摘 要：本文主要论述了虹吸现象的基本原理，从流体力学角度分析了虹吸形成的原理。介

绍了虹吸的历史以及其在古代现代的应用。虹吸现象在古代的主要应用从最早的渴乌，到
后来的秤漏，而现在的应用主要介绍了虹吸滤池的工作原理。另一方面，本文还阐述了大
自然中的间歇性涌泉的产生原因以及其产生条件。
Introduction:
This article discusses the basic principles of siphon phenomenon focusing on the formation
principle which is discussed from the hydrodynamics point of view. Moreover, the application of
Siphon in ancient and modern society will also be introduced in this article. The main application
of siphon phenomenon in the ancient time first appeared in the using of Ke’u and then later
came to the scale leakage. Nowadays, siphon phenomenon is basically used in the siphon filter,
and its working principle will be discussed. As another application of the phenomenon, the cause
of intermittent springs and their production conditions will also be analyzed in this article.

关 键 词：虹吸 秤漏 虹吸滤池 间歇性涌泉

Key words: siphon phenomenon, scale leakage, siphon filter, intermittent springs

Siphon phenomenon
虹吸现象是液态分子间引力与位能差所造成的，即利用水柱压力差，使水上升后再流到低
处。由于管口水面承受不同的大气压力，水会由压力大的一边流向压力小的一边，直到两
边的大气压力相等，容器内的水面变成相同的高度，水就会停止流动。
Siphon phenomenon is formed by the difference of potential energy of gravity among liquid
molecules. Because of the difference of water column pressure, the water rises and then flow to
the lower. Since the different saliva surface atmospheric pressure, water will flow from the high
pressure side of the low pressure side, until atmospheric pressure gets equal on both sides.
When the water levels of the containers become the same, the water will stop flowing.

要产生虹吸现象，必须满足：管内要装满液体；出液口必须比上容器的液面要低；管
的最高点距上容器(一般指开放容器)的液面距离不得高于大气压支持该液体液柱的高度。
To generate siphon phenomenon, certain conditions must be satisfied: the tube must be filled
with liquid; the liquid outlet must be above the liquid surfaces in the containers; the distance
between the highest pitch of the tube and the liquid surface of the upper container (usually an
open container) should not be larger than the height that atmospheric pressure can support.

右图所示的两种情况，为两种虹吸管的情形，此处液体为水。在 a 图中，虹吸管的两端均被
水浸没，而在 c 图中，出水口并没有被水浸没。这两种情况中，管内都灌满水，管的最高点
高度并没有大于大气所能支承的水柱高度，出水口低于入水口容器液面，因此满足虹吸发
生的条件，两种情况下都会发生虹吸现象。
As shown in the diagram on the right side, there are two kinds of siphon situation. The liquid that
has been using here is water. In diagram a, the two ends of the siphon are in the water, while in
the diagram c, the outlet is above the water. In both situations, the tubes are filled with water
and the distance between the highest pitch of the tube and the water surface of the upper
container does not exceed the height that atmospheric pressure can support. Therefore, they
both meet the requirements, and are capable for the siphon phenomenon.
在发生虹吸现象的条件中，管内装满液体以及管的最高高度的限制是很显然的，那为什么
两个容器要一高一低呢？
Notice that according to the requirements of the siphon phenomenon, the tube must be filled
with liquid and there is an obvious upper limit in the height of tube, but why it is important to
have two containers on different height?
下面我们从从流体力学角度上分析。
We will discuss this more carefully from the
hydrodynamics point of view.
首先考虑 a 图中情况。我们取出装满液体的虹吸管如 b
图，根据伯努利方程，我们可以知道：
First we consider the situation in diagram a. We can
separate out the siphon tube as shown in diagram b. Now
according to Bernoulli's equation, we have:
p A  AVA2 pB  BVB2
zA    zB  
 2g  2g

在虹吸发生之前
Before the siphon phenomenon,
pB  p0 VA  VB  0 p0 为大气压

is the atmosphere pressure

所以
Therefore,
pB p A
  z A  zB  h
 

p A  pB  p0

此时，上容器液面上的压力为大气压，大于 A 处气压，因此液体被压入虹吸管内，发生虹
吸现象。
Now the pressure on the upper liquid surface is the atmosphere pressure, which is greater than
the pressure on A. Thus, liquid will be pressed into the siphon tube, which generates the siphon
phenomenon.
对于 c 图中情况，我们取出装满液体的虹吸管如 d 图，同样可以得出
For the situation in diagram c, we can also separate out the siphon tube as shown in diagram d.
Similarly, we have:
p A  pB  p0

随后，在大气压的作用下，A 处的水不断的被压入虹吸管内，发生虹吸现象。
Then under the atmosphere pressure, the water in A will be continuously pressed into the siphon
tube, which also generates the siphon phenomenon.

