Pump

A pump is a building used to move fluids through pipes, control flow direction, prevent backflow and to load or unload fluid wagons at train stops. When powered and connected to pipe segments on its input and output, a pump transfers fluid from its input to its output if there is space in the output pipes. The pump only allows flow in its set direction and does not mix different fluid types.

A pump can function as a controllable valve. If it is unpowered it blocks all flow. If it is powered but has a circuit condition applied, it only allows fluid through while the condition is met. This behavior is commonly used to control production chains—for example, disabling a heavy oil cracking process by wiring a lubricant tank to a pump handling heavy oil when lubricant is required.

Pumps can be placed so one end faces a rail track and the other connects to pipes; in that orientation the pump visually changes and can load or unload fluid wagons that stop adjacent to the track. When a fluid wagon is adjacent and the pump is powered and not prevented from connecting by a circuit condition, the pump head connects to the top of the nearest tank and transfers fluid between the wagon and the pipe network.

Each pump can move up to 20 units of fluid per tick, which equals 1200 units per second. Achieving this throughput depends on fluid levels in the source and destination fluid segments: if the source segment is below 20% full the pump cannot reach 1200/s, and similarly it cannot reach 1200/s if the destination segment is above 80% full. Pumps also affect how far fluid can travel: when a fluid is produced it can flow up to 320 tiles from its origin before requiring a pump; placing a pump resets that distance and allows the fluid to travel another 320 tiles. Pumps in series do not stack that distance extension—only the last pump in a chain has effect—but pumps in parallel can increase throughput. Because a single regular pump moves up to 1200/s, up to five pumps in parallel are sufficient to approach the theoretical maximum of 6000 fluid/sec for a single connection.

• Pumps only allow flow in their configured direction and prevent reverse flow.
• They do not mix different fluid types; connecting pipes that contain different fluids will not cause mixing through the pump.
• A pump must be powered to pass fluid; a circuit condition can gate its operation.
• A pump placed facing rails will connect to adjacent fluid wagons when powered and not disabled by a circuit condition.
• Throughput is limited by upstream/downstream segment fill levels (below 20% source or above 80% destination reduces transfer).
• Pumps reset the 320-tile fluid travel limit; use pumps to span long distances and place parallel pumps to increase flow capacity.
• Visually, placing pumps tightly in parallel can prevent side pipe connections; plan placement accordingly.