Energy and work - Revision history

Thrawcheld: /* Types of work */ use in game terminology: avatar → character; solar panels IRL have non-trivial efficiency but it's not melted

2026-02-09T01:03:09Z

Types of work: use in game terminology: avatar → character; solar panels IRL have non-trivial efficiency but it's not melted

Thrawcheld: /* Types of energy */ roboports and a bunch of other armour modules also have charge, edibles also have food energy, and technical correction re damage

2026-02-09T00:46:11Z

Types of energy: roboports and a bunch of other armour modules also have charge, edibles also have food energy, and technical correction re damage

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:46, 9 February 2026
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	* [[Electric system\|Electricity]] taken from the electric network. In addition to active power consumption, appliances have a '''drain''', the power they consume even when not working as long as they're connected to the power network. For example:		* [[Electric system\|Electricity]] taken from the electric network. In addition to active power consumption, appliances have a '''drain''', the power they consume even when not working as long as they're connected to the power network. For example:
	** An [[assembling machine 1]] has drain 3 kW and power consumption 90 kW. It consumes 3 kJ per second while not working, and 93 kJ per second while working.		** An [[assembling machine 1]] has drain 3 kW and power consumption 90 kW. It consumes 3 kJ per second while not working, and 93 kJ per second while working.
	* Charge in [[accumulator]]s, [[Personal battery\|~~battery armor modules~~]], and ~~flying robots~~.		* Charge in [[accumulator]]s, [[roboport]]s, flying robots, [[Personal battery\|personal batteries]], [[personal roboport]]s, and [[energy shield]]s.

	Abstractly, energy also exists as:		Abstractly, energy also exists as:
	* The potential energy of a piece of ore or unit of oil/water on the ground or on/in a belt/pipe, compared to the same piece/unit under the ground/in the sea.		* The potential energy of a piece of ore or unit of oil/water on the ground or on/in a belt/pipe, compared to the same piece/unit under the ground/in the sea.
	* Kinetic energy in robots, vehicles, and ~~items~~, and the player's avatar while moving.		* Kinetic energy in robots, vehicles, items, and fluids, and the player's avatar while moving.
	* The ~~damage dealt by~~ weapons, vehicles and fire.		* The energy of weapons, vehicles and fire that they use to do work in the form of damage.
	* The additional order (i.e. reduced entropy) in an assembled item compared to its components.		* The additional order (i.e. reduced entropy) in an assembled item compared to its components.
			* The food energy of consumables (raw fish, jellynuts{{SA}}, etc.).

	== Types of work ==		== Types of work ==

Ickputzdirwech: category

2023-09-24T19:00:37Z

Ubehr: /* Types of work */ pronoun

2021-12-12T20:21:54Z

Types of work: pronoun

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 12 December 2021
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	== Types of work ==		== Types of work ==
	One can observe work being done in Factorio in numerous ways. Mostly these are abstract and not measured in game in joules. For example:		One can observe work being done in Factorio in numerous ways. Mostly these are abstract and not measured in game in joules. For example:
	* The player avatar moving ~~his~~ body and equipment around, mining, building, and crafting, performs work. Unlike in real life, this doesn't require any energy (i.e. your avatar doesn't need to eat); its efficiency is therefore infinite. On the other hand, biters and their spawners apparently absorb pollution and use its energy to move, bite, spit, and reproduce.		* The player avatar moving their body and equipment around, mining, building, and crafting, performs work. Unlike in real life, this doesn't require any energy (i.e. your avatar doesn't need to eat); its efficiency is therefore infinite. On the other hand, biters and their spawners apparently absorb pollution and use its energy to move, bite, spit, and reproduce.
	* Transport belts and offshore pumps perform work by moving their contents from one place to another. [[Turret]]s perform work by rotating to aim and pulling the trigger. Unrealistically, but as a conscious design decision, none of these require a source of energy, and so their efficiency is also infinite.		* Transport belts and offshore pumps perform work by moving their contents from one place to another. [[Turret]]s perform work by rotating to aim and pulling the trigger. Unrealistically, but as a conscious design decision, none of these require a source of energy, and so their efficiency is also infinite.
	* Turrets (and other projectiles) also perform work by converting the chemical energy of a bullet's propellant to kinetic energy in the bullet itself, which itself proceeds to do work in the form of damage. [[Laser turret]]s convert electricity into damage rather more directly. [[Flamethrower]]s and [[flamethrower turret]]s convert the chemical energy of oil into damage.		* Turrets (and other projectiles) also perform work by converting the chemical energy of a bullet's propellant to kinetic energy in the bullet itself, which itself proceeds to do work in the form of damage. [[Laser turret]]s convert electricity into damage rather more directly. [[Flamethrower]]s and [[flamethrower turret]]s convert the chemical energy of oil into damage.

Shopt: Remove outdated boiler efficiency information

2021-07-13T10:54:24Z

Remove outdated boiler efficiency information

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, 13 July 2021
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	The types of work that ''are'' measured in joules in game are:		The types of work that ''are'' measured in joules in game are:
	* [[Boiler]]s convert the chemical energy of fuel into heat, which it transfers into [[water]] to produce [[steam]]~~. Boilers have an efficiency of 50%, meaning half the energy of the fuel is wasted rather than put into steam~~.		* [[Boiler]]s convert the chemical energy of fuel into heat, which it transfers into [[water]] to produce [[steam]].
	* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.		* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.
	* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.		* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.

BilkaBot: Changed links going to the redirect Battery MK1 to go to Personal battery.

2018-09-22T10:43:19Z

Changed links going to the redirect Battery MK1 to go to Personal battery.

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 22 September 2018
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	* [[Electric system\|Electricity]] taken from the electric network. In addition to active power consumption, appliances have a '''drain''', the power they consume even when not working as long as they're connected to the power network. For example:		* [[Electric system\|Electricity]] taken from the electric network. In addition to active power consumption, appliances have a '''drain''', the power they consume even when not working as long as they're connected to the power network. For example:
	** An [[assembling machine 1]] has drain 3 kW and power consumption 90 kW. It consumes 3 kJ per second while not working, and 93 kJ per second while working.		** An [[assembling machine 1]] has drain 3 kW and power consumption 90 kW. It consumes 3 kJ per second while not working, and 93 kJ per second while working.
	* Charge in [[accumulator]]s, [[~~Battery MK1~~\|battery armor modules]], and flying robots.		* Charge in [[accumulator]]s, [[Personal battery\|battery armor modules]], and flying robots.

	Abstractly, energy also exists as:		Abstractly, energy also exists as:

Bilka: Bilka moved page Energy and Work to Energy and work: Page names are Upper lower lower, regardless of nouns

2018-07-31T07:58:35Z

Bilka moved page Energy and Work to Energy and work: Page names are Upper lower lower, regardless of nouns

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:58, 31 July 2018
(No difference)

Kurax: a better link

2018-07-11T12:21:22Z

a better link

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:21, 11 July 2018
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	== Types of energy ==		== Types of energy ==
	Energy is available as:		Energy is available as:
	* [[Fuel]]. The energy contained in a unit of fuel is described as its ''fuel energy''. Each [[~~Fuel#~~Burner devices ~~to be fueled directly~~\|building or vehicle that can be fuelled]] generally consumes fuel at a rate according to its power rating as long as it's working. For example:		* [[Fuel]]. The energy contained in a unit of fuel is described as its ''fuel energy''. Each [[Burner devices\|building or vehicle that can be fuelled]] generally consumes fuel at a rate according to its power rating as long as it's working. For example:
	** A car's power is 250 kW, meaning it consumes 250 kJ worth of fuel per second while it's accelerating (or driving at maximum speed).		** A car's power is 250 kW, meaning it consumes 250 kJ worth of fuel per second while it's accelerating (or driving at maximum speed).
	** [[Nuclear reactor]]s consume uranium fuel cells at a rate of 40 MW. Like most other fueled appliances, this is constant as long as it has fuel to consume.		** [[Nuclear reactor]]s consume uranium fuel cells at a rate of 40 MW. Like most other fueled appliances, this is constant as long as it has fuel to consume.

