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  • Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

    Just wondering who in Sydney (home enthusiasts) have built their own processors?
    Perhaps skills, experience and/or resources could be shared?
    Robert.
    Site Admin.

  • #2
    UNSW Mobile Solar Biodiesel Processor

    Here is a picture of UNSW's one:

    Robert.
    Site Admin.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

      Well, I have started to build one. I got a 15 year old Rheem 125 ltr hot water system from a building demolishing yard for $65 and they even guaranteed it would work!! Tested the element with a multimeter and it measured ok so it should heat up ok. Being a 1800 watt element, it should draw 7.5 amps and will be ok to run from a standard power point.
      I had to remove the anode, dip tube and the build up of calcium from the inside and it was quite a job getting it clean. Removing the anode took some time as the bolt was rusted in. All the other fittings came off easily and are standard one inch water pipe threads.There was a surprising amount of calcium inside the tank, both loose and lining the walls but I think it is now clean enough. I have taken a lot of pictures of the whole proceedure if that will be of benefit to anyone.
      Next will be the pump and pipe fittings.
      Peter
      Peda
      Senior Member
      Last edited by Peda; 7 December 2005, 01:37 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

        I am in the process of collecting the materials with which to build my processing system. I am using 316 Stainless Steel tanks that come form Edwards Hot Wate Systems (Solar and Electric). They are manufactured in Perth so I don't know about their availability across Australia. I pick them up in sizes up to 300 litres for between $50 to $90 each, but then need to modify them by welding patches over some unwanted pipe entries, adding a heating element and welding on legs etc.
        They are ~ 470mm in diamter and have domed ends so will self-drain though not as effectively as a cone based tank (but better than a flat bottomed tank).
        I will be using a Stainless Steel Pump and stainless valves and piping as it will never have any problems in the long term.
        I am happy to put my design up here (a Schematic and a Plan view) so that others can critique it and offer any suggestions if they so desire.
        One of my ideas is to mix the Methoxide in an old beer keg in a sealed condition on a drum rollering rig (quite simply made) so that no fumes can then escape. To transfer the Methoxide into the Reactor, air would be injected via a valved entry point at the top of the "drum" and a valved "spear" would pick up from the lowest point within the drum to convey the methoxide via a flexible pipe to a valved entry point into the Reactor.
        Happy to hear form anyone
        In friendship
        Quentin

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

          Peda, Quentin , we'd love to hear about it. Photos, schematics - yes please!

          Please post up a new thread with stories "as you go".

          Cheers,
          Robert.
          Site Admin.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

            Quentin, looks like you are building a nice unit using stainless steel, tanks at a good price as well.
            I have got the ball valves and plumbing and I am just waiting for my pump to arrive. I went with a pump which has a cast iron housing and impeller and I got it through Ebay. I considered a pump with a brass impeller but wasn't sure if the process would react with the brass and turn it green, time will prove if I made the right decision, unless someone can tell me now.
            Again I have taken pictures of the plumbing bits and pieces for a future write up of my effort. So far it has cost me for parts the equivalent of three fill ups at the servo.
            Peter

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

              Peter,
              Good to read your latest posting.
              From what little I have been able to ascertain, only copper is problematic, not brass, in terms of causing unwanted reactions. I am happy to hear from anybody who has more definitive information.
              Quentin

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                Thanks to Robert, my schematic for my biodiesel processor under construction is available to be viewed at:
                http://www.sydneybiodiesel.com/photos/biofuelsusers/CueBall'sBiodieselProcessorSchematic.png
                I look forward to any critiquing of the thinking, and will be posting notes as to operational thinking and a plan view too.
                Quentin

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                  Hi Robert & CueBall,

                  Glad to hear someone else is at a similar stage to where I am. It seems peter I have aquired the same HWS as you 125 Lt 1/4" steel excellent for processor and an 1800 watt element. Has yours the tank with convex top and bottom? I am in the process of cutting off one end (and turn it round). I intend to put 4 screw top fastener to lock down with butterfly wing nuts (Angle iron of course)The bottom will still have a raised bottom inside which I intend to level of with Resin for better bottom drainage. I am just deciding which cast pump to buy off ebay 1/2 hp or 1hp.Will be glad to show some drawings if wanted. The other gear is with 60 litre steel drums that are readily available at $4 each .The basics are similar to the the 90 Litre a day system (2- 60 Lt wash tanks) as on www.Journeytoforever.org

                  CueBall, I'm jealous of your access to stainless tanks well done. I would be happy to list pics of the basics raw materials I have collected. We could perhaps travel the road together sharing the highs and lows (not that I want many lows) Perhaps we should follow Roberts suggestion with a new link. If your willing I am happy to join in an "As we go" process. I would be interested in the type of process you are both preparing to run with as it could be helpful with problematic stuff, especially if our paths are similar . Look forward to hearing from you and anyone else about to start collecting construction materials and to share in the process. Good luck guys!

