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Simulation · Minimal Factory · Ruhr area

Oberhausen gas holder · gas storage

A disc-type gas holder as a model: a buffer between ironworks and consumers, with scrubbers, compressors, light ring and flare, on the real terrain in Oberhausen.

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Trailer

Real are location, terrain, surroundings and the gas holder itself (official NRW elevation data, OpenStreetMap). The compressors are interpreted; quantities, processes and times are model values. With your data, the model shows your site and your processes.

The large disc-type gas holder in Oberhausen stands as a block model on its real terrain: a buffer between the ironworks that supplies gas and the consumers. Blast furnace gas arrives from the ironworks through a pipeline, scrubbers clean it, compressors push it into the grid to rolling mills and town. A light ring shows how high the disc stands.

What nobody takes lifts the disc. When the gas holder is full, the flare burns and the gas is lost; in the model that is the emergency sale. Five controls – investment (one to three compressors), workforce, supply, quality and market – show at once what follows.

Real are location, terrain, surroundings and the gas holder itself from official NRW elevation data and OpenStreetMap. The compressors are interpreted; quantities, processes and times are model values, and one working day lasts ten seconds. The page is for museums and exhibitions, schools and universities, industrial heritage and local history.

From raw material to product

  1. 01

    supply – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline)

  2. 02

    compressors – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid

  3. 03

    gas holder – takes in what is not sold

  4. 04

    dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline)

A site at work

01

A site at work

Oberhausen gas holder: The large disc gas holder in Oberhausen as a buffer between ironworks and consumers: a ring of light shows how high the disc floats on the gas.

Compressor 2 (expansion, interpreted)

02

Compressor 2 (expansion, interpreted)

Compressor 2 (expansion, interpreted) – only appears with more investment and runs only with enough people and materials.

What is shown – why – for whom

What is shown Why For whom
Disc-type gas holder with light ring WhyShows how the disc floats on the gas and rises with the fill level. For whommuseum, teaching
Blast furnace gas pipeline from the ironworks WhyShows where the gas comes from. For whomteaching, history of technology
Gas scrubbers and compressors WhyShows how the gas is cleaned and pushed into the grid. For whomteaching, history of technology
Gas pipeline to rolling mills and town WhyShows where the gas goes and that the market only takes what it needs. For whommuseum, exhibition
Flare when the holder is full WhyShows what happens when nobody takes the gas: it is lost. For whommuseum, economics teaching
Terrain and surroundings in Oberhausen WhyShows where the gas holder stands in the Ruhr area. For whomlocal history, exhibition
Five controls with output, holder level and daily result WhyShows connections in operations, not operating figures. For whomeconomics teaching
At the gate

03

At the gate

At the gate – the shifts arrive here, paths lead to the plants, the workshop and the break area.

Five levers, one works

04

Five levers, one works

Full investment – three compressors: capacity for the boom, but only with enough people and materials.

Films from the model

  • Above Oberhausen gas holder

    A flight across the whole site: low approach, Compressor 1, then across the works to the long shot – everything moving, with the sound of the works.

  • From raw material to product

    The works’ chain in one flight – supply (top gas from the ironworks (pipeline)), compressors, gas holder, dispatch: station by station.

  • A working day in time-lapse

    In time-lapse working days pass in seconds: shifts at the gate, traffic on the supply and dispatch routes, the stockpile (gas holder) changing along.

  • A works grows

    Investment step by step: new compressors appear, the workforce grows with them, then more supply and a boom in the market.

  • Bottleneck – the works respond

    First materials run short and the plant only runs in part, then the market takes too little and the stockpile fills up – in the boom the works recover.

  • Using the software

    With the full interface: open the works, set investment and market, look at stockpile and plant – every lever acts at once.

Facilities and areas in the model

  • Compressors

    Gas cleaning and compressors: scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid. What nobody takes lifts the disc in the gas holder – when it is full, the flare burns: the gas is lost. In the game: all 3 as expansion (interpreted).

  • Gas holder

    The gas holder is the buffer: its disc floats on the gas and rises when more gas comes in than is taken. When it is full, the gas is flared – it is lost.

  • Supply

    Top gas from the ironworks (pipeline). A bigger contract costs more, the store buffers short gaps.

