Cryogenic plant

The cryogenic plant is a late-game assembling machine specialized for cryogenic and planetary-scale chemistry. It is unlocked by the Cryogenic plant research and is used for making Fluoroketone, cryogenic science pack components, fusion equipment, and several Aquilo-related chemical processes. It also serves as a crafting machine for some recipes normally handled by an assembler or chemical plant, including sulfur processing, batteries, plastics, and steam condensation.

Several recipes are exclusive to the cryogenic plant, most notably both Fluoroketone recipes and the fusion and railgun production chain. It can craft Fluoroketone (hot) from solid fuel, Lithium, Fluorine, and Ammonia, then cool it into Fluoroketone (cold). It also makes Fusion power cells, Railguns, Railgun turrets, Cryogenic science packs, Fusion reactors, Fusion generators, Captive biter spawners, and Promethium science packs. Among these, some are tied to specific surfaces or research: the cryogenic science pack and fusion machines are crafted on Aquilo, the captive biter spawner is crafted on Nauvis, and the Promethium science pack is crafted on a space platform.

In addition to its exclusive recipes, the cryogenic plant can perform a wide selection of production and chemistry recipes, including its own construction recipe. It can craft Ammoniacal solution separation, Solid fuel from ammonia, Ammonia rocket fuel, Lithium, Sulfur, Sulfuric acid, Explosives, Plastic bar, Battery, Carbon, Steam condensation, and Acid neutralisation. The machine is especially important on Aquilo, where several of these recipes are required for progression and where Ammonia, Fluoroketone, and Lithium processing are centered.

A few practical points stand out:

• The cryogenic plant can be used for recipes that would otherwise require an assembler or chemical plant, but only for the recipes it supports.
• Some recipes are surface-specific and must be crafted on Aquilo, Nauvis, or a space platform as listed above.
• For progression planning, the cryogenic plant is a key bottleneck machine because it gates Fluoroketone production and several advanced military and space recipes.
• Its productivity scaling can be extremely high: a cryogenic plant with 8 legendary productivity module 3s reaches +200% productivity, exceeding the +150% productivity of a biochamber with maximum legendary productivity module 3s.