With your 8 years of education in engineering, biology, chemestry etc, etc... were you ever required to READ a manual? You have been directed to look at the available resources on numerous occasions and you have arrived here asking questions that the answers are clearly posted at Journey to Forever. You were pointed to them. There were even links.
The element of responsibility has also escaped you. I don't want to get to far into that because it would be wasted. Let's just say that you are not the only one who lives on the planet and leave it at that.
I am an aircraft mechanic by trade. Perhaps I should make my processor fly in order to be credible. I have converted others to the idea that they can do this without the "Professional system." We need to show people that this can be done with crap, looks like crap and runs like a top.
fred
On 5/17/06, Ryan Pope <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Fred,
First, for background, I'm an engineer. It's ALL cost/gain analysis; it
can always be build better, but its not worth the cost.
OK now, I'm not looking for finacial gain, but rather prevention of
financial loss. Where I am in my life right now means I am driving 90+
miles a day for work. I'm dropping $80 a week on diesel. PLUS, I LOOOOVE
driving. I'm a driver; pack up the wife and daughter in the truck, and take
a nice long trip down the unexplored backroads for a week. If I have to
even CONSIDER not taking a vacation like this because of the fuel cost, then
that is just beyond horrible. Once I switch to B100, no concerns. Once I
switch my wife to B100, even better. I don't want to sell my biodiesel,
just make enough for my family.
And as far as the learning curve, not to be an ass, but mine wasn't
steep. I've gone to college for biology, chemistry, chemical processing,
and engineerring for the last,...oh-boy...8 years. So far there has been
nothing involved that I haven't already done a half-dozen times in one
organic chemistry lab or another, its just putting it all together and
learning the nuances.
>"I never got into biofuels because I was looking for a cheaper fuel than
>conventional fuels."
I did; not ashamed of that.
>"I have always been concerned about wisely using what resources we have."
That is just a fabulous side effect for me. And because those people I
know, also know ME (and my background), seeing me convert to alternate fuel
lends creditability to it and makes them consider twice just writing it off
as some hippie, greenie adventure. (no offense to you hippie, greenies on
the list, but you know as well as I do how you are sometime seen).
So this brings me to "cost". Yes, I could build a system using recycled
parts for next to nothing; but it would look like crap (again, no offense.
I am the king of function over form for almost everything). But since part
of my goal is to convert others and lend creditabilty, this ENGINEER needs
to build a professional looking system, worthy of the 8 years everybody
knows I spent in college for engineering.
So I bought an inductor tank from a fertilized supplier instead of making
one from a 50 gallon drum (paid less than half of what the "biodiesel
suppliers" want, though). I bought new, clean, shiny plumbing, fittings,
and hot water heater, from the absolute lowest cost sources I could find.
So there were costs, which will be recuperated in under 5 months in fuel
savings.
OK, I'm going to cut this email off, and address Keith's comments in
another, because I think that's a separate topic.
Ryan
>From: "Fred Finch" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
>To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
>Subject: Re: [Biofuel] more canada biofuels
>Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 08:36:57 -0500
>
>Hi Keith,
>
>Costs.... Hmmm... Return on Investments...
>
>When we start are all steep on the learning curve. Access to information
>is
>the key issue not access to the junk needed to build the processor. I did
>not begin to process a single drop of biodiesel until I read how to make
>small batches. My first batches were small. Single liter batches and
>scales measuring lye and methanol mixed in clear detergent bottles. PH
>strips for titration and some virgin corn oil. I made several batches using
>different oils and titrating each batch to better understand the process as
>I did it.
>
>The first small batches that I made probably cost under $10.00US. It
>turned into nice fuel. I believe my return on investment was far worth
>more
>than I put in and was evident when I burned the first batch in my little
>single cylinder diesel engine.
>
>I never got into biofuels because I was looking for a cheaper fuel than
>conventional fuels. I have always been concerned about wisely using what
>resources we have. It was an opportunity to remove something from the
>waste
>stream (WVO) and reuse it.
>
>Return on Investment?
>
>I have given away more biodiesel to people who want to try it than I have
>made for myself. I teach the basics to people who want to learn, (4 so
>far)
>and then we build a processor that will work for them (4 so far.) If they
>want me to make fuel for them I point them to a distributor of biodiesel
>and
>wish them luck.
>
>My time was better spent learning and teaching this than I could have
>imaginged. If I was looking for some financial gain from this, I am
>looking
>for the wrong thing. I believe that Ryan is looking finacial gain. Too
>bad for him.
>
>
>fred
>
>
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