Hello Angus >Keith, > Now I understand the slow method of Methoxide addition, thanks. >You mention that the process takes about 6 minutes or so to add the >methoxide, does that mean it drips onto the top of the mixture in >the mix tank?
Dripping would be much too slow (1 ml = about 20 drops). It descends in a steady stream a few millimetres thick, landing on the surface a few inches off-centre. It gets nicely mixed with the oil coming in from the rose, which rains down over the whole surface area. Otherwise the methanol/methoxide tends to float about on top before it gets mixed. Or so I've observed when using a stirrer instead of a pump, I'm not sure what happens with a pump without the rose. I'm sure it'll still get mixed okay, but I don't know how fast or how evenly. I can't say which is best, I can say this works very nicely. If your processor happens to have a removable top, of course. >You sound like you have made a lot so I am going to follow your pattern I didn't mean to persuade you, I was just offering an alternative. I really can't say which method is "better", but I'd guess that neither is inherently better, it would depend on individual circumstances and preferences. As with most things perhaps. I'm sorry if my responses to Linden have made it seem otherwise. I shouldn't have been put in that position, and didn't want to say our way is better, I do hope it didn't come across as sounding like I did. >but using 44 gallon drums (easier for me to get for free) Should be fine, and those pumps are used for that size of processor. You're using English gallons, that's 55 US gallons, or 200 litres. >and just wanted to know how to minimise any splash of methoxide or >sulhpuric acid (I plan on using the two stage process). If you haven't made biodiesel before, please see my reply to Jerome, "Re: France and legislation", on using the Foolproof process. http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/35625/ >I notice (and envy) the shower rose for the return from the pump, >would it be just as good to have it returning just under the level >of the mix tank so as to minimise splashing. Hm. I don't know, didn't think of that. I'm not against splashing, depends how much. I did put the rose in there to minimise splashing, but also to distribute the incoming stuff evenly over the whole surface area, as above. It still splashes a little, as raindrops do when they hit puddles, but not so it matters, and I sort of value the mixing effect that way. Please let us know how you get along. Best wishes Keith >Angus > >On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 01:32:05 +0900, Keith Addison wrote > > We use mild air-pressure to pump the methoxide from the carboy into a > > valve in the top of the processor, quite slowly. Maybe the way the > > oil inlet from the pump to the top of the processor is arranged also > > has something to do with it, but the mix is thorough and fairly > > instant. On adding the sulphuric acid for the acid-base process, also > > in the top, the oil-methanol mix in the pump tube (clear woven PVC) > > changes colour in a second or two, and that's at less than 1 ml per > > litre. It's simple and effective, I don't think feeding it (or the > > methanol/methoxide) straight into the pump would achieve a more > > thorough mix. I'm sure either way will do, but if feeding it straight > > to the pump gets too complicated try it this way. > > http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor10.html > > Journey to Forever 90-litre processor > > > > Best wishes > > > > Keith > > > > >Look at the processor plans at: > > >http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor.html . The > > >APpleseed reactor and many others have the type of pump-mixed system > > >you're describing. The way methoxide is added, is that a second tank > > >(a 5-gallon jerrican in my case) is used, which the methoxide is mixed > > >up in. Then it's plumbed inline with the intake of the pump. When y0u > > >add methoxide, you just open a valve, and hopefully the pump will draw > > >in the methoxide into the oil stream. > > > > > >The other devices for this sort of thing include venturis (which would > > >make this work a little better than the current APpleseed arrangement > > >does) and various agricultural sprayer equipment 'injectors' for > > >adding pesticides to a stream of liquid. I don't have direct > > >experience with these. Venturis and other inline chemcal injection > > >devices are found at the Northern Tool, tractor Supply Company, > > >various local agricultural/ranch/farm supply places, www. > > >surpluscenter.com, and McMaster-Carr (McMaster.com I think). > > > > > >Let us know what you find and how it works for you. > > > > > >Mark > > > > > >--- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Angus Scown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I have just started construction of my processer. I have started > > >pretty > > > > simply by building a cone bottomed 44 gallon (200 litre) drum. I > > >was > > > > thinking of using a pump to do the mixing as it seems very simple to > > > > design/install and with clear pipes in sections to monitor the > > >colour. > > > > > > > > My construction helper (he who welds) and I got talking about the > > >addition of > > > > the Methanol , Acid, Methoxide. He got me thinking about some sort > > >of inline > > > > 'adder' so I could drip my chosen substance in to the pump mixing > > >lines. > > > > This would help me get a good mix. Has anyone else got experience > > >with this > > > > type of design. Not knowing too much about pumps etc what sort of > > >device > > > > could I look for/make for adding the substance 'mid flow'. > > > > > > > > Many thanks. > > > > > > > > Angus ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
