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Storage tank: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Usage as "Energy-Tank": Moved advantages from Electric_system#Steam_tanks_as_power_storage. Removed "Electrical energy can be produced on demand, and does not have to be produced in advance and stored in accumulators." - not clear why that's "good".)
 
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{{About|the liquid storage container|the armored combat vehicle|Tank}}
{{:Infobox:Storage tank}}
{{:Infobox:Storage tank}}
[[File:storagetank.png|thumb|150px|Four storage tanks linked together to form a large storage facility.]]
The '''storage tank''' is a building that can store up to 25,000 units of a [[Fluid system|fluid]]. It is a passive [[storage]] — it has no input and no output, depending on pressure to fill it, essentially acting as a large [[pipe]].  
The '''storage tank''' is a building that can store up to 25,000 units of a fluid. It is a passive storage—it has no input and no output, depending on pressure to fill it, essentially being a large pipe.  


== Usage ==
== Usage ==


Storage tanks will only be filled to the same percentage of capacity as pipes that lead to it. Pipe that always carries about 50 water will fill the tank to about 50% of its capacity. [[Pump]]s can be used to fill the entire tank from a low pressure source (such as distant [[pumpjack]]s).
Storage tanks will only be filled to the same percentage of capacity as pipes that lead to it. A pipe that carries about 50 water will fill the tank to about 50% of its capacity. [[Pump]]s can be used to fill the entire tank from a low pressure source (such as distant [[pumpjack]]s).


The storage tank is typically used to store excess oils to ensure that [[oil refinery]] works smoothly. It can also be connected to the [[circuit network]], sending the fluid contents as a signal to the network.
The storage tank is often used to store raw materials and excess products from [[oil processing]], allowing a [[oil refinery|refinery]] to run without interruptions. It can also be connected to the [[circuit network]], sending the fluid contents as a signal to the network.


The storage tank can be emptied by ''mining and rebuilding it'' (the fluid is destroyed) or by draining it with a [[pump]].
The fluid inside the storage tank can be destroyed by flushing the storage tank or the whole fluid system in the GUI, or by mining and rebuilding the storage tank. The storage tank can be emptied without destroying the contained fluid by draining it with a [[pump]]. Mining a storage tank will send its contents to the next nearest storage tanks, if the fluids match.


== Usage as "Energy-Tank" ==
== Usage as "Energy-tank" ==


Storage tanks can also be used as steam-based [[accumulator]]s. If steam consumption by [[steam engine]]s or [[steam turbine|turbines]] changes a lot over a daily cycle (for example because of [[solar panel]]s or [[laser turret]]s), storage tanks can be filled with steam during low power usage and then emptied during heavy load.
:''See also: [[Electric system#Steam tanks as power storage|Steam tanks as power storage]]''
 
Storage tanks can also be used as a replacement for [[accumulator|accumulators]]. If steam consumption by [[steam engine]]s or [[steam turbine|turbines]] changes a lot over a daily cycle (for example due to [[solar panel]]s or [[laser turret]]s), storage tanks can be filled with steam during low power usage and then emptied during heavy load.


A storage tank filled with [[heat exchanger]] 500°C steam stores around 2.4GJ; a storage tank filled with [[boiler]] 165°C steam stores 750MJ.
A storage tank filled with [[heat exchanger]] 500°C steam stores around 2.4GJ; a storage tank filled with [[boiler]] 165°C steam stores 750MJ.


There are several advantages to storing energy in storage tanks compared with storing it in an accumulator:
=== Calculations ===
* The energy density of a storage tank tile is much higher than it is with accumulators.
** For 165°C steam (produced with [[boiler|boilers]]), a single storage tank stores as much as 15 accumulators: <code>750MJ / 5MJ = 150</code>
** For 500°C steam (produced using [[Heat exchanger|heat exchangers]]), a single storage tank stores as much as 48 accumulators: <code>2400MJ / 5MJ = 480</code>
* A  [[nuclear reactor]] always fully burns a fuel cell, releasing 8GJ (or more with the multiple reactor bonus) even if power demand is lower. The excess energy can be stored as steam.
* A single [[accumulator]]'s maximum discharge rate is 300kW. On a very heavy load (e.g.), an accumulator array may not discharge fast enough. A steam engine can produce 900kW of energy from the stored steam (3 times faster discharge rate), and a turbine can produce 5800kW (6.4 times faster discharge rate). In other words, a number of turbines or steam engines with steam storage can cope with much higher bursts than the same number of accumulators.
* Steam can be transferred via trains and then consumed remotely via turbines or steam engines. This essentially "transports electricity" using trains.
 


* 1 '''Storage tank''' can store 25,000 units of 500ºC steam.
* 1 '''Storage tank''' can store 25,000 units of 500ºC steam.
* 1 [[Steam turbine]] can output 5,820kW = 5,820kJ/s using 60 units of 500ºC steam/s.
* 1 [[Steam turbine]] can output 5,820kW = 5,820kJ/s using 60 units of 500ºC steam/s.
* 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam turbine working for 25,000 ∕ 60 ≈ 416.6667s
* 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam turbine working at full capacity for 25,000 ∕ 60 ≈ 416.6667s
* A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 60 × 5,820 = '''2,425,000kJ''' using 500ºC steam.
* A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 60 × 5,820 = '''2,425,000kJ''' using 500ºC steam.




