Adding fins to bottom of flat pan (?)

Well, got the Smoke stack and the draw offs done on the pans. Heading to the bush this weekend for a test fire on the thru thru tube pans. If all goes well should see a significant improvement over the 4 steam table pans on propane from last year. New rig is 28" x 24" front pan, with 28" x 48" back pan with thru tubes, on wood fired block arch. So far this has been fun project. All told, have only $400 into it so far. Most expense was for the stack, as I had it made. . I will post results upon return home Sunday night. If the weather holds off might get a start on Sugar shack. Plan on 12' x 16'. Does anyone know what size cupula I will need to let out the steam?

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Originally Posted by MartinP

Does anyone know what size cupula I will need to let out the steam?

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Elsewhere in these forums, folks seem to be relatively consistent in saying the cupola should be the same size as your evaporator. That is, 28" by 72" your case.

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Originally Posted by MartinP

Does anyone know what size cupula I will need to let out the steam?

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Use a roof opening equal to the pan area of your evaporator if you are using open pans. To much opening is no problem, so if you think that you may expand make the cupola larger at this time. Also if you have a preheater or a steamaway you can go with a smaller cupola.

Interesting idea.

Very interesting Jim,
Could you give us the dimensins of those fins??

Www.smokylakemaple.com

This weekends test boil went pretty well, Front pan boiled hard at 50 minutes, back pan took exactly 1 hour for the front of the pan to start up, got hard boil the fron 1/3 then meduim next 1/3 then lazy boil the last 1/3. Started with 10 gal in front pan and 35 in back. I forgot to get a hose to connect the 2 pans so I did not get to run a tru test as I was mainly concerned with back pan and how it worked. It rained pretty much all day so I didn't get started until 6 pm and shut her down at 9. Estimate 12-15 gph now. I need to change the area under the pan and make it slope more to the back and end up at around 3/4 to 1". Right now its at 1 1/2 flat all the way. Also need to build some sort of real door to feed wood thru. Patio blocks work but not great. Another lengnth of stove pipe to help the draw also. The thru tubes looked rea; nice thru the feed opening you could see flames going down them, so at least I know they do work.

It has been suggested that I start a new thread and go thru the process of this project. Have you guys had enough of me or do you think it is appropiate?

oh man just when i thought i was about done building my new evap you gotta go and say something to make me start to think about trying some fins on the bottom of my new flat pan!!!!!!!!!i guess it never ends!!!!!!!!:o :o :o

It allways happens that way you have a good idea and somebody comes up with ten more. No wonder sugar makers drink beer. I have to get working on mine pretty soon but with all the meetings this week I am in no mood to think right now. Goverment can make a guy lazy.

Jim,

That sounds very interesting. I take it the welds go the full length of the fins? I have always noticed on my 3 section flat pan, that it always boils hardest next to the dividers and there on the top side of the pan. I guess we should look at it as a bunch of 1000-1500 degree pieces of metal on the bottom of the pan. That heat has to transfer somewhere. Now I need to decide if I'm going to do a bunch of welding on my pan:rolleyes: Thanks so much for the idea and feedback.

Martin,

I think those drop tubes are set up so that all the flue gases go through the tubes?