Editing Fusion engine

[[File:Color-mech-components-4.png|A fusion engine of a [[BattleMech]]|thumb|right|200px]]
'''Fusion engines''' are the most common type of [[BattleMech]] and [[aerospace]] power plant in the BattleTech Universe.  Fusion engines can supply great quantities of power, enough for massive vehicles and all of their weapon systems, including the [[:Category:Energy Weapons|directed energy weapons]] common on modern battlefields. When no thrust is generated, fusion engines are extremely efficient, practically never needing refueling.  If properly ventilated, controlled fusion reactions generate little heat. There are several sub-types of fusion engines available as well, each trading bulk for mass of the components.

== Description ==
The fusion engine is capable of powering 'Mechs, Aerospace Fighters, and other vehicles. Fusion engines function by harnessing the power of a fusion reaction, as occurs in the core of the Sun. A BattleMech's fusion engine can usually last for decades on a few kilograms of hydrogen. Unlike the research reactors of the real world, a BattleMech's fusion engine runs on "light" hydrogen, protium, rather than hydrogen's heavier isotopes deuterium and tritium. <ref name=FaFF>''TechManual'', p. 35, "Fusion and Fusion Fuels"</ref> 

Fusion engines are able to generate a great deal of heat.  Simply moving the vehicle creates heat, though this is often a small amount.  Though heat can negatively affect the vehicle's pilot or even the vehicle itself, a well-ventilated fusion engine is far less dangerous than the bleed-heat generated by charging and/or firing weapons, especially lasers and particle weapons.

In a BattleMech, the fusion engine resides in the center torso. It cannot be relocated elsewhere in the BattleMech, though certain types of engines may intrude into adjacent spaces within the structure.

Fusion engines, like other engines, are defined by their "engine rating". For 'Mechs, the engine rating is the mathematical product of the mass of the vehicle and its desired maximum walking or cruising velocity. Stated another way, a 'Mech's maximum walking momentum is directly proportional to engine rating. For instance, a 30-ton ''[[Spider]]'' BattleMech with a 240 [[Pitban]] fusion engine is able to generate the same maximum momentum as a 60-ton ''[[Merlin (BattleMech)|Merlin]]'' with the same engine, but because the ''Merlin's'' mass is twice that of the ''Spider'', the ''Spider'''s maximum velocity is twice that of the ''Merlin''.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', pp. 106-107</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3058'', pp. 142-143</ref><br>

Combat Vehicles adjust engine rating calculation slightly based on motive suspension system.  Additionally, engine rating is ''not'' proportional to engine mass; engine mass increases ''exponentially'' depending upon rating<ref>Based on Microsoft(R) Excel(R) "trendline" analysis</ref>. This results in light, low-to-moderately rated engines massing a disproportionately small fraction of larger engines.  As a 'Mech's mass increases, a much larger proportion of the mass must be devoted to engine mass, or speed must be sacrificed.  For instance, all of the following BattleMechs have the same maximum cruising (walking) velocity (43.2 km/h), but their varying mass means each 'Mech mounts a different engine.  BattleMech mass, engine rating, engine mass, and (engine mass)/(BattleMech mass) are listed for each example, and increase together: PNT-9R ''[[Panther]]'' (35, 140, 5, 14%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 115</ref>, WTH-1 ''[[Whitworth]]'' (40, 160, 6, 15%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 127</ref>, BJ-1 ''[[Blackjack (BattleMech)|Blackjack]]'' (45, 180, 7, 16%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 129</ref>, CN9-A ''[[Centurion (BattleMech)|Centurion]]'' (50, 200, 8.5, 17%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 133</ref>, MLN-1A ''[[Merlin (BattleMech)|Merlin]]'' (60, 240, 11.5, 19%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade'', p. 143</ref>, CPLT-C1 ''[[Catapult]]'' (65, 260, 13.5, 21%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 147</ref>, GHR-5H ''[[Grasshopper]]'' (70, 280, 16, 23%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 151</ref>, ON1-K ''[[Orion]]'' (75, 300, 19, 25%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 153</ref>, VTR-9B ''[[Victor]]'' (80, 320, 22.5, 28%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 159</ref>, BLR-1G ''[[BattleMaster]]'' (85, 340, 27, 32%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 300</ref>, CP-10-Z ''[[Cyclops]]'' (90, 360, 33, 37%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 165</ref>, BNC-3E ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]'' (95, 380, 41, 43%)<ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 167</ref><br><br>

For 'Mechs, larger fusion engines allow larger maximum momenta.  But the inherent instability of bipedal locomotion requires a means to maintain balance and correct falls.  In order to maintain control, 'Mechs also mount [[Gyro]]s, which vary in size proportionally to engine rating.

