Abstract: There is provided a system and process for concentrating Brix in a liquid using a bimodal vacuum and pressurized falling film evaporator for producing concentrated nectar and/or concentrated syrup products, wherein in the vacuum mode the system produces concentrated nectar having a Brix of 60 to 70%, and wherein the pressurized mode, the system produces concentrated syrup having a Brix of 66 to 67%.

Abstract: A process for concentrating a maple sap or sweet vegetal water solution is provided. The process comprises collecting the solution in a tank at temperature T1, wherein T1 is between 4° C. and 10° C.; concentrating the solution by means of a reverse osmosis concentrator to produce a high Brix solution of about 15 to about 40 Brix; heating the high Brix solution of about 15 to about 40 Brix to temperature T2, wherein T2 is between 40° C. and 85° C.; and evaporating the high Brix solution by means of a vacuum evaporator at temperature T3 to produce the concentrated product of about 60 to about 70 Brix, wherein T3 is between 55° C. and 80° C. A system for concentrating a maple sap or sweet vegetal water solution is provided, as well as a concentrated product produced by the process of the present invention.

Abstract: A burner using biomass combustibles, namely pellet fuel, for a maple syrup evaporator. Compared to wood or oil burning heat sources, pellet fuel is less costly, burns more efficiently and generates the heat necessary to properly evaporate maple sap. The burner includes a burn pit defining a plurality of holes for allowing air to communicate between a combustion chamber and a primary air plenum formed between a base and an underside of the burn pit. An air supply conduit supplies air supply to the primary air plenum. A fuel conduit in communication with the combustion chamber supplies the pellet fuel for combustion within said burn pit. A secondary plenum in pneumatic communication with the primary air plenum receives and cools a portion of the primary air supply. A plurality of injectors in communication with the secondary plenum inject the cooled air into the combustion chamber.