Evaporator size for 650 taps with out RO

[RyanB]

Hey everyone! I finally got around to do a tree/tap count on my 14 acres (9 acres of Hard Maples) and I came up with aprox 650 taps. I am just begining to think about planning for next year and would really like to put everything on high vac. What I would like to do is have an arch big enough that can easily handle the 650 with out the use of RO which would give me the option to lease taps in the surounding area seeing its a great sugar maple area and no one else taps.

Thanks in advance....Ryan

[PerryW]

I get a run of around 400-500 gallons typical sap run from my 750 woods taps on gravity and my 3x10 takes care of it just fine boiling 5-6 hours (90 gph, with open pans).

With high vacuum, you would need to bump it up to a 4x10 or 4 x 12 or possible add a steam-away to a 3x10.

[spud]

With high vacuum (25+ inches) you are looking at 1000 gallons a day on a good run. On a 3x10 you will be boiling 11 hours on a good run. You might want to think about a small RO from (Water Guy's or Ray's ) to remove 50-65% of the water cutting your boil time in less then half. I think the Water Guy's RO's cost $3999.00 and that includes shipping to your house. There are people on Trader that have them and they have good things to say about them. I think a single pass will turn 2% sap into 5% and that could save you a lot of time. How many taps would you be adding on in the near future? Will you be using wood or oil? If an RO is out of the question for you at this time and you plan on tapping some neighboring trees then you need to ask yourself how many hours do I want to boil in a day? Some like boiling 15 hours a day and other's like 2-3 at best. If buying a used evaporator the larger it is the better the deal. Right after sugaring season there will be a lot of great deals on sugaring equipment.

Spud

Spud

[RyanB]

Thanks guys, an RO is deffinatly not out of the questions...I just want to size the evaporator correctly to allow me to not have to run an RO if I just stick with these 600+ taps.... Here is another thought though, if I were to go with an RO and run my 600+ on high vac and another 400 or so on buckets or gravity (lease taps and they would probably be buckets on fence line/yard tree's as I have 2 neighbors with a ton of them and they both know fence line tree's arn't good for lumber!). What size of arch could I go with then? If I build another arch it will be with out a doubt and efficient AOF/AUF at the very least. Is a smaller arch better or worse to run a higher concentrate on?

Thanks...Ryan

[jasonl6]

I have a 30x8 with AOF system. I have 425 taps on tubing running 20"-22" of vac and another 75-100 taps on buckets. 90% of the time i can keep up by boiling at nights when i get home from work 5:30-10:30/11:00pm. When i get a huge run i have to take the day off or have my father boil most of the day. If your looking at spending the $ on a new system look at the leader max pans and a steam away. That would easily keep up with 650-1000. I plan to have 750 on vac next year and will be using the same 30x8, however i am having the Amish build me a version of the Steam away which should net me 30+ gallons per hour more evaporation.

Jason

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

I run a open pan wood fired 4*12 (140 GPH) and can keep up with 1400 taps on 20" Vacuum without an RO. It is painful at times (20 hour boils), but it can be done. With a 4*12 you can add as many taps as you can find and work towards the RO.

[stewardsdairy]

I run a 3 by 8 vortex arch with max flues and a steam away and handle 1000 taps with about a 4 to 5 hour boil on good runs.

[wiam]

2X6 mason, old Memtek RO, about 1000 taps running 25". Most days less than 4 hr boils. Over 400 gallons 2 and 3 years ago.

[RyanB]

Thanks for all the info guys, Anyone else have any other opinions on it? I have been crunching the numbers and I will deffinatly be doing high vac...just don't know if I should go with a smaller arch and run RO right off the bat.

Ryan

[heus]

For what its worth I have a little over 500 taps with 350+ on vacuum boiling on a 2.5x10 raised flue. I feel like I definitely need an ro at this point. Especially since I plan to add up to 550 more taps in the next couple of years.