[Biofuel] Anyone find a source for used centrifuges?
Dear All- I'm helping to set up a small scale (about 5-8 thousand gallons per year) processing unit at Rice University. This is a completely student run project, and we've got most of the kinks worked out. One problem we have is that one of the colleges on campus somehow manages to produce WVO that has a large quantity of water and fries, batter, etc in it. So we don't have to waste energy to de-water by heating, or spend a few weeks settling (we are somewhat limited on space) the gunk out, I'd like to use a small scale centrifuge to remove water and junk from the oil. Problem is, the only ones I can seem to find are either for use in cars or are much more than we need. Does anyone out there have a source for a centrifuge that can process about 5-10 gpm? Cheers! - Matt Yarrison ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
[Biofuel] Propane heater
I have a propane heater that every 6 weeks or so becomes clogged. The substance looks like 10 weight oil. I would love to turn this unit over to a SVO burner of some type but have not seen anything suitable for a camp trailer. Any ideas on what this stuff is and if there is a heating unit that will run S/WVO safely for heating?? Jeromie ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems
G'day Peter Sounds like water in there somewhere. Check you oil for water. Methanol is a hygroscopic substance and if the tins been left open in humid conditions it to may have water in it? See the JtF site for more info on water in oil. I have seen items on the list about hydrogenated oil ? being difficult to process, you may want to check this out as well. Hope that helps Ian from NZ - Original Message - From: Peter Currie To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:01 AM Subject: [Biofuel] Start Up Problems G'day group it is with great embarrassment that l have my first post. For 3 months l have been doing test batches (lost Count how many) and still cannot past shake test. Methanol - From a drag racers 44 gallon drum - best apparently Lye - Tiny pearls 99+ - fresh - then flake Oil - supermarket virgin oil Deep cooker filled with water with thermo (bottling type to 120 deg. C ) Drill stand above 2Lt glass jar tall with narrow neck with screw top lid with hole for paint stirrer Have tried lots of combinations re mixing time (1hr to 2.5 hr) Mixing speed - slow to fast amounts of lye - 2.7g to 4.2g per lt amounts of methanol 200ml to 250ml per lt types of oil - canola , blended edible all say 100% unused After process the product separates nicely and after waiting 12-24 hours do shake test with rain water (all l have) usually it takes hours to separate with a thick layer in-between of white fluffy cloud like stuff (.5 inch thick) The pearl variety of lye dissolves quickly but is hazy whereas the flake is crystal clear. Am heating oil to 55 c then adding methoxide then stirring maint temp throughout. Have read and reread JTF site and archives but nothing leaps out as obvious, my process seems correct, my materials seem correct but l'm starting to feel Very stupid. Is there something on this side of the planet that l'm not aware of?. Also would be very keen to talk - SEE setup working in Melbourne Aust. I'm in the Dandenongs. Any advice would be appreciated, thankyou Regards Peter from Oz ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.14/129 - Release Date: 11/10/2005 ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
Kurt Nolte wrote: On 10/16/05, *Jeromie Reeves* [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How about a rotary engine that doest take those delicate graphite seals? Long story short I had one via my lil brother that only had 1 working cell and still put out enough HP to go 85mph. Jeromie From what I understand, a rotary engine is actually a step /down/ in thermal efficiency; maybe it's just the materials used, but I seem to hear something about how they may have more power density, but their thermal efficiency suffers too much to really make them widespread. It's not the materials used, it's that there is so much surface area per unit of volume. All the extra surface area absorbs heat, which is wasted out the cooling system, and quenches the flame which increases pollutants. Rotaries (wankels, at least) are well suited for aircraft use in some ways - they're light, powerful, smooth, and reliable. Their failure mode tends to be losing power gradually, as opposed to piston engines that fail catestrophically when they seize up or break a piston or swallow a valve or the timing belt breaks. Unless you have something like an airplane, however, they're usually too thirsty to take seriously. Maybe when rotaries have more research put into them like the piston engine has they'll meet and even exceed the efficiency and power density of reciprocating piston engines, but right now I don't believe they're there yet. Besides which they are, as you have just implied, rather delicate as opposed to the near brash ruggedness of a RP engine. Unless research leads to materials that simply don't need to be cooled (the adiabatic diesel is a long time dream in the military) I wouldn't get my hopes up. I also wouldn't get my hopes up on the other rotary and unconventional designs with cam-type camshafts. I'm a little surprised no one mentioned the dynacam (http://www.dynacam.com) which has been six months from the market for several decades IIRC. Internal combustion and sliding vanes present seal problems that aren't going to be fixed by a shade-tree mechanic of any kind. Sorry, but that's life. Opposed piston engines, OTOH, have some real advantages. Getting rid of the head and valve train simplifies things somewhat, and having hot pistons facing each other eliminates two heads and the heat loss associated with them. The Germans used opposed piston diesels in Junkers transport aircraft and could fly all the way to Brazil without refueling. Fairbanks Morse still makes them - see http://www.fairbanksmorse.com/engines/commercial/op/op_data.htm Personally I'm a gas turbine fan, but I don't see them overtaking everything and replacing all other engines anytime soon, so I figured I might as well get with something people are a little more familiar with. ;p Simple rotating devices have a big attraction:) The biggest drawback with turbines is that major parts of the engine that are under severe stress must operate at the peak combustion temperature. Unfortunately this guy named Carnot passed a law that said lower peak temps would operate at lower efficiency, so they won't be able to match diesels for efficiency until we make some, uhh, remarkable advances in materials:) Hope someone finds this interesting. I know a lot more about engine design than making biodiesel so far. --- David ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
[Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask
Hi all, My name's Kenji Fuse and I'm a homebrewer in Victoria, BC. Still killing myself stirring the stuff manually, so I'm ready to build a sealed processor. I have a question to put out to you fine experienced folk: what's the best mechanical method of mixing? Does the Clear Water pump really last long? I'm tempted to get one but I'm scared the thing will dissolve before my eyes, especially when the guy at Pumpbiz called me a penny-wise fool who would kill himself using it! He wanted me to buy the $200+ pump... Is it a good idea to get an explosion-proof pump? IS this just a marketing term, or are those electric Tuthill pumps really worth their gold? They are made for volatile fluids, so maybe, but the cost! I'm afraid to use an electric drill cuz mine sparks. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Kenji Old Paradigm Fuse ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
[Biofuel] Test Batches
I have made a few test batches and they all seem to end up hazy with a dark layer on top. Is this what happens when the reaction is not complete? I use Phenolphthalein and am concerned that it is not working correctly. I checked the PH with PH paper after titrating and the PH was 7. I had to add 2 more ml of lye solution to get the PH to 8. I think this is causing me to have incomplete reactions. Should the BD be hazy after the reaction takes place? ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] results, now test
Juan,
I know the
feeling.
