continuous flow pans

[michael marrs]

How do these work? do you move the sap from one tray to the next? or ( as in the name ), does it just flow? thanks

[SeanD]

Assuming they are plumbed together, yes. The sap flows forward due to gravity. The syrup pan is the hardest boil and the level is lower there. The sap at the float is the deepest - by fractions of an inch. So the sap at the higher end flows toward the lower end gradually.

[Ausable]

Michael - I have a basic - no frills - homemade continuous flow pan. 2' x 5'. It has 5 sections, 2 sap and 3 syrup - the Sap sections are closest to the stack. It is level - Yep - level. When I start my first boil of the season - I flood the whole pan - all sections with maple sap and start boiling - very much like batch boiling. - As the boil progresses the level throughout decreases. Sap is slowly added at the first sap pan - thus begins the serpentine flow. It starts at the first sap section and ends at the last syrup section where I'm starting to get near syrup. I draw some off in a test cup and check with a maple syrup hydrometer. Nope not yet. I check it again and I'm almost at syrup and I draw some off and sap is added on the other end. A flow is established - sap added at one end and near syrup drawn off the other and boiling going on throughout all the sections. Not there is more to it than that - But - I wanted to give You a basic idea how a continuous flow works. More efficient than batch boiling. Oh - the sections are all connected with openings - I have the ability is isolate some of my sections - But - that is another story lol for another day. Hey! Have fun making Maple ----Mike---