Factorio Forums

I noticed that the only time a liquid is used to heat something is when you use steam power. The thing is, this could be used as a game mechanic. I am suggesting that we use liquids heated to different temperatures to do different things.

One idea is that processing oil could give different ratios of heavy, light and petroleum if the oil was heated to different temperatures first. In real life, different temperatures of crude oil while it it refined causes you to end up with different products such as lubricant and kerosene, so while creating lube immediately may be too overpowered, we could adjust the ratios. Perhaps to heat oil we need to do science first?

Not only that, but we don't have to just limit it to refining. We could heat any liquid, such as sulfuric acid and lubricant. Perhaps something could be done? Different products could require a slight change in heat?

Thoughts?

You know, that you can already heat any liquid with the burner? And if you put that liquid into the steam engine it will gain the same energy as water.

I remember that the devs said, they experimented with it, but gave that path up, cause it made the processing too complicated. That is about 1.7 years ago. And I think at that time it was the right decision.

Meanwhile I see it so:
- They plan (for v0.14?) to rewrite the whole liquid system.
- There are also much more ideas that depends generating power. Circled water systems, where we deal with "real steam", not only hot water. And so on.
- If that all is introduced, then it should be only an option. Like the circuits are optional. Reason: It is already complex enough for beginners. That options should be built in for further motivation.
- it needs more efficient ways to heat to defined temperatures; cause the process (energy production or chemical process) works most efficient at this temp. That should be controlled with circuit network. The processes are complex! it is not so easy to regulate them. So in the end someone can create a really complex industrial process with it more or less optimal efficiency. That can be put into a blueprint and then could be compared with other constructions (this is important, cause the community will find incredible creative solutions).
- I would like to bring a system into dangerous situation, where it can explode and destroy parts of the factory. Think to steam power by nuclear energy.

So in summary: After new version is before new version. Let's bring all suggestions for liquid system changes now together and in a form, that the devs can handle.