I picture the energy from the dilithium almost like a pilot light for the smaller reactor in the engineer hull. But that's just a rough analogy at this point, and not necessarily well thought through. Yes I need to research that episode and some others. I also need to figure out how the controlled implosion in "The Naked Time" fits into this.
From The Apple: SCOTT: We're losing potency in our antimatter pods.Yep, more than one antimatter pod. There could be more than one antimatter storage pods or tanks on the ship. Later, Kirk adds, KIRK: We'll do the walking, Scotty. You get on the antimatter pod. If it gets worse, let me know, we'll beam up. Kirk out.Singular pod; thanks for the confusion, Kirk. Maybe Shatner read the line wrong. And later, SCOTT [OC]: Scott, sir. Our antimatter pods are completely inert.Sigh, back to plural pods, again. And last, KIRK: Scotty, is the transporter malfunction tied in with trouble you're having with the antimatter pods?Get your story straight, Kirk. And after Vaal is dead, SCOTT: Tractor beam gone. Potency returning to antimatter pods. From Bread and Circuses: SPOCK: No doubt about it, Captain. The space debris comes from the survey vessel SS Beagle. KIRK: Missing for six years, and now this junk in space. SPOCK: Portions of the antimatter nacelles, personal belongings. Captain, no signs of bodies whatsoever.Assumes that the Beagle has a similar design with two warp engines like the Enterprise which is supported by most TOS ships. Nacelles are clearly the two big things on the rear of the ship. From The Doomsday Machine: WASHBURN: We made a complete check on structural and control damage, sir. As far as we can tell, something crashed through the deflectors and knocked out the generators. Somehow the antimatter in the warp drive pods has been deactivated.Here, all we know is that antimatter is used in each warp drive nacelle, also referred to as pods. Kind of splitting hairs. Conclusion: Both warp drive nacelles are the antimatter nacelles or pods. Theories: No matter fuel is (re)generated in the nacelles, only antimatter. If the M/AM reactor in the engineering hull is used to generate a highly charged plasma, then the plasma itself is matter fuel, hence, only antimatter is needed to react with it in the warp engines. The antimatter reacts with the warp plasma to generate the power in the warp engines. The dilithium crystal(s) could be used after the reaction to convert/transfer the energy into the warp plasma like spark plugs. I can think of many other options including a secondary plasma medium for ship power (sort of like with a nuclear reactor where the nuclear reaction heats up a water or salt medium and runs through a heat exchanger to heat water into steam to power turbines), etc. I plan to whip out diagram mod's later tomorrow.
Yes, those quotes were my recollection as well. And two reasons by I'm hesitant to think that "anti-matter pods" refers to storage tanks is that: 1. It just adds confusion. 2. In "Obsession" the storage tank they use to transport the anti-matter down to the planet is referred to as an "anti-matter unit" and an "anti-matter container", but never as an "anti-matter pod". While not conclusive, I think it points to a trend. Also from that same episode I noticed this line: KIRK: Antimatter seems our only possibility. SPOCK: An ounce should be sufficient. We can drain it from the ship's engines and transport it to the planet surface in a magnetic vacuum field. The anti-matter they needed was to be drained from where? The ships engines. Same conclusion here. That's an interesting thought that the plasma is the "matter fuel" for the nacelles. That would make sense in a way. Something I just thought of. Perhaps matter/anti-matter in Reactor 3 runs rich with matter. So the "matter fuel" taken up to Reactors 1 & 2 is really highly-energized-matter (matter + plasma). Then the antimatter in the pods reacts with that to create basically super-duper warp plasma. Maybe this could be related to the situation in "The Naked Time" when they can't restart the engines cold. What they mean is that you can't just dump straight matter and anti-matter into nacelle reactors, becasue it would destabilize and explode. You have to first heat up the matter fuel, basically mix it in a rich ratio in Reactor 1. Then you need to use this "hot matter" fuel to "prime the pump", as it were, for 30 minutes in the nacelle reactors before you can start them up. I'm still not sure how the "controlled implosion" thing works but maybe this is a step in the right direction.
