I usually change the drop lines in a third of my woods each year. My system is all 5/16 on vacuum. I am considering using 3/16 for drops this year. Does anyone have any experience with this?
3/16 tubing for drop lines
I usually change the drop lines in a third of my woods each year. My system is all 5/16 on vacuum. I am considering using 3/16 for drops this year. Does anyone have any experience with this?
No experience with it but the Proctor Maple Research study seemed to show a promising increase in volume using 3/16 drop line while also reducing cost per drop line.
Jon Eugster
80 taps gravity tubing and bags
3'x5' flat pan, concrete block arch
Dirt floor, sky roof sugarhouse
Going to 45k taps
--
Got the maple fever
Can't stop, won't stop
Sap overflow in dreamland
http://sweetspringsyrup.com
If your laterals remain at 5/16, the only gain would be in the drop. A foot of drop generates about .85" of vacuum if all liquid, but they are often about half gases, so you might gain .4-.5" per foot of drop. If your average drop is 2' (not the drop length but the actual drop) you might gain 1" of vacuum. Is that worth it to you to have 2 different sizes to work with?
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
I'm not certain if this is true, but it definitely was not a study done by Proctor. Perhaps something Tim Wilmot did that I'm not aware of.Originally Posted by jeugster
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Mike Farrell from Cornell spoke about this at the CDL open house in St. Lazare. Four take homes: Might increase vacuum at rate indicated above, increased potential for plugging, could lead to increased re-adsorption of sap since sap moves easier in both directions, and lastly it cannot add more vacuum if you already have a tight, modern, high-vacuum system.
Thought you were on vacation
30x8 Leader revolution, wood fired blower, steamaway/hood. 903 taps all but 54 on pipeline and 3 vacuum systems. Hauling sap this year with a 99 F350 7.3 diesel dump and of course back up is the Honda 450 and trailer.
I think the plugging issue is significant based on what I have seen in one season with 3/16. I would not personally ever consider a 3/16 drop with 5/16 as I don't see any potential benefit, and in fact you will likely reduce production. A 5/16 drop with 3/16 is the way to go IMO though.
About 750 taps on High Vac.
2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
Springtech Elite 500 RO
14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
www.littlehogbackfarm.com
June 1st.....although I might still "lurk" a little.
And a "Professional Development Leave" is NOT a vacation.....I'm working.....just not in the office.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
You are saying run 5/16 drops into 3/16 laterals (I should run the 3/16 laterals with 30' of drop to the mainline for the natural vacuum? )
'12 15 jugs - Steam pans
'17 125 3/16 - 18" x 72" drop flue on homemade arch
'18 240 3/16 - Deer Run 125
'19 450 3/16 - Converted RO to electric/added a membrane
'20 600 3/16 - Maple Pro 2x6 Raised Flue, added AOF/AUF
'21 570 3/16 - Built steam hood, Smoky Lake filter press
'22 800 3/16 - Upgraded RO to 4 4x40
'23 500 3/16 - Re-plumbed RO, new "Guzzler"
'24 500 3/16 - Steam Away, DIY 8x40 RO
[URL="http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/3-16%20Tubing%20-%20Wilmot%20-%20Maple%20News%20Dec%202014a.pdf"]
Here is the article in reference to the conversation, it was Tim Wilmont that conducted the study.
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