Questions:
1. Did it pass the "shake
test" prior to washing?
2. Did it wash without
emulsion and was the final wash water clear and the same pH as the water you
used to wash it?
If so, the BD is good. The
question is, how good?
Todd S. and Jan W. suggest
some tests for BD at JtF
("Quality Tests"). They are simple ways of
evaluating your BD.
I burned more than 40L of
less than perfect biodiesel (100% BD) in my diesel car. The car, a Merecedes
300SD loved it; no problems.I did the Quality Tests suggested at JtF
andtweaked the process toimprove thequality of BD I make. I
don't think 2L of washed and dried BD will harm a truck.
Tom
- Original Message -
From:
Juan B
To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 12:23
PM
Subject: [Biofuel] results, now
test
Hello everyone, finally i manage to make 2 liters
of yellow-clear biodiesel, now I am wondering whether I should just put
into my company diesel truck or wait. I am quite skeptical about this (sorry).
I believe that it would work but if the engine breaks, I have to pay the whole
truck. so I was wondering whether I should just use the biodiesel or do
not.any Help . I need to stop this paranoia thanks in
advanceJuan
On 10/15/05, Brian
Rodgers [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
The
rain has stopped and the skies are clearingTomorrow is another
day.Thanks for all your help.Brian RodgersOn 10/15/05, Kurt
Nolte [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote: On 10/15/05, Brian Rodgers [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote: Ok very cool I just might try it now and close
everything up tight while working. Brian
Rodgers Best of luck to ya, once
more. And now I need to get back to work before they decided I'm not
earning my pay. ;p-Kurt
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Re: [Biofuel] Americans ugly and otherwise...
Now don't start inviting everybody to the Ozarks. I warn any and all that we more ticks, chiggers, poison ivy, and greeenbriar than anywhere on the planet. absolutely inhospitable these Ozark mountains. Persimmons are ripening now and attract no end of critters- skunks, possums, armadillos, raccoons, etc. They keep my dogs barking all night. I haven't slept in days... Mike Weaver wrote: Prairie Grove, Ark. My dad got a BS in Business (56?) and never looked back. Seen the business end of too many miles, I guess. I spent a lot of time in Fayetteville. Pretty country. Still have family there - used to summer at Devil's Den state park - laje weddngton - it goes on. Dear Mr. Mike Weaver: ¡Wellcome to the club!!!... I lived and got my master´s degree in Fayetteville, Ark. long time ago, back in 1973. I allways desidered to meet an american with at least some afinity with my line of thought. RSVP Mr. F.J. Burgos - Original Message - From: Mike Weaver To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 11:13 AM Subject: [Biofuel] Americans ugly and otherwise... Outside of my little nest here on the East Coast I feel like a stranger in my own land. I go to the Midwest to visit family and I cannot and do not talk to them about politics.. I have come to realize, after 40 years, that they won't and probably can't change. I prize family above rhetoric. I have finally learned it is better, in some cases to be happy than to be right. OTOH, I did not live thru what they did: WWII, most of them have been working since they could walk, and did not have the benefits I have had. My father left Arkansas in his teens, got a degree, was drafted and got a PhD. He moved East and saw to it that his childred all went to college and grad school. We have all travelled overseas and in some cases lived and/or worked in the 3rd world. As Mark Twain said: nothing is as deadly to prejudice as travel. I have to agree with pretty much everything you say. Except, we have no real foreign policy, nor do we really have an energy policy. We have a bully policy. No wonder 90% or the world is mad at us. I don't blame them. OTOH, the French are not without warts - look at West Africa. I am also interested to see what happens with Western Europe with regards to their economies. The Western European countries are belatedly realizing you can't just conjure an economy. You have to have money before you can have generous social programs. This what Germany and France are wrestling with now. I personally think a realistic economic base - fewer regulations in some cases - in France it's pratically illegal to start a small business, and God help you if you fail - you can expect to investigated for fraud no matter what happened. Complain about the USll you want but you can start a business w/o fear of gaol. This one of the thing we do have to offer as a model for other countries. This country has a ways to go in terms of social programs. I still can't believe we don't have SOME form of national health. The current system is collapsing. My sister is a doctor and I can tell you the current program is failing. I also believe that we need some form child care - if both parents must work there must be a safe place for their children. Europe is miles ahead of us here. I rattle on... Mike Hakan Falk wrote: Mike, Ugly is your addition and I love Americans, the only thing that I do not like is their foreign policies, energy policies. and the political/economy corruption by the US corporations. By the way, I also like the French. My daughter in law and grandchildren are French. Hakan At 23:21 14/10/2005, you wrote: !! What about us ugly Americans? Hakan Falk wrote: I really like this list and its members, including the French and Canadian French. LOL It is fun with the sparks and the humor. Hakan At 20:52 14/10/2005, you wrote: I generally take a shower once a month whether I need it or not. (in the summer of course, in the winter we can take snow baths every day) PS for all you foreigners. underwear can be recycled four times (inside out, back and front) this is of course common sense to Canadians but I am sensitive to the international nature of this list. Joe Frantz DESPREZ wrote: Mike Weaver a écrit : M. Falk: As a person with (minor) French ancestry, I am shocked and offended at your suggestion that the French do not bathe regularly. I challenge you to defend yourself in a duel of honor. Shampoo at fifty yards, the first one to achieve a glossy sheen to be declared the winner. I name as my seconds Vidal Sasoon and the Breck girl. If the first duel is not satisfactory, we will rinse and repeat. Prepare to meet your suds. M. Weaver M. Weaver, I am very grateful of your sollicitude, but be careful,
