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O2/H2 Generator
Icon Block O2 H2 Generator

Category: Functional Block
Status: Functional

Function:
This generator produces oxygen and hydrogen from ice.

Fits small ship
Mass: 298 kg
Power: -0.100 MW

Fits large ship and station
Mass: 2587 kg
Power: -0.500 MW

Data Controls: [edit] [purge] (?)

Description[]

The Oxygen/Hydrogen Generator is the main source of both Oxygen and Hydrogen gas, which it generates from Icon Item Ice Ice. The Generator is a keystone block for Engineers planning on long periods of survival in space:

The small-grid landing pod in which players start the game comes with a build-in O2/H2 Generator that is connected to the Survival Kit.

The Oxygen Farm is a slower, alternative source of Oxygen.

Construction[]

Building a O2 H2 Generator is affordable early on as soon as you have access to Icon Item Large Steel Tube Large Steel Tubes (either salvaged, or produced in a Basic Assembler or better).

The large-grid variant is 1x1x2 in size. It has four large conveyor ports, one on each of both 1x1 ends, as well as two on opposing 1x2 sides.

The small-grid variant is 3x3x2. It is similar in port layout to the small-grid oxygen tank, having two small conveyor ports on the same side (spaced one block away from each other), and one large one on the other side -- this means you need to plan ahead how to connect it before placing it. Gas by itself can be piped through small ports, but you will also be using it to refill gas bottles which need large convenyor ports.

Energy Use[]

The block converts ice into oxygen and hydrogen gas while drawing electrical energy at 100 kW for the small-grid, or 500 kW for the large-grid variant, respectively, regardless of actual conversion rate.

When idle, both the large-grid and the small-grid variant draw energy at 1 kW.[1]

How to store gases[]

The generator draws Icon Item Ice Ice through the connected Conveyor system in much the same way the powered Icon Block Refinery Refinery pulls ore through the corresponding Conveyor circuit, and it outputs gases into the conveyor system.

Although not required, gathering the gas in conveyored Hydrogen Tanks and Oxygen Tanks helps with sudden demand spikes.

  • Set the tank to "Stockpile" in order to store gasses.
  • Disable "Stockpile" to transfer gases out of tanks, for example, to allow hydrogen to be used by hydrogen thrusters.

How to fill your Oxygen and Hydrogen bottles[]

  1. Fill the Generator inventory with Ice or conveyor it to an inventory with Ice.
  2. Power the Generator for it to pull and melt the Ice.
  3. Insert empty bottles into the generator.

Tip: Tanks fill Hydrogen and Oxygen Bottles automatically if you enable "Auto Fill bottles" in the conveyored tanks.

Yield and conversion rate[]

The block produces hydrogen and oxygen from ice at yields of 10 L/kg and 5 L/kg, respectively, provided there is drain (ie. storage or consumption) available for both products. If either product has no drain, the production capacity goes to the other: Without hydrogen drain, the block produces 10 L/kg oxygen instead of five, and without oxygen drain, the block produces 20 L/kg hydrogen instead of ten, or anything inbetween if a drain becomes available or unavailable during production.[1][2]

  • The large-grid O2/H2 Generator produces 500 L/s Hydrogen, or 250 L/s Oxygen, or 250 L/s Hydrogen and 125 L/s Oxygen.
  • The small-grid O2/H2 Generator produces 100 L/s Hydrogen, or 50 L/s Oxygen, or 50 L/s Hydrogen and 25 L/s Oxygen.

These are theoretical, averaged figures. In practice, the generator consumes ice in integer chunks of 25 kg (small-grid) and 125 kg (large-grid), producing gas in equally chunked increments. Notably, these chunks are rounded up, meaning that any non-zero amount up to the chunk size converts to the same amount of gas or gasses, as does anything larger than one chunk up to two chunks, and so on. (Reported as bug: [1])

Combination with Hydrogen Engines and Thrusters[]

Large grids[]

  • One O2/H2 Generator is enough to fully supply exactly one Hydrogen Engine.
  • One Large Hydrogen Thruster consumes 4820 L/s, requiring ten O2/H2 Generators to run at full power.[3]
  • One regular Hydrogen Thruster consumes 803.31 L/s, requiring two O2/H2 Generators.[3]

Small grids[]

  • One O2/H2 Generator fully fuels exactly two Hydrogen Engines.[1]
  • One Large Hydrogen Thruster consumes 385.6 L/s, requiring four O2/H2 Generators.[3]
  • One regular Hydrogen Thruster consumes 80.33 L/s, requiring one O2/H2 Generator.[3]


Use in airtight rooms[]

