Pipe (Straight)

A straight pipe piece is 0.5 m long and holds 10 litres. All pipes connected to each other form a network with a shared content: pressure, temperature and mixture are the same everywhere in the network. Networks are only separated by devices such as pumps, regulators and valves.

The limits from the game code:

• at most 60,795 kPa,
• from 80 %, i.e. about 48,636 kPa, the network counts as stressed,
• more than 2 % liquid damages a gas pipe.

The last point is often underestimated. Some gases turn liquid even at room temperature if the pressure is high enough – pollutant, for instance, from 1,800 kPa below 433.9 K. Such a gas under high pressure in a gas pipe can therefore harm the pipe. Details in Evaporating, condensing, freezing: using phases on purpose.

The Kit (Pipe) builds many shapes: straight pieces, corners, T pieces, crossings and long straight pipes. It is made in the Autolathe or the Hydraulic Pipe Bender. Longer pieces save material: the ten-long pipe (100 L) costs 8 kits instead of 10, the five-long one 4 instead of 5. You take pipes down with the wrench.

A normal pipe exchanges a little heat with its surroundings – through the air, by radiation and in the sun. Over long lines outdoors that adds up. For hot or cold lines use the Insulated Pipe (Straight), for liquid the Liquid Pipe (Straight). Planning and limits are explained in Pipes and lines: gas, liquid, insulated.