Chiller for sap?

[Woodsrover]

This hot weather has me thinking...

Finding a used milk tank that's affordable probably won't happen but I'm wondering if I could use an aquarium chiller or remote water chiller to keep sap in this weather? I could install and insulate a couple IBC totes or one large tank and plumb a chiller to it that would circulate and cool the sap.

[DaveB]

That's something that I've given thought to besides packing snow around my shaded tank. I like your suggestions but my only concern would be heat loss due to lack of insulation and the ability of the chiller to compensate. If you have the right equipment & insulation, it probably wouldn't be an issue.

My idea was to build insulated walls and a roof around my tank with a Coolbot to create a refrigerated room. If you have an old A/C unit, you could probably do an installation for around $500 for a basic setup. I just haven't have time to build it.

[motowbrowne]

That's something that I've given thought to besides packing snow around my shaded tank. I like your suggestions but my only concern would be heat loss due to lack of insulation and the ability of the chiller to compensate. If you have the right equipment & insulation, it probably wouldn't be an issue.

My idea was to build insulated walls and a roof around my tank with a Coolbot to create a refrigerated room. If you have an old A/C unit, you could probably do an installation for around $500 for a basic setup. I just haven't have time to build it.

A cool bot was going to be my suggestion also, although a working bulk tank sure would be awesome.

[DaveB]

After some research, it does look like it's possible to use a regular temperature controller (about $35) along with a nightlight that warms the A/C temperature sensor so it keeps running. The temperature probe on the controller gets put on the fins of the A/C unit to prevent it from running when it starts icing up.

This guy mentions that setup:

http://www.plamondon.com/wp/replace-...-conditioners/

It might allow someone to either create a refrigerated room with their tank or a tank that would hold chilled water that would be circulated in the sap tank.

[wmick]

Been absent for a while... Hope everyone's had a great summer....

...but now that winter is upon us, I'm thinking about the list of things I was going to get ready this summer... None of it got done, as usual...
Been hunting around for some affordable RO components, on and off.....
Finally found some... with any luck will be picking up this afternoon... and have a system ready for spring.

Anyway - I'm reviving this thread, because I've been reading about how important it is, to keep concentrate cool....
Been googling about how home brewers rip apart air conditioners, etc to create glycol chillers... (glycol because its food grade)
and I had a brain-fart.... I think there's a pretty simple solution.
Not sure if anyone has done this before?? Maybe its tested and true??

...but what do you think?? Tear it apart...
Thanks


Small used chest freezer
Small Circ Pump
Thermostat
Copper or stainless coil...
Glycol Chiller.JPG

[Bucket Head]

I guess there are a number of ways to introduce some sort of cooling into the sap or concentrate but the insulated part is key. However you can do it and with what you can afford will help out considerably with storage. A number of years ago I got a 500 gal. bulk tank up and running and have never regretted the investment. I no longer worry about lost sap and that provides a lot of peace of mind during sugaring season.

Steve

[DrTimPerkins]

+1 on the bulk tank. Works great. No chance of contaminating sap.

[cjf12]

How effective would a bulk tank be if you were to run spring water through it and just discharge it back out? I have an endless supply from a spring near my shack and could just discharge it back into the stream. 50ish degrees would be better than nothing. May buy you an extra day of storing concentrate if needed? Just a thought as power is limited but water is not.

[Bucket Head]

It won't be as cold as it should be, but some cold would be better than really warm sap. The trouble is bacteria multiplies at impressive rates the closer you get to 50 and after 50 it goes up much faster. I'd say give it a try if the cool water is available. You'll need to agitate or circulate as the cold sap will be on the bottom and the sap at the top will be warm.

I assume your talking about running a copper line/coil with the water in it in the tank? Another option would be to find an old "ice bank" tank. Basically, they were a tank within a tank and chilled water kept the milk cold. Like a hot water jacketed syrup canner- but for cold stuff. But you'd still need to agitate it for uniform coldness.

Steve

[Howard]

I use a plate cooler and a coolbot to keep my consentrate cool