Rusty
Purveyor of Fine Weaponry
Image Source: N/A (All the photos for live steam were either warning signs, rather disgusting injuries, or trains. None seemed appropriate.)
Intent: To create an easy to install security device meant to temporarily deny an indoors area to hostile forces
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: Rusty's Custom Firearms and Cutlery
Model: IADS mk1
Affiliation: Open Market
Modularity: Can be scaled to fit the available space. Larger rooms will require a larger tank and so on.
Production: Mass
Material: Water Tank, Heating Elements, Pressure Vessel, High Pressure Pump, Power Source, Plumbing Components, Computer Control System, Condenser Coils
Strengths:
Description: Live steam is at once the single greatest boon to an up and coming industrial society and its greatest potential danger. Even in advanced manufacturing settings, it has its uses, as it is one of the most effective means of cleaning soiled machinery that would otherwise require the use of noxious chemicals or excessive manpower. Anyone who works around it knows to respect its power; live steam can strip flesh from bone in an instant, and even a light kiss can cause scalding.
The IADS makes use of steam's awesome power and frightful danger to allow the proper occupants of a facility to better defend it from intruders.
The IADS is, at its core, a water heater, much like the ones found in homes across the galaxy. A holding tank, customized to fit the needs of the room, stores water while the system is inactive. When armed, a high pressure pump forces the water over plasma heating elements that immediately flashes it into steam. The steam is then pumped into a pressure vessel, where further heating elements maintain heat and pressure until its needed. Upon release, it's channeled through plumbing into discreet nozzle jets, which spray it into the room at high pressure.
Anyone caught in the path of the steam without proper protective equipment runs the risk of being instantly burned. Direct contact with the steam jet can potentially strip flesh from bone, causing agonizing burns that require immediate medical attention. Though steam burns are rarely immediately fatal, if inhaled it can scald the airways and lungs, thus denying the victim oxygen. Shock tends to set in quickly, and can be fatal if left untreated. Steam burns are notoriously difficult to treat in the field as well.
Indirect contact can still cause severe burns, often resulting in painful blisters that are, if anything, even more difficult to treat. It can also render many common forms of sensors useless, as the high heat interferes with infrared imaging systems, and can interfere with high resolution radars that make use of ultra high frequency signals. It's also opaque to the naked eye.
The IADS is best used in confined areas such as corridors or offices, where the steam can be used to maximum effect before it inevitably disperses. Larger areas, such as meeting halls or cafeterias, require much greater volumes of steam, making the system impractical for use. Careful planning is required to make the most of it. Placing it in choke points or corridors that an enemy has to traverse to reach their destination is advisable.
It's important to note that steam will disperse relatively quickly, even in a confined area. Though the obscuring effects may remain for longer, the immediate danger comes from the steam jets, which have the advantage of both heat and pressure. It should be noted that the steam will condense at some point, and can be expected to wreak havoc on unprotected electronics. We would advise you not to leave anything you might want later in the room.
The IADS may be triggered through a number of means, including booby trap style sensors. It may also be triggered remotely, or set on a timer. The possibilities are only limited to your ingenuity.
If the system is armed, and the situation changes and you don't need to use it, the steam will be pumped through condenser coils that will turn it back into liquid water. It will then be pumped back into the holding tank, ready to be used again. However, we recommend that the system be serviced afterwards, in order to ensure that everything is still functioning properly.
Primary Source: N/A
Intent: To create an easy to install security device meant to temporarily deny an indoors area to hostile forces
Development Thread: N/A
Manufacturer: Rusty's Custom Firearms and Cutlery
Model: IADS mk1
Affiliation: Open Market
Modularity: Can be scaled to fit the available space. Larger rooms will require a larger tank and so on.
Production: Mass
Material: Water Tank, Heating Elements, Pressure Vessel, High Pressure Pump, Power Source, Plumbing Components, Computer Control System, Condenser Coils
Strengths:
- Can effectively deny entry to a room for a limited amount of time by means of live steam.
- High pressure steam is extremely dangerous and extremely tenacious. Not only can it strip flesh from bone in an instant, it will also sorely test environmental seals in hermetically sealed armor. Even the slightest gap can allow the steam to enter, and though a small gap might not allow for a debilitating injury, it will certainly allow for a painful and distracting burn.
- Can potentially obscure a wide array of sensors. Steam is opaque to the naked eye, plays merry hell with thermal imaging, and can obstruct ultra high frequency radar.
- Discreet installation and use of common technology means that the enemy might not even notice the device until it's too late, even when using high tech sensor packages.
- Can get water vapor into delicate electronics, to potentially devastating effect.
- Dissipates relatively quickly. After the initial blow, proper ventilation can render a room inhabitable again in under a minute.
- Does not work well in large, well ventilated rooms.
- Steam is an equal opportunity weapon. Friendlies caught in the area of effect will have to deal with the same problems as enemies.
- Tanks must be refilled after each steam blow.
Description: Live steam is at once the single greatest boon to an up and coming industrial society and its greatest potential danger. Even in advanced manufacturing settings, it has its uses, as it is one of the most effective means of cleaning soiled machinery that would otherwise require the use of noxious chemicals or excessive manpower. Anyone who works around it knows to respect its power; live steam can strip flesh from bone in an instant, and even a light kiss can cause scalding.
The IADS makes use of steam's awesome power and frightful danger to allow the proper occupants of a facility to better defend it from intruders.
The IADS is, at its core, a water heater, much like the ones found in homes across the galaxy. A holding tank, customized to fit the needs of the room, stores water while the system is inactive. When armed, a high pressure pump forces the water over plasma heating elements that immediately flashes it into steam. The steam is then pumped into a pressure vessel, where further heating elements maintain heat and pressure until its needed. Upon release, it's channeled through plumbing into discreet nozzle jets, which spray it into the room at high pressure.
Anyone caught in the path of the steam without proper protective equipment runs the risk of being instantly burned. Direct contact with the steam jet can potentially strip flesh from bone, causing agonizing burns that require immediate medical attention. Though steam burns are rarely immediately fatal, if inhaled it can scald the airways and lungs, thus denying the victim oxygen. Shock tends to set in quickly, and can be fatal if left untreated. Steam burns are notoriously difficult to treat in the field as well.
Indirect contact can still cause severe burns, often resulting in painful blisters that are, if anything, even more difficult to treat. It can also render many common forms of sensors useless, as the high heat interferes with infrared imaging systems, and can interfere with high resolution radars that make use of ultra high frequency signals. It's also opaque to the naked eye.
The IADS is best used in confined areas such as corridors or offices, where the steam can be used to maximum effect before it inevitably disperses. Larger areas, such as meeting halls or cafeterias, require much greater volumes of steam, making the system impractical for use. Careful planning is required to make the most of it. Placing it in choke points or corridors that an enemy has to traverse to reach their destination is advisable.
It's important to note that steam will disperse relatively quickly, even in a confined area. Though the obscuring effects may remain for longer, the immediate danger comes from the steam jets, which have the advantage of both heat and pressure. It should be noted that the steam will condense at some point, and can be expected to wreak havoc on unprotected electronics. We would advise you not to leave anything you might want later in the room.
The IADS may be triggered through a number of means, including booby trap style sensors. It may also be triggered remotely, or set on a timer. The possibilities are only limited to your ingenuity.
If the system is armed, and the situation changes and you don't need to use it, the steam will be pumped through condenser coils that will turn it back into liquid water. It will then be pumped back into the holding tank, ready to be used again. However, we recommend that the system be serviced afterwards, in order to ensure that everything is still functioning properly.
Primary Source: N/A