                  All the good oil

                  Dillyman

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                    Wow Quentin, looks like its going to be a very professional looking setup. It makes my system look humble!!
                    I have taken a lot of pictures of my progress and I have started to write an accompanying report for the project. I can't show you a plan just yet because, whilst the processor is based on the Appleseed plans readily available at sites such as http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor.html
                    my intention is to keep the project as simple and as basic as possible so that anyone with only a few handyman tools could build one and from standard parts readily available here in Oz from hardware and plumbing shops, so little actual fabrication will be required. So, my plan evolves as I go.Once I have my pump and I can work out how it all fits together, I can then post the accurate plan and parts usage.

                    Dillyman I thought about the shape of the water heater tank and it is convex in the bottom, like yours, which i don't think will be a problem as the remaining glycerol will be minimal. Again the thought of cutting the tank open could be beyond the average back yard handyman (allright ,me!).
                    I have also been thinking about how to mount all the equipment on a stable platform and have found a free supply of steel frames that I could adapt. These frames are used, when Yamaha motorcycles are imported, as the shipping support and look like a steel pallet but are longer and narrower than the standard wooden type. I hope to have this mounted on castor wheels as well and will try to make it as compact and transportable as possible.
                    Maybe we should start up a seperate thread for each of us building so that each project can be followed by others easier and not all being mixed in together.
                    Keep up the good work guys, interesting to see how everyone has a different approach to building a processor, hopefully they will all work well.
                    looking forward to more reports from you guys.
                    regards
                    Peter

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                      Here's some photos of my set-up. It's made from a 125L Rheem (somebody elses junk) which came fitted with a 3600W element, but I've changed this to 2400W so that it can be plugged into a 10A circuit.

                      The pump is mounted vertically so that I can drain all of the glycerine from the impeller. I removed the anode and plumbed the pump output to the vacant anode hole in the top. I use the normal hot water outlet hole for the sight tube. WVO is poured into the white cubee through a sieve of flywire. This gravity feeds into the suction side of the pump so that it can be pumped into the Rheem. The Rheem tank has a convex base but I havn't had any trouble draining the glycerine. I just drain a bit more each day for the first 48 hours after processing. I use the 5% water pre-wash method. The BD is transferred to the blue wash barrel and washed first with 2 mist/static washes followed by bubble washing (3 times) then bubble dryed. Although, I'm still toying with the idea of using unwashed BD. I might just bubble air through the next batch to remove the methanol and let it stand for a couple of weeks before use.
                      geewizztoo
                      Senior Member
                      Last edited by geewizztoo; 14 December 2005, 02:20 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                        Dillyman,
                        Thanks for responding.
                        I have two tanks thus far - a 300litre for Washing/Drying and a 200 litre for WVO Drying. I am supposed to have a Beer Keg coming, but its taking a long while to arrive. This will be used initially as a reaction vessel to get all bugs ironed out of the process I am choosing to use (Foolproof - see "Journey to Forever"), but will then revert to being the Methoxide mixing container - using a drum roller constructed to suit it to do the mixing in a sealed state - thus no emissions to atmosphere.
                        I am still awaiting a 250 litre tank to use as the reactor, but patience is a virtue in such circumstances - especially if one is not willing to pay too much for such tanks. Scrap Metal Dealers are useful people to get to know as they buy them at scrap Stainless Steel prices and then sell them as stainless steel tanks ( incurring a small mark-up that is worth the hassle of finding such tanks oneself). Many people who want to make their own wine or even beer have created a certain demand for them in WA.
                        I am happy with Robert's and your suggestion to form a new thread on the topic of aquiring materials for and the building of biodiesel processers.
                        When I have collected the remaining tank and keg I will then be examining pumps, valves, stainless steel immersion heaters, sight glasses etc so as to have everything ready to commence the final construction early in 2006.
                        I will post some photos of the first two tanks as soon as I can.
                        Looking forward to journying with you
                        In friendship
                        Quentin

                        Originally posted by dillyman
                        Hi Robert & CueBall,

                        Glad to hear someone else is at a similar stage to where I am. It seems peter I have aquired the same HWS as you 125 Lt 1/4" steel excellent for processor and an 1800 watt element. Has yours the tank with convex top and bottom? I am in the process of cutting off one end (and turn it round). I intend to put 4 screw top fastener to lock down with butterfly wing nuts (Angle iron of course)The bottom will still have a raised bottom inside which I intend to level of with Resin for better bottom drainage. I am just deciding which cast pump to buy off ebay 1/2 hp or 1hp.Will be glad to show some drawings if wanted. The other gear is with 60 litre steel drums that are readily available at $4 each .The basics are similar to the the 90 Litre a day system (2- 60 Lt wash tanks) as on www.Journeytoforever.org

                        CueBall, I'm jealous of your access to stainless tanks well done. I would be happy to list pics of the basics raw materials I have collected. We could perhaps travel the road together sharing the highs and lows (not that I want many lows) Perhaps we should follow Roberts suggestion with a new link. If your willing I am happy to join in an "As we go" process. I would be interested in the type of process you are both preparing to run with as it could be helpful with problematic stuff, especially if our paths are similar . Look forward to hearing from you and anyone else about to start collecting construction materials and to share in the process. Good luck guys!