Re: [Biofuel] oil price gouging poll
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Government meddling in a free-market economy is never a good thing. a) Well, removing the billions in corporate welfare the petroleum industry gets from the government might be a good place to start. Why ExxonMobil needs my tax dollars to fund RD when they had $25 billion dollars in profits last year, I don't really know. b) I disagree with your contention that the the government doesn't have a place in the market. First of all, laize-fair capitalism was rejected by the American people over a hundred years ago. We have labor laws and worker safety standards for a reason - a pure free market sucks for almost everybody except those at the very top/ Second, market forces will *not* always result in choices that are best for society as a whole. Without governmental regulations, we'd still be driving seatbelt-less, no-crumple zone cars powered with leaded gasoline. Free market ideologues always seem to ignore this little detail. jh ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
Ok here's another one for you. Still in research but looks promising. http://www.limtechnology.com/ Joe Greg and April wrote: Prototype 42 hp Engine 6 inches dia. 6 inches long 42 hp at 7000 rpm 40lbs. Tested at NAVAIR PSEF Oct. 2003 http://www.regtech.com/18.html Greg H. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] methoxide solution
Here's a way to make a home brew magnetic stirrer for doing titrations in a test tube at next to no cost. Go to a surplus store and look for small DC motors. Look for ones that are about 30-50 mm in diameter depending on the size of your test tube. I got some motors with a plastic cap at the end where the brushes are located for 99 cents each. Inside the motor housing there are two magnets which are formed to surround the rotor (or in this case your test tube.) Pull the rotor out and attach the empty motor casing to the shaft on a second motor. Now you have a motor rotating a hollow cylindrical magnet. Use a retort stand to hold the assembly vertically and lower the test tube into the magnetic field in the empty motor housing. Done! I also applied a kapton thin film heater ( like these http://www.omega.com/techref/electric.html ) to the test tube using the spring from a ball point pen to hold the heater against the test tube. About 10 watts is all that is needed for heating the oil/alcohol mixture for titration. It sure helps to have uniform heat and agitation for doing accurate titrations. Cheers Joe JJJN wrote: Hi Brian, A magnetic mixer is just a small DC motor that is variable speed that rotates a STRONG magnet under a platform. You then place in the jug PVC or Polyethylene coated Magnets and screw the lid on. Turn on the mixer and its like a blender inside. If you do use Red devil lye it can get reallly hot fast but I never melted or expanded to much. I rather prefer the slower dissolving lye with this type of mixer. I got mine free as it was replaced with a newer one and was gathering dust. when we moved our lab my good friend the chemist gave it to me rather than throw it away. They would be real easy to build and the part that goes in the Methoxil is cheap at NW Scientific Supply I can give you the email if you want it. Jim Brian Rodgers wrote: Hi Jim " I use Lab grade Lye that is in pellets not grains like Red Devil." Please give us newbies a few possible sources, this is a tease. "It takes more time to dissolve but I use a magnetic mixer so the reaction is in an air tight container and can be left for however long while i do other things. I will Google "Magnetic mixer" but an explanation from you would be great too. What is? Where to find? Standard lab equipment? Etc. It sounds pretty damn cool. Not sure how to search the archives for a resource list. Kieth, can you help? Once I get today's mini test batch figured out I will need to begin the task of relieving my on anxiety over where to find chemicals in my area. I spent quite a bit of time with my 87 year old father last night talking chemistry. He's retired forty years, but I have been copy and pasting stuff from you all and the journeytoforever web site over to him since early Summer. Now that I am getting set to do this I have sent him more scientific data and less youthful emotional fanfare. Today I make the sodium methoxide. I better get after it. Brian Rodgers Good Luck, Jim Rafal Szczesniak wrote: Hi, I've recently bought new fresh methyl alcohol and lye. I have measured out exact amounts, mixed lye with methanol and - a bit of a surprise, the solution haven't actually got warm. No temperature, fumes, whatsoever. Is this normal, or could I have done something wrong ? The chemicals are most probably pure and good quality. Also, lye has been completely dissolved. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz
[Biofuel] WVO Market Question
Greetings all: I have a good friend in the restaurant supply business and he has access to pretty much all the WVO he wants. I do not think he is interested in refining it to BD, with all the attendent hassles, but he did point out it would be pretty easy to de-water and filter it, and then just package it in 35 lb containers. I told him I suspected there would some market for this, in that if it were cheap enough and of consistent quality, I personally would be willing to forgo drum-diving in favor of cheap clean feedstock. Anyone have any thought? He floated .50 a gallon. He is in the DC MD VA WV DE region. -Mike ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