虹吸的历史
The history of siphon phenomenon
早在公元前 1 世纪左右，人们就发现了虹吸现象，并随之发明了虹吸管。虹吸管的发明，
给人们的生活带来了得多方便。在中国古代，虹吸管被称作“注子”、“偏提”、“渴乌”
或“过山龙”。东汉末年出现了灌溉用的渴乌。西南地区的少数民族用一根去节弯曲的长竹
管饮酒，也是应用了虹吸现象。宋朝曾公亮《武经总要》中，有用竹筒制作虹吸管把峻岭阻
隔的泉水引下山的记载。
Early in 1st century BC, people noticed the siphon phenomenon and then invented siphon tube.
The invention of the siphon tube brought a lot of convention to people’s life. In ancient China,
siphon tube was called “Zhu’zi”, “Pian’ti”, “Ke’u” or “Dragon across the hill”. In the end of East
Han Dynasty, Ke’u started to be used in irrigation. In Northwest of China, the minorities used a
bend long bamboo to drink wine, which was also an application of siphon phenomenon. In Song
Dynasty, Gongliang Zeng mentioned in "Wu Jing Zong Yao" that bamboo made siphon tube is
used to induce water blocked by mountains.
中国古代还应用虹吸原理制作了唧筒。唧筒是战争中一种守城必备的灭火器。宋代苏轼《东
坡志林》卷四中，记载了四川盐井中用唧筒把盐水吸到地面。明代的《种树书》中也讲到用唧
筒激水来浇灌树苗的方法。对于虹吸原理，中国古代也有论述。南北朝时期成书的《关尹子•
九药篇》说有两个小孔的瓶子能倒出水，如果闭住一个小孔，另一个小孔外面的空气压力
会比瓶里水的压力大，水就流不出来。唐代王冰《素问》注中，出现了有关大气压的描述，
指出一个小口的空瓶灌不进水是因为瓶里气体出不来。
In ancient China, people invented “Ji’tong” by applying siphon phenomenon. “Ji’tong’’ is a a fire
extinguisher, which is necessary in war defenders. In Song Dynasty, Shi Su wrote in "Dong Po Zhi
Lin" volume IV that in Sichuan people used “Ji’tong” to suck water onto the ground from the salt
brine. In Ming Dynasty, the "tree planting book " also mentioned a method that used “Ji’tong” to
pump water for watering trees. The principle of siphon had also been mentioned in ancient
China. Northern and Southern Dynasties, in the book "Guan Yi Zi • Nine drug chapter”, there
were records of a bottle with two small holes that could pour water out. But if blocking one of
the holes, due to the air pressure outside the bottle, water could not come out through the other
hole. In Tang Dynasty, there has been a description of the relevant atmospheric pressure in “Su
Wen” noted by Bing Wang. A small bottle which could not pour water in was because gas in the
bottle could not get out.
宋代俞琰在《席上腐谈》中补充了前人的发现，说在空瓶里烧纸，由于火把瓶里的一部分空
气赶出瓶外，火熄灭后瓶里就形成负压，造成一定的真空，瓶外的空气压力就把瓶紧紧地
压在人腹上。如果把瓶放在水里，水就立即涌入瓶里。明代庄元臣在《叔苴子·内篇》中也指
出把葫芦勺倒压入水中，水并没有进入葫芦里，这是因为葫芦里有空气。
In Song Dynasty, Yan Yu completed previous findings in the "Xi Shang Fu Tan" that if burning
paper in the empty bottle, because part of the air in the bottle was pressed out, after putting
out the fire, a relatively vacuum was formed in the bottle. Thus, the air pressure outside the
bottle could press the bottle tightly on the human belly. If the bottle was put in the water, the
water would immediately flush into the bottle. Yuanchen Zhang in Ming Dynasty, also pointed out
in the "Shu Ju Zi • Inner Chapters " that if pressed the spoons back into the water, water would
not enter the spoon, due to the air pressure in the spoon.

