atmospheric conditioning — Tech Blog

Bioreactors are an important technology, used in a wide variety of applications. A bioreactor is essentially a self-contained habitat for microorganisms, feeding watering and sheltering them so they can perform some useful function. Depending on the application, a bioreactor can be small enough to fit in a handheld device or large enough to fill a room.

Depending on the organism and the nutrients fed into the bioreactor, it can do a number of useful things. Bioreactors with specially engineered organisms can produce medicine, food, fuel, bio-plastics, and even building materials. Bioreactors are used in the process of algal symbiosis. Terra-forming operations also use this technology extensively, particularly in atmospheric conditioners and soil processors.

In space colonies, and on ships bioreactors growing algae recycle the air and water. Many an astronaut has complained about the flavorless organic mush produced by a bioreactor for food when more appealing fare is in short supply.

Both Human and Cielioid -based civilizations make extensive use of this technology, as it is one of the gateway developments to serious space-fairing. One of the main manufacturers of bioreactors in human-controlled space is Cosmid, inc. one of the largest of the corporate states. On Earth, bioreactors were first developed late in Era-0.

Description

Atmospheric Conditioners generally take the form of large buildings, the size of skyscrapers covered in large ventilation ports. The ports serve to draw in the planet's atmosphere, and to expel the newly conditioned atmosphere.

Inside the conditioner ducts lead the incoming air first to a bioreactor that uses genetically engineered algae and other microorganisms to remove unwanted substances and to add oxygen, and other gasses if needed. If the planet's greenhouse effect is too low to sustain a habitable climate, the air then goes to a chamber where the appropriate gasses are added, often by burning certain fuels. The heat produced by this process is re-captured to provide power. If the planet's climate is too cold, the conditioner may also include a Heat Mill to warm the outgoing air. If the air is too dry or too humid, an atmospheric conditioner also includes humidifying/dehumidifying equipment.

The number of atmospheric conditioners installed on a planet depends on the volume of the atmosphere, as well as how much the air needs to be altered. Planets with higher populations also tend to need more conditioning.

Atmospheric Conditioning technology also has its abuses. The corporate state of Cosmid used this technology on several planets to test new drugs on unsuspecting populations. The Holy Empire of Man also used atmospheric conditioners to drug entire planets.