A new version is coming...
First Edit...MotivationI like power plants … especially thermal power plants. So I decided to make a power plant simulator (kind off..)
The “process” of generating power in a thermal power station is “very simple” – heat water to steam, then drive it through a steam turbine which shaft is connect to a power generator. The “rotation” of the shaft “produces” electricity. Simple is it not?
Game Mechanics / GameplayIt's intended to be a power station simulator but at simpler level.
The objective of the game is to maintain a specific power rate during a specific amount of time (not implemented yet) coping with part fault’s and maintaining everything working properly (there’ll be warnings/signals to help you).
I thought in making each level corresponding to working day/shift, with repair/upgrade possibility for several parts, on the after-shift debriefing screen, but isn’t clear if that’s the way to go…
Each working day/shift you must control:
- coal silos level,
- coal mills (on/off),
- coal rate into the boiler (trough coal mills),
- the drum, hot-well and feedwater tank levels
- hot-well and feedwater pumps (on/off)
- steam, feedwater and hot-well valves (regulate water/steam flow)
to ensure that plant is operating between acceptable levels (green marks in the dials) at each power rate.
The power rate is controlled by opening/closing the steam valve, the delivers the steam to the steam turbines hence rotating the shaft that’s connect to the power generator.
As you open/close the steam valve pressure and water level decreases/increases. The correct levels are 150 bar for drum pressure and 50% for drum level.
To sustain the pressure in the drum you must control the rate of coal that’s burned in the boiler. To sustain the drum level, you must feed water into the drum by opening/closing the feedwater valve and with, at least, one feedwater pump on.
As your power plant generates, the steam that goes through the turbines ends up at the condenser, turning from steam to liquid, filling the hot well. You must maintain, the hotwell level 50% is the operating level) by opening/closing the hotwell valve and with, at least, one hotwell pump on.
Also, as you feed water to the drum, you must watch the feedwater tank level (50% is the operating level) that depends on the “balance” of water inflow from the hotwell and water outflow feeding the drum.
As you burn coal your coal silo’s level drop and so you much also maintain the desired silo level. You can fill in the silo by (1) selecting the silo (1st knob form the left at the silos panel) and turn on the silo feeder (2nd knob from the left at the silos panel). Be careful no the fill them too much and it take some time for the feeder to stop…
To help you it’ll be available some automatic controls (you’ll have to “buy” them later in the game – not clear):
- steam valve auto – that keeps pressure at 150 bar,
- feedwater valve auto – that keeps drum level at 50%,
- hot-well valve auto – that keeps hot-well at 50%.
This is the “core” of the game…
Game screen
Quick start up sequence1. Check silos levels (~80%) a bit high (that ok to start)
2. Turn on coal mills (turn each mill knob to green position)
3. Turn on feedwater pump 1
4. Turn on hotwell pump 1
5. Turn on automatics (steam, feedwater and hotwell)
6. Increase rate of mill n1 (M1) to ~20% (2nd mark on the upper dial next to M1 on/off knob)
7. Wait until pressure builds up to 150 bar (green mark at drum panel, pressure dial)
8. Once it gets there, you are free to increase/decrease coal rate at the remaining mills to achieve the desired power rate.
More gameplay ideas (tbd)- Fault handling – Each part starts to degrade and so you’ll be wise to maintain it. You will be doing it, at a cost, between levels/shifts (working day). If not, the change of fault will rise to the point off failure.
- Maintenance team – If you have sufficient workers in the maintenance team you’ll to repair it during the level at a quicker pace.
- Upgrades – You will start with slower valves, slow start/stop time pumps and mills, low capacity silos, etc… As you complete game levels you will earn credits that you can spend in upgrades (and maintenance).
- Tutorial levels – On the first 3 levels (work days) you will be attending just a specific part of the plant. 1st day coal silos, 2nd day valve’s controls and 3rd day the coal rate into the boiler. After, you’ll have to control everything together…
TechnicalCoding in HaxeFlixel and using Gimp for pixel-art.
DevlogAh, the tile name isn't closed yet...
This is an hobby so I suspect it will take ages to finish this project.
Also, not quite sure that I'm on the right track...
Well, that’s it… so, any thoughts, suggestions, comments, etc… on any aspect of the game, they would be much appreciated!
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