Exactly my thoughts. Another issue is that this mode burns matter fuel without some sort of regeneration. The secondary hull would need to be filled with matter fuel. If the M/AM reaction(s) is highly efficient, then maybe it carries years worth of fuel. Even though never mentioned in TOS, the Enterprise should be able to refuel the matter fuel from either space gas, or from solar wind gases near stars, or directly out of gas giant planets if available. In TAS, when the ship needed matter fuel, Scotty said it was no problem because they could beam planetary debris outside the ship via the transporter. I guess there could a large quantity of hydrogen/deuterium in frozen ice chunks out there. I would put a matter processing plant inside the secondary hull to separate/purify deuterium fuel from whatever they suck up. The only limits are external matter sources and the time to process new matter fuel. When the warp drive is down as seen on screen, the move to the Impulse Engines burns up the its "fuel" (be it hydrogen or deuterium or more likely some exotic technobabble fuel) at an extreme rate. In WNMHGB, Mudd's Women and The Doomsday Machine, the Enterprise was running out of gas, and even when near a planet or among planetary debris, it didn't appear she could replace her Impulse Engine fuel. She was doomed without her warp engines. One example of an possibly alternate fuel is from The Devil In The Dark; they ran a pergium production station on Janus Six. Pergium was used in Federation reactors to run life support systems on dozens of planets including the one on Janus Six. Just an option...
Sorry for the double Post. I whipped this one up fairly quickly. Basically, I took one of the display screens from the Enterprises bridge engineering station and explained it. I want to head a bit more in this direction by utilizing both on screen displays and ones I create myself. My take is that this display is an overview of the Anti-matter systems in the Pods. I've added labels to help explain everything. Please note that in my interpretation the lines don't necessarily equate to physical conduits, but rather indicated connectivity. Here we have the antimatter fuel in the pods. In this diagram the fuel flows to five places: 1. The main reactor in each nacelle. 2. The M/AM premix. I just made this up. It's never mentioned) 3.The Anti-Matter reclamation system. 4. The other nacelle. This diagram doesn't show the anti-matter fuel flowing to reactor 3. My explanation for this is that this diagram is mainly a perspective of the nacelle systems and not the warp systems, nor is it a fuel flow diagram. Reactor 3 outputs "hot matter" to the M/AM premix. Perhaps this intermixes just a bit of antimatter in with the "hot matter", but I'm open to other ideas. The majority of anti-matter fuel is dedicated to the reaction that takes place in Reactors 1 and 2. The anti-matter reclamation system is connected to the Anti-matter fuel regeneration system as well as the radiation capture and disposal system. The radiation then goes through the processing system before the byproducts are vented into space. Those systems are of course connected to the master energy system for each pod. Any thoughts or comments?
Super job. I love it. The warp nacelles contain all the primarily antimatter systems. (By inference, all the matter systems are in the engineering hull.) Good idea that secondary antimatter systems in the engineering hull are not displayed in the warp engine centric diagram. The M/AM reaction should burn up the antimatter resulting in energy (heat, x-rays, gamma rays) and subatomic particles. Add in extra matter, then you get ionized plasma matter. Output is a mix of ionized plasma plus subatomic particles. Is this the definition of "warp plasma"? Send to warp engines and react again with more antimatter. YMMV . Pipe Structure is the plasma manifold. Multiple output ports on the third M/AM reactor are directed into the bottom of manifold and funneled into one conduit of one concentrated warp plasma stream at the top of the manifold. The lower portion has divided plasma conduits at lower power for easier charge transfer to the ship's EPS Grid. The main warp plasma conduit runs to each warp engine, and also runs up into the saucer to directly power the Impulse Engines and other high power systems like phasers, shields and deflectors. A second pipe structure is in the saucer to down step the warp power stream into multiple divided streams for easier power transfer to the ship's EPS Grid, i.e. the reverse of its function in the engineering hull. Hence, two engineering areas with a pipe structure; one in the saucer and one in the engineering hull.