Reactor Remote Control Block

The remote control block.

As its name implies, the reactor remote control block is used to remotely control a research reactor. It can automatically control the control rods according to the parameters set in its GUI. Its GUI is very similar to the RBMK automatic control rods.

Crafting

The remote control block itself:

The reactor sensor:

Usage

The GUI of a reactor remote control block.

A reactor remote control block maintaining a constant temperature (and thus neutron rate) for breeding.

The GUI with labeled controls.

• Right-click on a functioning reactor with a reactor remote sensor, then insert it in the slot.

• The block will display 3 numbers, those being:

1. Left: The current extension of the control rods;
2. Middle: The current flux outputted by the reactor;
3. Right: The current core temperature.

• Values can also be input to automatically control the control rods:
  • The blue buttons at the bottom set a minimum and maximum temperature (represented by the $x$ axis in the rods-temperature graph).
  • The yellow buttons set the control rod levels at the minimum and maximum temperature (represented by the $y$ axis or $f(x)$ in the rods-temperature graph).
  • Confusingly, the light brown field is minimum rod withdrawal and dark is max while the light blue field is max temp and dark blue min.
  • When saved with the save button at the bottom, the rods will move to match the reactor temperature on the graph. The control rods will never go outside of the limits that are set, even if the temperature goes beyond the limits.
• The graphs at the very left are used set how the rods move in between the minimum and maximum temperatures. There are 3 functions, those being:

1. Linear
2. Exponential
3. Logarithmic

• The block will emit a vanilla comparator signal proportional to the reactor's temperature. You can use this to setup a redstone circuit to do various things depending on the temperature of the reactor, such as activating alarms for depleted fuel or high temperatures.
• If properly configured, a remote control block makes a reactor very safe to operate as it will react quickly to arrest the reaction if it heats up too much.
• These blocks can also be used to maintain a constant neutron rate for breeding. In a manually controlled reactor, once a fuel plate is depleted it will reduce reactivity and require manual adjustment to maintain the same neutron rate.

Trivia

• For some idiotic reason, the reactor remote control block is not available in the creative menu, it can however be crafted.