  • Dispatch

    Gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline). The market only takes what it needs.

When things get tight

05

When things get tight

Gas holder full – the disc is at the top and the flare burns: the gas is lost.

Far out near Oberhausen

06

Far out near Oberhausen

Far out near Oberhausen – terrain, houses and trees come from official elevation data; at the edge the world fades softly into the dark.

Processes in the model

From raw material to product

  1. 01supply – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline)
  2. 02compressors – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid
  3. 03gas holder – takes in what is not sold
  4. 04dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline)

Expansion

  1. 01raise investment by one step
  2. 02another compressor is built on its plot
  3. 03set the workforce to match, otherwise it only runs in part
  4. 04the market decides whether it pays – success in one number at the top

Bottleneck and recovery

  1. 01supply short – the store empties
  2. 02materials missing – the plants only run in part
  3. 03market in a slump – the stockpile grows until the fire sale
  4. 04boom – the stockpile empties, the result rises

What the model can be used for

  • Museum and exhibition

    The holder explains itself at the light ring: the disc rises when more gas arrives than is taken,. When it is full, the flare burns.

    For whommuseums, visitor centres, exhibitions

  • School and university

    How does a disc-type gas holder work, and what happens when more gas arrives than is taken? Terms like blast furnace gas, gas scrubber, compressor and buffer sit where they belong.

    For whomschools, universities, vocational training

  • Industrial heritage and local history

    Why did the Ruhr area need gas storage? The gas holder stands between ironworks, rolling mills and town on the real terrain, with the gas pipeline as the visible link.

    For whomindustrial heritage, city marketing, local history societies

  • Understanding operations

    Investment, workforce, supply, quality and market act at once on output, holder level and result. It becomes visible why a buffer absorbs fluctuations, but only until it is full.

    For whomeconomics teaching, further training

Compressor 1 at work

07

Compressor 1 at work

Compressor 1 at work – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid; the machines run with the works’ utilisation.

The whole software

08

The whole software

Running the works – five levers: investment, workforce, supply, quality and market; the chain shows at once what follows.

What you can change

Controls

  • Investment: Number of compressors (1 to 3): more money builds more, less shuts them down; without more people they only run in part.
  • Workforce: Enough people for all compressors – output rises, and so does success. Too many people cost wages without more output.
  • Supply: More material arrives – the plant no longer has to wait. Levels short, normal and double; supply security costs money.
  • Quality: More quality means less scrap and fewer breakdowns but costs testing and maintenance (levels low, normal, high).
  • Market: Slump, normal or boom. In a slump more is made than sold: the stockpile grows and success drops. In a boom the market takes more: the stockpile empties and success rises.

Disruptions

  • Too few people: Workers are missing, part of the plant stands still.
  • Material missing: Supply is not enough; once the store is empty the plants only run in part (message: “Parts store empty – supply is short”).
  • Too much built: More is made than the market takes: the stockpile grows; when it is full the surplus goes at a 40 % discount (message: “Stockpile full – fire sale at a discount”).
  • Market wants more: Demand is greater than the works can make; once the stockpile is empty orders are lost (message: “Stockpile empty – orders are lost”).
  • Gas holder full: The flare burns, the gas is lost – the fire sale of the model.

What the model brings

  • 01

    The real terrain as a stage

    Gas holder, pipelines and surroundings stand on terrain from official elevation data. You show the site as it lies, not as a diagram.

  • 02

    A buffer made visible

    The light ring shows the fill level. You understand why a holder stands between supplier and consumers.

  • 03

    Surplus without damage

    The gas holder is full, the flare burns, the gas is lost. You see what a surplus costs, and set it back.

  • 04

    For big screens and the browser

    Runs in the browser and on large projections. A working day in fast motion lasts ten seconds.

