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Thread: Adding steel to a cinder block evaporator

  1. #101
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
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    chester, ma
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swingpure View Post
    Forgive my rookie question. Is a flue pan a pre heat pan, or the main boiling pan that dumps into a pan to finish the syrup?
    A flue pan is the main pan. What makes it different from a flat pan is that it has "flues" - deep fins that extend into the hot gasses in the arch. Effectively it triples (or more?) the surface area of the pan, with corresponding increase in gallons boiled per hour. They are also complicated to make, and use a lot more stainless, and are therefore quite expensive.

    I would love if my evaporator can boil 8 to 10 gallons an hour. I tried to build the best one I could. I’m watched a lot of You Tube videos, got a ton of tips and advice on this forum, and I think I did a few things that I thought of. Obviously the original plan to line the walls with steel was a complete failure, but after 4 practice boils. I think I have something good to go into the season.
    I agree that 8 gallons an hour is a reasonable expectation. Maybe more if you eliminate the rest of the steel in your arch Seriously - I do think each pan that has the steel covering the long bottom edges is going to lose 10-20% or more of the GPH you'd get from it. One thing you could do if you want to keep the fire from coming up the sides, but allow full fire on the bottom, is to move the steel up between the pans instead of under it.

    So right now you're doing 1. I'd suggest doing 2. You could prop the steel up on the sides with a bit of insulation or a bit of firebrick, and then line the top with insulation to keep smoke from coming through the cracks. I don't think you'd even really need to bend the edges of the steel, I just did that for fun. The insulation stuffed in above it will do the trick to keep most of the smoke/gas from escaping.




    I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to the start of the season. I will learn a ton and at the end of the season will decide if I want to expand, do less or just the same. If I want to do the same or more, the big thing will be to reduce boil time, either with larger, better pans or an RO unit.
    If you want to reduce boil time, see above ^^^

    Cheers,

    GO
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  2. #102
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
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    Parry Sound Area, Ontario
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    Quote Originally Posted by berkshires View Post
    Seriously - I do think each pan that has the steel covering the long bottom edges is going to lose 10-20% or more of the GPH you'd get from it. One thing you could do if you want to keep the fire from coming up the sides, but allow full fire on the bottom, is to move the steel up between the pans instead of under it.

    So right now you're doing 1. I'd suggest doing 2. You could prop the steel up on the sides with a bit of insulation or a bit of firebrick, and then line the top with insulation to keep smoke from coming through the cracks. I don't think you'd even really need to bend the edges of the steel, I just did that for fun. The insulation stuffed in above it will do the trick to keep most of the smoke/gas from escaping.

    GO
    Thanks, I understand what you are saying and I can do that.

    Lol It means some more fun time with the angle grinder cutting the metal plates into the correct widths. I will have to get some more insulation.

    Now to start cutting and placing the firebrick.
    2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
    930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
    DYI Vacuum Filter
    2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.

  3. #103
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Parry Sound Area, Ontario
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    Quote Originally Posted by berkshires View Post




    GO
    I failed to mention that your drawings were very good and very helpful. I cut one of the four inch plates in half. I already have a ledge for them to sit on and stacking one on top of the other at the bottom of the pan is a perfect fit. I am not sure if it is critical if the plate needs to be an inch or so above the bottom of the pan.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/r43jkbd1uCKJeCkX9
    2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
    930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
    DYI Vacuum Filter
    2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.

  4. #104
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Parry Sound Area, Ontario
    Posts
    1,346

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    I added the firebrick to the angled ramp today. Not a professional looking finish. There were a number of angled pieces and a circular saw isn’t perfect at getting some of the smaller pieces perfect. It should work though.

    Is it March yet?

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ajfi6gTfDbHW6XCt8

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/BNexzuDMzHcYB6fT7
    2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
    930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
    DYI Vacuum Filter
    2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.

  5. #105
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

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    The flue pan is the main boiling pan and as the sap concentrates it moves thru to the front pan which is the syrup pan.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  6. #106
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
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    You could also use ceramic blanket in place of fire brick on the ramp and flat surface if you still have some of that roll remaining.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  7. #107
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    Patience young Jedi
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  8. #108
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Parry Sound Area, Ontario
    Posts
    1,346

    Default

    Today I used my angle grinder and finished cutting the 4” plates in half. The 2” wide plates fit between the bottom of the pans to block flames from going up the sides. The pans used to sit on top of the 4” plates. Berkshires pointed out to me that this hurt the boil. There will be insulation on top of the 2” plates. I will also have insulation running down the ends of all of the pans.

    All of the pans fit tight and level.

    These are new links via apple instead of Google.

    https://share.icloud.com/photos/0tQG...Cz3sdl_KaKkHug

    https://share.icloud.com/photos/0EBd...DNSdW9hp4R_FsQ

    https://share.icloud.com/photos/0nP5...XEYNFZgXF2kY9g
    2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
    930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
    DYI Vacuum Filter
    2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.

  9. #109
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    Looks very good.
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  10. #110
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    Parry Sound Area, Ontario
    Posts
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    Default

    A friend picked me up some insulation today for me, so all of my pans will have insulation on all four sides of the pans. So that should work well.

    The person that picked up the insulation had wanted to get 3/16 tubing, but CDL was out of it. Apparently CDL in Quebec has just received a supply of resin and the tubing should be available again in 4 weeks.

    I should get my steam pan lids within 10 days as soon as they are returned into stock.
    2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
    930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
    DYI Vacuum Filter
    2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.

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