Pole Barn - Sugar Shack
Will finally be moving the evaporator inside this season. No more "blizzard boiling" ....Yahoo !!
Construction just starting on my new 28x48 pole barn; which I will partition inside into a 28x28 utility/storage area; and a 28x20 sugar shack.
Couple of design questions:
1. I plan to build a 4'x6' cupola directly over my Mason 2x4XL evaporator. The building plans call for that porous foam venting material along the full 48ft ridge (steel roof), installed before the ridge cap. Will that foam cause my rising steam to migrate along the full ridge, instead of exiting through the cupola doors? Should I delete the foam entirely, and then install a rectangular gable vent (which I could block off when boiling) at each end of the building in it's place? Maybe overthinking the venting here.
2. Before pouring my slab, I want to install a drain directly under the evaporator. Have already run a line out to a new 500 gal. drywell for gray water. Thinking about one of those 4ft long trench drains running parallel beneath my evaporator for cleaning, etc. My issue is, all the trench drains I see so far are PVC or some other non-metallic material; and if I ever get to the point of growing into a hood/steam away, etc.; the water dropping into the drain would be too hot. Maybe a trench drain isn't necessary, just a well placed cast iron floor drain?
Any and all help from the more experienced out there is appreciated.
Thanks, Bill
2017 - 2019 - Getting my feet wet. 3-80 taps
2020 - Barn / Sugarhouse finished. 125 taps. NextGen 1x40 RO
2021 - 157 taps, 100 on 3/16 tubing w/two Shurflo set-ups, the rest on buckets
2022 - 225 taps. 175 on 3/16 tubing, rest on buckets.
2023 - 300 taps. 261 on tubing, 39 on 5 gal. buckets. Four Shurflo 12V set-ups.
2024 - 340 taps. New SL 2x4 hybrid pan. Added second 1x40 membrane to RO
2025 - 340 taps. 301 on tubing, 39 on 5 gal. buckets. Four Shurflo 12V set-ups.