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View Full Version : 3 Acre Steep Slope Tubing Design gravity/vacuum hybrid or combo?



DoubleBrookMaple
12-29-2014, 01:42 PM
Hello to all and thanks for input...

My third year, and learning from the board, and the hard way as well. Installed gravity tubing last year, but needless to say, It needs improvement, and expansion. I won't go over that, but stick to my new installation. I will only have about 200-225 taps on this system.
I have attached an image with my 3 acres and elevations from my GPS and topo maps. I am building a vacuum system and would like some suggestions, some of which may be to late, as I already have the mainline shown in place.
I realize there a turbulence issues with steep mainlines, but according to Tim Perkins publication, http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/SapVac.pdf (See pg 13)
it is a "minor loss".
I can use gravity if needed, but will have plenty of vacuum available with my Gast 1023, at 10CFM. I am tentatively planning on four 3/4" mainlines that run uphill approx 125 feet. Two of these are shown, as they run continuously from the horizontal mainline. I could run only 3/16 or 5/16 gravity all the way down from the top trees, and only feed the vacuum mainline from the lower trees.

Thanks,

Eric

10215

DrTimPerkins
12-29-2014, 07:32 PM
Contact Tim Wilmot at UVM PMRC/Extension to discuss a hybrid vacuum-natural vacuum system using 3/16" tubing.

Timothy.Wilmot@uvm.edu

DoubleBrookMaple
12-29-2014, 07:39 PM
Contact Tim Wilmot at UVM PMRC/Extension to discuss a hybrid vacuum-natural vacuum system using 3/16" tubing.

Timothy.Wilmot@uvm.edu

Thanks!

Eric

BranchHillMaple
01-25-2015, 07:04 PM
I was looking into a vacuum system also but decided to try the 3/16 tubing on about half of my sugarbush that I could get the proper elevations on from what ive read. I'll have 80 taps all on 3/16 line and 120 on the standard 5/16 stuff hoping that the 3/16 lives up to the hype of working like a vacuum system without out all the money that comes with setting up a vacuum system.