Thrawcheld: /* Types of work */ another red link (oops)

2018-02-06T03:52:55Z

Types of work: another red link (oops)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:52, 6 February 2018
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	* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.		* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.
	* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.		* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.
	* [[Solar ~~cell~~]]s convert sunlight into electricity. ("Sunlight" isn't an expendible resource, so this effectively has infinite efficiency.)		* [[Solar panel]]s convert sunlight into electricity. ("Sunlight" isn't an expendible resource, so this effectively has infinite efficiency.)

	== Waste and pollution: differences from real physics ==		== Waste and pollution: differences from real physics ==

Thrawcheld: /* Types of work */ fix some red links (oops)

2018-02-06T03:49:49Z

Types of work: fix some red links (oops)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 6 February 2018
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	* Vehicles ([[car]]s, [[tank]]s and [[train]]s) convert the chemical energy of fuel into kinetic energy (i.e. motion). When they collide with things, they convert some of this kinetic energy into damage (which is why they then slow down).		* Vehicles ([[car]]s, [[tank]]s and [[train]]s) convert the chemical energy of fuel into kinetic energy (i.e. motion). When they collide with things, they convert some of this kinetic energy into damage (which is why they then slow down).
	* [[Inserters]] and (non-offshore) [[pump]]s perform work by moving items and fluids from one place to another. This requires energy, either in the form of fuel (for a [[burner inserter]]) or electricity (for other types).		* [[Inserters]] and (non-offshore) [[pump]]s perform work by moving items and fluids from one place to another. This requires energy, either in the form of fuel (for a [[burner inserter]]) or electricity (for other types).
	* [[Burner ~~miner~~]]s and [[electric mining drill]]s convert energy (in fuel and electricity respectively) into potential energy held by a piece of ore on the ground; [[pumpjack]]s do the same thing to put crude oil in a pipe.		* [[Burner mining drill]]s and [[electric mining drill]]s convert energy (in fuel and electricity respectively) into potential energy held by a piece of ore on the ground; [[pumpjack]]s do the same thing to put crude oil in a pipe.
	* [[Lab]]s perform work by converting science packs and electricity into research.		* [[Lab]]s perform work by converting science packs and electricity into research.
	* Machines that produce items, converting input products into output products ([[refinery\|refineries]], [[assembling ~~machines~~]] etc.), do work by assembling the components into a more ordered form, as a product. The resulting increase in order is a form of potential energy. Most use electricity to do this; the major exceptions are [[stone furnace]]s and [[steel furnace]]s.		* Machines that produce items, converting input products into output products ([[Oil refinery\|refineries]], [[assembling machine]]s etc.), do work by assembling the components into a more ordered form, as a product. The resulting increase in order is a form of potential energy. Most use electricity to do this; the major exceptions are [[stone furnace]]s and [[steel furnace]]s.

	The types of work that ''are'' measured in joules in game are:		The types of work that ''are'' measured in joules in game are:

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 24 September 2023
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	In Factorio, some things do however have greater than 100% efficiency: transport belts and offshore pumps move stuff without needing to be powered, turrets rotate and shoot without power, and players move around and build things without needing to eat.		In Factorio, some things do however have greater than 100% efficiency: transport belts and offshore pumps move stuff without needing to be powered, turrets rotate and shoot without power, and players move around and build things without needing to eat.