                        All the good oil

                        Dillyman

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                          Peter,
                          If I didn't have access to the Edwards Hot Water System Stainless Steel tanks, I would be using a standard S/H Storage Hot Water System - ala "Appleseed". It was only by that curious set of circumstances where one is chasing one thing and discovers another that I found out about the sporadic availability of these S/H Stainless Steel tanks.
                          Even though I have a full Schematic and a nearly finished Plan View, some aspects of the design will be finally designed upon receipt of the pump,valves etc.
                          I come from a Trade background, so have had a little more background than some, but ingenuity and sheer bloodymindedness are a great bedrock upon which to create success, as well as being open to other fields of knowledge. It was a friend who informed me about Aspirators only last week, which seem a cheaper means to achieve partial vacuum than a vacuum pump. Obviously, I have forgotten too much from Chemistry labs at High School.
                          I like your idea of those Motorcycle pallets, something for me to check out also, aws otherwise I will be welding one up.
                          I look forward to hearing more of your journey too and am happy to share how things are happening for me also.
                          In friendship
                          Quentin

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                            geewizztoo, nice rig, very neat.
                            I wondered is you had thought of draining your glycerine via a drain coming off the outlet at the bottom of the tank you have piped to your pump input. A two-way valve or two separate valves on a "tee" would give you the ability to drain this product without contaminating the pump.
                            What is the temperature probe and guage you are using? The gauge looks like a digital readout - very snazzy and hpefully easier to read.
                            In friendship
                            Quentin


                            Originally posted by geewizztoo
                            Here's some photos of my set-up. It's made from a 125L Rheem (somebody elses junk) which came fitted with a 3600W element, but I've changed this to 2400W so that it can be plugged into a 10A circuit.

                            The pump is mounted vertically so that I can drain all of the glycerine from the impeller. I removed the anode and plumbed the pump output to the vacant anode hole in the top. I use the normal hot water outlet hole for the sight tube. WVO is poured into the white cubee through a sieve of flywire. This gravity feeds into the suction side of the pump so that it can be pumped into the Rheem. The Rheem tank has a convex base but I havn't had any trouble draining the glycerine. I just drain a bit more each day for the first 48 hours after processing. I use the 5% water pre-wash method. The BD is transferred to the blue wash barrel and washed first with 2 mist/static washes followed by bubble washing (3 times) then bubble dryed. Although, I'm still toying with the idea of using unwashed BD. I might just bubble air through the next batch to remove the methanol and let it stand for a couple of weeks before use.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Who's built a biodiesel processor/reactor?

                              Hi Quentin, thanks for your comments.

                              I wondered is you had thought of draining your glycerine via a drain coming off the outlet at the bottom of the tank you have piped to your pump input. A two-way valve or two separate valves on a "tee" would give you the ability to drain this product without contaminating the pump.
                              My apologies as my description was a bit brief. Yes I do drain the glycerine from the lowest point in the plumbing. In fact at the same ball valve that the WVO enters and the finished BD leaves. The point I was trying to make about mounting the pump vertically was that all traces of glycerine will drain from the impeller housing in this orientation. If the pump was horizontal, a small amount would well-up in the bottom of the donut shaped impeller housing. This would then be pumped into the wash tank along with the BD the next time the pump was switched on. Maybe this tiny amount is insignificant, but I thought it would be neater this way.

                              By the way, does anybody know if the bearings in the pump and motor will suffer any damage with long term operation in the vertical orientation?

                              I isolate the pump plumbing with various ball valves & drain the fluids from the impeller at the end of each operation, as I'm unsure of the quality of the rubber seals in this cheap Chinese pump.

                              The pump is used for 4 operations:
                              1. Loading the WVO into the Rheem
                              2. Circulating the warm ingredients during the reaction
                              3. Transfering the unwashed BD into the wash tank
                              4. Transfering the finished BD to storage containers.

                              What is the temperature probe and guage you are using? The gauge looks like a digital readout - very snazzy and hpefully easier to read.
                              Yeah cool isn't it? It's a PID type temp controller that was being chucked out at my work. The temperature control/power relay part doesn't work but it still displays the temperature OK. It's used in conjunction with a sheathed thermocouple probe mounted in the drain port via a compression fitting, teed into the bottom of the Rheem.

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