Calculator Inputs
Formula Used
Eruption fraction = eruption duration ÷ eruption period. Active fraction = active cycles ÷ total activity cycle. Effective rate = eruption rate × boost factor. Captured rate = effective rate × capture efficiency × pressure uptime. Long term average = captured rate × eruption fraction × active fraction.
Heat load = average mass flow × specific heat capacity × temperature difference. The result is shown as kW, because kg/s × kJ/kg/°C × °C equals kJ/s. The page also estimates DTU/s by multiplying kW by 1000.
Dormancy storage = demand per cycle × dormant cycles plus reserve cycles. Storage units needed = dormancy storage ÷ selected unit capacity. Active surplus checks whether the active season can refill that reserve.
How to Use This Calculator
- Analyze the geyser in the game.
- Enter eruption rate, duration, and eruption period.
- Enter active and dormant cycle values.
- Select the output material or choose custom material.
- Add target temperature for cooling estimates.
- Enter expected demand per cycle.
- Press the calculate button.
- Download the result as CSV or PDF.
Example Data Table
| Example Geyser | Rate | Erupts | Active | Dormant | Long Average | Per Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water source sample | 3 kg/s | 300s every 600s | 60 cycles | 40 cycles | 0.900 kg/s | 540 kg |
| Steam source sample | 1 kg/s | 120s every 600s | 50 cycles | 50 cycles | 0.100 kg/s | 60 kg |
| Gas source sample | 0.1 kg/s | 100s every 500s | 80 cycles | 40 cycles | 0.013 kg/s | 8 kg |
Oxygen Not Included Geyser Planning Guide
Geysers Need Careful Planning
Geysers look simple at first. They are not simple in practice. A vent has several timers. It also has a mass rate, a temperature, and periods of silence. A colony plan should include all of those values. This calculator joins them into one long term estimate.
Why the Average Matters
A geyser only emits during eruption windows. Those windows happen inside the active season. After that season, dormancy begins. The useful average is therefore lower than the instant eruption rate. The tool first measures the eruption fraction. It then measures the active fraction. Finally, it applies capture efficiency, pressure uptime, and optional tuning boosts.
Heat and Cooling
Heat and cooling use the same mass result. Hot water, steam, metal, or gas brings energy into the base. The heat load is based on specific heat capacity and the desired target temperature. A positive value means cooling is needed. A negative value means the output is already colder than the target.
Storage and Demand
Storage is often the hidden problem. A colony can seem safe while the geyser is active. It can fail during dormancy. Enter your expected demand per cycle. The calculator compares active surplus against dormant demand. It also reports minimum dormancy storage. Add a reserve if your build needs extra safety.
Advanced Planning Tips
Use real analyzed values from the in game geyser panel. Avoid guessing from the geyser type alone. Two vents of the same type can behave very differently. Keep capture efficiency below one hundred percent when pumps, filters, overflow, or pressure losses are expected. Use the pressure uptime field when the vent sometimes blocks itself.
Resource Matching
For water sources, compare kilograms per cycle with electrolyzer, farm, and research needs. For fuel sources, compare average kilograms per second with generator demand. For very hot sources, inspect active heat load as well as long term heat. Cooling machines must survive peak conditions, not only averages.
Final Build Check
A good design balances output, storage, and heat. It also leaves space for repairs. The numbers here help you size pipes, tanks, turbines, chillers, and buffer rooms before construction starts. Review results after every new analysis. Small timer changes can reshape storage needs and cooling capacity across many later cycles quickly.
FAQs
What does the geyser average output mean?
It is the estimated steady output after eruption timing, active season, dormancy, capture efficiency, and pressure uptime are applied. It helps compare real supply against colony demand.
Why is active output higher than long term output?
Active output ignores dormancy. Long term output includes both active and dormant seasons. A geyser can be strong while active, yet weak across its full cycle.
What should I enter for pressure uptime?
Use 100 when the vent never overpressurizes. Use a lower value when gases, liquids, or chamber pressure often stop the eruption before capture.
How is cooling load calculated?
The calculator multiplies average mass flow by specific heat capacity and temperature difference. This estimates heat that must be removed or added.
Can I calculate volcanoes with this page?
Yes. Select molten metal or custom material. Enter the proper specific heat and density. The mass, storage, and heat formulas still work.
What is capture efficiency?
Capture efficiency estimates losses from blocked tiles, wrong pump timing, overflow, filters, or wasted material. It keeps the result realistic.
Why does storage matter during dormancy?
Dormant geysers produce nothing. Storage lets the colony continue using the resource until the next active season begins.
Can I export the result?
Yes. After calculation, use the CSV button for spreadsheet data. Use the PDF button for a printable planning report.