Heat Pipes/Ventilators

[Kaych]

I have been hearing mention of "heat pipes" on the nacelles, which basically radiate heat from the nacelles. But as we all know, in a vacuum, heat can only be radiated off. I doubt that the heat from plasma and such could be radiated quickly enough to cool down the nacelles. Sure it would help, but would it keep the nacelle from melting? No.

I of course could be wrong, and I would be happy if someone could disprove me.

EDIT: The title of the thread should be Heat Pipe/RADIATORS, not ventilators, sorry

 

[SG-17]

Well for one they are in space. So space is cold. Second do we know what the heat tolerance is for the warp coils?
Plus I believe that they could run air quickly through the nacelle and have it vented out near the end. So the air running quickly along the entire length of the nacelle would gather the heat and they would vent that air into space.
My theory anyway.

 

[Kaych]

Well for one they are in space. So space is cold.

That is actually a misconception. The matter in space is cold, however, there is so little matter, that the chance of you touching one is low. This matter can only cool you down if you touch it. And since its a vacuum, you can only radiate heat off as I said.

Well for one they are in space. So space is cold. Second do we know what the heat tolerance is for the warp coils?
Plus I believe that they could run air quickly through the nacelle and have it vented out near the end. So the air running quickly along the entire length of the nacelle would gather the heat and they would vent that air into space.
My theory anyway.

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. If any one part cannot withstand the heat, then the nacelle is gone.

 

[SG-17]

Well for one they are in space. So space is cold. Second do we know what the heat tolerance is for the warp coils?
Plus I believe that they could run air quickly through the nacelle and have it vented out near the end. So the air running quickly along the entire length of the nacelle would gather the heat and they would vent that air into space.
My theory anyway.

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. If any one part cannot withstand the heat, then the nacelle is gone.

What does that have to do with my theory?

 

[Kaych]

What does that have to do with my theory?

Oh, sorry, I wasn't too clear. I was responding to your commentthat we don't know the heat tolerance is for the warp coils. Cause' if even if the heat tolerance is extremely high, other components might have a lower tolerance, and thus melt, destroyign the nacelle.

In response to your air theory, the air is recycled. IF it was vented into space, where woudl the crew get their air from?

 

[SG-17]

Couldn't they have replicators in the nacelles that only purpose would be to create air for use in cooling?

Wait I forgot didn't they also use plasma coolant?
I remember hearing it on ENT, so they would probably have it in TNG.

 

[treleth]

Interesting topic. I don't really know about this. The thing is, would the coolant cool down the nacelles, or just the plasma?

 

[SG-17]

I do not think it was ever fully explained in canon.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Couldn't they have replicators in the nacelles that only purpose would be to create air for use in cooling?

Replicators don't create matter, they only repurpose it.

 

[Kaych]

I do not think it was ever fully explained in canon.

Fair enough. I guess what I was trying to get to in the OP, was that it's silly for people to say Matt Jeffries' design was better just because he had pipes that served no real purpose. I know some people have said that the new Enterprise sucks because they took form over factor, but in the end, the old model was just as guilty of this as the new one.

 

[SonicRanger]

I know some people have said that the new Enterprise sucks because they took form over factor, but in the end, the old model was just as guilty of this as the new one.

Bingo! You've hit the nail on the head.