Although siphons are relatively simple hydraulic devices, it may not be immediately apparent to the builder or operator how they work. Siphons may be difficult to install in existing facilities. Tanks in dairy operations generally involve some excavation and pouring of concrete and are best installed in the construction phase of the facility. Installation of siphons may be more expensive and time-consuming than with other flush devices, such as rollover tanks. This may impose a limit on the discharge rate and the maximum width gutter that can be flushed with a siphon.
Siphons are limited to flushing a single gutter.
In some cases it may be possible to flush two gutters at the same time, but design requirements usually limit such applications. Components in a siphon tank. The tank is sized to discharge the required volume of water for the gutter being flushed. In dairy applications, the tank is usually concrete. The discharge pipe is sized to provide an adequate flow rate of water from the flush tank.