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[shadowform]

Alright, so as a part of my new fortress Firediamonds, I want the main halls that run through the city to include aqueducts -

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Now, the palace is deep, deep, underground, and the water supply (a 4-tile river) is on ground level.  Obviously just connecting the river to my aqueducts (and attendant reservoir) will flood the fortress.  So, I plan on using pumps to depressurize the water.  Pumps, however, are not intended for pumping water downward.  So, here's the issue:

1) Pumps do prevent water from flowing back into the pump room, but don't prevent water from flooding the chamber from it's source (if it's pressurized)
2) A large pump waterfall setup would require ridiculous numbers of pressure plates, axles, or micromanagement
3) I've never really used gears, axles, and automated systems before.

My current reservoir setup is essentially 10x40x6, with 7 tiles per level dedicated to supports, etc, for a total of ~2350 units of water. There are a few spots on the z-level beneath that (the highest floor that should be filled with water) I'm reserving for pressure plates that turn off the flow of water when it reaches 5/7.  There are - roughly - 80 water-containing tiles between the floodgate and the reservoir proper; assuming the reservoir fills (more or less) evenly, it'll end up alternating between 6/7 and 7/7 throughout, probably a bit less.

That's a lot of pressure for the bottom level pump.  Since it's impossible to prevent his much water from flowing up through the necessary hole for the pump to have access to it, the only option available is mechanisms and power.  My current idea for the design is as follows:

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P is the pump, G is a gear, periods are flooring, | is a horizontal axle, the underscores are empty spaces (reservoir on the right).  My questions are:
1) Will the axle transfer power through the wall tot he pumps?
2) Will replacing the axle with a dummy pump that isn't pumping anything transfer power?

[Bauglir]

-snip-

[gtmattz]

I second the diagonal suggestion...  It is so much simpler than what you are trying to do with the pumps.  Although your method is definitely dwarfier.

[shadowform]

I want to be able to control fluid flow into the aqueducts in case I need to clean them out.  There's going to be a second set of pumps that sends water back into the reservoir (which I don't need to worry about, since this much is easy), and possible a tomb or treasure vault hidden inside the aqueducts.  I want to make this as interesting for adventurers as possible.

[Darkond2100]

Hmmm, you're right! one wrong move from an adventurer and the the wells within the fortress will flood.
 I always get my adventurer legendary swimming before anything else. That way, he is strong enough for anything tat comes his way. I've never used cheats to do it either

[Wardo]

What if you use a vertical axle? Will it leak?

[Shades]

What if you use a vertical axle? Will it leak?

And even if it does does it matter, just make the vertical axle go high

[Wardo]

Here's an example of a vertical axle from the wiki, looking from the side:
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/File:Screwpump-desalination.png

I'd also recommend adding a controllable barrier between the main reservoir and the pumps in case you ever need maintenance access to the pumps, like doors, floodgates or hatches covering a channel connected to a lever.

[gtmattz]

I want to be able to control fluid flow into the aqueducts in case I need to clean them out.

Then install some floodgates or raising bridges before the depressurization diagonals...  I really think you are over-thinking this.

[Hyndis]

You can also design a drainage system off the edge of the map through fortifications if you need to drain your sewers.

To prevent tower caps from growing in them construct paved roads. It will prevent all plants from growing.

[shadowform]

The reason I want to use pumps versus floodgates / diagonals is because of the specific behavior pumps have in regards to pressure: they will never force water up a Z-level, which is exactly what I want.  With any other setup I need to worry about water overflowing the aqueducts.

Also, there is no underground river or pool (according to embark) so tower caps aren't going to be an issue.  I think.

Does nobody else know if horizontal axles transfer power through natural/constructed walls either?  It's one simple question I want to ask before genning a new world just for the sake of finding out.

[gtmattz]

The reason I want to use pumps versus floodgates / diagonals is because of the specific behavior pumps have in regards to pressure: they will never force water up a Z-level, which is exactly what I want.  With any other setup I need to worry about water overflowing the aqueducts.

No, that is what we are trying to say... With a diagonal connection it is impossible for the water to rise above the level on which it is moving through...  for all intents and purposes it works exactly the same way as a pump does when resetting pressure.  Every place you have a drop in Z levels, put the water through some diagonals and it will reset the pressure thus constraining the water to the level on which is passed through the diagonal.

And no, axles do not transfer power through walls...  They need to be directly connected to something to transfer power.

[Retro]

Using diagonal baffles works fine, but the water will flow slowly once it's 'depressurized.' So despite needless complexity, pumps are and will always be faster and more useful once the player's bothered to set them up.

[gtmattz]

Using diagonal baffles works fine, but the water will flow slowly once it's 'depressurized.' So despite needless complexity, pumps are and will always be faster and more useful once the player's bothered to set them up.

Now here is a valid reason to use pumps! 

[Shades]

Personally I'd have a carefully setup pressure plate where the most likely place for a flood to start is and use that to block the flow of water but otherwise abuse the pressure to keep the flow fast. This way is easy to do and has the potential for Fun when you screw it up later on