The Singularity Engine is a powerful generator that uses a contained singularity to produce energy for the station.
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It generates power by collecting the radiation emitted by the singularity using Radiation Collectors and gaseous plasma.
## Starting the Singularity Engine
To start the Singularity Engine, engineers must follow these steps:
- Place the Singularity Generator in the middle of the containment field. Some stations start with the generator already in place, while others require engineers to bring it from cold storage.
- Turn on the four Containment Field Generators.
- Turn on and lock the Emitters.
- Confirm that the Containment Field Generators have created a Containment Field around the Singularity.
- Turn on the Radiation Collectors. These require plasma to produce power. They might not come fueled, so be sure to refill them.
- Construct the Particle Accelerator.
- Turn on the Particle Accelerator Control Computer and set the power level to the desired power level.
Once these steps are complete, the Singularity Engine will start producing power for the station.
Be sure to monitor the singularity's power level and containment field to prevent it from escaping and destroying the station.
Check in to refill the collectors often, as they will run out of plasma over time.
## Containment Field
To prevent the singularity from escaping and destroying the station, engineers must contain it within a Containment Field.
It is suggested to use a max size containment field for the singularity. Any smaller and the singularity may outgrow its field and escape.
The Chief Engineer has a special hardsuit that negates all radiation damage, which allows them to work near the singularity without fear of accumulating radiation damage over time.
## Singularity Properties
The Singularity has several properties, which both make it dangerous and useful for power generation:
- It has a strong gravitational pull that can suck in objects and crew members.
- It has an event horizon, which can permanently destroy any object that touches it, whether it be a crew member or station equipment. Any object swallowed by the singularity is lost forever, and feeds the singularity.
- It constantly emits radiation that can harm crew members who aren't wearing proper protection.
- The singularity can decay over time, losing power and radiation output.
## Loosed Singularity (Singuloose)
If the singularity escapes its containment field, it will begin to consume the station, destroying everything in its path.
The more it consumes, the larger it grows, making it harder to potentially contain it again.
The singularity can be destroyed by firing antiparticles at it using a Portable Particle Decelerator, but this is a risky and dangerous operation that requires careful planning and execution.
Often multiple decelerators firing at once are needed to destroy a singularity.
Portable Particle Decelerators can be either researched and made by the Research Department, or they can be bought from Cargo.