Stormworks: Build and Rescue

Stormworks: Build and Rescue

Modular engine FADEC
54 Comments
Lupus the Canine  [author] 13 May, 2023 @ 9:28am 
Coolant clutch was used to drive cooling loop to keep engine at desired temperature prior to cooling changes a long time ago, nowadays it is best to keep cooling at max as temperature doesn't matter as long as it is below 120°C.
space_pirate 6 May, 2023 @ 8:26am 
what is a coolant clutch ??
solarplexusclowngliderzelensky 30 Apr, 2023 @ 6:16pm 
So underrated
Nick Name 25 Dec, 2022 @ 3:57am 
for me when adding some resistance to the engine it starts to spazz out and alternate between 8 rps to 4 rps very rapidly
Dr. Löööpsly 16 Sep, 2021 @ 12:23pm 
ah well then ill just make something myself. cooling is weird anyway soo
Lupus the Canine  [author] 16 Sep, 2021 @ 7:12am 
Could you share the blueprint with me so I can take a look. I stopped bothering with cooling loop control after thermal rebalance because I did't think it was that useful as for me it was best to keep the engine as cool as possibile to maintain maximum power margin.
Dr. Löööpsly 16 Sep, 2021 @ 4:27am 
my coolant clutch node never goes up why does that happen?
my engine is at 87°C
Lupus the Canine  [author] 16 Aug, 2021 @ 8:49am 
@imPyre if you have any questions regarding inner workings of the controller feel free to ask here, in a PM or on Discord. I decided against lua because a controller using logic blocks has a bit shorter delay on PID loop.
imPyre 16 Aug, 2021 @ 1:20am 
This is by far the best modular engine controller on the workshop. I've been working on building a Lua-based microcontroller and I've been struggling. I subbed to several for some ideas of how other people have approached the problem, and this is the best I saw. My only source of frustration is that *none* of the controllers use any Lua code... and I have a hard time wrapping my brain around all those logic nodes lmao.
Edvin :Ʒ 20 Jun, 2021 @ 6:53am 
+A very well done my man, only controller that currently works flawlessly with 3x3 as far as ive seen.
Brikan 6 Jun, 2021 @ 6:22pm 
So mechanical pumps are... wonky to say the least, and start going crazy beyond 20 pressure on a single-cylinder 3x3 engine attached to a large generator with the small impeller (I have not tested the large impeller).

What works;

Large electrical pump regulated to 60 pressure.

Small electric pump regulated to 9 pressure.

Belt-driven impeller (7.5 pressure) Don't bother with trying to regulate the pressure.

Note, electric pumps work at all RPM ranges, while mechanical pumps need lots if adjusting or can only be used effectively within a certain RPS range; otherwise, stuff starts freaking out, hence the need for number stabilizer microcontrollers to dampen the numbers otherwise the engine constantly surges at an extremely high cyclic rate. I'm sure that a flywheel would help with this.


In the end, for best efficiency, just put a fluid pressure sensor on the intake and don't bother with supercharging beyond just messing around and going stupid fast on diesel engines.
Brikan 6 Jun, 2021 @ 5:06pm 
The best Controller I've used so far but is 20 pressure really the utmost limit when supercharging?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 17 Apr, 2021 @ 12:55pm 
What do you mean?
Kraft 17 Apr, 2021 @ 12:03pm 
is there anyway to xml edit that?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 3 Apr, 2021 @ 11:34am 
Above 60? No, it is modular engines limitation.
Kraft 2 Apr, 2021 @ 8:31pm 
is there any way i can increase maximum RPS?
Carsandplanes2009 29 Mar, 2021 @ 2:15am 
Amazing! Currently Building a Plane and will Link this MC in the Credits When it goes on the Workshop.
Whiskers of Sheogorath 20 Feb, 2021 @ 11:56pm 
Successfully implemented. Even with my misunderstandings, it's a way less headache than manual adjustments of that modular crap. I can only hope there would be differences in engine sound, as it had been with stock engines
Whiskers of Sheogorath 20 Feb, 2021 @ 9:27pm 
Nevermind, just noticed the throttle lever max limit have to be above 1. Had missed the desired rps/throttle instruction
Lupus the Canine  [author] 20 Feb, 2021 @ 10:44am 
Both example engines work just fine for me. Can you share a blueprint showing the problem?
Whiskers of Sheogorath 20 Feb, 2021 @ 7:54am 
Doesn't seem to be working on modular engine preset
LUCse MENSEN 19 Feb, 2021 @ 7:10am 
How do I make the engine cool down? The new update broke the cooling on the engine I think.
Whiskers of Sheogorath 19 Feb, 2021 @ 6:17am 
kapodono 7 фев в 6:46
how do i configure the engine to have a slower, safer, and more steady acceleration

