I am using a gas cylinder as a reactor and I can treat seventy litres of WVO at a time. Presently I am agitating with a "fan" on the end of some steel rod, which is driven by a hand held electric drill.
It is only a matter of time before my contraption tangles with the immersion heater element and I would like to have a pump installed in the unit.
I have a friend who will do it for me but he is asking me questions I am unable to answer. I would appreciate come input.

• I gather the QB series pumps are the way to go, my friend suggests the QB80 would be too powerful and he suggested a QB 70 or even a Qb 60. Any thoughts?
• Are these pumps available with an induction motor which I understand would not create a spark.
• How high should the suction and pressure hoses be fitted to the reactor?
• Would it be necessary to fit a gate valve to control the flow rate?
• I presume the pump would be in a box of some sort close to the reactor so the two hoses could be coupled when they are needed and I wonder if plug in hydraulic fittings would be suitable for such a setup?

• Has anyone had experience with a fuel pump for agitation, and with what result.

Please excuse my ignorance, pumps and the like are a mystery to me.
Thanks.
Drover

I can answer some of your questions.
The motor used on these pumps is an induction motor.

I would not use hydraulic fittings as they will be too restrictive. The setup I have does not have any need to disconnect the pump, but if you want to go down this road camlock fittings would be better.

A gate valve 'may' be necessary.

Suction should be from the bottom as low as you can. If you cut the bottom out of the gas cylinder then inverted it, making what was the top valve, now at the bottom this is a very good place to suck from. The return can be to the top.

Hope that is of some help.

Gday
This might interest you http://www.biofuelsforum.com/making_...ssor_pics.html
thanks caveman

I have both the QB70 and 80, and there's not a lot of difference performance wise. I wouldn't say the QB80 is too powerful, as it's much slower at pumping oil than it's rated specs (which is for water). I use it to make 120L batches, but it would be no problem making 70L batches. The QB70 would be fine though.
Not sure what you mean, but if you're talking about pressure, then reinforced hose is fine. These type of pumps are centrifugal so they don't create much pressure, particularly on the suction side.

Not necessary but can be useful. I prefer to use the valve on the suction side as this seems to create less strain on the pump, but people say it can cause cavitation so advise putting it on the output side.

No box except the pump housing (as per the photos Caveman linked to).

And hydraulic fittings are not necessary, plus they are very expensive. Just standard BSP fittings, most people use 3/4" (the pump ports are 1" so you need adapters, as you can see in the photos.

Yes mixing the methoxide during the reaction with this type of pump works very well.

__________________
Sean

Hey guys, thank you for your replys.
In each case your comments are extremely helpful and have been taken on board.
This forum is so good it shines.
Drover.