And another - http://www.axialvectorengine.com/ Joe Street wrote: Ok here's another one for you. Still in research but looks promising. http://www.limtechnology.com/ Joe Greg and April wrote: Prototype 42 hp Engine 6 inches dia. 6 inches long 42 hp at 7000 rpm 40lbs. Tested at NAVAIR PSEF Oct. 2003 http://www.regtech.com/18.html Greg H. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
I've been looking at this one for a long time: http://www.freedom-motors.com/ Apparently, it can run as a gen set with externally mixed diesel fuel and the engine puts out very little in the way of pollution. Unlike some of the other manufacturers we've discussed on this list, Freedom Motors is actually producing units for sale. It looks like it would be a good fit for a hybrid / electric vehicle, as the engine is very compact and high powered. robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Suggestions for a homemade lid
Hi Ken So, I have this stainless steel container that's probably in the 10-15 gallon range. Seems a shame to not make some use of it except that I didn't get a lid with it and my pal doesn't it either. The inner diameter is 15 inches. The outer diameter is 15 9/16 and the height is 25 1/2 inches. I was planning to use it for a stock methoxide solution but, if I can't come up with a lid I'll have to find a less hazardous use for it. Maybe there is a better use for it anyway...I'd still like a lid. Anyone have any ideas how to create a simple lid without too much wasted energy? You can make a lid for a tank from a piece of compound board cut to fit, with sheet plastic (resistant) glued on the underneath surface and four or six or eight toggle latches. Pop-rivet the fittings on the container side, seal with siliocon. Give the lid a silicon seal - apply a generous helping of silicon round the underside edge, allow it to set for 6-8 hours (depending on the weather) until it isn't sticky to the touch anymore but still soft. Place the lid carefully in position on top of the container and weigh it down with something heavy, making sure the weight is spread evenly around the edge. The silicon takes the shape of the rim but doesn't stick, no need for a release agent. There are some photographs of this here (though not on a wooden lid): http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor10.html Journey to Forever 90-litre processor It's about halfway down. Take care, Ken PS: I really busted my hump today in the gardens. We found 5 hostas (one of which was HUGE) on our local FreeCycle. Lots of work digging those holes. I also moved a bunch of other perennials and rearranged the vegetable garden to build my mini hoop house for late tomatoes and early spring crops. I am so tired I could fall asleep typing. There is almost nothing more rewarding, though! I can't wait for the extra charge that I'll have tomorrow. :-) Good for you. I also staggered in after busting my gut out there for hours today, then I did fall asleep for half an hour, I just woke up. I was clearing the ground under the trees at the edge of the pasture, huge tangles of weeds and creepers and tough grass growing through the piles of cut branches we left there nine months ago that we've been trying to get round to clearing ever since. Getting the last of the wood in now, we'll be needing it for the woodstove soon (though we'll use bioheating oil when it gets really cold). Also those are fruit trees, persimmons, and grass roots strangle fruit trees, all the fruit falls off before it gets there. We had to clear the leaf-fall areas for compost and mulch while there's still a little growth period left if we want fruit next year. So I got it all cleared and we did the compost and mulching too. Mainly we have to build a chicken run there in the next few days, rather than a chicken jungle. Meanwhile the pasture's looking great, that I was talking about to Andres a few weeks ago (ley farming). I got it all done and it worked a treat, interesting, more re which later. Nine months ago that field was a bog, flooded most of the time. Two days ago it rained solidly for 24 hours and the pasture absorbed it like a sponge, no flooding. Now we can sow winter grains and a new ley grass mixture there, planting date October 25 according to the local Japanese farmers almanac. I got good heritage grain seeds from some homesteader friends nearby, two kinds of winter wheat, two kinds of barley, rye, nice. Best wishes Keith ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
robert luis rabello wrote: I've been looking at this one for a long time: http://www.freedom-motors.com/ Apparently, it can run as a gen set with externally mixed diesel fuel and the engine puts out very little in the way of pollution. Unlike some of the other manufacturers we've discussed on this list, Freedom Motors is actually producing units for sale. It looks like it would be a good fit for a hybrid / electric vehicle, as the engine is very compact and high powered. I love looking at new engines:) How'd that old mazda commercial go? Engines that go h ? I didn't see the bit about genset usage. The diesel usage looked like it just adjusts the mixture some, uses a high pressure injector, and spark ignition. The biggest drawback to this engine would seem to be the efficiency - the faq lists its best case as .47 lb per horsepower hour, and .55 or more was pretty typical. By comparison, an efficient piston diesel will be down in the low .3's. In other words it would use about 50% more fuel for the same HP output. --- David ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Anyone find a source for used centrifuges?