虹吸的应用
The Application of Siphon
古代的应用
Ancient applications
渴乌
Ke’u
中国古代的虹吸管。据《后汉书·张让传》记载，东汉中平三年(186)掖庭令毕岚“作翻车、渴
乌,施于桥西，用洒南北郊路”，是渴乌的最早记载。唐李贤在对《张让传》进行注释时，用
“以气引水上也”，说明渴乌依靠气压差引水的工作原理，当然其前提条件是进口端的高
程高于出口端。唐杜佑所著《通典》载，渴乌可以“隔山取水”。方法是以大竹筒套接成弯管，
以麻漆封裹,密不透气，跨过山峦，将临水一端置于水面之下五尺，然后在出口端放松桦枝
叶和干草等易燃物，点燃后，稍冷，筒内形成相对真空，即可吸水而上。明清人又称为过
山龙，也用以由缸内取酒。小型渴乌也用作刻漏的注水部件等。
Ke’u is the siphon tube in ancient China. According to “HouHanShu, ZhangRangZhuan”, In 186 BC,
Ye Ting asked Bi Lan to make “Fan’ che” and “ke’u”, which would be applied to the west bridge
and used to wet the road in north and south. This is the earliest record of Ke’u. In Tang Dynasty,
when Xian Li commented on “Zhang Rang Zhuan”, he wrote “use the air to press the water” to
describe the working principle of the Ke’u, which is use the pressure difference to conduct the
water. Of course the condition needs to be satisfied first is the in Of course the prerequisite that
need to be satisfied is the inport side need to be higher than the export side. In Tang Dynasty, You
Du wrote in “Tong Dian” that Ke’u can “get to the water on the other side of the hill". The
method was to use a large bamboo pipe sealed with linen paint, so that it was air tight. One end
of the pipe was placed five feet below the surface of the water across the hill and the export side
was filled with other combustible stuff, such as birch leaves and hay. Then they lit the leaves and
let them cool down for a while. Then there was relative vacuum formed in the tube so that water
would be pressed in. In Ming and Qing Dynasties, Ke’u was also known as “dragon across the
hill”, and it could also be used to get wine from the tank. Small Ke’u was also used as a
component of the water leakage.

秤漏
Scale leakage
图示的就是秤漏，秤漏是一种特殊类型的漏
刻，是用中国秤称量流入受水壶中水的重量
来进行计时的仪器。它有一只供水壶，通过
一根虹吸管（即古代的渴乌）将水引到一只
受水壶（称为权器）中。权器悬挂在秤杆的
一端，秤杆的另一端则挂有平衡锤。当流入
权器中的水为一升时，重量为一斤，时间为
一刻。其以供水壶流出的水的重量作为计时
标准，以秤杆作为显时系统是秤漏的巧妙之
处，且据测定秤漏的日误差不大于 1 分钟。
The diagram on the right is a scale leakage. Scales leakage is a special type of Water Clock which
is an instrument using Chinese Scales to weight the water flowing into the scoops to measure the
time. It has a kettle and uses a siphon tube (i.e. the ancient Ke’u) to lead the water into a scoop
(called Quan’qi). Quan’qi is hanged on one end of the weigh beam, and the counter weigh is
hanged on the other end. When there is a liter of water flows in, the weight is 0.5 kg, and the
time will be 15 min. It use the weight of the water flow out of the scoop as the standard for time
measure and use the weigh beam as the time display system. And according to the measure, its
daily error is less than 1 minute.

