Rule of thumb on gallons per hour on a flat fan

[ackerman75]

What is the best you can do per square foot on a flat pan, gallons of sap cooked per hour ?

[John c]

I'm pretty sure it's 2gph for every square foot. I am open to correction though!

[CBOYER]

Very helpful information there:

http://andersonsmaplesyrup.com/index.php?page=sizing_evaporator

[spencer11]

i use 1gph per sq ft. average but 2 if its really going.

spencer

[ackerman75]

Thanks for the help, I figure I'm running about 1 1/2 gallons per square foot on my 2X6 flat pan evaporater with 6 divider chambers in it. :)

[Jec]

I read you multiply length by width then multiply by 2. This can also help. http://atkinsonmaple.com/files/SizingEvaporators.pdf

[wnybassman]

I average 8 gph on my 2x4. If I'm pushing it as hard as I can I get 10ish.

[mathprofdk]

Hmmm... this makes me feel better about my little roughly 2x2 pan that gets about 3-4 gph. I think it could be improved, but at least I'm on the right track.

[PapaSmiff]

JEC,
If I'm reading the Atkinson Maple document correctly, If I get a 2 x4 with a 2 x 2 drop flue pan (7" flues), 2 x 2 flat syrup pan, with a pre-heater and forced air, I should be able to get 22 GPH. Wow, I hope that's accurate. I plan on building a 2 x 4 this summer and hope to get WSE pans, or something similar. I also hope to add AUF and AOF.

2x2x1.5=6 flat pan
2x2x3.0=12 flue pan
2x4x0.5=4 multiplier for preheater
Total = 22 Gph

Is anyone getting that type of efficiency in a 2 x 4?

[Jec]

Well, the wse has 5 inch flues but it is fairly accurate. I have a 2x5. Flue pan has 5 inch raised flues. So, 2 x 5 x 2.5= 25. I am averaging 25 gph. That equation is a little off but it can be a good bench mark. I like the lxwx2 equation better. It is a little more accurate.

[Jec]

Sorry wse does have 7.5 inch flues.

[TwinBay]

My block arch has two spots for hotel pans as preheaters.
The sap is boiling slightly when I drip it into my 2x4 pan.
15 gph maybe 18 max after 2 hours when everything is hot