Why do you switch flow direction in your pans?

[Dave Lister]

OK, so I have herd and read a bit on switching the direction your syrup flows in your pans. Why is this done? What benefits does it have? Is there any science to this?
The syrup in my pans can only really go in one direction, so I don't really get a choice in the matter. Would it be beneficial to modify my pans so that I can switch it? Would that be worth the effort ?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

The best explanation I can give you is that nitre builds up a scale or layer on the bottom of the pans the closer it gets to drawoff and reversing the flow gets the heavy syrup going the other way and the sap coming off the flue pan helps to dissolve the nitre that is building up.

[PerryW]

If you don't reverse the flow on my evaporator, you have to pull the front pan and clean it after about 30 gallons of syrup because the niter has built up to a thick layer.

When you reverse the flow, the hot sap coming into the front pan peels the thin layer of nitre of the bottom of the pan like paint peeling. These niter flakes come out with the syrup when you draw off instead of building up.

[Dave Puhl]

No it wont make any difference for your pans..I have a 2x6 with reverse flow and dont use it..after a hard day cookin I drain my syrup pan and before starting up the next day I scrub it some with a rag or a scotch brite pad chase with water and go again....

[Fred Henderson]

No it wont make any difference for your pans..I have a 2x6 with reverse flow and dont use it..after a hard day cookin I drain my syrup pan and before starting up the next day I scrub it some with a rag or a scotch brite pad chase with water and go again....

What brand evap do you have?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Scrubbing and cleaning after each boil is always the best idea, but unforunately for most of us, we don't have the time to do it and it is a pain in the backside too, so thus that is why the flow gets reversed.

[Dave Puhl]

Fred if your asking me..Its a Cdl Dallaire..In srubing I just leave the pan on and just get the most build up off...

[maplecrest]

i have a leader reverse flow king style. so days i can make 100 gallons before switching sides and some days 200. when boiling you see a change in the foaming and you know the pan is dirty and need to switch sides. i does not take long to switch over about 15 minutes and you are drawing again.

[forester1]

I think a reverse flow would have more of an effect on larger pans.

[Jeff E]

Hey guys, this is the first year I am doing a volume that is requiring me to reverse the flow. Right now I am doing a 'milk stone' cleaning because I didnt reverse it often enough had had bad build up.

Do most of you have auto draw offs on each side, or at least temp probes on each side, to make it easier?

[Fred Henderson]

I could never understand why anyone would want a cross flow pan. Because you can not reverse the flow. Its shut down, cool down and change pans. What a pain that would be for a big operation running sveral thousand taps.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jerry,

I have a 2x8 and reverse is a must for me on that size evaporator and I have a 2x3 syrup pan, so not much bigger than a 2x6.