Multiple thermal plants

[Tosho Kada]

Does placing multiple thermal plants on the same thermal vent work?

I feel like I used to do this on the previous game and it worked fine, but on BZ for some reason, even though my thermals get 250°C each, they generate the same amount as one single TP.
I tried 4 first, got 1,6/sec energy, then got rid of 2 of them and got the same 1,6/sec.

Is that a bug or feature? Or is that the max amount I can get from TP, even if I place them on different vents?

[Xeril]

So from my own experimentation, the way this appears to work (someone with more knowledge of the game or its code please correct me) is that each generator "owns" its own chunk of the total power in the base. So each block of power (since each generator type adds a set amount of maximum stored power) is governed exclusively by that generator, but those blocks aren't "evenly divided" among the total power of the base, but are rather stacked on top of each other.

As a potentially easier-to-digest explanation, let's say you have four thermal generators for a total max power of 1000. When you're at or below 250 stored energy, you'll be receiving the power generation of all four generators. As soon as you hit the 250 threshold, though, whichever plant is assigned to that "first" block of 250 will stop generating, as it will assume that the base is fully stocked on power. This will continue with each block of 250, until you reach 750 and only the final generator is storing power any more.

EDIT: I realize that this might appear to not address your actual question, but the point is that yes, you can indeed have any number of generators on the same vent, but their power output back at your base will appear very strange due to the way the game assesses whether or not a generator should be active. Based on my experiences, I would assume that in the situation you describe, you have enough stored energy that only one generator is working (since a single, well-placed Thermal Plant will generate an absolutely massive amount of energy compared to overall energy needs in the game).

EDIT 2: I just checked the table for the energy generation rates; you likely have 2 Thermal Plants working (meaning that you would have had between 500 and 750 stored energy in the 4x scenario) since a single Thermal Plant can't be generating 1.6 energy/second.

EDIT 3: This does, of course, mean that there is still benefit to having all the generators active even if it means you'll rarely/never be sitting at maximum power. While I suspect that this behavior is not actually intended, you can think of it like auxiliary generators kicking on as the base's power gets lower and lower. You'll still get the full power draw if the base dips below 250 remaining energy, meaning that they will at least all be active when it matters most.

[Commisar Jon Fuklaw]

Shorter answer: Yes.

[Caver451]

Yes, you can, and I usually put several around the same vent. I've had as many as 4-5 plants on the same vent, and it worked just fine. But it can be buggy, and some of them might suddenly stop contributing, or never properly contribute, to your base's power.

I believe--and this is purely conjecture--this has to do with the power transmitters losing the connection(s), especially if you have multiple transmitters within range of one or more of the thermal plants. I've never had a problem if my base was close enough to not require power transmitters.

Often saving and reloading will fix things if you have an issue, probably because it recalculates, but sometimes you need to just dismantle and rebuild the plants and transmitters.

Keep in mind, that for every thermal plant, your base's power storage will increase by +250. Doesn't matter how much power it actually generates, it will contribute +250 to your overall energy storage. The heat only determines how fast each plant will add your power, not the overall storage.

For example, if you have two thermal plants, they will add a total of +500 power capacity to your base. If both plants report 50C, then they will generate a combined 66 units of power per minute. If you have two plants but only see +250 power capacity, one of those plants isn't being registered, likely due to a glitch.

Side note: You should be able to add a thermal plant that is not at a temperature high enough to generate power, however it should still add +250 power capacity to your base. A bit of an expensive way to create a battery, but you do you. ;-)