If you have connected up an Air Vent <-> Oxygen Tank <-> Conveyor system <-> O2/H2 Generator, the Generator will melt Ice until all airtight rooms are pressurized and tanks filled. If a Hydrogen Tank is conveyored to the same Generator, Ice will be melted until the Hydrogen Tank is full as well. Hydrogen Tanks require vast amounts of Ice to fill completely, and filling them will use up Ice even after all Oxygen Tanks have already been filled. So if you're short on ice, optimally, keep the oxygen conveyor system and its generator separate from the hydrogen conveyor system and its generator, so can switch the generators on/off to produce one or the other, without the wasteful overproduction that comes with attempting to produce both in parallel. This is essential to understand when making efficient air locks.

Recipe[]

Icon Block O2 H2 Generator O2 H2 Generator
ComponentLarge Ship/Station
Required
Large Ship/Station
Optional
Small Ship
Required
Small Ship
Optional
Icon Item Computer Computer53
Icon Item Motor Motor41
Icon Item Large Steel Tube Large Steel Tube22
Icon Item Construction Comp. Construction Comp.58
Icon Item Steel Plate Steel Plate1101062
Blocks

Functional Blocks

Cockpits & Control
Icon Block Cockpit Cockpit, Icon Block Fighter Cockpit Fighter Cockpit, Icon Block Control Station Control Station, Icon Block Flight Seat Flight Seat, Icon Block Helm Helm, Icon Block Saddle Cockpit Saddle Cockpit, Icon Block Saddle Cockpit Compact Saddle Cockpit Compact, Icon Block Cab Cockpit Cab Cockpit, Icon Block Buggy Cockpit Buggy Cockpit, Icon Block Rover Cockpit Rover Cockpit, Icon Block Passenger Seat Passenger Seat, Icon Block Control Panel Control Panel, Icon Block Control Panel Pedestal Control Panel Pedestal, Icon Block Vertical Button Panel Vertical Button Panel, Icon Block Sci-Fi One-Button Terminal Sci-Fi One-Button Terminal, Icon Block Sci-Fi Four-Button Panel Sci-Fi Four-Button Panel, Icon Block Sci-Fi Control Panel Sci-Fi Control Panel, (Icon Block Inset Button Panel Inset) Icon Block Button Panel Button Panel, Icon Block Button Panel Pedestal Button Panel Pedestal, Icon Block Remote Control Remote Control, Icon Block Custom Turret Controller Custom Turret Controller

Automation
Icon Block Sensor Sensor, Icon Block Timer Block Timer Block, Icon Block Programmable Block Programmable Block, Icon Block Event Controller Event Controller, Icon Block Emotion Controller Emotion Controller, Icon Block AI Basic AI Basic, Icon Block AI Flight AI Flight, Icon Block AI Defensive AI Defensive, Icon Block AI Offensive AI Offensive, Icon Block AI Recorder AI Recorder

Communication
Icon Block Antenna Antenna, Icon Block Beacon Beacon, Icon Block Round Beacon Round Beacon, (Icon Block Top Mounted Camera Top Mounted) Icon Block Camera Camera, Icon Block Laser Antenna Laser Antenna, Icon Block LCD Panel LCD Panel, Icon Block Corner LCD Corner LCD, Icon Block Text Panel Text Panel, Icon Block Wide LCD Panel Wide LCD Panel, Icon Block Transparent LCD Transparent LCD, Icon Block Sci-Fi LCD Panel Sci-Fi LCD Panel, Icon Block Holo LCD Holo LCD, Icon Block Inset LCD Panel Inset LCD Panel, Icon Block Sloped LCD Panel Sloped LCD Panel, Icon Block Curved LCD Panel Curved LCD Panel, Icon Block Ore Detector Ore Detector, Icon Block Sound Block Sound Block

Defense & Offense
Icon Block Decoy Decoy, Icon Block Gatling Gun Gatling Gun, Icon Block Gatling Turret Gatling Turret, Icon Block Interior Turret Interior Turret, Icon Block Rocket Turret Rocket Turret, Icon Block Reloadable Rocket Launcher Reloadable Rocket Launcher, Icon Block Rocket Launcher Rocket Launcher, Icon Block Artillery Artillery, Icon Block Autocannon Autocannon, Icon Block Artillery Turret Artillery Turret, Icon Block Autocannon Turret Autocannon Turret, Icon Block Railgun Railgun, Icon Block Assault Cannon Assault Cannon, Icon Block Assault Cannon Turret Assault Cannon Turret, Icon Block Target Dummy Target Dummy, Icon Block Warhead Warhead, Icon Block Explosive Barrel Explosive Barrel

