NuclearCraft Mod — Guide
Materials and Resources
The mod introduces several new ores and alloys essential for reactor construction and fuel production.
| Ore | Mining Level | Location | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Stone | Overworld | Solenoids, Basic Plating |
| Tin | Stone | Overworld | Basic Plating, Alloys |
| Lead | Iron | Overworld | Radiation Shielding, Machine Casings |
| Silver | Iron | Overworld | RTGs, Solar Panels |
| Uranium | Iron | Overworld | Fission Fuel (U-233, U-235, U-238) |
| Thorium | Iron | Overworld | Fission Fuel (Th-232) |
| Boron | Iron | Overworld | Fusion Reactor components, Tough Alloy |
| Lithium | Iron | Overworld | Fusion Fuel, Battery components |
| Magnesium | Iron | Overworld | Particle Accelerators, Alloys |
| Plutonium | Diamond | Nether | Rare Fission Fuel (Pu-239) |
Key Alloys
- Tough Alloy: Created by combining Ferroboron and Graphite. Used for advanced machine frames and high-tier tools.
- Hardened Metal: Created from Steel and Boron. Used for mid-tier reactor components.
- Extreme Alloy: A high-end material used for the most advanced reactor parts and radiation scrubbers.
Solid-Fuel Fission Reactors
Solid-Fuel Fission Reactors are multiblock structures that generate power by splitting heavy atoms. They are built as cuboids (up to 24x24x24) and require careful heat management to prevent a meltdown.
Components
- Fission Controller: The heart of the reactor. Only one is allowed per structure.
- Reactor Casing: Forms the outer shell of the reactor.
- Fission Port: Used for item/fluid input/output and power extraction.
- Reactor Cell: Where the fuel is burned. Must be placed inside the structure.
- Moderators (Graphite/Beryllium): Placed adjacent to cells to increase power output and efficiency.
Cooling System
Coolers are required to remove the heat generated by fuel cells. Each cooler has specific placement rules to be active.
| Cooler Type | Cooling Rate | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 60 H/t | Must touch at least one Cell or active Moderator |
| Redstone | 90 H/t | Must touch at least one Cell |
| Glowstone | 120 H/t | Must touch at least two active Moderators |
| Gold | 120 H/t | Must touch at least one Water Cooler and one Redstone Cooler |
| Lapis | 120 H/t | Must touch at least one Cell and one Casing |
| Diamond | 150 H/t | Must touch at least one Water Cooler and one Quartz Cooler |
| Cryotheum | 160 H/t | Must touch at least two Cells |
| Liquid Helium | 140 H/t | Must touch exactly one Redstone Cooler and at least one Casing |
Fusion Reactors
Tokamak Fusion Reactors are the pinnacle of power generation, fusing light nuclei at extreme temperatures. Unlike fission, fusion reactors require a massive initial energy investment to reach "Ignition Temperature" (8,000 MK).
Structure
The reactor consists of a Fusion Core surrounded by a ring of Fusion Connectors and Electromagnets. The size of the ring (Toroid) determines the power potential.
Fusion Fuels
Fuels are processed as fluids. Common combinations include: * Hydrogen-Hydrogen: Low power, easy to maintain. * Deuterium-Tritium: High power, very high heat. * Deuterium-Helium-3: High efficiency, clean energy. * Boron-11-Hydrogen: Extremely high power, requires massive heat management.
Radiation Mechanics
NuclearCraft features a realistic radiation system where radiation is tracked per player and per chunk. Radiation is measured in Rads.
- Background Radiation: Naturally occurring low-level radiation.
- Item Radiation: Radioactive items (like Uranium or Plutonium) emit radiation while in the inventory.
- Chunk Radiation: Reactors and spilled radioactive fluids contaminate the environment.
Effects of Radiation
As a player accumulates Rads, they suffer worsening debuffs: 1. 200 Rads: Weakness I 2. 400 Rads: Mining Fatigue I, Hunger I 3. 600 Rads: Poison I 4. 800 Rads: Wither I 5. 1000 Rads: Instant Death
Protection and Treatment
- Geiger Counter: Used to measure radiation levels in the player and the current chunk.
- Hazmat Suit: Provides significant radiation resistance when worn as a full set.
- Radiation Shielding: Can be applied to any armor in a crafting table using Lead, Iron, or Graphite.
- Rad-Away: A chemical consumable that removes accumulated Rads from the player.
- Rad-X: Increases the player's radiation resistance for a limited time.
- Radiation Scrubber: A multiblock machine that removes radiation from the chunk it is placed in.