Barrel Evaporator Preheater???

[johnpma]

Hi Guys,

How are you that boil on 55 gallon drum units preheating your sap??

Trying to come up with ways to modify my barrel evaporator to incorporate a preheater of some sort.

We have about 40 taps out. The process is too long if we add cold sap. Our barrel unit is lined with a blanket and red bricks on top of the blanket We have a wall built about 3/4 of the way back in the unit from red brick

We did OK last year but want to make improvements for this season

[Polish Wizard]

I asked a similar question for a preheater wrapped around the flue stack.
I don't know how to add a link to that thread, so I'll suggest looking for one titled "Looking for plumbing diagram for flue pipe sap heater"
The other folks provided a great deal of info you may find helpful.

You might also watch this man's video.
He included a coil of copper tube wrapped around the flue stack and enclosed it (or it is actually inside his stack---I can't tell for sure because I'm confused by the appearance of the flue pipe joints).
I wonder if simply wrapping a copper coil with aluminum foil would suffice to help keep heat on the coil as it is wrapped around the stack?
Maple Syrup Sap Homemade Evaporator Test - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twWbSs8Bpws

[RC Maple]

I have a barrel evaporator with a 2x3 pan and have a preheater for it that was made by Sunrise. It's just the standard one they put on their 2 ft wide pans.




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[johnpma]

I like that tubing around the flu system Polski!!! Thanks for posting.

RC You have a nice set up there. Never thought of actually building a boil barn with a barrel unit.....I'm jealous!!

Thanks for posting guys. In the process of building a new barrel unit now. Door kit just arrived.

[flyyer]

Here is mine pre-heater pan....... new to me this year, going to try a run this next weekend.


12478

[johnpma]

Nice setup is that all open beneath the warming trays? Did you insulate around the pans? I like the blower idea

[Fleman202]

Hey Flyyer where did you get the blower, and what size is it?

[johnpma]

Here is mine pre-heater pan....... new to me this year, going to try a run this next weekend.


12478 How did it run? How is the area under your pans insulated or bricked? Working on my unit now......will post pics soon for suggestions

[pyro]

I have some stupid questions.

Is the flue pipe exiting the back?
How do you move liquid from the preheater pan to front pans?

[leaky bucket]

I made a coiled preheated for my 2x6 a few years ago . I got a pc of log approx the size of my chimney pipe ( the log is just a firm form to wrap around ) and made a coil around it with 1\2" copper pipe used a 25' roll Took my pipes apart and slid it over the stack ( all while I was boiling). Connected one end to the head tank and other to float. What a difference. If you don't have a float attach a ball valve and just let it drop into pan and adjust as required.
It don't have to be tailor made and expensive to work.

Mike