+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 20 of 20

Thread: Help with ideas for an evaporator

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Polk, PA
    Posts
    1,363

    Default

    That's a fairly good size pan for up to 50 taps. There's going to be days when you'll be waiting for enough sap to boil. I'd drain the pan then and clean it if needed. I'd probably keep it simple. Two or three dividers only. The thermometer port is nice.
    136 on high vacuum for 2019
    A&A 2X8, raised flue evaporator
    hood, parallel flow pre heater and air over fire
    12X28 sugar shack

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Glennie, Michigan
    Posts
    1,266

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by malaclemys View Post
    Thanks for all this great advice.

    What are the advantages of dividing the sap pan in half ? Should there be ports between the two halves??

    Thanks
    Once the boil is underway and you are feeding raw or warm sap into the sap pan - the divided half will have hotter sap already partially evaporated and won't be cooled down by the added sap in the other half. The sap will become hotter and more syrup like as it snakes thru each section of your entire pan. Two things make it necessary to add sap to the sap pan - the level in the total pan dropping do to evaporation and drawing off - almost syrup on the other end. You will find a comfortable level to boil at in your evaporator -- If it has to much sap - not as efficient boiling. If it has to little sap danger or scorching pans. Another thing that helps when - your divided sections are all inter-connected is to have a way of isolating parts of your evaporating pan. On mine I have tapered openings and tapered stop flow plugs at two points - this helps if you run out of sap like I did last year and have a fire still going strong and had to start adding water and not ruining my almost syrup. You plug tapered opening closest sap pan and use a syrup scoop (like a small ash shovel) and transfer sap forward and when near scorching add water to syrup pan. and so on and so on. My rig is a home-made 2' x 5' so possible to do. Have a Son who is a machinist so the tapered plugs was his idea and it really works for me. Hey - before You are done you will have a million questions and ideas - Good Luck and have fun -- Mike

  3. #13
    Haynes Forest Products Guest

    Default

    3rdgen I dispute the "pushing" effect of the sap coming in. I belive that the sap only flows into the flue pan because the sap level has lowerd due to evaperation lowering the liquid level lowering the fill valve. Liquid levels throughout the entire system are constantly lowering due to lose of volume. the area next to the draw off has been in the longest so has decreasd the most and that is why it flows to that point. I dont believe in the pushing therory UNLESS YOU OPEN THE FILL VALVE ALLOWING IN A HIGHER SAP LEVEL......But that will cause mixing because the incoming liquid is thinner. Now finished syrup will push sap with less mixing................Let me have it if Im wrong

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Eden Prairie, MN
    Posts
    1,636

    Default

    Another thought or two:

    Adding a divider in the sap section will help support the bottom. Run it front to back and cope a corner out to allow flow.

    If you really want to make it sing, add some drop flues to the sap pan. The easy way to do this is with drop tubes. Here is how I added some to a steam table pan many years ago:

    http://web.mac.com/jabushey/iWeb/Ril...struction.html

    One concern is adding the tubes will create a very violent boil and 8" is a little low for a flue pan. Maybe concentrate the tubes near the middle of the pan to prevent sap loss.

    Have fun!
    John
    2x8 Smokylake drop flue with AOF/ AUF
    180 taps on sacks
    75 on 3/16 tubing with shurflo
    Eden Prairie, Minnesota

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Altmar, NY
    Posts
    3,483

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Haynes Forest Products View Post
    3rdgen I dispute the "pushing" effect of the sap coming in. I belive that the sap only flows into the flue pan because the sap level has lowerd due to evaperation lowering the liquid level lowering the fill valve. Liquid levels throughout the entire system are constantly lowering due to lose of volume. the area next to the draw off has been in the longest so has decreasd the most and that is why it flows to that point. I dont believe in the pushing therory UNLESS YOU OPEN THE FILL VALVE ALLOWING IN A HIGHER SAP LEVEL......But that will cause mixing because the incoming liquid is thinner. Now finished syrup will push sap with less mixing................Let me have it if Im wrong
    Haynes I was giving a generic description. Darn man just confuse the guy even more. Just go clean your toilet brush the maple season is coming and you want it clean.LOL
    2X6 deluxe Phanuef
    Adding 200 more every year
    27 years left of building a Hobby into a retirement time burner.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Glennie, Michigan
    Posts
    1,266

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RileySugarbush View Post
    Another thought or two:

    Adding a divider in the sap section will help support the bottom. Run it front to back and cope a corner out to allow flow.

    If you really want to make it sing, add some drop flues to the sap pan. The easy way to do this is with drop tubes. Here is how I added some to a steam table pan many years ago:

    http://web.mac.com/jabushey/iWeb/Ril...struction.html

    One concern is adding the tubes will create a very violent boil and 8" is a little low for a flue pan. Maybe concentrate the tubes near the middle of the pan to prevent sap loss.

    Have fun!
    Hey - Riley -- Thanks for the great pictures -- I had no idea a drop flue could be made this way - In my noggin it was tubes with an in and out or dropped channels in the pan bottom. I just have a flat bottom and have had no experience with dropped flues other then reading about them. Again - thanks for the pictures and the education --- Mike

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Hopkinton, MA
    Posts
    1,795

    Default

    Hey 3rdgen,

    Don't sweat it too much. Last year he blasted me on the same topic using a detailed example of what happens when he and his buddies are in a hot tub and one of them pees. It was horribly visual and it took me weeks to recover from the image. I'm in a better place now and I can support those who catch his hell. Stay strong.

    Sean

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    Go with the plan B sketch! get it built! Tap some trees! set up a block arch!
    and make syrup!
    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

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Honor, michigan
    Posts
    568

    Default

    I like plan B as well. The only thing I would do different would be to add a divider to the back pan as others have suggested. Have fun, Mike
    Mike
    1000 taps on vac
    Delaval 78 vac pump
    rebuilt Vermont arch
    Smoky lake maple custom pans
    4 x 11 reverse flow
    Smoky Lake auto-draw
    Smoky lake 2x4 finisher
    wes fab short bank filter press
    600 gallon Zero tank and 4 cage tanks
    650 gallon surge tank
    Deer Run Maple 500 GPH RO
    https://www.facebook.com/WhaleysMapleSyrup?ref=hl

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Altmar, NY
    Posts
    3,483

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SeanD View Post
    Hey 3rdgen,

    Don't sweat it too much. Last year he blasted me on the same topic using a detailed example of what happens when he and his buddies are in a hot tub and one of them pees. It was horribly visual and it took me weeks to recover from the image. I'm in a better place now and I can support those who catch his hell. Stay strong.

    Sean
    Heck its all good fun, Haynes is a pretty funny guy and I enjoy his character and giving a little back.
    2X6 deluxe Phanuef
    Adding 200 more every year
    27 years left of building a Hobby into a retirement time burner.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts