u/KerbodynamicX

https://preview.redd.it/81wn8pc380bh1.png?width=1197&format=png&auto=webp&s=da6c1d382b4c7d2942b1b127c8f3f117871dda19

On the scale of a planet entirely covered with artificial structures (ecumenopolis/shell world), inhabiting a population of trillions, it might be necessary to carefully manage the heat.

Assuming a case where the total power requirement of the ecumenopolis is greater than the 173PW of power coming from the sun, what could they do to avoid cooking themselves? Undoubtedly, this power exchange has to happen on the highest layer of the ecumenopolis. For example, the sun-facing side might use high-efficiency solar panels to capture half of the incoming solar energy, to reduce load of fusion power plants, or otherwise, block out the sun entirely and use artificial lighting. And on the side away from the sun, the surface will switch to radiator mode, and that side of the planet will glow with an incandescent red.

Transporting energy across the planet is a lot easier than transporting heat across the planet. Does that mean heat-intensive facilities like power plants and factories can only operate at full power in the dark side to dissipate heat? On second thought - having a large temperature difference on the two sides of a planet is a really bad idea - it will create immensely strong winds that can harm the surface facilities and potentially make maintenance impossible too.

So... is that power consumption a hard limit, or are there other ways to bypass it?

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In the 60-80s, arguably the golden age of aviation, a new airliner like the Boeing 747 was developed in just 29 months (from plan to first flight), while fighter jets usually iterates one generation per decade or so. Back then there was no CAD, everything is drawn on paper, and undoubtedly it is much harder for them to update designs and iterate.

And yet, with modern tools and experience from the past, developing new aircraft has become far slower in the 21st century. Designs are becoming more conservative, and still takes much longer than before. I’ve seen CG renders and concepts of next generation fighter jets and new designs for commercial aircraft since I was a kid, but they are still pushed to like 2035 or 2040 to enter service.

https://preview.redd.it/p8kk71kqmz9h1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=df0014c4b8f22d37e34b70ae325b26356e4e1f64

https://preview.redd.it/v6bkvc4j6t9h1.png?width=672&format=png&auto=webp&s=68eec2d47b7115b7192f3a01284662cda6f0182d

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