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griffen, thought I'd share it more publically.
So let's model me as a flask. At some point I may compulsively extend this metaphor to cover materials and condition, but let's posit at the moment that this is a somewhat dented/cracked/damaged flask in some ways, though it doesn't leak (much) anymore, because it's been patched some.
And further let's suppose that this flask has a bunch of pipes. Some of them narrow ones, pipettes, some straws, some actual proper pipes. These poke through the walls of the flask, connecting it to other ones. Now, this is a tricky process, and sort of risky, because this generates leakage. But, on the other hand, contact with the contents of other bottles has the magical properties of generating more fluid, to a greater or lesser extent, because unless it didn't, this whole metaphor would break down and leave me whimpering somewhere.
It's pretty easy to patch pipettes, most of the time; they make really tiny holes, after all. Straws take a bit more effort, but even so, that's fairly easy. Get a big pipe hooked up, though, and there's not only a much larger circumference to work with, but the strain gets it more -- harder to do a weld. It's not something that can be made watertight with a bit of chewing gum.
And those connections can leak, too, if the pipe gets rusty or the pipette is cracked or whatever.
Now, one way I used to think of this was that I oughtn't make any connections at all, because I leaked so badly, and because nobody would help patch 'em up. But I was pretty cracked back then, and leaky, and besides, evaporation happens. So eventually I'd have to let connections happen, just in the hope of getting more fluids. And those weren't very good for me at all.
Then there's another way of doing things, one that I haven't done: making lots and lots of connections, but all pipette connections, and starving in the midst of plenty because there's only a drop available at a time.
Or making lots and lots of connections, including big ones that oughta take a lot of welding, but not taking the time to do the patches and do maintenance on the rusty pipes, and so all the energy drains out through the seams.
Sometimes there's all this flow happening, and what it is isn't feeding anyone else, but just running out of the cracks in the pipes.
Sometimes the pipes get put under strain, and that pops the seals, or cracks the pipes themselves, and not only does it leak while the pressure's there, the seals want fixing afterwards too.
That makes for some wicked water bills.
griffen, thought I'd share it more publically.So let's model me as a flask. At some point I may compulsively extend this metaphor to cover materials and condition, but let's posit at the moment that this is a somewhat dented/cracked/damaged flask in some ways, though it doesn't leak (much) anymore, because it's been patched some.
And further let's suppose that this flask has a bunch of pipes. Some of them narrow ones, pipettes, some straws, some actual proper pipes. These poke through the walls of the flask, connecting it to other ones. Now, this is a tricky process, and sort of risky, because this generates leakage. But, on the other hand, contact with the contents of other bottles has the magical properties of generating more fluid, to a greater or lesser extent, because unless it didn't, this whole metaphor would break down and leave me whimpering somewhere.
It's pretty easy to patch pipettes, most of the time; they make really tiny holes, after all. Straws take a bit more effort, but even so, that's fairly easy. Get a big pipe hooked up, though, and there's not only a much larger circumference to work with, but the strain gets it more -- harder to do a weld. It's not something that can be made watertight with a bit of chewing gum.
And those connections can leak, too, if the pipe gets rusty or the pipette is cracked or whatever.
Now, one way I used to think of this was that I oughtn't make any connections at all, because I leaked so badly, and because nobody would help patch 'em up. But I was pretty cracked back then, and leaky, and besides, evaporation happens. So eventually I'd have to let connections happen, just in the hope of getting more fluids. And those weren't very good for me at all.
Then there's another way of doing things, one that I haven't done: making lots and lots of connections, but all pipette connections, and starving in the midst of plenty because there's only a drop available at a time.
Or making lots and lots of connections, including big ones that oughta take a lot of welding, but not taking the time to do the patches and do maintenance on the rusty pipes, and so all the energy drains out through the seams.
Sometimes there's all this flow happening, and what it is isn't feeding anyone else, but just running out of the cracks in the pipes.
Sometimes the pipes get put under strain, and that pops the seals, or cracks the pipes themselves, and not only does it leak while the pressure's there, the seals want fixing afterwards too.
That makes for some wicked water bills.
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From:
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Which it seems also happens in these flasks; the thing is that one seems to often get more water out the pipes than got put in at the other end (which is, of course, a good thing, as it makes up for the leaks...).
It generally makes sense, though....
- Brooks
From:
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It feels like distance is a pressure on the side of the pipe, straining the welds that way and putting strain on the connection itself; the other stuff you know about feels more like torque -- it doesn't necessarily screw up the pipe, but it's stressing the entire weld.
From:
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A.
From:
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Question: have you ever had the experience of trying to send/receive more volume through a conduit than that conduit was rated for?
Another one, while I'm thinking of it: have you ever had the experience of having someone try to pipe the wrong fluid through a pipe (sewage through a clear-weater feed, f'rex)?
From:
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Yup. It resulted in a lot of fluid loss, really, until I fixed it. (I was trying to fit a larger pipe than the other party was interested in receiving/supplying.)
Another one, while I'm thinking of it: have you ever had the experience of having someone try to pipe the wrong fluid through a pipe (sewage through a clear-weater feed, f'rex)?
Sorta. What I've had was having the other party provide good (though admittedly funny-tasting water, which is one of those "yeah, hindsight 20/20" things) until the pipes were secured and the welds all demonstrated sufficiently watertight, after which the toxic chemical vats were opened.
Hm. Come to think of it, I've also had the experience of running dry enough that any fluid content would be an improvement, and had the only lines that were available be sewage dumps.