Mary asks…
Building a biodiesel processor?
Im looking to build a biodiesel processor, is there any free software i can download to make a design for it that can tell me the parts i need…i need something to set up the plumbing design…if you could help thad be gr8
admin answers:
Be VERY careful if you’re doing it with methanol. On one of the groups I was on I’ve heard of at least one person who burnt down the building they were running their bio-diesel production in. Make sure your equipment doesn’t spark/overheat, you have decent fire precautions, and that methanol doesn’t escape into the environment. It’s damaging to health.
Maybe try ethyl esters?
Http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethyl_esters.html
Lisa asks…
Good Biodiesel Processor?
Has anyone ever used a biodiesel processor? And can you recommend a good one to use that has good instructions?
admin answers:
Fuelmeister from biodiesel solutions.
Biodieselsolutions.com
Donald asks…
Compare and contrast an oil refinery and a bucket-based biodiesel processor.?
admin answers:
A bio-diesel refinery is really not a refinery, but basically a bucket processor that uses great big huge buckets. Refiners also typically get their stock as freshly produced vegetable oils. Smaller “bucket” processors may obtain their raw materials from various sources.
A bio-diesel manufacturer may also deal in such a huge volume that they can use a continuous process.
Now, there is also something known a vegetable oil refining. This is the same as oil refining, except that they use vegetable oil along with crude oil. The results are the same petrol-based products we are already familiar with (eg. Gasoline, propane, plastics).
I compared a bio-diesel “refinery” to a bucket processor here because they are the most similar, but maybe you are talking about an actual petrol-chemicals refinery?
Refineries are basically great big chemistry labs which perform all sorts of chemical reactions, but on a massive scale. Crude oil is a mixture of many different organic compounds. Mostly long-chain hydrocarbons between 6 and 20 carbon atoms in length. One of the first steps at a refinery is to sort the oil into similar lengths by using what is basically a still. Once the oil is separated into batches of uniform molecular weight, it can undergo further processing. For example, long chains (12+ carbon atoms) might be sent through a hydrogen cracker, which turns the long chains into shorter ones.
The fatty acids that make up plant oils are also hydrocarbon chains of 3 to 21 carbon atoms long; however, they come with extra bits on one end. Bio-diesel processors basically remove these bits, and then cap the chains. They do no sorting, cracking, or other alterations…. Although they could. In fact, if bio-diesel was distilled, you could make bio-gasoline out of the shorter chains, and keep the longer chains for bio-diesel and bio-kerosene. This is basically what is done in the afore mentioned vegetable oil refining.
Sharon asks…
Concerning my biodiesel processor.?
I have just decided to scale up my biodiesel production and have a built a processor. It consists of a single 15 gallong HDPE water drum as the tank, from the very bottom of the i have drilled the outlet for the glycerine and for cleaning. As near the bottom as possible but on the side of the tank i have an outlet. this leads to a T fitting which one end leads to the methoxide pickup and the other leads to the pump. Before the pump there are two valves, one on the line directly to the pump and one on a filter loop that goes through a filter before the pump. On the pump side of the filter assembly i have another valve so i dont pull air when im not using the filter. The valve before the filter on the filter assembly is when i am not using the filter but am just mixing or drying. I use a clearwater pump. The pump leads back to the tank. Do you have any suggestions on how I could imrpove my design. (i Havent tested t yet)
admin answers:
NataT is an idiot, who invites goverment control!!! You scaled up to 15 galong? U can get 55 gal drums from foodservice or chem 6-15 buks, ive seen folk use agricultural tanks that hold a lot more.
William asks…
Biodiesel processors is it better to mix the in one tank or to mix the seperately?
I have done some research and are thinking of purchasing the fuelmeister 2, but I heard some things about doing all the mixing in one tank can somebody explain why this isn’t good?
admin answers:
During the processing of bio-diesel, there are several processes which must be completed. Heating of the oil is the first stage, and this needs to be done outside of the presence of the catalyst (methanol vapours are flammable). The mixing should therefore take place in a separate tank (you should also use an external heater if possible, rather than an immersion heater.)
The reaction and separation stages can all take place in one tank quite safely (the mix simply circulates around the unit).
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