Electro-plasma system

The electro-plasma system (EPS for short, or more specifically the electro-plasma distribution network, the term preferred by engineers) was the primary form of energy distribution on starships. 
The technology was based on storing energy in a highly energetic plasma, "electro-plasma," and distributing it throughout the ship via plasma conduits, called EPS conduits. The system of conduits was also referred to as the plasma grid. EPS conduits usually started at a matter-antimatter reaction assembly, also called the warp core, where matter was converted to energy, and extended to all areas of a ship. Plasma conduit power levels were regulated by plasma coolant ducts, and monitored by plasma conversion sensors.
Very large conduits extended from the warp core, through the nacelle struts, and into the nacelles to facilitate the massive power transfer to the warp coils needed to create a warp field. A plasma stream was directed by plasma injectors at the warp coils.
In addition to distributing power to the warp nacelles, various EPS taps were placed on the conduits throughout the ship to enable other systems to access electro-plasma wherever it was needed. From the EPS taps, the energy was distributed through conventional electricity; however, this conversion often occurred deep inside the components of a subsystem. Some systems used plasma distribution manifolds (or plasma manifolds, for short) to manage the power conversion level.
Electro-plasma could also be bled off into warp plasma canisters or a plasma infuser for mobile use as an energy source.
The had a primary plasma system and a backup secondary plasma system. Additional systems were the power flow and the auxiliary replicator system. ()
A massive EPS explosion in cargo bay 4 was detected by internal sensors in 2368; it later turned out that it was just a malfunction caused by tampering with the conduit by solanogen-based lifeforms. ()
Engineer in command Lieutenant Paul Porter assumed that a problem within the EPS conduits caused the environmental control's problems when the temperature in main engineering increased. ()
== See also ==
*EPS conduit
*EPS converter
*EPS grid
*EPS power stabilizer
*Primary EPS relay
de:Elektroplasma-Verteilernetzwerk
Category:Energy technology