  • Oberhausen gas holder: The large disc gas holder in Oberhausen as a buffer between ironworks and consumers: a ring of light shows how high the disc floats on the gas.
    Oberhausen gas holder: The large disc gas holder in Oberhausen as a buffer between ironworks and consumers: a ring of light shows how high the disc floats on the gas.
  • Oberhausen gas holder from the other side – the same site in the afternoon sun from the south-west, with long shadows of halls and structures.
    Oberhausen gas holder from the other side – the same site in the afternoon sun from the south-west, with long shadows of halls and structures.
  • Medium long shot – Compressor 1: scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid.
    Medium long shot – Compressor 1: scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid.
  • Far out near Oberhausen – terrain, houses and trees come from official elevation data; at the edge the world fades softly into the dark.
    Far out near Oberhausen – terrain, houses and trees come from official elevation data; at the edge the world fades softly into the dark.
  • From above – Oberhausen gas holder as a model of blocks: every cell a block, buildings and terrain from elevation data and OpenStreetMap.
    From above – Oberhausen gas holder as a model of blocks: every cell a block, buildings and terrain from elevation data and OpenStreetMap.
  • Oberhausen gas holder from above at an angle – supply, compressors, gas holder and dispatch at a glance.
    Oberhausen gas holder from above at an angle – supply, compressors, gas holder and dispatch at a glance.
  • All around Oberhausen: streets, tracks and water from OpenStreetMap, houses and trees from the elevation data – only the plant in the middle is built specially.
    All around Oberhausen: streets, tracks and water from OpenStreetMap, houses and trees from the elevation data – only the plant in the middle is built specially.
  • At eye level – Compressor 1, as close as from the fence.
    At eye level – Compressor 1, as close as from the fence.
  • Compressor 1 – Gas cleaning and compressors: scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid. What nobody takes lifts the disc in the gas holder – when it is full, the flare burns: the gas is lost.
    Compressor 1 – Gas cleaning and compressors: scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid. What nobody takes lifts the disc in the gas holder – when it is full, the flare burns: the gas is lost.
  • Compressor 2 (expansion, interpreted) – only appears with more investment and runs only with enough people and materials.
    Compressor 2 (expansion, interpreted) – only appears with more investment and runs only with enough people and materials.
  • Gas holder – The gas holder is the buffer: its disc floats on the gas and rises when more gas comes in than is taken. When it is full, the gas is flared – it is lost.
    Gas holder – The gas holder is the buffer: its disc floats on the gas and rises when more gas comes in than is taken. When it is full, the gas is flared – it is lost.
  • Supply – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline): a bigger contract costs more, the store buffers short gaps.
    Supply – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline): a bigger contract costs more, the store buffers short gaps.
  • Dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline): the market only takes what it needs.
    Dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline): the market only takes what it needs.
  • Compressor 1 close up – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid.
    Compressor 1 close up – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid.
  • Gas holder close up – the disc rises when more gas arrives than is taken.
    Gas holder close up – the disc rises when more gas arrives than is taken.
  • Supply in full swing – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline); the bigger the contract, the more is on the move.
    Supply in full swing – top gas from the ironworks (pipeline); the bigger the contract, the more is on the move.
  • Compressor 1 at work – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid; the machines run with the works’ utilisation.
    Compressor 1 at work – scrubbers clean the top gas, compressors push it into the grid; the machines run with the works’ utilisation.
  • Gas holder in day-to-day operation – the disc rises when more gas arrives than is taken.
    Gas holder in day-to-day operation – the disc rises when more gas arrives than is taken.
  • Dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline); in a boom more is on the move, in a slump less.
    Dispatch – gas for rolling mills and town (pipeline); in a boom more is on the move, in a slump less.
  • At the gate – the shifts arrive here, paths lead to the plants, the workshop and the break area.
    At the gate – the shifts arrive here, paths lead to the plants, the workshop and the break area.
  • Full steam – all three compressors running, the market booming: supply and dispatch routes are at their busiest.
    Full steam – all three compressors running, the market booming: supply and dispatch routes are at their busiest.
  • Small investment – only Compressor 1 runs, the other plots lie ready as marked foundations.
    Small investment – only Compressor 1 runs, the other plots lie ready as marked foundations.
  • Full investment – three compressors: capacity for the boom, but only with enough people and materials.