现代的应用
Modern Application
虹吸滤池
Siphon filter
虹吸滤池是一种以虹吸管代替进水和排水阀门的快滤池形式之一。滤池各格出水互相连通
反冲洗水由其他滤水补给。每个滤格均在等滤速变水位条件下运行。
Siphon Filter is rapid filter that replaces the traditional inlet and outlet with Siphon tube. The
cells of the filter interconnected with each other, and backwash water is from other water supply.
Each filter cell is operating under equal filtration rate and changing water levels.
虹吸滤池是快滤池的一种形式，它的特点是利用虹吸原理进水和排走洗砂水，因此节省了
两个闸门。此外，它利用小阻力配水系统和池子本身的水位来进行反冲洗，不需另设冲洗
水箱或水泵，加之较易利用水力，自动控制池子的运行，所以已较多地得到应用。
Siphon Filter is a form of rapid filter, which is characterized by use of siphon principle to import
water and drain away sand washing water, so that saving the two gates. In addition, it uses a
small resistance and the pool itself, the water distribution system for backwash water level
without a separate rinse tank or pump, combined with easier use of water, automatic control
operation of the pool, so we have more to be applied.
虹吸滤池是由 6～8 个单元滤池组成一个整体。滤池的形状主要是矩形，水量少时也可建成
圆形。滤池的中心部分相当于普通快滤池的管廊，滤池的进水和冲诜水的排除由虹吸管完
成。管廊上部设有真空控制系统。
The Siphon filter is formed by 6 to 8 unit filters. The filters are mainly shaped rectangle, while
sometimes when The central part of the filter serves as an ordinary rapid filter pipe. The water
input and export of the washing water are performed by the siphon tube. There’s no vacuum
control system on the top of the filter pipe.
过滤时，水首先由进水槽流入滤池上部的配水槽，再经虹吸管流入单元滤池的进水槽，随
后经过进水堰 (调节单元滤池的进水量)和布水管流入滤池。水经过滤层和配水系统而流入清
水槽，再经出水管流入出水井，通过控制堰流出滤池。
When processing the filtration, the water first flows into the upper distribution tank through the
inflow channel. Then through a siphon the water gets into the unit inflow channel and then
through the inlet weir (to regulate the amount of water flow into the unit filter) and a fiber pipe,
the water flows into the filter. Water gets through the filter layers and the water distribution
system then flows into the clear water tank. After that the water get into the well through the
outlet pipe, and then through the controlling weir flows out of the filter.
滤池在过滤过程中滤层的含污量不断增加，水头损失不断增长，要保持出水堰上的水位，
即维持一定的滤速，则滤池内的水位应该不断地上升，才能克服滤层增长的水头损失。当
滤池内水位上升到预定的高度时，水头损失达到了最大允许值，滤层就需要进行冲洗。冲
洗时，首先破坏其进水的虹吸现象，使水不再进入该格滤池，当水位下降显著缓慢时，用
真空系统形成冲洗虹吸，冲洗作业开始。当冲洗排出水较清时，立即破坏冲洗虹吸，停止
冲洗。
In the filtering process, the pollution in the filter layer continuously increases in, so the loss of
water also increases. In order to maintain the water level on the weir, which is to maintain a
certain flux, the water level inside the filter should be steadily increased to overcome the growth
of water loss on the filter layer. When the filter water level rose to a predetermined height and
the water loss reached the maximum allowed value, the filter layer will need to be cleaned.
When clean the filter, the first thing is to destruct the siphon phenomenon for the water inflow,
so that water will stop entering the lattice filter. When the water level drops significantly slowly, a
vacuum system is used for a siphon wash, which is the beginning of the rinse operation. When
the discharged water gets clear, they immediately destroy siphon wash and stop flushing.
虹吸滤池在过滤时，由于滤后水位永远高于滤层，保持正水头过滤，所以不会发生负水头
现象。每个单元滤池内的水位，由于通过滤层的水头损失不同而不同。
When the siphon filter is filtering, because filter the water level is always higher than the filtering
layer to maintain positive water filter, the negative water phenomenon does not occur. The water
level within each cell filter varies depends on the water loss through the filter layers.
滤池的配水系统必须采用小阻力配水系统。因此可以利用滤池本身的滤过水的水位即可冲
洗。
The water distribution system of the filter must be a small resistance water distribution system,
so that the filter can be rinsed using its own filtration water.

