▼ 2:51 pm
Area 3
Engine Room
WE come back to the dimly lit heart of LABO where machines whir and pipes snake in every direction. I lay Natsuhiko and Salyu next to each other on the floor and run over to the terminal with Tachibana.
I touch the manual at the top of the menu screen. A picture of that machine appears on screen under the heading “WX Particle Amplifier Operation Manual.”
“This is it!”
Tachibana and I squeeze in close and devour every word on the screen.
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WX Particle Amplifier Operation Manual
This is an operation manual for the WX particle amplifier. Since it is extremely dangerous to operate, please read this manual carefully before starting work. Furthermore, please be aware that WX particles have an adverse effect on the human body due to their properties. The correlation between the effects on the human body and the amount of particle energy is as follows:
〇Without AD
0 to 2,000 mSv ………… No effect on the body
2,000 to 4,000 mSv ………… Sensory abnormalities, vomiting, headache, genetic disorders
4,000 to 8,000 mSv ………… Brain dysfunction, deterioration of awareness level
8,000+ mSv ………… Disruption of consciousness
〇With AD
0 to 6,000 mSv ………… No effect on the body
6,000 to 8,000 mSv ………… Sensory abnormalities, vomiting, headache, genetic disorders
8,000 to 12,000 mSv ………… Brain dysfunction, deterioration of awareness level
12,000+ mSv ………… Disruption of consciousness
As described above, the intensity and probability of the symptoms increases in proportion to the amount of energy exposure. When AD is administered, add about 4,000 mSv to the value when not administered. If the amount of energy exceeds 4,000 mSv, the occurrence of NBC is also a concern.
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“Tachibana, do you understand what it’s talking about?” I whisper as I stare at the screen.
“No… I have never heard of WX particles before. The list of negative effects it has on the body makes it sound similar to radiation, though.”
I get the same sense from it, too. But there’s something more important for us to think about right now.
“Is there anything written about the pipes?”
As I continue scanning through the operation manual, my eyes anchor on one particular entry.
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〇About the Water Coolant System
A large amount of heat is generated when the WX particle amplifier is in operation. In order to cool the heat, a coolant system that uses natural water from Lake Rokumei has been installed in the engine room.
Cold water is drawn inside through the “intake pipe” and drained by the “drainage pipe.” The diameter of each pipe is 3.3 feet. Thickness is 0.4 inches. The amount of water circulated is about 1,200 liters per minute. The cold water from the intake pipe is discharged after the water temperature rises by about 30° Celsius.
(※If the water temperature of Lake Rokumei in August is 24° Celsius, it will be 58° Celsius when discharged.)
The water flow is controlled by a “forced circulation pump” installed in the drainage pipe. In addition, a “filtering mechanism” exists in the intake pipe to prevent foreign matter from entering.
Only water distilled and filtered at high speed by the filtering mechanism is used as coolant. Foreign matter such as algae is automatically discharged from the “foreign matter discharge port” equipped in the filtering mechanism.
When the filtering mechanism fails, there is a risk that contaminated water will flow into the amplifier and a serious failure will occur. Therefore, when the filtering mechanism fails, the “floodgate” in the intake pipe is automatically closed to avoid the inflow of water mixed with foreign substances.
At the same time, the operation of the forced circulation pump and the amplifier is stopped, and the water flow is stopped. The position of each piece of equipment is shown in the blueprint below.