Factorio Forums

Here is a screenshot of my Petroleum gas storage with nine inputs and five outputs:


It works well enough. Although the volume in the tanks with outputs tend to be 7-8k less than the ones with inputs. It just strikes me that there must be a better way, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how...

For a long time I loved to build bypasses with tanks only acting as optional buffer.

This works reasonably well in most cases. For absolute maximum speed filling and emptying tanks though you need 1 pump in each direction per tank and very intricate plumping to ensure balance outside the tanks.

Cool, thanks. That idea was sufficient cause to go ahead with a rebuild/reconfiguration of my oil production.

I usually have one buffer tank for every facility with a pump filling the tank from the main grid

such a big central storage is not ideal because of the wonky fluid behavior.
spreading the tanks over the pipes is also better
just place the tanks on the free corners and they just act like big pipes, where surplus fluids can sit and wait untill they are used for production

The OP's design is far from being ideal.
Tank-tank connections are terrible re throughput.
In fact, everything except tank-pump or pump-tank is to be avoided.
However, everything will change in a few weeks.
So let's wait and see.

Oh, I was aware my previous installation was less than ideal. And I knew the tank to tank transfer was not great -- hence why there was a 7-8k difference as I indicated. But it did get the job done. It kind of just built up that way. It started as just four tanks, but grew as I needed more inputs and outputs. I like Optera's design, much better than what I had.

It will be interesting to see how these things work themselves out with the upcoming new fluid dynamics..