Piping milk to a silo underground

[Headless chicken]

Wondering if anyone has experience with the above. For clarification we intend to for the milk pipe to be underground not the silo. Assume the parlour wash just runs the same distance as you would normally and just pipe a return?
Also does anyone have a silo without a dairy directly attached? I think @Bald Rick ? Where does the hand washing facilities etc go in this instance ?

 

[onesiedale]

Ideally have it in a continuous run. ie welded, no threaded joins. Well insulated for hot wash and make sure it lies draining to one end so that it can drain after use, and of course, return line for wash circulation.

 

[Beef farmer]

We have both tanks away from the dairy, and will do the same again soon. No way will we run the milk line underground tho.
Sink and "non scented soap" go in with the wash tubs. No insulation on out wash lines, water goes in at 85⁰ and after 6 min is still 65+⁰ even this morning.
Slide drain at the lowest point.
Tank hot water is also in the dairy for washing the tank. That line is insulated as its only plastic pipe

 

[Headless chicken]

We have both tanks away from the dairy, and will do the same again soon. No way will we run the milk line underground tho.
Sink and "non scented soap" go in with the wash tubs. No insulation on out wash lines, water goes in at 85⁰ and after 6 min is still 65+⁰ even this morning.
Slide drain at the lowest point.
Tank hot water is also in the dairy for washing the tank. That line is insulated as its only plastic pipe

could you share some pictures please. We have to cross our track/road for the potential location. We’re trying to find a way of making it all work whilst still using all the current facilities that actually need to be taken down so it’s a bit of a head scratcher.

 

[vantage]

could you share some pictures please. We have to cross our track/road for the potential location. We’re trying to find a way of making it all work whilst still using all the current facilities that actually need to be taken down so it’s a bit of a head scratcher.

My tank is permanently attached to the milk and wash line with an auto drain at the lowest point, two taps to turn 45*, cannot see any problem so long as the pipes are continuous, either one piece or welded.

 

[Beef farmer]

could you share some pictures please. We have to cross our track/road for the potential location. We’re trying to find a way of making it all work whilst still using all the current facilities that actually need to be taken down so it’s a bit of a head scratcher.

As soon as I'm next near a tank i will. Be about 30ft away.
Might Google earth it, see if its all there

 

[Beef farmer]

its all above ground, the thought of it underground would fill me with dread, but I don't know why.

 

[Headless chicken]

My tank is permanently attached to the milk and wash line with an auto drain at the lowest point, two taps to turn 45*, cannot see any problem so long as the pipes are continuous, either one piece or welded.

could you send some pictures please I like the sound of that...::: aslong as no one bugger up and forgets the taps. Who does you tank work to do that for you?

 

[Headless chicken]

View attachment 930760its all above ground, the thought of it underground would fill me with dread, but I don't know why.

my biggest fear is it leaking and not noticing. Currently the drain comes to the front of the parlour so I’d have to try and dosomething similar for peace of mind. Do you just go outside to attach and in attach after milking?

 

[Beef farmer]

my biggest fear is it leaking and not noticing. Currently the drain comes to the front of the parlour so I’d have to try and dosomething similar for peace of mind. Do you just go outside to attach and in attach after milking?

Yep, just go to the front and attach, the drain all comes back through the parlour on the cow standing, so if anything is a miss you soon notice.

 

[Bald Rick]

I would hesitate to put the pipe underground as more than likely it will needs bends in it which can lead to bacto problems. If it’s underground, you won’t be able to check

If the manway of the silo isn’t put facing in to a lockable room, you will need a cabinet over the manway and contols that is usually a roller lockable door. You will need a light in the cabinet and a wash basin either in it or close by.
Put the silo on a plinth for safety and to make it easy to drain wash water

 

[vantage]

could you send some pictures please I like the sound of that...::: aslong as no one bugger up and forgets the taps. Who does you tank work to do that for you?

I’ll get pictures shortly. No chance of forgetting the taps as they have an interlock on them connected to the wash/vacuum controller. Can only go one way for wash and the opposite to milk, try to start wash or milking vacuum with the taps in the wrong position and it will stop .
Tank work by GNE Phillips, absolutely top level of workmanship and not overly expensive.

 

[vantage]

Tank milk and wash connection with interlock.

 

[upnortheast]

Milk line from robots to dairy about 40 metre in u/ g duct. Over 10 years now and no bother. Make sure the ends are vermin proof and the lowest point has a drain to clear any water.

 

[Will Blackburn]

I know one Cheshire dairy where they cross the milk over the road to the bottling plant.

 

[neilo]

Milk line from robots to dairy about 40 metre in u/ g duct. Over 10 years now and no bother. Make sure the ends are vermin proof and the lowest point has a drain to clear any water.

We had similar with the robots at home, with 130m of underground (insulated) pipe from the robots to the tank/buffer tank. It was never a problem cleaning, and still damned hot at either end.

One thing I would say though, is be careful that vermin can’t get into the duct you put the pipe in, and don’t put a drain in the duct to let any water out. What could happen, hypothetically you understand, is rats could go up the drain, chew through the insulation and milk pipe, leaving the pressurised milk pumping directly to the drain, running unseen into the slurry system. You may not know until the collection ticket is rather light.