2x4 Bricking Question

[marlmucker]

Hey

I have a 2x4 Patrick Phaneuf evaporator, I've had it for a few years now and I'm not certain I am maximizing the efficiency - without AUF or AOF.

i have included a few pictures. My ramp starts at the back of the fire box, at that point it's 11" to the bottom of the flues. I believe I am losing a lot of heat directly up the chimney because it's not forced directly under the flues.

Should I build some sort of wall at the back of my firebox where the ramp starts?

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[Russell Lampron]

Yes, you should put a wall of fire brick to within a 1/2" of the bottom of the flues. Fill in the area behind that with vermiculite all of the way to the back of the arch. You can cover the vermiculite with ceramic blanket or cover it with powered refractory cement and then mist that with water so that it will harden and hold the vermiculite in place. That will direct all of the heat through the flues.

[marlmucker]

Awesome thanks.

Do you believe that will improve boil rates much, or hard to say for such a small evaporator.

[ecolbeck]

What are you getting currently for a evaporation rate?

[marlmucker]

Last season I pegged it at around 20gph and with preheated and hood I had hoped for closer to 30

[ecolbeck]

I would guess that without a blower you are doing pretty good, but that's just a guess.

[30AcreWoods]

I agree. To get any more significant improvements, I think you'd need to go airtight and add a blower.