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Tylium (RDM): Difference between revisions

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
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→‎Re-imagined Tylium: Add part of this back into third bullet point. Addition of fuel fires on ships
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* Tylium ore is rendered inert and unusable when exposed to nuclear radiation
* Tylium ore is rendered inert and unusable when exposed to nuclear radiation
* Refined tylium precursor is much easier to ignite than the fuel itself
* Refined tylium precursor is much easier to ignite than the fuel itself
* Refined tylium has a tremendous energy density of approximately half a million gigajoules per kilogram, or about 6 times greater than Uranium-235 and 81% that of deuterium fusion. It can be easily detonated by a conventional warhead. Moreover igniting fuel lines on spaceships usually quickly result in their loss ([[Miniseries]])
* Refined tylium has a tremendous enthalpy to the order of approximately half a million gigajoules per kilogram, or about 6 times greater than Uranium-235 and 81% that of deuterium fusion. It can be easily detonated by a conventional warhead. Moreover igniting fuel lines on spaceships usually quickly result in their loss ([[Miniseries]])
* Tylium's detonation results in no radioactive fallout
* Tylium's detonation results in no radioactive fallout



Revision as of 23:44, 18 July 2007

Tylium is a fuel used in both the Original Series and Re-imagined Series.

Re-imagined Tylium

Apollo destroys a Cylon base to win supplies of tylium in "The Hand of God"

Tylium is a material used to fuel the propulsion systems of Colonial and Cylon spacecraft. Three forms are known of: tylium ore, refined tylium precursor, and refined tylium (the fuel itself).

Typically, tylium ore is mined from asteroids and is apparently not found on the Twelve Colonies natively. Large tylium ore deposits can keep fleets fueled for years (The Hand of God). In its raw form tylium is a relatively fine, powdery substance that is liquefied and refined by refinery ships. Care needs to be taken to not introduce impurities into the fuel, which can cause engine malfunctions (Dirty Hands).

According to Dr. Baltar (The Hand of God) tylium has the following characteristics:

  • Tylium ore is rendered inert and unusable when exposed to nuclear radiation
  • Refined tylium precursor is much easier to ignite than the fuel itself
  • Refined tylium has a tremendous enthalpy to the order of approximately half a million gigajoules per kilogram, or about 6 times greater than Uranium-235 and 81% that of deuterium fusion. It can be easily detonated by a conventional warhead. Moreover igniting fuel lines on spaceships usually quickly result in their loss (Miniseries)
  • Tylium's detonation results in no radioactive fallout

Original Tylium

Practically nothing on the fuel is mentioned in the Original Series.

In the Original Series, the term was pronounced as "TIE-lee-um" as opposed to "TILL-lee-um" in the Re-imagined Series, as heard in "Saga of a Star World".

Notes

  • The official series web page on the Sci-Fi Channel web site incorrectly spells the substance as "tyllium" in the description of the mining ship on the ships page. As the Original Series DVD material, as well as labels seen in "Dirty Hands", show the spelling as "tylium," Battlestar Wiki contributors should use "tylium" as the correct spelling.

See Also

Substances in the Re-imagined Series for a discussion on the nature of tylium.