http://www.rousselet-robatel.com/products/lls.php I was quoted about 2 weeks ago. under 16,000 for a rebuilt BXP 130P. The same unit new is just under 28,000. That should do about 3 gallons per min. but they have some sizes that are not much larger. I don't know about useing it to remove large particles, but water seperation would be no problem. You can also get interchangeable Weirs. They take about 15 min to replace. With those you can use the centrifuge for preseperating and to skip the washing phase. You would still need the setteling phase. The centrifuge does not remove 100%, it works at about 90% seperation, To get better results you need 2 or 3 running in line. My Ideal setup is a centrifuge from my WVO storage into a day tank then to the processr(capable of 200 gallons of Bio-diesel per hour). Then into a 2500 gallon seperating tank. Then a battary of 3 centrifuges seperating Glycerine/cataylist and Bio-Diesel/Methanol. (This must be done first as there is a lot of methanol traped in the glycerine. If you take the methanol off the top first then as you seperate the glycerine you will free more methanol and have to repeat that stage). Then into another battery of 3 seperating Bio-Diesel and Methanol. That should leave no more then .01-.02% Glycerine/Cataylist/Methanol in my finished product. This will take a lot of time and 50-100k gallons sold to make a reality, but that will definately meet ASTM unless there is a mojor problem with your WVO to begin with. Logan Vilas Bio-Fuel Enterprises, Inc. - Original Message - From: Matt Yarrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 8:21 PM Subject: [Biofuel] Anyone find a source for used centrifuges? Dear All- I'm helping to set up a small scale (about 5-8 thousand gallons per year) processing unit at Rice University. This is a completely student run project, and we've got most of the kinks worked out. One problem we have is that one of the colleges on campus somehow manages to produce WVO that has a large quantity of water and fries, batter, etc in it. So we don't have to waste energy to de-water by heating, or spend a few weeks settling (we are somewhat limited on space) the gunk out, I'd like to use a small scale centrifuge to remove water and junk from the oil. Problem is, the only ones I can seem to find are either for use in cars or are much more than we need. Does anyone out there have a source for a centrifuge that can process about 5-10 gpm? Cheers! - Matt Yarrison ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Plastic solar cells using reused plastics and biofuel making
Hi Pannirselvam; I don't see any reason why the electricity needed for your BD production cannot come from a P.V. source, but in order to make it useful you will need significantly more P.V. capacity than needed for one production run if you wish to have the flexibility to run it at any time. This means battery storage and if your plastic P.V. arrays are in the 3% efficiency range you will need a large array, but other than this I do not see why it should not be attempted. Joe Pannirselvam P.V wrote: Hi Joe, Keith and ALL The reuse of Plastics (PET) after adequate thermal treatment has been showed to be very good charge transport used successfully together with conventional silicon PV system reducing the cost and may possible to be home made .. Thus significative cost reduction has been made by this system by the research done in Brasil..We are starting our research to work on this novel system to be used to heat the BioD reactor to make simple heating bio oil fuel to be used in rural areas .This oil will be to be used with novel biofuel dried oil solid /stove designed with hih temperature combustion with lower fuel consumption to be used in remote por village as an alternate to ethanol solid gel fuel and wish to have collaboration from our list members for colaborative research and development as this is our Master cousre research study for 2006 and 2008.Any novel ideas from experiencied are welcome as we are very new to some systems and the system integration We wish to share our master student Johnson experience with you who has 4 year practical experience to make the reused polymer PV system for small scale electrical PV system in Brasil , who have demonstrated the device in natcional and international fair and has owned the award for the best product in national level We have already made good progress in the design work of these three system , yet need collaboration to implement our system as this need low investments and reuse of waste to get both electricity, liquid and solid fuel as 50 percent of our state people live with out electricity and have green future . Can Keith can bring here about anyone work using solar PV for BioD making any where? This can make our debate here much more dynamic and alive . His words is always very effective catalyst to move any topic good or bad to the positive collaborative constructional path towards a good journey for all our list members , bringing to us the latest innovative biofuel related projects to make our work more practical , less failure and lees work for all of us. Thanking Keith in advance ,for his dedicated hard work to reply almost all post and also for his reply to this post too.. As our list is the only list of heterogenius one , so we can be the wining team fo the truely globalised biofuel and rural sustained development and I wish the proposed system design need not limited to our small group which is in the less developed north east of Brazil , but as the best system to address the fuel crisis in all rural area of our globlazied one country of our planet. sd Pannirselvam Brasil sd Pannirselvam On 10/14/05, Joe Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well yes I guess you could say an increase in efficiency from 3 to 4.4 % is almost a 50% increase. That IS dramatic but what is it ol' foghorn leghorn used to say? .two half nothin's is a whole nuthin. LOL Still vacumm deposited aluminum for a cathode is cheap and lends itself nicely to mass production as does indium tin oxide or zinc oxide which forms the transparent conductor for the anode.The problem is in the polymer with charge transport.Of course a breakthrough could be right around the corner who knows?If we ever get above 10% efficiency with a production process this cheap it will be a happy day! Joe Snip According to the team, slow growth allows the polymer to self-organize, a process that dramatically boosts device efficiency. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ -- Pagandai V Pannirselvam Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN Departamento de Engenharia Qumica - DEQ Centro de Tecnologia - CT Programa de Ps Graduao em Engenharia Qumica - PPGEQ Grupo de Pesquisa em Engenharia de Custos - GPEC Av. Senador Salgado Filho, Campus Universitrio CEP 59.072-970 , Natal/RN - Brasil Residence : AvOdilon gome de lima, 2951, Q6/Bl.G/Apt 102 CapimMacio EP 59.078-400 , Natal/RN - Brasil Telefone(fone ) ( 84 ) 3215-37690 Ramal210 32171557 Telefone(fax) ( 84 ) 3215-3770 residencia 32171557
