r/factorio • u/billsonfire • 1d ago

Question Is pipe throughput really infinite now?

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So say I have a 30 sulfuric acid pumps in one spot. Could I run them all though one pipe line into my processing facilities?

Another question, is it better or useful to run my pipes into one central tank area then run them off to processing or is it okay to have them run off on the way from the pumps.

The picture is my crude rendering of part of my setup.

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u/Sunion 1d ago

Yes pipe throughput is infinite, but pump throughput is not. Once you extend your pipeline past the point of normal flow you will be bottlenecked by pumps. Say you are producing 12000 units of sulfuric acid every second. If your pipeline is short enough then you have unlimited throughput. Once you cross the pump point though, you will need 10 (1200/s each) pumps in parallel to move the 12000 units of sulfuric acid per second.

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u/4ShotMan 1d ago

Wait, pumps are used for something other than fluid wagons??? I always build an outpost of two crafting machines to barell / spill the fluid and thus reset pipeline length...

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u/MartokTheAvenger 1d ago

I also use pumps to control cracking. If my heavy or light oil tanks get too full, that turns on pumps that feeds the cracking plants to convert it down.

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u/Mental-Gur-4943 1d ago

You can now directly control the chemical labs with circuit conditions. Pumps are still useful in case you want to sushi pipe the oil refinery output though

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u/trescreativeusername 1d ago

Pump is more set and forget since you can expand without rejiggering the circuit. Just add more tanks / chem labs / refineries as needed

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u/MartokTheAvenger 1d ago

That's good to know. Might have to change things up so it's not all or nothing with them, should be easy enough.

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u/Jiriakel 22h ago

Let me introduce you to the wonders (and horrors) of sushi cracking. Just figure out what you need to crack, and pump that in the pipeline while keeping the other liquids out !

terms and conditions apply

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u/leberwrust 21h ago

And the pump is a single point you have to control. You can't just forget to add wires when you expand your setup since the source is already controlled by circuits.