44 tank bung for compressed air

[craigcurtin]

Guys,

I want to use compressed air to decant my methanol from the 44 i have purchased it in, into 25 litres plastic drums for mixing and adding to my processor.

Anyone know where i can buy a 2inch screw in bung with an air tyre inflator ? worse case a flat screw in bung for the 2 inch opening that i can then drill ?

Craig

[Captaincademan]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Just drill a hole as you suggest in the existing bung that is in the drum (either the 50mm or the 20mm whichever fits - just use the bung opposite to the one you want to get the fuel out through!) that will suit a tubeless tyre valve stem. you can get one from your local tyre fitter. Then you can just keep using it on each successive drum. note - depending on the thickness of the bung material you may need to pack it with washers and silicone or something similar as I think the steel wheel rim that it would normally be installed in would certainly be thicker than the bung material.

Just remember that these drums arent that strong anymore, the material they use in construction of them is somewhat thinner. I reckon it wouldnt take too much to make them pop at the seam.

[gilfish]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

I was able to snag a brass 2"-1" reducing bush drilled a hole and silver soldered a shrader valve the long ones like truck tubes and skinny 4wd ones then used 1" copper solid drawn tube with a compression fitting on it. this allowed me to move the pipe up and down to the level in the drum i used this to pump out veg oil worked well just pumped air in from my 4wd air compressor and out comes oil you can watch the ends of the drum bulge then stop i got good flow with oil you would get better with methanol.

[Johnnojack]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Like this http://www.biofuelsforum.com/svo_use...oil_drums.html

[Captaincademan]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Thats quite impressive. I didnt dream of such a fast flow rate. looks like its worth doing. I could really use that for pumping into my 20l cubies for filling my car.

thanks for the heads up Johhno, much appreciated.

hand pump BE GONE!

[craigcurtin]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Why not fill straight from the drum instead of via 20l drums ? I use a 3/4inch garden hose (about $75 for a 30 metre length from bunnings) - with a ball valve and a copper wand on the end - works a treat.

Craig

[Captaincademan]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

I can really see the benefits for that. It would tak a bit of jigging up though as my Bio shed unfortunately is no where near where I can get my car to. How long a hose do you reckon it would push through before the flow resticted too much? do you reckon i could get 15 metres?

What would you do when you turn off the ball valve? I would need to have a switch for the pump at the handpiece which would mean a pair of nice long wires too, otherwise POP!!!

really good idea though. nice simple pump.

[craigcurtin]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Most high quality garden hose will go to a higher PSI than your 44 gallon drum i would think.

I use a 19mm POPE hose - it is 30 metres - running of an ALDI garden pump - i do not see any appreciable slow down when pumping cold oil - i would imagine something similar using compressed air.

In terms of stopping it - why not use a low volume air compressor - like one of the smaller ones for inflating car tyres - that way when you stop the ball valve the pressure in the drum will not increase too quickly.

Alternatively you could look at an RF remote control such as this one

Oatley Electronics

Craig

[Kentbarry111]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

i like this and beauty is main feature

[Peda]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

I simply drilled a hole through a nut and bolt which then went though the large bung, doesn't seal all that well but doesn't matter. I used a length of hollow metal curtain rod which fits perfectly though a plastic 1 inch irrigation barb and that screws into the smaller bung.The curtain rod(or pipe) is long enough to go to the bottom of the drum. Then on the other end is a length of plastic pipe which is long enough to go to my carboys. That hose has a simple plastic on/off valve to control the flow. I have a plastic tube pushed onto the hollow bolt into which I jam the nozzle from my air compressor, put a bit of pressure in the drum, get the methanol flowing and then siphoning takes over, I don't need air pressure to keep up the flow. However as the drum gets empty a little air pressure keeps the meth flowing to the last drop.
peter

[Tony From West Oz]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

I went to the tyre fitter bloke and got a couple of new schrader valves for tubeless tyres.
I drilled a suitable hole in the drum bung and with a little engine oil to lubricate the valve, slipped it into place.

It works a treat.

Regards,
Tony

[gilfish]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Here is the one I use, it can be used on a 44 or a 1000 IBC. It doesn't need an inlet and outlet, where the 1 inch plug can be seen I place a one inch nipple with a once inch kinko nut and 1 inch copper tube to which I fit my 1 inch plastic pipe, this is for 1000 liter IBC's.

I've included three pictures in tinypic links.
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

[hdj80]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

Guys,

I want to use compressed air to decant my methanol from the 44 i have purchased it in, into 25 litres plastic drums for mixing and adding to my processor.

Anyone know where i can buy a 2inch screw in bung with an air tyre inflator ? worse case a flat screw in bung for the 2 inch opening that i can then drill ?

Craig

Craig

I have been using a similar setup for over 7 years for moving methanol into 20litre drums (as you wish to) and also biodiesel from 205litre drums into LC...

Mine is a white plastic plumbing from a plumbing shop 20mm pipe through a 2" bung clear plastic hose with a tap... I use the 3/4" bung hole with a tap and air fitting...

Please be careful when pressurising use only low pressure and if you cannot get a relief valve make sure you have a method to shut off inbound air and a way of releasing air quickly.... Never leave it while filling....

[ocsum]

Re: 44 tank bung for compressed air

I just bought my first 44 of Methanol and wish to do the same,I haven't seen regulators been mentioned for the air supply so chances of over pressurising the drum is kept to absolute minimum
(Surface area X Pressure = Force ) that makes for a big hydraulic piston in a 44 drum.
Also I only use the 2" bung.
Drill two holes
one for air in (use a bulk head type fitting) and I use a dedicated in line air regulator set at minimal pressure to pump meth and an air tap/valve to switch off.
The Meth hole diameter is whatever bulk head fitting your using.
I used the clear reinforced 8mm hose from bunnings.
The hose in the drum cable tie to a length of timber on it to keep straight.
Hey presto,just another way to skin the cat.

Cheers
Pete