is superman really a

fooled you?but my question is this. i was watching a video for SF and they showed S:TE running 2 trains. is this possible? i remember watching something on IOA and they said the Incredible Hulks launch uses so much power it could could short out Orlando(if not for the substations, and pulse launching) . Now, since S:TE is faster, could it do the same if it drained its power directly (such as plugging it in =D).

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If your really evil in this life, do you come back as toilet paper????
ladies and gentlemen, due to an increase in line jumping, people caught cutting in line will no longer be ejected from the park. u will be ejected from the ride

There is no need to be directly insulting to someone who asked an interesting question. Don't do it again. -- Greg

*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 6/4/2002. ***

Hmmm, that's a good question. Doesn't Superman use LSMs rather than LIMs, and have lower power requirements than, say, S:UE as a result? (I'm not positive on this)

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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
My page

You're not the only one who thinks that's bull about Hulk, either. I can't see how the motors used to launch one train can draw more power than huge mills and factories and other plant facilities do. I think they're just overhyping themselves.

Anyway, the most credible reason I have heard for running one side of STE is because of California's power woes.

There are 220 motors firing at the same time all spinning up an incline propelling a multi-ton train to reaching some pretty fast speeds (30?) in a very short length of track into the zero-g roll. I'd say that it would drain a whole lot of power. LIM's and LSM's, especially on Superman, fire separately right before the train hits that particular LIM or LSM. These LIM propelled rides often have a very long staightaway to get all of their launches in...Hulk's really isn't very long in comparison.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice opens on June 22nd

Think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

*** This post was edited by CPgenius on 6/4/2002. ***

I am willing to bet there's a lot more around Orlando that draws more power (at once) than one rollercoaster.

how much power could it take to get 200 wheels to spin at a few thousand rpms???

Yes STE can luanch both sides, but not at the same time, it would it would draw in way to muich power. They are usually luanched 5 seconds behind each other. The bill would cost to much if they fired both at the same time. Eventhough STE has its own power plant. ;)

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I believe Hulk has 242 wheels. Anyhow, why would they build a bunch of generators, costing a few million, if they didn't have to???

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

The launch on Hulk eats up about 8 Megawatts of power.

I wonder if Hulk's motors end up saving the park money by them not having to buy the power it uses. This is a wild guess on my part.

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www.EverythingRollerCoaster.com

I'm not saying Hulk doesn't draw much power. What I am saying is that it wouldn't brown out all of Orlando. Indeed, it is probably a matter of economics to have a generator produce the power needed rather than buy it from the local power company. This is fairly common practice in many industries (especially in the summer when electric rates soar). Companies will lease large diesel powered generators to save money. I believe that's why Hulk has a generator.

It's expensive to generate power for a a small installation like that. The cost of fuel, repairs and operating personnel would cost them much more than purchasing the power from a local utility. Perhaps the local grid isn't set up to handle a heavy shifting load like the Hulk uses.

It's actually not that expensive. The generators pretty much run themselves and break down rarely. I really think it's more about saving money than browning out the city.

I guess it really doesn't matter much in the long run though.

*** This post was edited by MisterX on 6/4/2002. ***

Hulk could easily brown out Orlando.

While other area attractions/factories/businesses may draw more power than Hulk over the course of day, I'd strongly suspect that it's the frequency and short duration that is required that taxes the system.

That is, power is defined work done per unit of time. Work is defined as the amount of force required to move an object a given distance.

So, the force required to move a full train, which might weigh as much as 10 tons (? . . .I seem to recall reading somewhere that Premier trains weigh 7 tons apiece, but that could be wrong) the length of the launch tube is immense. Now, realize that the work must be done in under 2 seconds. That is an intense power draw on any system.

I don't know any of the specs. of the motors being used, so it's impossible to say what sort of power they draw.

Also, I was under the impression that IOA doesn't generate its own power - but rather takes in power off the grid at a lower, continous rate, storing it in something like a capacitor, where it can be quickly and immediately discharged.

I'd imagine that either Dave Althoff or Chris Godsey could shed a good amount of light on this discussion.

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~~~ M ~~~
In life you start the same as when you're done. If you lose, you're just where you've begun. If you win, remember what I said, don't quit while you're ahead. Who cares?

Answering the topic, I would think that S:UEs trains are not as heavy as Hulks seeing that they are just one car. Also, the length of track that the LIMs are used is incredibly long and therefore would produce a less sudden use of power.

I not really an expert or anything, just a guess.

Answering the topic, I would think that S:UEs trains are not as heavy as Hulks seeing that they are just one car. Also, the length of track that the LIMs are used is incredibly long and therefore would produce a less sudden use of power.

I not really an expert or anything, just a guess.

On one of the recent coaster shows they showed the generator room for the Hulk. The park rep stated that the Hulk drew 8 MW during launch.

I think a capacitive system could have been used instead. Though, the size of the caps would be huge. Also, expensive.

Straight from an interview with one of the developers..."There are are 220 motors that spin up. That's like 110 on each side."

Dexter, I'm assuming you mean S:TE having one car?

Yes the power for the launch is built up in large capacitors under the ride. If you have any understanding at all of capacitors, you know why they are used for the sudden blast of energy required to launch the train.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice opens on June 22nd

Think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

*** This post was edited by CPgenius on 6/4/2002. ***

I imagine those motors are fairly low HP. I still think that although it uses a lot of power, it could not brown out Orlando.