3x10 or 2.5x12?

[heus]

I plan on ordering a drop flue evaporator from A&A very soon. I am wondering what would be a better size for me. Space is not really an issue. I assume the 2.5 would be a little more efficient due to longer length. It would be 400 taps minimum but I can go up to 1200-1500 if I wanted to. The 2.5x12 is $500 cheaper. No hood or preheater for now.

[bees1st]

I don't think you'd be happy with boil at the back of the flue pan on a 2.5x12

[PerryW]

I plan on ordering a drop flue evaporator from A&A very soon. I am wondering what would be a better size for me. Space is not really an issue. I assume the 2.5 would be a little more efficient due to longer length. It would be 400 taps minimum but I can go up to 1200-1500 if I wanted to. The 2.5x12 is $500 cheaper. No hood or preheater for now.

Drop flue evaporators are more fussy about being perfectly level so the shorter 3x10 would be easier to keep level.

[vtmapleman]

I don't know which one is better; however, if you are thinking of going up to 1500 taps you will be spending way to many hours boiling unless you are planning on an RO. I have a 3 x10 oil fired raised flue (front pan 3x3 flue 3x10) with preheater) and I was spending up to 140 hours per year boiling prior to getting the RO. I beleive anything much over 40 to 50 hours per year boiling is way to much - just my personnal thoughts.

[Russell Lampron]

Get the 3x10. It is a common size that will be easy to resell when you get an RO and downsize the evaporator. It is rare to see a 2.5' evaporator that is longer than 8'. The firebox is a little small to get a good boil at the back of the flue pan with a 2.5' wide arch that is 12' long.

[sjdoyon]

vtmapleman,

Are the trees still running over in Derby? Only a few us still going in this corner of the state. We were lucky to have all rock maples, north facing slope, 2100ft elevation and installed all check valves.
I don't know which one is better; however, if you are thinking of going up to 1500 taps you will be spending way to many hours boiling unless you are planning on an RO. I have a 3 x10 oil fired raised flue (front pan 3x3 flue 3x10) with preheater) and I was spending up to 140 hours per year boiling prior to getting the RO. I beleive anything much over 40 to 50 hours per year boiling is way to much - just my personnal thoughts.

[heus]

Well guys I took Ray Gingerich's advice and ordered a 2.5x10 raised flue. I just have to wait until my 2x6 gets picked up before I can give him my deposit so he can send it to A&A. Its small enough that I can do as low as 300 taps and enough to do 600-700.

[brookledge]

I know when I replaced my 3X8 with a 3X12 it burned basicly the same amount of wood and I drasticly increased my boiling rate. Alot of wasted energy went up the stack before. So I'd say you did the right thing going with the longer arch.
Keith

[motowbrowne]

I think you'll like the extra efficiency of the longer arch. I have an old waterloo 2x10, which is a similar dimension to your 30x12. And despite what some folks have said, I can and do make the back of the 8 foot flue pan, boil. No, it doesn't boil as fast as the front of the pan, but if I ever add forced air I bet I'll be glad that I am getting more of that heat before it goes out the stack. congrats on the new rig, let's see some pictures.

Ryan