remote heating design.

[gwalker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwalker]

Because my processor is a very thick 200L poly drum, I want to use a remote electric immersion heater inside a cylinder through which is pumped the WVO.

1. Would this be better positioned before the pump or after? ( I would opt for 'before the pump' as tI expect there will be less pressure to contend with.)
2. Anybody built one or bought one?
3. Are designs available?
G

[Tony From West Oz Vice Chairperson of WARFA Find all posts View Profile Close Tony From West Oz]

Re: remote heating design.

gwalker,
While this is feasible, I believe that you will have much less of a problem and be more reliable using a small electric or solar Hot Water Tank and pumping hot water thru pipes immersed in the oil.

1. The hot water tank will have an electric element and thermostat which can be set to a suitable temperature.
2. The water will carry much more heat than the oil and thus will heat the oil in the processor more effectively than pumping the oil thru a heated chamber.
3. The electric element will last longer as there will bve no build up of sediment and charred oil on the element.
4. Electric pumps, designed to pump water, are readily available but not so readily available in designs suitable for vegetable oil.
5. You will have a source of hot water in your work area.

[Truckdriver Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Truckdriver]

Re: remote heating design.

Put the heater on the discharge side of the pump. Most pumps are more tolerant of increased discharge head than suction head increases.

The water will carry much nore heat than the oil and thus will heat the oil in the processor more effectively than pumping the oil through a heated chamber

I disagree...

[zigparacingtadpole Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zigparacingtadpole]

Re: remote heating design.

Hmmm, my experience is that heat and plastic dont play well together, at around 70-80 degrees (depending on type of plastic)your drum will become soft. 50 degrees for the reactor should be OK. I had the same idea of pumping the oil through a heating chamber, but dismissed it due to the added complexity of fabrication. I had intended to pass the oil over the heater under pressure (read heater on output of pump) and introduce a slight bottle neck on the outside of the heating chamber (maybe 1" input 5/8" output). My theory was that the heater would transfer heat more effectivly as there was a smaller amount of it in contact with the element. To offset this though, you dont have a heater in the tank maintaining the thermal mass.

My two cents worth

Adam

[gwalker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwalker]

Re: remote heating design.

I wonder how all the US poly cone based systems heat the oil?

[Chris Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris]

Re: remote heating design.

Hi There
If you look at the spec's of the yankee as well as the European plastic reactors they are rarely heated, if they do it is limited to about 40 c just to help the reaction not to dry out the oil
NL Bio King in europe has stoped selling the plastic reactors as some people increased the temp to the point where they melted or distorted the reactors Can you imagine the mess one has to clean up !
Cheers
Chris

[gwalker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwalker]

Re: remote heating design.

Chris, Thanks for this explanation. Makes sense!
G