Hydrogen Tank Capacity

[tmo97]

Wiki:
The small version of the hydrogen tank holds a smaller total of gas (1,000,000 L / 15,000 L), but makes up for it with a higher capacity per volume in a smaller package. Both sizes have 2 ports.

The large version of the hydrogen tank holds a massive 15,000,000 L (Small-block: 500,000 L) of H2 gas.

Large version is 3x3x3, small version is 2x2.
This means that there can fit a total of 13 small tanks in the same size, with one empty block. Even if you fit two of that setup together to allow one to overlap between them, you'll end up with a maximum of 13,500,000L per 3x3x3.

One of those large tanks holds 15,000,000L, so this most efficient setup does not result in a higher capacity per volume. The wiki is incorrect.

Am I missing something?
Are large tanks just better when you can fit 3x3x3 into your build?

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, the game changes a lot after a major update and why the Wiki may not be the same.

The best is to do the needed Engineer testing, in a creative world, to know the new values after a game update.

[herrschaftg35]

"Most Efficient" can be subjective.

The volume numbers listed are correct. Volume and area are not the only factors. Mass, power requirements, mounting points, integrity.....all can be taken into consideration.

It is the same concept with thrusters. 6-9 small thrusters can fit in the place of a large one and can sometimes generate more thrust, but it may be more beneficial to use a large thruster.

[Dan2D3D]

I will add :

it is a cool challenge to do at making Hydro ships but it needs a Engineer to test/try different concepts till best solution found.

ME = I prefer to use Hydrogen thrusters as "Booster" only, for example : I will add a few upward Hydro thrusters that I turn ON only to exit the planet Gravity so those are OFF most of the time.

[tmo97]

Thank you for the answers, they were very helpful and answered my questions completely.

I tried designing a ship that would fly in 4G, which worked out great. It does need 20 downward thrusters.

I love how technical this community is.

[Jeff]

The biggest problem with the small hydrogen tanks is their weight. There was a long discussions about this in another thread a few weeks ago. If I remember correctly, 3 small hydrogen tanks weigh a little more than 1 large hydrogen tank.

In other words, a large tank is more efficient weight wise as you can store 15 ML of hydrogen in a large tank versus 2 or 3 ML in small tanks for the same weight.

[Ronin Planetary Industries]

Originally posted by idea λ:

Thank you for the answers, they were very helpful and answered my questions completely.

I tried designing a ship that would fly in 4G, which worked out great. It does need 20 downward thrusters.

I love how technical this community is.

If you have two conveyors back to back, a small hydrogen tank will fit there. If you can afford the extra mass, the extra fuel can be helpful.

Also, in a compact build, a 3x3x3 giant ball of hydrogen might not be so convenient to place. With the small tanks, you can equip just about anything with a set small hydrogen thrusters. This might be useful for atmospheric ships that want to do easy double-duty in 0g or have them for safety when flying over europa or other shallow moon with an atmosphere. Back-up hydrogen thrusters can also be run on minimal power compared to ions.

Trading efficiency for convenience can be worth it... the laptop for example.