* 1 '''Storage tank''' can store 25,000 units of 165ºC steam.
* 1 '''Storage tank''' can store 25,000 units of 165ºC steam.
* 1 [[Steam engine]] can output 900kW = 900kJ/s using 30 units of 165ºC steam/s.
* 1 [[Steam engine]] can output 900kW = 900kJ/s using 30 units of 165ºC steam/s.
* 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam engine working for 25,000 ∕ 30 ≈ 833.3333s
* 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam engine working for 25,000 ∕ 30 ≈ 833.3333s
* A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 30 × 900 = '''750,000kJ''' using 165ºC steam.
* A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 30 × 900 = '''750,000kJ''' using 165ºC steam.
== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=320px heights=200px>
File:Storage tank GUI.png|The storage tank's GUI with the ability to clear the contained fluid.
File:storagetank.png|Four storage tanks linked together to form a large storage facility.
</gallery>


== History ==  
== History ==  
{{history|0.15.7|
* Reduced the mining time of the storage tank from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds.}}
{{history|0.15.0|
{{history|0.15.0|
* Multiplied all fluid amounts by 10.}}
* Multiplied all fluid amounts by 10.}}
Line 49: Line 51:
{{history|0.12.0|
{{history|0.12.0|
* Liquid inside can be seen through a small window.
* Liquid inside can be seen through a small window.
* Now connectible to the circuit network.}}
* Now connectible to the [[circuit network]].}}


{{history|0.9.1|
{{history|0.9.1|
* Now has double capacity and takes longer to mine.}}
* Storage tank has 2.5 times bigger capacity (2500 lit-res) and takes longer to mine.}}


{{history|0.9.0|
{{history|0.9.0|

Latest revision as of 09:15, 4 November 2024

This article is about the liquid storage container. For the armored combat vehicle, see Tank.

Storage tank.png
 Storage tank

Storage tank entity.png

Recipe

Time.png
3
+
Iron plate.png
20
+
Steel plate.png
5
→
Storage tank.png
1

Total raw

Time.png
3
+
Iron plate.png
20
+
Steel plate.png
5

Map color

Fluid storage volume

25000

Health

Quality normal.png 500
Quality uncommon.png 650 Quality rare.png 800
Quality epic.png 950 Quality legendary.png 1250

Stack size

50

Rocket capacity

50

Dimensions

3×3

Mining time

0.5

Prototype type

storage-tank

Internal name

storage-tank

Required technologies

Fluid handling (research).png

Produced by

Assembling machine 1.png
Assembling machine 2.png
Assembling machine 3.png
Player.png

Consumed by

Fluid wagon.png

The storage tank is a building that can store up to 25,000 units of a fluid. It is a passive storage — it has no input and no output, depending on pressure to fill it, essentially acting as a large pipe.

Usage

Storage tanks will only be filled to the same percentage of capacity as pipes that lead to it. A pipe that carries about 50 water will fill the tank to about 50% of its capacity. Pumps can be used to fill the entire tank from a low pressure source (such as distant pumpjacks).

The storage tank is often used to store raw materials and excess products from oil processing, allowing a refinery to run without interruptions. It can also be connected to the circuit network, sending the fluid contents as a signal to the network.

The fluid inside the storage tank can be destroyed by flushing the storage tank or the whole fluid system in the GUI, or by mining and rebuilding the storage tank. The storage tank can be emptied without destroying the contained fluid by draining it with a pump. Mining a storage tank will send its contents to the next nearest storage tanks, if the fluids match.

Usage as "Energy-tank"

See also: Steam tanks as power storage

Storage tanks can also be used as a replacement for accumulators. If steam consumption by steam engines or turbines changes a lot over a daily cycle (for example due to solar panels or laser turrets), storage tanks can be filled with steam during low power usage and then emptied during heavy load.

A storage tank filled with heat exchanger 500°C steam stores around 2.4GJ; a storage tank filled with boiler 165°C steam stores 750MJ.

Calculations

  • 1 Storage tank can store 25,000 units of 500ºC steam.
  • 1 Steam turbine can output 5,820kW = 5,820kJ/s using 60 units of 500ºC steam/s.
  • 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam turbine working at full capacity for 25,000 ∕ 60 ≈ 416.6667s
  • A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 60 × 5,820 = 2,425,000kJ using 500ºC steam.


  • 1 Storage tank can store 25,000 units of 165ºC steam.
  • 1 Steam engine can output 900kW = 900kJ/s using 30 units of 165ºC steam/s.
  • 1 Storage tank can keep 1 steam engine working for 25,000 ∕ 30 ≈ 833.3333s
  • A Storage tank can store up to 25,000 ∕ 30 × 900 = 750,000kJ using 165ºC steam.

Gallery

  • The storage tank's GUI with the ability to clear the contained fluid.

  • Four storage tanks linked together to form a large storage facility.

History

  • 0.15.7:
    • Reduced the mining time of the storage tank from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds.
  • 0.15.0:
    • Multiplied all fluid amounts by 10.
  • 0.13.12:
    • Fluid icon now scales with size of tank.
  • 0.9.1:
    • Storage tank has 2.5 times bigger capacity (2500 lit-res) and takes longer to mine.

See also

Logistics

Transport

Terrain

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