A steam installation needs three working connections: water to the boiler, fuel in the boiler and steam to the engine. It also needs the electricity network. If any connection is missing, building additional steam engines alone will not help.
This guide uses the current official Factorio Wiki values for the unmodified game. Older guides may give a different offshore pump ratio. Mods, other energy buildings and changed water values require separate calculations.
The Basic Calculation
At full load, one boiler converts 1.8 MW of fuel power into steam. A steam engine uses 900 kW. One boiler therefore supplies two engines. Four engines need two boilers and provide up to 3.6 MW together, provided fuel, water and network connections are present.
Under the current water conversion, a boiler consumes six water per second and produces sixty steam per second. An offshore pump supplies 1,200 water per second. Mathematically, one pump therefore supports 200 boilers and 400 steam engines. A typical early installation does not need to be this large immediately.
| Component | Full-load Value | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore pump | 1,200 water per second | Up to 200 boilers under current water values |
| Boiler | 6 water → 60 steam per second; 1.8 MW | Two steam engines |
| Steam engine | 30 steam per second; 900 kW | Half a boiler |
Build a Small Installation
- Place the offshore pump on suitable water and connect its outlet to the boilers.
- Supply fuel to every boiler. A filled pipe does not provide heat without fuel.
- Connect a boiler’s steam output to two steam engines. Water and steam pipes use different connections.
- Place power poles so the engines are within their supply area and connected to your factory.
- Check actual production and demand in the electricity network. Engines produce only what the network currently draws, up to their maximum output.
- Expand at one boiler to two engines. Recheck fuel transport and network connections.
Why Output May Look Lower
Lower visible production need not indicate an error: when demand is low, engines do not continuously run at maximum. If the factory lacks power, check the chain from fuel through water and steam to the power pole. Adding an engine without sufficient steam does not increase available output.
The pump calculation is a capacity ceiling, rather than a construction requirement. Two boilers and four engines are manageable for an early facility; long pipe networks and mod changes require their own checks. Avoid mixing an old pump ratio with new water values in the same calculation.
Sources
Cover Image Source: wiki.factorio.com
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