Power
Icon Block Battery Battery, Icon Block Small Battery Small Battery, Icon Block Large Reactor Large Reactor, Icon Block Small Reactor Small Reactor, Icon Block Solar Panel Solar Panel, Icon Block Colorable Solar Panel Colorable Solar Panel, Icon Block Hydrogen Engine Hydrogen Engine, Icon Block Wind Turbine Wind Turbine, Icon Block Twin-Blade Wind Turbine Twin-Blade Wind Turbine

Life Support
Icon Block Medical Room Medical Room, Icon Block Corner Medical Room Corner Medical Room, Icon Block Survival Kit Survival Kit, Icon Block Cryo Chamber Cryo Chamber, Icon Block Inset Cryo Room Inset Cryo Room, Icon Block Oxygen Farm Oxygen Farm, Icon Block Interior Light Interior Light, Icon Block Offset Light Offset Light, Icon Block Spotlight Spotlight, Icon Block Offset Spotlight Offset Spotlight, Icon Block Inset Light Inset Light, Icon Block Air Vent Air Vent (Icon Block Air Vent Full Full), Icon Block Air Vent Fan Air Vent Fan (Icon Block Air Vent Fan Full Full)

Mobility
Icon Block Gyroscope Gyroscope, Icon Block Atmospheric Thruster Atmospheric Thruster, Icon Block Ion Thruster Ion Thruster, Icon Block Hydrogen Thruster Hydrogen Thruster, Icon Block Parachute Hatch Parachute Hatch, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 1x1 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 1x1 Wheel Suspension 1x1, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 2x2 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 2x2 Wheel Suspension 2x2, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 3x3 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 3x3 Wheel Suspension 3x3, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 5x5 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 5x5 Wheel Suspension 5x5, Icon Block Offroad Wheels Offroad Wheels

Mining & Manufacturing
Icon Block Basic Refinery Basic Refinery, Icon Block Refinery Refinery, Icon Block Basic Assembler Basic Assembler, Icon Block Assembler Assembler, Icon Block Drill Drill, Icon Block Grinder Block Grinder Block, Icon Block Welder Block Welder Block, Icon Block Projector Projector, Icon Block O2 H2 Generator O2/H2 Generator, Icon Block Oxygen Farm Oxygen Farm, Icon Block Yield Module Yield Module, Icon Block Power Efficiency Module Power Efficiency Module, Icon Block Speed Module Speed Module

Storage
Icon Block Large Cargo Container Large Cargo Container, Icon Block Medium Cargo Container Medium Cargo Container, Icon Block Small Cargo Container Small Cargo Container, Icon Block Oxygen Tank Oxygen Tank, Icon Block Hydrogen Tank Hydrogen Tank, Icon Block Store Store, Icon Block Contracts Block Contracts Block

Inventory Management
Icon Block Connector Connector, Icon Block Small Connector Small Connector/Ejector, Icon Block Collector Collector, Icon Block Conveyor Junction Conveyor Junction, Icon Block Conveyor Tube Conveyor Tube Icon Block Reinforced Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Curved Conveyor Tube Curved Conveyor Tube Icon Block Reinforced Curved Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Tube T Junction Conveyor Tube T Junction Icon Block Reinforced Conveyor Tube T Junction (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Sorter Conveyor Sorter; Icon Block Small Conveyor Small Conveyor, Icon Block Small Conveyor Tube Small Conveyor Tube Icon Block Small Reinforced Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Small Curved Conveyor Tube Small Curved Conveyor Tube Icon Block Small Reinforced Curved Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Small Conveyor Tube T Junction Small Conveyor Tube T Junction Icon Block Small Reinforced Conveyor Tube T Junction (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Sorter Small Conveyor Sorter; Icon Block Conveyor Frame Conveyor Frame, Icon Block Conveyor Converter Conveyor Converter

Mechanical Blocks & Gravity Control
Icon Block Advanced Rotor Advanced Rotor, Icon Block Rotor Rotor, Icon Block Piston Piston, Icon Block Hinge Hinge, Icon Block Landing Gear Landing Gear, Icon Block Magnetic Plate Magnetic Plate, Icon Block Merge Block Merge Block, Icon Block Artificial Mass Artificial Mass, Icon Block Gravity Generator Gravity Generator, Icon Block Spherical Gravity Generator Spherical Gravity Generator, Icon Block Safe Zone Safe Zone


References and notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tested with 1.197.064
  2. On large grids, it's about 5-15 L gas per 1000 kg Ice less than it should be, presumably through internal rounding losses. On small grids, the figures appear to be exact.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tested with 1.198.027
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