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Thread: Double flue pan

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
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    ashland, ny
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    42

    Default Double flue pan

    Does anyone have experience with adding another flue pan to an evaporator setup? Thinking of lengthening my arch and adding another 5’ flue pan to my 3x8. I can’t wrap my head around the actual plumbing part. Thanks!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
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    11,544

    Default

    That might work if you don't want to run an RO, but with an RO you could conceivably get syrup with less flavor.
    Back when I first got my 3x8 it had a 6' flue pan and a 2' syrup pan. That worked well for 3 years. Then I got an RO and while the syrup was still OK it was not as good as before the RO. I then had a new set of pans made, I now have a 5' flue pan with 10" deep flues and a 3x3 syrup pan. That combination brought the flavor back.
    Another example is how Proctor maple Research center is doing it. They concentrate to 34-35% concentrate using a super RO, then they have a short flue pan and a very long syrup pan, to give the syrup time to develop a good flavor. Same idea, to what seems to be extreme.
    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.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    Albion PA
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    Default

    I have a feeling that unless you increase your heat source the rear flue pan may be more of a preheater. Not that that would be a bad thing, it just may not boil as you might expect it to? I believe Glen Goodrich has a several evaporators with short flue pans and long front flat pans to bring back that old fashion flavor too. Me I just boil on antique KING designed pan system, with a 5 foot drop flue (9 inches deep ,14 flues) and a 5 foot front pan (4 channel) 38 inch wide pans. Most folks like our flavor too.
    Good luck with your pans. It would be a long arch. Another option would be to add a steamaway on your rear pan. No cheap and they wont do what a R.O. does, but I like mine.
    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

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chatham NH
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    1,308

    Default

    My advice would be to sell your rig and buy another bigger evaporator, a 3x8 would be an easy sell and there are lots of nice used 3x10-3×12 rigs out there. You most likely cant build what you want for the price that you can upgrade for.

    Unless ofcourse you are a master fabricator.
    Nate Hutchins
    Nate & Kate's Maple
    2022 1000 taps?
    3x10 Intensofire
    20x36 sugarhouse
    CDL 600gph RO
    A wife and 2 kids.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    ashland, ny
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    Thanks for all the helpful insight. All really good points. I have seen this mod done with success so it was a thought to increase my boiling capacity with the same rig.

  6. #6
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    Mar 2005
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    Albion PA
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    I wont say it wont work and of course more boiling surface should get you more GPH. I would ask those folks that did this what there boil rate was and what it went to. You basically making a 3 x 13 rig. You may need to really pour the coal to it but might do 125-140 GPH?? Maybe? Might wat to do something like stagger the new flues to catch the fire as it passes through the front flues. You may need more stack if on wood. More fire if on oil?
    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

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    ashland, ny
    Posts
    42

    Default

    It is oil fired so I’d have to increase nozzle size at the very least. What kind of piping would be needed to go from flue pan to flue pan and still be able to reverse the flow? I guess there would be only one float box?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Middlesex, Vermont
    Posts
    320

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    Mattice, your best bet would be to have a fabricator weld stainless piping with stainless fittings and the couplers for the 90s etc. then you can remove the pans/assemble each individual pan. If these are flat pans you will actually need to treat them like drop flue and have one rear float box that acts as your feed float. This will keep the level for the entire system


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Mead Maple "It's for the kids..."
    Paul Cerminara
    2019 - First season ever
    -Goal: 3 gallons
    -Season Total: 7.5 gallons - pulled taps after running out of firewood and time
    2020
    Built 2'x8' Oil Fired with Thor drop flue pans
    -Goal: 20 gallons
    -Season Total: 55 gallons

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Garrettsville,Ohio
    Posts
    621

    Default

    the "vermont" style pans used to be a thing but was short lived. we boiled on a set but wasnt real efficient. had full flues in the back, middle was syrup pans , front was a shallow flue. didnt make good syrup in my opinion
    Fred Ahrens
    330-206-1606
    Richards Ohio Maple Equipment
    Ohio CDL sales rep
    LaPierre Dealer
    H&M maple fabricator Dealer
    Service Tech/repair for all brands and electronics

    don't take life too serious, nobody gets out alive anyways!

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