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Thread: Steam Pipe Pre-Evaporator

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Kincardine
    Posts
    4

    Default Steam Pipe Pre-Evaporator

    I am looking to speed up evaporation rate and utilize steam from flue pan. Local shop is encouraging me to try their system whereby steam is funnelled from steam hood into a series of pipes ( about 1-2 inch diameter). Cold sap is then essentially dripped or very lightly flowed over the outside of the steam heated pipes in a very thin stream.

    Apparently the system actually not only heats the sap but actually evaporates some of the water off.

    Anyone every built /bought one of these or seen one work?
    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    315

    Default

    I'm pretty sure this is called a piggyback system. I've been told that they are excellent.
    Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
    2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
    2022- 3900? taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Essex VT
    Posts
    402

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    I purchased a 3' x 10' Steamaway from Leader Evaporator 10 or 12 years ago. (Back then the list price was $6,945. and now it is $8,996.)It was an extremely good investment. I would not go without it now. The Steamaway increased my evaporation rate by 60 gallons an hour, increased the incoming cold sap temperature to 195 - 200 degrees and produces a lot of hot water.

    The only draw back of a Steamaway is that it is another piece of equipment to keep clean and you should clean it daily.

    Joe
    2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
    2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
    2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
    2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
    2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
    2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
    2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
    3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    lowryd,
    I did build a Steamaway, (Water Reduction Unit= WRU, thread on the build on years ago) it is not exactly like you described. Mine has 20 gallons of sap bulling over the hot tubes with air causing the bubbles. It works pretty well to make 2% sap into 3% sap using the steam from the rear pan. They are not cheap to buy. I would recommend that you look hard at R.O.'s first.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Essex VT
    Posts
    402

    Default

    After reading Sugarmaker's post, I decided to look up some production numbers to see how my first 300 gph RO effected my production

    2004 raw sap-----boiled 19 times-----boiled for 74.5 hrs-----used 523 gal of oil-----made 109 gal of syrup-----used 4.75 gal of oil per gal of syrup-----made 1.5-2 gal syrup per hour

    2006 RO sap------boiled 20 times-----boiled for 34.5 hrs-----used 241 gal of oil-----made 215 gal of syrup-----used 1.12 gal of oil per gal of syrup-----made 6.25 gal syrup per hour

    add steam away and bigger RO

    2019 RO sap----- boiled 25 times-----boiled for 61 hrs------ used 427 gal of oil-----made 1283 gal of syrup----used .33 gal of oil per gal of syrup------ made 21 gal syrup per hour

    I guess that the choice of RO or steam away would depend on what the local shop is going to charge for their WRU and what the additional evaporation rate is. Otherwise, if I was going to buy a Leader Steamaway for my 3' x 10' evaporator, I would probably go for the RO first. The RO would save 3.63 gal of oil per gal of syrup made over boiling raw sap. Of course, all this is based on oil usage and not wood. If you burned wood, you would see a huge drop in wood consumption going from boiling raw sap to RO'ed sap.

    Joe
    Last edited by JoeJ; 12-03-2019 at 05:09 AM.
    2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
    2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
    2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
    2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
    2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
    2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
    2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
    3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Kincardine
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sugarmaker View Post
    lowryd,
    I did build a Steamaway, (Water Reduction Unit= WRU, thread on the build on years ago) it is not exactly like you described. Mine has 20 gallons of sap bulling over the hot tubes with air causing the bubbles. It works pretty well to make 2% sap into 3% sap using the steam from the rear pan. They are not cheap to buy. I would recommend that you look hard at R.O.'s first.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Thanks for the input. do you have any pictures of your steam pipe + air bubbler system that you would be comfortable sharing?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    lowryd,
    Its all on here in a old thread. Using the search function you should be able to find it. Was like 10 years ago. Wow time flies! I will see if I can find it but not sure I can make a link work?

    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...reduction+unit

    This was built in 2009. Hope this helps.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Last edited by Sugarmaker; 12-03-2019 at 08:49 AM.
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

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