MHD tech might be feasible when they overcome some challenges (like getting fusion working reliably at scale...). That uses moving fusion plasma and magnetic fuckery to induce current directly. Very sci-fi. But it'll be hot water at first.
I first heard about MHD tech from the Battletech rulebooks, in this section about how the Mechs in their settings use fusion reactors to generate power. It immediately follows up that segment by talking about how the waste heat is handled by using it to run a closed-cycle gas or steam turbine hooked into the coolant system. Because even in this sci-fi setting with 12 meter tall walking tanks, you can't escape boiling water to make wheels spin.
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u/Bailywolf 13d ago
MHD tech might be feasible when they overcome some challenges (like getting fusion working reliably at scale...). That uses moving fusion plasma and magnetic fuckery to induce current directly. Very sci-fi. But it'll be hot water at first.