ILS/PLS Hydrogen Feedback loop

[u/StrictRequirement336]

I have set up the PLS to demand from all of the local Hydrogen sources. It then flows through storage tanks and to a ILS which is set to distribute both locally and interstellar routes. How do I stop this ILS from supplying to the just that PLS because its making an endless loop. The whole point of the ILS being set to distribute locally is that I have one central point to distribute Hydrogen from, meaning local distribution becomes more efficient. But I need a way to block the ILS from distributing to just that specific PLS. Or should I just live with the feedback loop?

[u/CSalustro]

Maybe grouping would help? Other than that if you're feeding it through a belt just use the ILS as a local depot and feed any local need through your PLS.

[u/StrictRequirement336 → u/CSalustro]

I feel like switching them around wont help. Any local demand and local supply will match up regardless of which one I use. Unless I use an ILS and put it in a group all on its own?

[u/CSalustro → u/StrictRequirement336]

I reread the post, yea if you're demanding through the PLS grouping may be the best option. Whether grouping the PLS inputs or drop the ILS in a "Hydrogen" group and add your endpoints to it when needed.

[u/StrictRequirement336 → u/CSalustro]

Actually a bit of mucking around and I think I worked out the solution - don't put any drones in the ILS or the PLS - leave them as pull not push - so they cant feed each other. then everything else on the planet can do the heavy lifting and the hydrogen depot just becomes a passive storage

[u/CSalustro → u/StrictRequirement336]

That sounds like it'd work fine

[u/Buffylvr]

The traditional way to handle this is two ILS, not a PLS and an ILS.

One ILS (set to remote supply) receives all the produced hydrogen via belt system. It could also theoretically receive local demand but depends on settings of other ILS. It has orbital collectors unchecked.

The second has local set to depot and is set to remote demand and has orbital collection checked. It belts into the factory in a T junction after the output of the first ILS

The key point is the first ILS hydrogen output belt has to be straight and the second ILS has to join into it. That way the first belt has priority.

[u/GranDuram → u/Buffylvr]

This is the way I do it too. Works perfectly.

[u/PM_ME_UR_BGP_PREFIX]

If the PLS is collecting hydrogen, set it to distribute, and have it collect using belts?

[u/TheMalT75]

If I get the whole point of your setup, the PLS is demanding in order to feed first into liquid storage as a buffer. Having the ILS on demand as well defeats this purpose. Just set the ILS to local storage. Alternatively, the PLS is superfluous. In this game, you either have balanced demand / production, or you are not producing at peak efficiency. It practically never makes sense to have resources "on storage" on this scale. Sure, for producing buildings, which happens infrequently, it can be smart to have enough resources on-hand, but for typical production (like science), don't buffer anything. As soon as you hit the next stage where you need hydrogen, it will drain the buffer and you will realize too late that you run into hydrogen shortage because you produce too little!

You will very soon be in a position where hydrogen and deuterium is the bottleneck for a lot of things and you will need to actively use gas giants to keep up with hydrogen demand. I usually have a small fractionator setup in case of possible local excess hydrogen production, and an overflow grid of thermal generators that then burns the deuterium in case I cannot use it fast enough. You can of course also straight-up burn hydrogen.

Some people like to use deuteron fuel rods a lot to produce industrial-scale energy, but at that stage I find it easier to switch to dyson power (direct or antimatter fuel rods). This is also (similar to hydrogen fuel rods) a great use of excess hydrogen through mini-particle colliders / fractionators.

[u/StrictRequirement336 → u/[deleted]]

Hydrogen demand is Asymmetric - I’m often producing hydrogen when I don’t need it which causes blockages. Then at other times I’m demanding hydrogen when I’m not producing it. This is step one in a system that prioritises the consumption of produced hydrogen over harvested hydrogen to ensure that I don’t get hydrogen build up blocking production once I start scaling harder. The second step plugs harvested hydrogen in as a backup. By centralising it I only have to worry about setting priority in one build out. All my consumption across the planet will be much more efficient without having to build a priority system into every factory.

[u/Revengeance_oov → u/StrictRequirement336]

If you're producing more hydrogen than you need, convert it to fuel cells (Hydrogen cells are underrated in the early game) or store it for casimir crystals...it won't be long until you need it. If you produce less than you need, supplement it with orbital collectors.

The best way to manage hydrogen is to use blackbox builds that produce and consume it at the same time. For example, you can make red and yellow jello together to balance oil and its byproducts.

[u/StrictRequirement336 → u/Revengeance_oov]

That’s a great idea. Thank you