How to create a solid-liquid tandem power system.

[Kthedude]

I would like to start by saying I'm using a custom mod pack that uses tekkit lite mods as well as forestry and railcraft.

I would like to know if there is some way to set up a system that would pump a solid fuel (like charcoal) into a power generator (in my case a steam boiler) and have it stop pumping in fuel once the fuel runs out. Upon running out of solid fuel, I would like it to start pumping liquid fuel (like refined oil) into a power generator (in my case still a steam boiler). Upon running out of liquid fuel it would switch again back to solid fuel, and continue this cycle on and on again.

My first thought was to use gates on buildcraft pipes to detect the presence of fuel in the liquid system, but I have no idea how to set up a detection in the solid system, nor how to link the two together. All help is appreciated!

[okamikk]

i guess you could use buildcraft gates...

[Kthedude]

I was thinking I could as well, but I don't know if I want to use buildcraft pipes for the solid fueled system because once the boiler got full, the items would start spilling out of the pipe.

[Nirreln]

use gates and pipe wire to control it better

[Industrial Miner]

This would be VERY inefficiënt, because you'd have to heat the boiler once it has cooled down.

And you would not get any power during the heatup. So just keep pumping in fuel and store the energy instead.

[holymage!]

you could use a logistics supplier pipe to keep a stack of whatever it is you need in your boiler...

EDIT: you can also use managers from redpower

[Kthedude]

This would be VERY inefficiënt, because you'd have to heat the boiler once it has cooled down.

And you would not get any power during the heatup. So just keep pumping in fuel and store the energy instead.

I would love to keep the system just running, but I currently don't produce enough fuel to keep the boiler full (I'm working on it) so if I don't turn it off, it'll just cool down on it's own, and waste all new fuel by trying, and failing, to heat back up to boiling temperature.

I also won't run out of power while it's heating up because I have redstone energy cells that store excess power and will feed the system while it warms up.

you could use a logistics supplier pipe to keep a stack of whatever it is you need in your boiler...

EDIT: you can also use managers from redpower

I hadn't thought of the logistics pipe. That emits a redstone signal when it runs out of resources if you add a gate to it, correct? This would allow me to have it switch to liquid when it runs out.

[holymage!]

I would love to keep the system just running, but I currently don't produce enough fuel to keep the boiler full (I'm working on it) so if I don't turn it off, it'll just cool down on it's own, and waste all new fuel by trying, and failing, to heat back up to boiling temperature.

I also won't run out of power while it's heating up because I have redstone energy cells that store excess power and will feed the system while it warms up.

I hadn't thought of the logistics pipe. That emits a redstone signal when it runs out of resources if you add a gate to it, correct? This would allow me to have it switch to liquid when it runs out.

IF you add a gate yes...

i found a MASSIVE (like my framerate drops when i enter the chunk because my computer can't render graphics (crap top)) so i got a 5*5*4 iron tank competely full of fuel...and still got more to go...

[Kthedude]

i found a MASSIVE (like my framerate drops when i enter the chunk because my computer can't render graphics (crap top)) so i got a 5*5*4 iron tank competely full of fuel...and still got more to go...

Found a massive what exactly? Lag? Oil Spout?

[holymage!]

Found a massive what exactly? Lag? Oil Spout?

oil....which created a lot of lag

sorry i went to bed a 4am and got up a couple hours later to travel....