自然现象
Nature phenomenon
间歇性涌泉(intermittent spring)
在江西弋阳城外的山谷中，有一个小水池，面积约 2 平方米，水深不盈尺，清晰见底。
如果你有兴趣，每隔数十分钟或数小时，对池水进行观察的话，就会发现一种奇异的现象
池水不是平静的，它和海潮一样，忽涨忽落；不同的是，涨时不知其来源，落时不知其去
向。
In the valley outside the city of Yiyang in Jiangxi Province, there is a small pool with an area of
about 2 square meters. The water depth is less than 0.3 meter, and the pool is so clear that you
can see the bottom. If you are interested, you can observe the water in the pool every tens of
minutes or hours and you will find a strange phenomenon. The water in the pool is not calm. It is
like the tide. It will sometimes rise and sometimes fall. The difference is we do not know where it
comes from when it rises and where it goes when is falls.
在北非摩洛哥国境边缘地带的科萨倍卡沙漠之上，有一个湖泊。有时，人们来到湖畔，只
见碧波荡漾，清澈照人，湖水甘甜，可不大一会儿功夫，辽阔的湖面就消失得无影无踪，
出现在人们眼前的便成了一片茫茫的沙漠。
In the desert in Morocco, North Africa, near the Xhosa frontier, there is a lake. Sometimes,
people come to the lake and find it filled with clear water and the water is sweet. But for not
quite a long time, the vast lake will disappear without a trace, leaving only the vast desert in front
of people.
忽涨忽落的池水，忽隐忽现的湖泊，都可以被称作虹吸泉，或者叫做间歇性涌泉。
Pools that suddenly rise and suddenly fall, or flickering lakes, can be called a siphon springs, or
called intermittent springs.
An intermittent spring is a cold water fluctuating spring . The largest of only three known in the
world Intermittent Spring is located in Swift Creek canyon in Star Valley, Wyoming . Another
major intermittent spring is the Gihon Spring in the City of David in Jerusalem Israel , which is of
great historical , archaeological , and cultural importance because it is what made possible the
human settlement in ancient Jerusalem .
Early Native Americans and pioneer settlers that frequently stayed and passed through Star Valley
called Intermittent Spring "the spring that breathes". Though not intermittent during the winter,
spring, and the early summer months, the spring puts on a good show starting in late summer
through to the fall when groundwater tables are lower. The fluctuation in the flow of water is
caused by the siphoning effect of an underground cave that fills with water. When the cave
surpasses its fill, and is ready to erupt, the spring emits a deep gurgling noise and it gets expelled
out the crevices that feed it out into the opening of the mountain and a rising puddle quickly
becomes a vigorous roaring creek. Below you can view the spring's activity, which has
approximately a 15-minute on-off cycle. In fall and winter Intermittent Spring has a natural cycle,
about 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. The only other spring like Intermittent Spring is in France.

“虹吸泉”的形成也是由于“虹吸作用”的关系。发现“虹吸泉”的山，是由石灰岩组成
的。石灰岩的主要化学成份是碳酸钙，是比较容易被水溶解的一种岩石。在漫长的地质年代
里，石灰岩不断被雨水溶蚀，加上其他地质因素的变化影响，在石灰岩的表面和内部，生
成了许多溶洞、溶沟，它们的形态千变万化，无奇不有。在特定条件下，当溶洞和溶沟发育
成满足虹吸条件的形状时，便出现了“虹吸泉”。
The formation of "Siphon Spring " is also related to the "siphon effect ". Research found that the
mountains where "siphon springs” form are composed of limestone. The main chemical
composition of limestone is calcium carbonate, which is a kind of rock that can be easily dissolved
in water. During the long geological ages, the limestone is continuously dissolved by rain, and
with other geological changes, a number of caves and solution grooves formed on the surface of
the limestone. Their shape varies and is full of wonder. Under certain conditions, when the
groove and the cave have the shape that meets the requirement siphon, "siphon spring" appears.

溶洞相当于贮有液体的容器；和溶洞相连的弯曲的溶沟相当于虹吸管。溶洞贮有上部地表
渗透进来的水，当水面上升到溶沟弯曲处的顶端时，溶沟开始向外吸水，直到将洞内存有
的水吸干为止；然后溶洞又继续进水……。如此循环不已。当溶沟向外吸水时，露在地表外
部的与溶沟相通的小池“虹吸泉”开始“涨潮”；溶洞存水被吸干时，就出现“落潮”。
涨、落时间的长短，决定于溶洞积水的时间，一般说来雨季积水时间快，旱季慢。
The cave here serves as the container for the liquid and the groove that connected to the cave
servers as the siphon tube. There is water from the upper ground stored in the cave, and when
the water rises to the top bend of the groove, the groove starts to channel water out until the
cave dries out. Then water goes into the cave again, so on and so forth. When the groove is
getting the water out, the water in the small pond (Siphon spring) on the ground that connected
to the groove starts to rise; and when the water in the cave dries out, the water in the siphon
spring falls. The period of the rise and fall is determined by the time it takes for the cave to be
filled with water. In general, it takes a shorter time in the raining season and longer during the dry
season.
由于“虹吸泉”的形态独特，生成条件苛刻，因此只有在非常巧合的情况下才能形成，所
以至今在国内外文献上有记载的很少。
Because of the various shapes of the siphon springs and the strict conditions that have to be
satisfied for them to form, their formations are pure coincidences. Therefore, there are only
couple records about it domestically and aboard.
“虹吸泉”以其稀罕、奇特的自然景象，为祖国的锦绣河山增色。
Siphon springs are very rare, amazing natural landscape, which enrich the marvelous scenery of
our motherland.