			{{C\|Main}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:03, 9 February 2026
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	== Types of work ==		== Types of work ==
	One can observe work being done in Factorio in numerous ways. Mostly these are abstract and not measured in game in joules. For example:		One can observe work being done in Factorio in numerous ways. Mostly these are abstract and not measured in game in joules. For example:
	* The ~~player avatar~~ moving their body and equipment around, mining, building, and crafting, performs work. Unlike in real life, this doesn't require any energy (i.e. ~~your avatar~~ doesn't need to eat); its efficiency is therefore infinite. On the other hand, biters and their spawners apparently absorb pollution and use its energy to move, bite, spit, and reproduce.		* The character moving their body and equipment around, mining, building, and crafting, performs work. Unlike in real life, this doesn't require any energy (i.e. the character doesn't need to eat); its efficiency is therefore infinite. On the other hand, biters and their spawners apparently absorb pollution and use its energy to move, bite, spit, and reproduce.
	* Transport belts and offshore pumps perform work by moving their contents from one place to another. [[Turret]]s perform work by rotating to aim and pulling the trigger. Unrealistically, but as a conscious design decision, none of these require a source of energy, and so their efficiency is also infinite.		* Transport belts and offshore pumps perform work by moving their contents from one place to another. [[Turret]]s perform work by rotating to aim and pulling the trigger. Unrealistically, but as a conscious design decision, none of these require a source of energy, and so their efficiency is also infinite.
	* Turrets (and other projectiles) also perform work by converting the chemical energy of a bullet's propellant to kinetic energy in the ~~bullet~~ itself, which itself proceeds to do work in the form of damage. [[Laser turret]]s convert electricity into damage rather more directly. [[Flamethrower]]s and [[flamethrower turret]]s convert the chemical energy of oil into damage.		* Turrets (and other projectiles) also perform work by converting the chemical energy of a bullet's propellant (despite the magazines not including any in their recipes) to kinetic energy in the ammunition itself, which itself proceeds to do work in the form of damage. [[Laser turret]]s convert electricity into damage rather more directly. [[Flamethrower]]s and [[flamethrower turret]]s convert the chemical energy of oil into damage.
	* Vehicles ([[car]]s, [[tank]]s and [[train]]s) convert the chemical energy of fuel into kinetic energy (i.e. motion). When they collide with things, they convert some of this kinetic energy into damage (which is why they then slow down).		* Vehicles ([[car]]s, [[tank]]s and [[train]]s) convert the chemical energy of fuel into kinetic energy (i.e. motion). When they collide with things, they convert some of this kinetic energy into damage (which is why they then slow down).
	* [[Inserters]] and (non-offshore) [[pump]]s perform work by moving items and fluids from one place to another. This requires energy, either in the form of fuel (for a [[burner inserter]]) or electricity (for other types).		* [[Inserters]] and (non-offshore) [[pump]]s perform work by moving items and fluids from one place to another. This requires energy, either in the form of fuel (for a [[burner inserter]]) or electricity (for other types).
	* [[Burner mining drill]]s and [[electric mining drill]]s convert energy (in fuel and electricity respectively) into potential energy held by a piece of ore on the ground; [[pumpjack]]s do the same thing to put crude oil in a pipe.		* [[Burner mining drill]]s and [[electric mining drill]]s convert energy (in fuel and electricity respectively) into potential energy held by a piece of ore on the ground; [[pumpjack]]s do the same thing to put crude oil and other fluids in a pipe.
	* [[Lab]]s perform work by converting science packs and electricity into research.		* [[Lab]]s perform work by converting science packs and electricity into research (i.e. information).
	* Machines that produce items, converting input products into output products ([[Oil refinery\|refineries]], [[assembling machine]]s etc.), do work by assembling the components into a more ordered form, as a product. The resulting increase in order is a form of potential energy. Most use electricity to do this; the major exceptions are [[stone furnace]]s and [[steel furnace]]s.		* Machines that produce items, converting input products into output products ([[Oil refinery\|refineries]], [[assembling machine]]s etc.), do work by assembling the components into a more ordered form, as a product. The resulting increase in order is a form of potential energy. Most use electricity to do this; the major exceptions are [[stone furnace]]s and [[steel furnace]]s.

Line 50:		Line 50:
	* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.		* [[Nuclear reactor]]s convert the nuclear energy in [[uranium fuel cell]]s into heat. [[Heat exchanger]]s then transfer this heat, conveyed by [[heat pipe]]s, into water, producing steam.
	* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.		* [[Steam engine]]s and [[steam turbine]]s turn the energy stored in steam into electricity.
	* [[Solar panel]]s convert sunlight into electricity. ("Sunlight" isn't an expendible resource, so this effectively has infinite efficiency.)		* [[Solar panel]]s convert sunlight into electricity. ("Sunlight" isn't an expendible resource and neither the reflectiveness of the panels nor the heating of them by the sun is modelled, so this effectively has infinite efficiency.)

	== Waste and pollution: differences from real physics ==		== Waste and pollution: differences from real physics ==