Even boil?

[325abn]

What should be ones goal in regards to the rate of boil in the syrup pan in relation to the flue pan? Should they be even?

Should near syrup be going into the syrup pan or should it be closer to sap?

I ask because during my test boil last weekend my boil was quite uneven in the flue pan. I know what I have to do to fix this. But the flue pan boiled much quicker than the syrup pan and the syrup pan although it boiled it never really got to that rapid hard boil that I had in the flue pan.

[802maple]

Personally as long as the syrup pan is boiling. I wouldn't change a thing as it won't be so easy to burn, I would want my flue to boil evenly,but if the syrup pan is boiling with water it will boil harder with syrup.

[brookledge]

You want the flue pan to boil very hard. The syrup pan on the other hand should not boil as hard or you will not keep it in the pan. When the sap comes out of the flue pan it should have a tinge of amber color but should still look like sap. The majority of the evaporation process takes place in the flue pan.
Sounds likeyou are ok
Keith

[maplehound]

OK let me try to tackel this one! Bradley Gillian spoke this last Sat. at our workshop here in Ohio. He said that if you arn't getting a boil in the flue pan but you do in the syrup pan then you don't have enough draft. If you have a good boil in the flue pan but not in the syrup pan then you need more air. I think that is how he put it any how.

[maple flats]

The flue pan should boil harder, by design. It has that much more heat exchange surface in relation to surface area than the syrup pan. If this was not true there would be no advantage to using a flue pan, we would all have flat pans. It really sounds like you are right on. Keep the syrup pan boiling and in my experience the flue pan will have a very hard rolling boil. Keep the foaming to an absolute minimum by using just a drop at a time of defoamer because foam is actually going to slow the evaporation rate. as a defoamer you can get a commercial defoamer or canola oil or butter or milk etc, etc, I have always used the atmos (sp?) defoamer sold by Leader but think I will try canola oil this year. In previous years I was using a 2x6 evap and 1 drop would knock the foam down almost instantly, rarely needed 2 drops. This year on my 3x8 I will still try 1 drop and see if 2 is needed.

[HanginAround]

Right, what they said. The flue pan will boil much more vigorously by design. I doubt you could keep syrup in it at all if it boiled like that. With a forced air arch, I've often seen sap leaping 5-6 inches above the surface in the flue pan.

[maplehound]

As far as the defoamer goes Bradley said that you should add a couple drops at the inlet to the flue pan ( either in float box or were it acually enters the flue pan) every time you fire the evaporator. If and Only if it becomes necisary to add it to the syrup pan it should only go at the draw off point. He said last year he only added defoamer to the syrup pan 6 times. During his first boil before it became dense and the last couple boils when the foam is the worst. He said that if you add it anywere else in the syrup pan it will cause large batches and possibly scortch the syrup, since the defoamer makes the syrup mix to that point.
I wish everyone coulde sit through one of his sessions. I sure learned alot from him.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

He definitely has a wealth of knowledge beyond his age and is enjoyable to talk to and always takes time to answer any and all questions.