Chapter 17: High Temperature and Heat Dissipation System
The following day, the temperature continued its relentless climb. By noon, it hovered around a scorching 55 degrees Celsius. Drone reconnaissance revealed a grim reality: nearly all wild plants and crops within Jianghe City and its surrounding areas had withered, facing imminent extinction. A significant reduction in surface grain production, if not a complete failure, was inevitable.
"The external environment is bleak," Su Wu observed. "Fortunately, most people are safely within shelters, so widespread catastrophe should be averted."
He shared the drone footage in the Doomsday chat group, the images of the desolate urban landscape and barren farmlands resonating with a collective sense of unease.
"We're in the same boat," one member replied. "We've moved into an official shelter. The requirements are incredibly strict; you can't bring much. We're crammed eight to a room, smaller than my old dorm. Now, all we do is stare at our phones." This individual, now safe but stripped of his former life, lamented the drastic decline in his quality of life. All his accumulated assets, save for a few valuables, had been left behind. Su Wu knew that without the Doomsday Survival System, his fate would likely be similar.
"I'm slightly better off," another member chimed in. "I managed to get into a small private shelter. I have my own room, and as long as you can pay, you can bring almost anything. The catch is, everything costs money, and water and electricity are ridiculously expensive. My salary barely covers it, and I'm having to barter for things. I don't know how long I can hold out." This person, a white-collar worker, had opted for a private shelter, enjoying a higher standard of living with personal appliances. However, unlike the guaranteed basic provisions of government shelters, private shelters were profit-driven, with higher costs and potentially lower safety standards.
"Big Boss, your drone is amazing," another member remarked. "I tried launching three drones today, but they all malfunctioned mid-flight. Total loss." Compared to the complaints, many were more interested in Su Wu's drone footage. They knew he must be wealthy to have access to such technology and information. Of course, anyone who could launch a drone likely held a position of some authority within a shelter, as ordinary citizens wouldn't have that privilege.
"You need drones with better heat dissipation," Su Wu replied, noticing the increasing impact of the extreme temperatures on electronic devices. He turned to the shelter's 3D map, confirming that the engineering team's equipment, particularly the miniature transport vehicles, showed signs of wear and tear. Some precision components were exhibiting signs of overheating.
"I need to add a new cooling system to the engineering team's vehicles," he realized. "And the ground thermal generator needs to be moved into the shelter. Otherwise, it's going to fail sooner or later."
He began formulating solutions. Installing a new cooling system was relatively straightforward; the designs were available in the database downloaded by the AI. The challenge was the significant energy consumption of the new system. The mini-transporters' batteries would require frequent recharging.
"To solve this," Su Wu reasoned, "I can utilize the high-energy battery pack's wireless charging capability. I just need to add a power receiver to each piece of equipment."
Wireless charging technology was well-developed in this world. While not as extensive as the 100-meter radius wireless transmission of his upgraded battery pack, the principles were the same. Adapting it for localized charging was feasible.
With the engineering team's immediate issues addressed, Su Wu, realizing he had some downtime, enlarged the shelter's 3D map to identify and rectify any potential weaknesses.
For a shelter focused on survival, the most basic needs were water, air, and safety.
The shelter had a comprehensive water system in place, from sourcing and purification to storage and distribution. However, water supply alone wasn't enough. Drainage, sewage treatment, and water quality monitoring were equally crucial for a complete water circulation system. This required an independent drainage network and multiple specialized sewage treatment tanks to separate domestic, industrial, and potentially laboratory waste. Regular water quality testing, using sophisticated electronic equipment, was also vital to detect any contaminants that might bypass the filtration system.
The air system, with its upgraded purifier, was theoretically sound. However, the purifier was a passive system located at the shelter's vents, meaning it had a certain reaction delay. In the event of a breach, like a crack in the outer wall, toxic and radioactive substances could enter before the purifier could react. A comprehensive air quality monitoring system, capable of detecting anomalies and triggering immediate countermeasures, such as sealing affected areas, was necessary as a final safeguard.
Regarding safety, with the water and air systems secured, the biggest remaining threat was fire. This was relatively easy to address. Fire detection and suppression technologies were readily available. Su Wu could implement them without spending additional survival points.
(End of Chapter)