Okay, so I've got a fluid generator that works... after a fashion.
It uses thirteen carts (the optimum number for this application due to how fluids load into quantum mine cart stacks), and the latest version cycles in about 200 clicks. Each cycle produces approximately 13 units of fluid. This means that fluid generation is fairly rapid.
The beta version consists of these components:
1) A reservoir.
2) An impulse elevator of a certain length. Timed to restore the carts to their initial quantum stack location and configuration.
3) A quantum mine cart stack. This stack rests upon an retracting bridge.
Action:
When the bridge opens the fluid laden carts fall onto an impulse ramp, and begin their journey to the dump station directly above the initial mine cart stack.
The stack initially exists in one level of 7/7 fluid with a 6/7 level above. (well water in my case). All of the carts contain 2 units of fluid. When the bridge opens the fluid follows the carts. Along the path of the carts is a grate leading down into the reservoir. Using this configuration, I capture almost all the fluid being generated, losing only two units during the first iteration. This setup also allows me to do away with the complicated pump setup that I was using to recover water in the alpha version. Plus, you know, this setup actually works...
Once the cart reaches the drop shaft that returns them to their initial position on the bridge, they dump their load in the same hole they are falling into. Thus, they unload their fluid and reload it as a quantum mine cart stack, effectively doubling the quantity of fluid originally carried. The carts reload and the extra 13 units of water surround the carts waiting to flow into the reservoir.
That's it. No power, thirteen carts, a few bits of track and a bridge.
So what's the catch?
How do I automatically open and close the bridge at the right time?
I'm currently building a new version of this thing and I'm trying to keep the design as simple as possible. Something that one could build as easily as, say, a four pump mister. For the device to be really useful, it needs to be fairly easy to setup. Right now I have a very simple design, but I have to babysit each cycle.
NE NE # E... NW
Z0
NE = Track Ramp
# = grate
E = track
... = several more E track sections
NW = track ramp leading to the next level
The bridge covers the leftmost NE
X TS ...
z3
X = drop shaft
TS = track stop, for dumping. (this may not be necessary, I think if I increase the drop the carts would unload automatically. I just don't want to use the extra z's.
... = is a winding path timed to allow all the carts to clear the quantum stack. Once the last cart is clear, the bridge may close. Once the last cart drops back onto the quantum stack the bridge may reopen.
The rest of the setup is trivial -- just legs of an impulse elevator.
NOTE: Of course I'm testing with water. Haven't even tried magma yet.
So...
How do I get that bridge to open and close on the fly?
EDIT: punctuation.