Fusion engines usually will only shut down if damaged or if heat is uncontrolled. Unlike popular belief, there is absolutely no risk of a fusion engine accidentally becoming a nuclear weapon. <ref>''TechManual'', pp. 36-37, "Fusion Engine Explosions: The Great Myth"</ref> There have been a number of cases of fusion engines being "over revved" and exploding with devastating force, but this is more akin to a boiler explosion than a true nuclear explosion. More often a destroyed engine will be punctured by weapons fire. Because the plasma is held in a vacuum chamber (to isolate the superheated plasma from the cold walls of the reactor; contact with the walls would super-chill the plasma below fusion temperatures), a punctured reactor can suck in air where the air is superheated. Normal thermal expansion of the air causes the air to burst out in a brilliant lightshow often mistaken for a "nuclear explosion". This thermal expansion damages anything within 90 meters of the destroyed 'Mech.

Such dramatic failures are rare, though. It is difficult to sustain the fusion reaction and very easy to shut down. Safety systems or damage to containment coils will almost always shut down the engine before such an explosion occurs. The massive shielding of the engine (in the case of standard fusion engines, this is a tungsten carbide shell that accounts for over 2/3 of the weight of the engine) usually buys the safety systems the milliseconds needed to shut down the engine when severe damage is inflicted.

==History==
Fusion technology was achieved by the [[Western Alliance]] in [[2021]].<ref>''TechManual'', pp. 214-215, "Military-Standard Fusion Engines" & "Industrial Fission/Fusion Engines"</ref> Almost a century later, fusion technology had progressed to the point of using protium, the most abundant isotope of hydrogen.<ref name=FaFF/>

Research into fusion engine technology has yielded improvements over the many centuries of BattleMech use. [[Light fusion engine|Light]], [[Fusion Engine - XL|extralight]], and [[compact fusion engine]]s are now available, in addition to the standard military version.

==Brands==
Fusion engines are produced under the following brand names:
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* [[Breen (Engines)|Breen]]
* [[Consolidated (Fusion Engines)|Consolidated]]
* [[Core Tek (Engines)|Core Tek]]
* [[DAV (Engines)|DAV]]
* [[Defiance (Engines)|Defiance]]
* [[Edasich Motors (Engines)|Edasich Motors]]
* [[Ford (Engines)|Ford]]
* [[Galas (Engines)|Galas]]
* [[General Motors (Engines)|General Motors]]
* [[GoreTex (Engines)|GoreTex]]
* [[Hermes (Engines)|Hermes]]
* [[LTV (Engines)|LTV]]
* [[Magna (Engines)|Magna]]
* [[New Kent (Fusion Engines)|New Kent]]
* [[Nissan (Engines)|Nissan]]
* [[Omni (Engines)|Omni]]
* [[Pitban (Engines)|Pitban]]
* [[PlasmaStar (Engines)|PlasmaStar]]
* [[Rawlings (Engines)|Rawlings]]
* [[Strand (Engines)|Strand]]
* [[Shinobi (Engines)|Shinobi]]
* [[Vlar (Engines)|Vlar]]
* [[VOX (Engines)|VOX]]
* [[Warner (Engines)|Warner]]
</div>

==Manufacturing==
Fusion engines are manufactured on the following planets:

{| width='600' class='wikitable'
! Brand
! Planet
! Company
|-
| 240 Standard
| [[Arcadia (Clan System)|Arcadia]]
| [[Arcadia BattleMech Plant CM-T4]]
|-
| 300 XL
| [[Arcadia (Clan System)|Arcadia]]
| [[Arcadia BattleMech Plant CM-T4]]
|-
| Breen 190
| [[Panpour]]
| [[Jalastar Aerospace]]
|-
| DAV 220
| [[Keystone]]
| [[Earthwerks Incorporated]]
|-
| Defiance 120
| [[Tharkad]]
| [[Defiance Motors]]
|-
| Defiance 160
| [[Tharkad]]
| [[Defiance Motors]]
|-
| Doorman 120
| [[Carlisle]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| Doorman 130
| [[Carlisle]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| Doorman 140
| [[Carlisle]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| Fireheart 180
| [[New Syrtis]]
| [[Johnston Industries]]
|-
| Fusion 140
| [[Irece]]
| [[Barcella Beta]]
|- 	
| Fusion 260
| [[Irece]]
| [[Barcella Beta]]
|-
| Galas Lightpower 80
| [[Ruchbah]]
| [[Michaelson Heavy Industries]]
|-
| GoreTex 240
| [[Betelgeuse]]
| [[Aldis Industries]]
|-
| GoreTex 240
| [[New Samarkand]]
| [[New Samarkand Metals]]
|-
| GoreTex 240
| [[Terra]]
| [[Aldis Industries]]
|-
| GoreTex 240
| [[Loyalty]]
| [[Kallon Industries]]
|-
| GTEM 210
| [[Andurien]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| GTEM 210
| [[Irian]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| GTEM 210
| [[Kendall]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| Hermes 100
| [[Wernke]]
| [[Kallon Industries]]
|-
| Hermes 120
| [[Sian]]
| [[Hellespont 'Mech Works]]
|-
| InterFus 155
| [[Johnsondale]]
| [[Valiant Vehicles]]
|-
| InterFus 260
| [[Johnsondale]]
| [[Valiant Vehicles]]
|-
| Leenex 140
| [[Luthien]]
| [[Luthien Armor Works]]
|-
| Light Force 210
| [[Huntress]]
| [[Abysmal Manufacturing Complex]]
|-
| Lockheed 105 Micro-Fusion
| [[Tharkad]]
| [[Lockheed-CBM Corporation]]
|-
| LTV 120
| [[Ares (system)|Ares]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[Ares (system)|Ares]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[New Avalon]]
| [[Achernar BattleMechs]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[Canopus IV]]
| [[Majesty Metals and Manufacturing]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[Perdition]]
| [[Pinard Protectorates Limited]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[Taurus]]
| [[Taurus Territorial Industries]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[Ares (system)|Ares]]
| [[Bergan Industries]]
|-
| LTV 160
| [[New Avalon]]
| [[Achernar BattleMechs]]
|-
| Manatwist 300
| [[Chatham]]
| [[Wakazashi Enterprises]]
|-
| Model SF-3 260
| [[Strato Domingo]]
| [[Auxiliary Production Site 4]]
|-
| Nissan 120
| [[Praxton]]
| [[Praxton Fusion Products Limited]]
|-
| Nissan 160
| [[Praxton]]
| [[Praxton Fusion Products Limited]]
|-
| Nissan 175
| [[Praxton]]
| [[Praxton Fusion Products Limited]]
|-
| Nissan 175
| [[Terra]]
| [[Skobel MechWorks]]
|-
| Nissan 200
| [[Kagoshima]]
| [[Nissan General Industries]]
|-
| Nissan 200
| [[Robinson]]
| [[Robinson Standard BattleWorks]]
|-
| Nissan 200
| [[Kalidasa]]
| [[Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated]]
|-
| Nissan 200
| [[New Earth]]
| [[New Earth Trading Company]]
|-
| Nissan 220
| [[Kagoshima]]
| [[Nissan General Industries]]
|-
| Nissan 220
| [[Terra]]
| [[Skobel MechWorks]]
|-
| Nissan 225
| [[Panpour]]
| [[Jalastar Aerospace]]
|-
| Piker 180
| [[Nirasaki]]
| [[New Age Systems Incorporated]]
|-
| PlasmaStar 270
| [[Axton]]
| [[Wangker Aerospace]]
|-
| Rawlings 140
| [[Sian]]
| [[Saroyan Special Projects]]
|-
| Rawlings 200
| [[Capella]]
| [[Ceres Metals Industries]]
|-
| Rawlings 200
| [[Tikonov]]
| [[Earthwerks Incorporated]]
|-
| Rawlings 200
| [[St. Ives]]
| [[Tengo Aerospace]]
|-
| Rawlings 200
| [[Sarna]]
| [[Tengo Aerospace]]
|-
| Rawlings 225
| [[Epsilon Eridani]]
| [[Kressly Warworks]]
|-
| Rawlings 300
| [[Sian]]
| [[Saroyan Special Projects]]
|-
| Robinson 160 Fuse-Pak
| [[Robinson]]
| [[Robinson Standard BattleWorks]]
|-
| RT 190
| [[Terra]]
| [[Millennium Industries]]
|-
| Scarborough 140
| [[Al Na'ir]]
| [[Scarborough Manufacturers]]
|-
| Strand 255
| [[Crofton]]
| [[StarCorp Industries]]
|-
| Strand 255
| [[Shiro III]]
| [[Irian BattleMechs Unlimited]]
|-
| Strand 255
| [[Loburg]]
| [[StarCorp Industries]]
|-
| Type 275 Standard
| [[Tamaron]]
| [[Ashton 'Mech Production Complex]]
|-
| Vlar 300
| [[Luthien]]
| [[Luthien Armor Works]]
|-
| Vlar 300
| [[Wernke]]
| [[Kallon Industries]]
|-
| Vlar 300
| [[Gibson]]
| [[Gibson Federated BattleMechs - (Free Worlds Defense Industries)]]
|-
| Vlar 300
| [[Edasich]]
| [[Edasich Motors]]
|-
| Warner 200
| [[Praxton]]
| [[Praxton Fusion Products Limited]]
|-
| Warner 200
| [[Taurus]]
| [[Magna]]
|-
| Warner 225
| [[Taurus]]
| [[Magna]]
|}

==Notes==
* This article refers to a common object and addresses the object as a common noun. The preferred term is "fusion engine" (except on section titles & table headings, where "Fusion Engine" is favored).

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
*''[[BattleTech Compendium]]''
*''[[TechManual]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3050]]''


[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Engines|Engine, Fusion 000 Engine]]