Re: [Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask
I have made over 900 gallons of Biodiesel. The cheapy clearwater pump hasn't disolved yet and no explosions or mishaps. Bill From: Kenji James Fuse [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:56:25 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, My name's Kenji Fuse and I'm a homebrewer in Victoria, BC. Still killing myself stirring the stuff manually, so I'm ready to build a sealed processor. I have a question to put out to you fine experienced folk: what's the best mechanical method of mixing? Does the Clear Water pump really last long? I'm tempted to get one but I'm scared the thing will dissolve before my eyes, especially when the guy at Pumpbiz called me a penny-wise fool who would kill himself using it! He wanted me to buy the $200+ pump... Is it a good idea to get an explosion-proof pump? IS this just a marketing term, or are those electric Tuthill pumps really worth their gold? They are made for volatile fluids, so maybe, but the cost! I'm afraid to use an electric drill cuz mine sparks. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Kenji Old Paradigm Fuse ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Plastic solar cells using reused plastics and biofuel making
Since most of the energy for BD production is heating (right? -- I haven't calculated out kilojoules used for different uses), I would use solar thermal collectors instead of PV. Small PV array to run the pumps/mixer etc. Solar thermal collectors are 40 - 80% efficient, so the area will be much smaller, and the temperature range is pretty ideally suited for biodiesel. Of course, then you need thermal storage too, but that's cheaper than batteries. On 10/17/05, Joe Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Pannirselvam; I don't see any reason why the electricity needed for your BD production cannot come from a P.V. source, but in order to make it useful you will need significantly more P.V. capacity than needed for one production run if you wish to have the flexibility to run it at any time. This means battery storage and if your plastic P.V. arrays are in the 3% efficiency range you will need a large array, but other than this I do not see why it should not be attempted. Joe Pannirselvam P.V wrote: Hi Joe, Keith and ALL The reuse of Plastics (PET) after adequate thermal treatment has been showed to be very good charge transport used successfully together with conventional silicon PV system reducing the cost and may possible to be home made .. Thus significative cost reduction has been made by this system by the research done in Brasil..We are starting our research to work on this novel system to be used to heat the BioD reactor to make simple heating bio oil fuel to be used in rural areas .This oil will be to be used with novel biofuel dried oil solid /stove designed with hih temperature combustion with lower fuel consumption to be used in remote por village as an alternate to ethanol solid gel fuel and wish to have collaboration from our list members for colaborative research and development as this is our Master cousre research study for 2006 and 2008.Any novel ideas from experiencied are welcome as we are very new to some systems and the system integration We wish to share our master student Johnson experience with you who has 4 year practical experience to make the reused polymer PV system for small scale electrical PV system in Brasil , who have demonstrated the device in natcional and international fair and has owned the award for the best product in national level We have already made good progress in the design work of these three system , yet need collaboration to implement our system as this need low investments and reuse of waste to get both electricity, liquid and solid fuel as 50 percent of our state people live with out electricity and have green future . Can Keith can bring here about anyone work using solar PV for BioD making any where? This can make our debate here much more dynamic and alive . His words is always very effective catalyst to move any topic good or bad to the positive collaborative constructional path towards a good journey for all our list members , bringing to us the latest innovative biofuel related projects to make our work more practical , less failure and lees work for all of us. Thanking Keith in advance ,for his dedicated hard work to reply almost all post and also for his reply to this post too.. As our list is the only list of heterogenius one , so we can be the wining team fo the truely globalised biofuel and rural sustained development and I wish the proposed system design need not limited to our small group which is in the less developed north east of Brazil , but as the best system to address the fuel crisis in all rural area of our globlazied one country of our planet. sd Pannirselvam Brasil sd Pannirselvam On 10/14/05, Joe Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well yes I guess you could say an increase in efficiency from 3 to 4.4 % is almost a 50% increase. That IS dramatic but what is it ol' foghorn leghorn used to say? .two half nothin's is a whole nuthin. LOL Still vacumm deposited aluminum for a cathode is cheap and lends itself nicely to mass production as does indium tin oxide or zinc oxide which forms the transparent conductor for the anode. The problem is in the polymer with charge transport. Of course a breakthrough could be right around the corner who knows? If we ever get above 10% efficiency with a production process this cheap it will be a happy day! Joe Snip According to the team, slow growth allows the polymer to self-organize, a process that dramatically boosts device efficiency. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):
Re: [Biofuel] Plastic solar cells using reused plastics and biofuel making
Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro NC used Solar. Works fine. They are friendly - you could call them. Joe Street wrote: Hi Pannirselvam; I don't see any reason why the electricity needed for your BD production cannot come from a P.V. source, but in order to make it useful you will need significantly more P.V. capacity than needed for one production run if you wish to have the flexibility to run it at any time. This means battery storage and if your plastic P.V. arrays are in the 3% efficiency range you will need a large array, but other than this I do not see why it should not be attempted. Joe Pannirselvam P.V wrote: Hi Joe, Keith and ALL The reuse of Plastics (PET) after adequate thermal treatment has been showed to be very good charge transport used successfully together with conventional silicon PV system reducing the cost and may possible to be home made .. Thus significative cost reduction has been made by this system by the research done in Brasil..We are starting our research to work on this novel system to be used to heat the BioD reactor to make simple heating bio oil fuel to be used in rural areas .This oil will be to be used with novel biofuel dried oil solid /stove designed with hih temperature combustion with lower fuel consumption to be used in remote por village as an alternate to ethanol solid gel fuel and wish to have collaboration from our list members for colaborative research and development as this is our Master cousre research study for 2006 and 2008.Any novel ideas from experiencied are welcome as we are very new to some systems and the system integration We wish to share our master student Johnson experience with you who has 4 year practical experience to make the reused polymer PV system for small scale electrical PV system in Brasil , who have demonstrated the device in natcional and international fair and has owned the award for the best product in national level We have already made good progress in the design work of these three system , yet need collaboration to implement our system as this need low investments and reuse of waste to get both electricity, liquid and solid fuel as 50 percent of our state people live with out electricity and have green future . Can Keith can bring here about anyone work using solar PV for BioD making any where? This can make our debate here much more dynamic and alive . His words is always very effective catalyst to move any topic good or bad to the positive collaborative constructional path towards a good journey for all our list members , bringing to us the latest innovative biofuel related projects to make our work more practical , less failure and lees work for all of us. Thanking Keith in advance ,for his dedicated hard work to reply almost all post and also for his reply to this post too.. As our list is the only list of heterogenius one , so we can be the wining team fo the truely globalised biofuel and rural sustained development and I wish the proposed system design need not limited to our small group which is in the less developed north east of Brazil , but as the best system to address the fuel crisis in all rural area of our globlazied one country of our planet. sd Pannirselvam Brasil sd Pannirselvam On 10/14/05, Joe Street [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well yes I guess you could say an increase in efficiency from 3 to 4.4 % is almost a 50% increase. That IS dramatic but what is it ol' foghorn leghorn used to say? .two half nothin's is a whole nuthin. LOL Still vacumm deposited aluminum for a cathode is cheap and lends itself nicely to mass production as does indium tin oxide or zinc oxide which forms the transparent conductor for the anode.The problem is in the polymer with charge transport.Of course a breakthrough could be right around the corner who knows?If we ever get above 10% efficiency with a production process this cheap it will be a happy day! Joe Snip According to the team, slow growth allows the polymer to self-organize, a process that dramatically boosts device efficiency. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ -- Pagandai V Pannirselvam Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN Departamento de Engenharia Qumica - DEQ Centro de Tecnologia - CT Programa de Ps Graduao em Engenharia Qumica - PPGEQ Grupo de Pesquisa em Engenharia de Custos - GPEC Av. Senador Salgado Filho, Campus Universitrio CEP 59.072-970 , Natal/RN - Brasil Residence :
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
David Miller wrote: I love looking at new engines:) How'd that old mazda commercial go? Engines that go h ? You're dating yourself, now! (And me, too!) I didn't see the bit about genset usage. The diesel usage looked like it just adjusts the mixture some, uses a high pressure injector, and spark ignition. Somewhere on the site, they mention that using diesel fuel with this engine is best suited for constant rpm applications. The only constant rpm application I can think of involves using the engine in a gen set. The biggest drawback to this engine would seem to be the efficiency - the faq lists its best case as .47 lb per horsepower hour, and .55 or more was pretty typical. By comparison, an efficient piston diesel will be down in the low .3's. In other words it would use about 50% more fuel for the same HP output. How would this compare to a typical Otto cycle piston engine? robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] WVO Market Question
On Oct 17, 2005, at 7:03 AM, Mike Weaver wrote: I have a good friend in the restaurant supply business and he has access to pretty much all the WVO he wants. he did point out it would be pretty easy to de-water and filter it, and then just package it in 35 lb containers. I told him I suspected there would some market for this.. I've often wished someone would offer cleaned WVO. The closest you can come is yellow grease from the renderers, which is too expensive and really crap (high FFA). Even thought about doing it myself, but the licenses and permits would be a major hassle. Your friend might make an arrangement with a renderer to do the pickup and transport, and then sell it on consignment from the same facility as their yellow grease. Too bad it's not in California :-) -K ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
From what I understand, a rotary engine is actually a step /down/ in thermal efficiency; maybe it's just the materials used, but I seem to hear something about how they may have more power density, but their thermal efficiency suffers too much to really make them widespread.It's not the materials used, it's that there is so much surface area per unit of volume.All the extra surface area absorbs heat, which iswasted out the cooling system, and quenches the flame which increasespollutants.Rotaries (wankels, at least) are well suited for aircraft use in some ways - they're light, powerful, smooth, and reliable.Their failuremode tends to be losing power gradually, as opposed to piston enginesthat fail catestrophically when they seize up or break a piston orswallow a valve or the timing belt breaks. Unless you have something like an airplane, however, they're usually toothirsty to take seriously. Ahh, I see now. I knew they had some major disadvantage going against them, but couldn't remember what. Just out of curiousity, what's the hangup with cam-shafted engines? You put them in the same class as sliding vane engines (seal problems I can understand, those would have to wear out faster than more traditional arrangements), but I'm not really seeing a seal problem with the cam-cranked engines. Is there just something I'm missing? -K ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Anyone find a source for used centrifuges?
