Limitation of liquid flow rate by pipeline pump

[libzzz]

In the current version, the liquid flow rate in the pipeline is effectively unlimited, but the pump added partway through seems to cap the flow rate at 1200 units/s. You can work around this by using pumps in parallel, but perhaps this was an oversight by the team?

[Khaylain]

Probably not an oversight.
Limitations are what makes a game.

Previously the length between pumps limited flow very quickly, now that doesn't happen. So the pumps themselves are the current limitation, which is still less of a limitation than the previous system was.

[PunCrathod]

Definitely not an oversight. They tried a version where you didn't need pumps at all and decided it wasn't fun that you could just make a long pipe with no length or throughput limits, so they added the mechanic of too long pipes not working and needing to split them up with pumps that have limited throughput.

[BayernJimmy84]

OMG. You just made me think about Fluid Mechanics class 40+ years ago. Stop it! :D

[POWER WITHIN USER]

https://factorio.com/blog/search/pipe
Unfortunately there's no sort by date button

[WereChicken]

It's probably a realism vs gameplay thing.

Like pipes do absolutely have a limit to throughput, but that would diminish the gameplay as it would turn them into a different kind of conveyor.

Having the throughput be limited by pump enables more elegant solutions, in terms of gameplay, than simple having a bunch of pipes in series.

I mean if you wanted pure realism then they should periodically damage pipe bends due to the corrosive and erosive effects of the fluids in the pipe hitting the bend. (look up cavitation erosion in pipes to see some really shocking examples)