I was building a fusion reactor that does not require any external heating whatsoever. Specifically, the HYGN reaction at 2000 degrees C and 50 pressure. To heat up a pixel of HYGN takes 1978 degrees C, but the temperature only increases to like 500 degrees C. Even the other fusion reactions like CO2 at 5000 degrees C and 100 pressure only takes a measly heat gain.
Is there any solution to this problem? Are fusion reactors doomed to cheat in the heat in order to keep running?
Yes, fusion requires constant heat input to continue running. Alternatively, you can wait until the next version, where cold fusion will be introduced. It should be more energy efficient, but I haven't tested it out. You can get a snapshot from the TPT Snapshot Server (https://starcatcher.us/TPT/).
you have to jumpstart the reaction, one good way to do this is compressed deut and a heat exchanger connected to hygn supply, use phot from the reaction to power tungsten as a way to preheat the hygn before it enters your fusion chamber.
detect when fusion has stopped using a NOT gate and start the deut preheat again until tungsten can heat your HYGN without needing deut
actually been thinking about this a bit.. kinda funny since this is the same issue in real life. thermal energy in doesnt match thermal energy out making the reaction unsustainable without an outside force. would be really interesting if someone made a working example that doesnt use things like GPMP DMND or other cheaty materials