Reduce the speed of a lever
adisadicul 14 Feb, 2021 @ 8:59am 
I didn't understand how it works, tho i've tried, but it works nicely :)
Jepster 9 Feb, 2021 @ 1:16pm 
ooh ok, thx for the answer !
Lupus the Canine  [author] 9 Feb, 2021 @ 1:07pm 
Another possible source of issues is exhaust flow limiting performance. It can be remedied by adding more exhaust or using pumps to reduce exhaust pressure.
Lupus the Canine  [author] 9 Feb, 2021 @ 12:46pm 
1) Engine can't turn at that speed with that load. Typical symptom is integrator running all the way to 1 unless it kI was set to 0.
2) Large engines with central air intake can become airflow limited. Typical symptom is low AFR at some cylinders.

Both of those can be more easily checked in direct throttle mode.
In case of flow limit causing issues engine will work fine at low throttle values but increasing throttle too much will cause some cylinders to lose AFR while few remain at or near set AFR. If this is not an issue the other problem can be observed if engine can't reach desired RPS at full throttle.
Jepster 9 Feb, 2021 @ 10:49am 
I have an issue that is about the rps, i have set it to be 34 rps when it reaches 25.8 rps then it first goes over that but then it slows down to 25.8. What could be the issue?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 7 Feb, 2021 @ 7:21am 
kP, kI, kD are RPS PID controller's gains for respectively proportional, integral and derivative.
Kraft 6 Feb, 2021 @ 5:46pm 
how do i configure the engine to have a slower, safer, and more steady acceleration
Kraft 6 Feb, 2021 @ 5:46pm 
What is KP?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 3 Feb, 2021 @ 9:05am 
Updated the controller to be compatible with e0.0.44+
Raptor Jesus 30 Jan, 2021 @ 6:11pm 
Would love to fix it but its way over my league.
Lupus the Canine  [author] 30 Jan, 2021 @ 1:38pm 
Thank you, apparently they changed relation between intake pressure and air volume.
Raptor Jesus 29 Jan, 2021 @ 7:14pm 
Loved it but. Does not work after latest experimental patch
craftsman 19 Jan, 2021 @ 1:10pm 
extremely useful for forced induction
Lupus the Canine  [author] 20 Dec, 2020 @ 12:12pm 
Air intake pressure sensor.
Jamiedye 20 Dec, 2020 @ 9:42am 
what do we connect the pressure node to?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 12 Dec, 2020 @ 6:40pm 
Connect at least: fuel and air throttles, desired RPS, RPS and Pressure. If RPS becomes unstable tune the PID using kP, kI and kD in controller.
froggy 12 Dec, 2020 @ 12:15pm 
how do you use this
Lupus the Canine  [author] 11 Dec, 2020 @ 10:05am 
Could you please send me a blueprint of your setup. You can find me on official discord under the same name.
Tommy 10 Dec, 2020 @ 4:50pm 
im trying to use this ecu to work on a f8 3x3 engine but the engine will only stay at 16 rps any help?
Peekofwar 24 Nov, 2020 @ 2:37pm 
I was indeed smoothly disengaging the clutch; not instantly setting it to 1.
Lupus the Canine  [author] 24 Nov, 2020 @ 2:16am 
I also identified the reason for engine idling after being shutdown. It is caused by the integrator outputting its last value after shutdown which means output throttle might be non 0 after shutdown.
The easiest fix is to add "*z" in function blocks right before air and fuel throttles and feeding them 1 or 0 on z when the engine is on and off respectively, this will effectively set both air and fuel throttles to 0 killing the engine.
Lupus the Canine  [author] 24 Nov, 2020 @ 2:05am 
Peekofwar could you please send me example of the stalling issue. My testing indicates that modular engines have extremely low inertia. For example jerking (clutch instantly set from 0 to 1) 2 7x7 wheels causes ~90% RPS drop on my test 6 cylinder boxer engine. Unfortunately you have to engage the clutch smoothly not to stall the engine. Setting clutch to 1 only after output shaft reaches 3 RPS works too.
Peekofwar 23 Nov, 2020 @ 12:34pm 
Found a bug with the controller: If you turn off the controller when it's running, it won't kill the engine, but instead will idle around 327 RPM (about 5.47 RPS) despite receiving no target RPS input.
AGRESYWNA_KACZKA 7 Nov, 2020 @ 2:04am 
plik wyślę na discordzie
AGRESYWNA_KACZKA 7 Nov, 2020 @ 12:19am 
Dobra tak, zrobię i proszę o plik zwrotny z poprawnie działającym silnikiem ok ?
Lupus the Canine  [author] 6 Nov, 2020 @ 2:48pm 
KermittingSewerslide all connections are described on the microcontroller.
KermittingSewerslide 6 Nov, 2020 @ 2:45pm 
Can you @ me with instructions on how to set this up properly?