Storage tank

Storage tank

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Recipe
3 + 20 + 5 → 1
Total raw
3 + 20 + 5
Map color
Fluid storage volume	25000 32500 40000 47500 62500
Health	500 650 800 950 1250
Stack size	50
Rocket capacity	50
Dimensions	3×3
Mining time	0.5
Prototype type	storage-tank
Internal name	storage-tank
Required technologies
Produced by
Consumed by

Object description

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. It is a passive storage—it has no input and no output, depending on pressure to fill it, essentially being 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 storage tank can be emptied by mining and rebuilding it (the fluid is destroyed) or by draining it with a pump.

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.

History

• 0.15.0:
  • Multiplied all fluid amounts by 10.

• 0.13.12:
  • Fluid icon now scales with size of tank.

• 0.12.0:
  • Liquid inside can be seen through a small window.
  • Now connectible to the circuit network.

• 0.9.1:
  • Now has double capacity and takes longer to mine.

• 0.9.0:
  • Introduced

See also

• Fluid system