I also do mine in batches. When boiling I normally get 7-8 gal/hr drawn off by an auto draw, into a 24 gal draw off tank. I then pump it to a finisher just to hold it until I have a batch big enough to fill a barrel or 2, or a barrel and my bottler. I then bring it up to 205-210 F, density check to verify, adjust as needed and then I draw off into my mixing tank about 3-4 gal, mix in about 1.5-1.75 cups filter aid (FA, My filter is 7" with 5 sets of plates, adjust by the number you have), stir well using a big stirring whip (like a potato whip but bigger) and then pump it thru the filter press and back into the mixing tank. Once it is so clear it sparkles, I either send it to a SS barrel or the bottler or first a barrel and the rest to the bottler. As each mixed batch is emptied from the mix tank, I then draw 6-6.5 gal into the tank, add 1 cup FA, mix and pump it thru the filter, since the papers are already coated it does not need to flow back into the mix tank after that first batch. When I finish that, I draw again and keep repeating until a barrel is full, then I send the rest to the next barrel but only if I have enough to fill one, or to the bottler if I need more retail containers filled in that grade or I just leave it in my finisher until another batch is ready. Doing it this way, I get 5 batches thru the filter in just a few minutes, ( my barrels are 26.5 gal) then fill the bottler or if I don't need more retail in what grade it is, I just leave it in my finisher until another barrel worth is ready to be filled.
When my filter gets to 40 PSI I open a bypass valve slightly to keep the pressure close to 40 but not over it. When my filter will not allow more syrup thru or it gets very slow (at 40 PSI max), I shut it off and break the press down, the hollow plates are then all completely full and I will have filtered about 30-50 gal on a 5 plate 7" press. If the press did not fill up and I have more syrup to finish and filter within about 60-90 minutes I filter thru what ia already in the filter, if it has been over that time, I break it down, empty the plates, clean everything, put in new papers and start a new batch.
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.