The Radiation Collector Array is designed to collect radiation from the environment and convert it into energy, usually by piping a gaseous material through a transparent field that can intercept and absorb the radiation and drain it from the environment. It is usually used with any engine that generate large amounts of radiation. The power generated depends on the gas matrix available (which declines over time if not refilled as radioactive decay ensues) and the radiation in the environment.

For comparison, a Radiation Collector Array filled with 1,000 mols of plasma will generate 1 KW per rad in the environment. If the environment is sufficient to dose someone with 100 rads per second, the array will generate 100 KW. Radioactive decay will dissipate plasma over time, causing a loss of roughly 1 mol per ten ticks. The power generated is then routed to an SMES unit or directly into a power grid.

Typically, multiple collector arrays are used in close proximity to a radiation source for maximum effect.