franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

2.5 INERTIAL DAMPING SYSTEM2.5.1 Inertial potential cancellation using IDFPrimary/backup IDF generatorsCounter-acceleration imposedby IDF generatorsNatural acceleration vector2.5 INERTIAL DAMPING SYSTEMOperating in parallel with the structural integrity field (SIF)system is the inertial damping field system (IDF). This systemgenerates a controlled series of variable-symmetry forcef ieldsthat serve to absorb the inertial forces of spaceflight whichwould otherwise cause fatal injury to the crew. The IDF isgenerated separately from the SIF, but is fed by a parallelseries of waveguides that are then conducted through syntheticgravity plates.The IDF operates by maintaining a low-level forcefieldthroughout the habitable volume of the spacecraft. This fieldaverages 75 millicochranes with field differential limited to5.26 nanocochranes/meter, per SFRA-standard 352.12 forcrew exposure to subspace fields.As acceleration effects are anticipated, this field is distortedalong a vector diametrically opposed to the velocitychange. The IDF thereby absorbs the inertial potential, whichwould otherwise have acted upon the crew.generator consists of a cluster of twelve 500 kW gravitonpolarity sources feeding a pair of 150 millicochrane subspacefield distortion amplifiers. Heat dissipation on each unit isprovided by a pair of 100,000 MJ/hr continuous-duty liquidhelium coolant loops. Three backup generators are locatedin each hull, providing up to twelve hours of service at 65% ofmaximum rated power. Normal duty cycle on generators isforty-eight hours online, with nominal twelve hours degaussand scheduled maintenance time. Graviton polarity sourcesare rated for 2,500 operating hours between routine servicingof superconductive elements.Cruise Mode operating rules require at least two fieldgenerators to be active at all times in each hull, although theFlight Control Officer may call for activation of additional unitswhen extreme maneuvers are anticipated. During Alertmodes, all operational units are brought to hot standby forimmediate activation. Reduced Power Mode rules permit asingle field generator to feed the entire spaceframe, using thefield conduit umbilical connect between the primary and engineeringsections.There is a characteristic lag time for the shifting of IDFdirection and intensity. This lag varies with the net accelerationinvolved, but averages 295 milliseconds for normal impulsemaneuvers. Because IDF control is generally derivedfrom Flight Controller data, normal course corrections can beanticipated so there is rarely any noticeable acceleration tothe crew. Exceptions to this sometimes occur when power forIDF operations is restricted or when sudden maneuvers orother externally caused accelerations occur more rapidly thanthe system can respond.Flux generation for the IDF is provided by four fieldgenerators located on Deck 11 in the Primary Hull and by twogenerators located on Deck 33 in the Engineering Hull. EachThe tremendous accelerations involved in the kind of spaceflight seen on Star Trek would instantly turn the crew to chunkysalsa unless there was some kind of heavy-duty protection. Hence, the inertial damping field. The reason for the "characteristiclag" referred to above is to "explain" why our crew is occasionally knocked out of their chairs during battle or other drasticmaneuvers despite the IDF. The science of all this is admittedly a bit hazy, but it seems a good compromise between dramaticnecessity and maintaining some kind of technical consistency.