    Full investment – three compressors: capacity for the boom, but only with enough people and materials.
  • Every facility labelled – compressor 1 to 3, gas holder, supplier and market; at the top the working day with the daily output, on the right success in one number.
    Every facility labelled – compressor 1 to 3, gas holder, supplier and market; at the top the working day with the daily output, on the right success in one number.
  • Compressor 1 labelled – name and number right in the picture.
    Compressor 1 labelled – name and number right in the picture.
  • Success in one number – 100 means it cannot get better in this market; below it the result per day, at the top the output per working day.
    Success in one number – 100 means it cannot get better in this market; below it the result per day, at the top the output per working day.
  • Where a lever acts, a ring lights up – here after a change in the market: gas holder.
    Where a lever acts, a ring lights up – here after a change in the market: gas holder.
  • Materials missing – supply is short, the store is empty: the compressors only run in part, the supply route is quiet.
    Materials missing – supply is short, the store is empty: the compressors only run in part, the supply route is quiet.
  • Gas holder full – the disc is at the top and the flare burns: the gas is lost.
    Gas holder full – the disc is at the top and the flare burns: the gas is lost.
  • Too few people – the workforce is not enough for all compressors, part of the plant stands still.
    Too few people – the workforce is not enough for all compressors, part of the plant stands still.
  • Boom – the market takes more than is being made: the stockpile empties, the dispatch route is busy.
    Boom – the market takes more than is being made: the stockpile empties, the dispatch route is busy.
  • The whole software – at the top the working day with clock and output, on the right success in one number, below the tiles for works and facilities.
    The whole software – at the top the working day with clock and output, on the right success in one number, below the tiles for works and facilities.
  • Running the works – five levers: investment, workforce, supply, quality and market; the chain shows at once what follows.
    Running the works – five levers: investment, workforce, supply, quality and market; the chain shows at once what follows.
  • One lever, visible at once – market set to slump: the status line explains the bottleneck, the stockpile grows, the daily result drops.
    One lever, visible at once – market set to slump: the status line explains the bottleneck, the stockpile grows, the daily result drops.
  • Facility card – compressor: in operation, workforce and utilisation, plus one sentence on what happens there.
    Facility card – compressor: in operation, workforce and utilisation, plus one sentence on what happens there.
  • Stockpile card – gas holder: stock, space used and growth per day.
    Stockpile card – gas holder: stock, space used and growth per day.
  • Supplier card – delivery per day, store and material costs per day.
    Supplier card – delivery per day, store and material costs per day.
  • Market card – demand, sold and turnover per day.
    Market card – demand, sold and turnover per day.
  • Bottleneck in orange – supply is not enough: the line at the top and the works status say in one sentence what is missing.
    Bottleneck in orange – supply is not enough: the line at the top and the works status say in one sentence what is missing.
  • The menu – overview and plant, cutaway, restart, demo, sound and other sites, below the controls for mouse, touch and keyboard.
    The menu – overview and plant, cutaway, restart, demo, sound and other sites, below the controls for mouse, touch and keyboard.
  • Sixteen real sites – blast furnaces, collieries, car plants, harbours and a shipyard, each where it really stands.
    Sixteen real sites – blast furnaces, collieries, car plants, harbours and a shipyard, each where it really stands.

Your site as a model

Would you like to show your plant, your museum or your industrial site like this? Write to us or call. We will send you the password for starting it on request.

Start with password

Request the password if you are interested →

Ask about this

Minimal Factory: Gasometer Oberhausen · Gasspeicher

What you enter goes to this site alone and serves only to answer you.

Basis and limits

Real are the location, terrain and buildings in Oberhausen (official NRW elevation data and OpenStreetMap). The plant in the middle is our own simplified interpretation: quantities, processes, times and prices are model assumptions; the economy runs in time-lapse (10 seconds are one working day). Not a simulation of real operations and no cooperation with the site.

Public sources the model is based on:

  • Wikipedia (German), article on the site: Gasometer Oberhausen
  • Website of the site
  • Geobasis NRW: digital surface and terrain models DOM1/DGM1 (Data licence Germany – Zero – 2.0)
  • OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): streets, tracks, water, land use

More places in the model

← Minimal Factory

Real are location, terrain, surroundings and the gas holder itself (official NRW elevation data, OpenStreetMap). The compressors are interpreted; quantities, processes and times are model values. With your data, the model shows your site and your processes.