Flat divided pan vs flue pan/Syrup Pan

[SkunkWorks]

I am debating upgrading from a flat divided pan to a flue/syrup pan for our wood burning Mason 2x4 XL.

With a blower we evaporate at 17.5 gph, without the blower around 8 gph.

We draw off light, then finish in a big pot over a gas lobster burner. The limiting factor in the divided pan is foam. When the foam is higher than the dividers, it is time to draw off.

So will we gain much going to a "proper" flue pan / syrup pan setup?

No RO. Seems to me that the RO syrup does not taste quite as good.

[ecolbeck]

Are you controlling foam with defoamer and regular pan cleaning? On big advantage of a two pan system is it’s much easier to clean a small front pan than the entire flat pan.

In terms of gph evaporation rate, a flue pan will certainly give you a big boost. How much depends on the number of flues and their depth. The cost benefit ratio is entirely subjective.

In terms of RO and taste, this has been addressed by research at UVM. No significant differences were found. ROed syrup still has plenty of time in the pan to develop flavor. There is near universal agreement that an RO is the most cost effective way to make syrup faster and with less fuel.

[Pdiamond]

I went from a flat divided pan, no blower, to a flue pan/syrup pan and airtight arch with blower. I have yet to look back and say, I wish I had the old pan back. Like you I went from 8 gph to around 50 gph on the new arch. WOW what a difference.

[Swingpure]

I went from a flat divided pan, no blower, to a flue pan/syrup pan and airtight arch with blower. I have yet to look back and say, I wish I had the old pan back. Like you I went from 8 gph to around 50 gph on the new arch. WOW what a difference.

Wow 50 gph, you don’t need to use an RO at that boil rate.

Sometimes in hindsight, after blowing past my original budget by many, many times, I sort of with I had spent the money and purchased a real evaporator, but the initial cost, especially just starting out was prohibitive.

[SkunkWorks]

50 gph on the SML 2x4 ? !

Seems the SML 2x4 hybrid should be close to a drop in for my current flat pan.

[Pdiamond]

Watch the video online on their youtube channel. I have that exact evaporator, with head tank. I am not making up any stories either. I don't have an R.O. because I haven't had the funds available for one. I like the fun of just boiling the sap, wood is free.

[SkunkWorks]

That's wicked!

On line at least it looks like SML is sold out for this year. Thinking I'll look for a used pan and if I don't find one place an order in the spring for next winter ?!!?

Ecolbeck: I don't currently use defoamer, sees that may be an easy addition to this season for a small boost, and clean the pan more than every weekend.

[Swingpure]

Watch the video online on their youtube channel. I have that exact evaporator, with head tank. I am not making up any stories either. I don't have an R.O. because I haven't had the funds available for one. I like the fun of just boiling the sap, wood is free.

I found the video, amazing.

https://youtu.be/HQPYXBiGheM

I wonder how that pan set up would work on a cinderblock evaporator, or if it would be a waste?

Of interest to me were two things. How much wood he put into the evaporator. From floor to ceiling, (bottom of the pan), also that he draws off heavy all of the time and the reasons for it.

[Swingpure]

Wow, over $4,000 US for the pan set and over $6000 for the whole set up.

https://www.smokylakemaple.com/produ...-customize-it/