Steam

Steam is a fluid resource used in the game's thermal power systems and steam-driven machinery. It is produced by Boilers and consumed by Steam Turbines and other steam-using structures; Steam is handled as a rate-based fluid (litres per second) rather than discrete inventory items.

Steam is measured in Litres per second (L/s) when discussing generation and consumption. A single Boiler is designed to supply up to 60 L/s of Steam, which matches the full operating requirement of one Steam Turbine rated at 3.6 MW. Boilers convert fuel energy into Steam at a fixed production rate when supplied with sufficient fuel power; Turbines convert flowing Steam into electrical power while consuming Steam at their rated throughput.

Practical notes and interactions:

• One Boiler is sufficient to fully supply one Steam Turbine because both are balanced at 60 L/s Steam flow for maximum output.
• Fuel planning for Steam production must account for Boiler energy requirements. Boiler burn rates vary by fuel type; fuels with higher energy per unit reduce the frequency of refueling but do not change the Steam flow cap of a single Boiler.
• When scaling steam power, match Boiler count to Turbine count on a roughly 1:1 basis unless you accept partial loading or plan to buffer Steam flow with intermediate storage/pipe arrangements.
• Steam is transported through the fluid piping system and is subject to the same flow and throughput constraints as other fluids; ensure pipe capacity and layout avoid bottlenecks if multiple Boilers or Turbines share a network.
• Monitoring Steam flow (L/s) rather than accumulated volume gives an accurate picture of whether Boilers and Turbines are balanced and whether fuel supply is adequate for continuous operation.