I can upgrade the shelter

"What's so advanced about this thing?" The researcher looked at the mechanical parts piled up by Chen Xin, feeling not the slightest sense of advancement, even thinking the unassembled heat network seems somewhat primitive, like something from the steam era.

Although steampunk was a popular element before the disaster, many people associated with science fiction enjoy this style full of steel, steam, coal smoke, and a strong industrialization vibe, relishing the charm as if living in the eighteenth-century Victorian era during the peak of the Industrial Revolution.

But from a scientific standpoint, this is still a very backward and wasteful way to utilize energy.

Despite many science fiction works injecting ineffable black technology into steampunk—making steam engines capable of flying a fortress, magnifying the energy conversion efficiency of steam engines a hundredfold, and steam sources providing unlimited steam, even using punched tape in difference engines to study artificial intelligence...

But only inefficiently burned fuel causes coal smoke; only inefficient use and recovery of waste heat generate vast amounts of steam, which from the perspective of modern industrial aesthetics is undoubtedly a huge waste.

In this researcher's eyes, these heat network parts, into which Chen Xin poured much effort, are no match for the enticing electromagnetic metallurgical furnace beside them.

You should know that the furnace uses the magnetic field constraint—a technology hard to replicate even in laboratories—not to mention keeping liquid metal magnetic even at high temperatures and levitating.

If one could master magnetic field constraint technology, merely controlling nuclear fusion research would make great progress, turning nuclear fusion into a new energy source. Isn't this more efficient and cleaner than extracting geothermal energy?

But Chen Xin doesn't think so. Facing the researcher's doubts, he merely smiled and shook his head, saying: "It's not something advanced. The geothermal resource utilization technology is nothing worth mentioning—just injecting water into the ground, using geothermal to heat the water flow, then pumping it up to dissipate heat.

However, this thing itself has high heat dissipation efficiency. According to my design, it can create a heating field with a temperature rise of up to 50°C within a 200-meter radius. If everything goes well, I can use this heat network to evaporate the snow at this train station instead of needing manpower to clear it.

You've seen how the people in this city load and unload supplies; improving the efficiency of loading and unloading supplies without clearing the train station is challenging."

"That's true, but it still feels wasteful. Directly dissipating heat into the atmosphere is truly..." The researcher hesitated with his wording, uncertain how to phrase it politely.

Faced with the researcher's dilemma, Chen Xin merely glanced at him without much comment, but still explained: "Dissipating heat directly into the atmosphere is certainly wasteful. If this energy could be utilized more effectively, it would have a greater impact, such as converting heat energy into electricity to drive electrical equipment, which would clear the snow more effectively.

But Lin City clearly doesn't have these conditions now, so only this relatively crude method can be used to clear the snow at the train station. Temporarily, there will be some waste, but after clearing the snow, I'll modify this heat network to provide heating and power to the train station. Then the heat dissipation won't be so crude."

"I see, in this case, it's indeed feasible." After listening to Chen Xin's explanation, the researcher thought it over and found the approach feasible, his mind quickly thinking of other applicable areas for this technology: "For example, construction sites, first establish such a heat network, raising the temperature of the area to facilitate construction, and after completion, modify the heat network to become the source of heating and power for the building. It is indeed a very feasible technology!"

Hearing the researcher's thoughts, Chen Xin nodded with delight: "Exactly right! Your idea is broader and more feasible than my initial application. Originally, I thought of using the heat network to build greenhouse shelters; now it seems the application scope of this thing should be broader!"

"Greenhouse shelters? Using this to build greenhouse shelters is a great idea! This could repurpose some farmland covered by snow! The country is short of grain now; if some farmland can be restored, it would be a great blessing!" This researcher clearly cares about broader issues beyond merely scientific research, intuitively connecting greenhouses with agriculture and food production.

Now, Chen Xin was also interested, eager to discuss the heat network in depth with professional researchers. He not only projected the heat network's design onto the snow with his robotic arm, but also attached modified drawings and plans of the Energy Tower, pointing to these three drawings: "This is the completed heat network. According to the design, it has two modes: one is this dissipation mode, which can extend a heating field with a 200-meter radius; the other is this energy mode, not dissipating heat, but converting thermal energy into electrical energy for nearby needs."

"Is this large one the amplification mode of the heat network?" The researcher glanced at the two modes of heat network and concentrated on the Energy Tower plans.

"This is the Energy Tower. According to my design, it can tap deep geothermal resources below three thousand meters and can be used in conjunction with the heat network," Chen Xin introduced enthusiastically, seeing the researcher's interest in the Energy Tower. "Build an Energy Tower in one area, then construct heat networks where needed, connecting them through pipes to provide thermal energy from the Energy Tower. This way, one can construct a heating network."

"Is this for urban heating? If a geothermal heating network can be constructed in the city, it would be wonderful!" The researcher greatly anticipated this, shifting his attitude and having high hopes for Chen Xin's project.

Conversely, the nearby civil officer couldn't find an opportunity to interject; he barely understood the conversation between Chen Xin and the researcher, and they quickly changed topics before he could grasp what they were discussing. This uncomfortable situation led him to interject during a pause: "Since Mr. Chen, you've decided to stay in Lin City temporarily, I will report back to the higher department. Do you need someone sent here to assist with this project?"