heat transfer

[PerryFamily]

Looking to build a filter press tank. I want to build the bottom so the syrup is directed to the outlet of the tank. This will mean that the bottom of the tank will not be totally flat. The tank will have a propane heat source under it. With the bottom not flat and possibly having some welds,will the heat create hot spots and not heat evenly?
This will be made out of stainless of course.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Merry Christmas

[English River Maple]

In many cases, instead of building pitch into the bottom portion of the tank (ie hopper bottom tank), you woud build just a rectangular/square flat bottom tank with a 3/8" or 1/2"npt nipple welded flush with the bottom of one side, and tilt the back of the tank by installing a built in flip over piece of metal that would hold up the back of the tank like a kick stand. This is essentially what we have, and it works great. We mix DE in the 190deg syrup, open the valve on the tank which is connected to the suction hose of the filter press, recirculate until it is clear and then transfer into the canning tank. Basically, the point is that you do not need a "hopper bottom" tank to draw the syrup and DE mixture out and into the filter press. If you'd like I can dig out pics our our set up. Hope this helps, good luck.