Hello Matt My son in-law was telling me last year that as water well electrician he helped setup a centrifuge to remove sand from drinking water. He described a large device, but it did fit in the well house and it ran entirely on the movement of the water. It had some sort of clean outs I don't recall that part too well (pun) this morning. Anyway, maybe look at water well supply houses Sincerely, Brian Rodgers On 10/16/05, Matt Yarrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear All- I'm helping to set up a small scale (about 5-8 thousand gallons per year) processing unit at Rice University. This is a completely student run project, and we've got most of the kinks worked out. One problem we have is that one of the colleges on campus somehow manages to produce WVO that has a large quantity of water and fries, batter, etc in it. So we don't have to waste energy to de-water by heating, or spend a few weeks settling (we are somewhat limited on space) the gunk out, I'd like to use a small scale centrifuge to remove water and junk from the oil. Problem is, the only ones I can seem to find are either for use in cars or are much more than we need. Does anyone out there have a source for a centrifuge that can process about 5-10 gpm? Cheers! - Matt Yarrison ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Test Batches
I have made a few test batches and they all seem to end up hazy with a dark layer on top. Is this what happens when the reaction is not complete? No, but what's the dark layer on top? Do you mean you think the biodiesel layer is darker than it should be? I use Phenolphthalein and am concerned that it is not working correctly. I checked the PH with PH paper after titrating and the PH was 7. I had to add 2 more ml of lye solution to get the PH to 8. Should be 8.5. You're correcting a phenolphthaleihn solution reading with pH test strips? That doesn't sound wise. If your phenolphthalein is fresh it should be fine. Store it in a dark place. I think this is causing me to have incomplete reactions. Should the BD be hazy after the reaction takes place? Usually. Are you using SVO or WVO? I don't know what method you're using and you don't describe what you did. Do it this way: Make your first test batch http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html#biodnew Check your test batches with the wash-test: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_vehicle.html#quality Best wishes Keith ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] methoxide solution - missing scale
Hello Kurt, Brian Wow, the Dark Ages are back! LOL! Um. Look, I really don't want to put a damper on your enthusiasm so I'll try not to but I'm in wonderment at the way you're going about it. This just isn't what it's all about. I think you're missing the point. At least one, IMNSHO. You've got it all going your way, great information resources, and a bunch of people here to discuss it with who've been doing it a long time. But! There was a recent thread here or maybe two with a bunch of messages encouraging newbies having difficulty with the wash-test, saying how they'd also struggled but got there in the end and they're glad they persevered, they did it by removing the variables, checking their techniques, improving their practices. That's quite a strong contrast with this thread. There are a lot of newbies here these days, by the way, much more than usual, hundreds of them just one or two steps behind you and watching how you're going about it, and what they're seeing from you now is how to get away with being sloppy. Here we are, at the Biofuel list, in the year Anno Domini 2005, after six years of this, being sloppy. When you follow a planned step-by-step course into learning how to do something complex, in the early steps you'll probably be learning more than you're aware of, if the course is up to much. Since it's been developed in accordance with user-experience here it probably is up to much. Why make small one-litre test batches anyway? So that you don't risk messing up right at the outset with a 150-litre first batch and end up facing a barrel of intractable and discouraging glop, right? It's much more difficult to make one-litre test batches than 150-litre batches. Kurt, do you think you're going to need the new 0.1 gram scale to measure the lye for a 55-gal reactor batch? Sure you'll use it, but you won't need those tolerances. With a one-litre batch it gives you a margin of error of 2.9%, kind of wide, but with the bigger batch it would be accurate to within 0.01%, ridiculously narrow, no need. The smaller the batch, the bigger the error, the more accurate your measurements have to be. A good reason to learn precise techniques doing small test batches, starting simple and adding one variable at a time, with quality checks not only of the fuel you make but of your procedures too, is that no matter how experienced you get, you never quite know what fiendishly cunning little challenges the next batch of WVO might be holding in store for you. The quality checks and test-batches aren't just for newbies, you do it with every batch. Many case-hardened biodiesel brewers do Poor man's titration bracket tests and quality checks with every batch, they've said so on the list. The more accurate and precise your measurements are the more your tests will tell you, and the less grief will fill your days. You have to get a 'feel' for it, they say. Like when you tie your shoelaces, you just do it, you don't even have to look, your fingers do it for you, it's easy. Actually it's a complicated series of operations, tying your shoelaces, it wouldn't be so easy to program a computer to do it. I don't think you get a good feel for it by trying to take it by storm, deciding it's not going to kick *your* butt, so you hurl volleys of random test batches at it and hit a wall of emulsion. So in the end you buy accurate scales after all, like everyone was telling you. But now you're advising Brian how not to need one. Now you've got the scales, but you also have the idea lodged in your head that you can measure half a gram of lye by volume in a beaker because you tried it and it worked. If you go teaching your fingers stuff like that you're going to find yourself tripping over your shoelaces a lot. You already are. You abandoned one-litre batches in favour of 300 ml batches in the hopes of getting less moisture in the lye because you think smaller measurements will take less time (76% humidity isn't so much, it's higher than that here now). So you set yourself the task of measuring even smaller quantities without an accurate scale. For a 300ml batch, 3.5g/litre of lye works out to 1.05 grams, and the volume would be 0.495 ml. You're measuring 0.495 ml of lye in a beaker? And it gave you some of your best results. But I think with these methods your best results are just as randomly chaotic as the worst ones. But you get it right by bending the wash-test your way. And then advise another newbie to do the same. Brian, meanwhile, is starting in the wrong place and forgot he needs to weigh something or other, and forgot he needed a blender to mix it in too. Sheesh, Brain, how can you be so scatter-brained? Don't you even make notes? You're not just boiling an egg you know. Why aren't you starting with virgin oil? But you want to start with WVO, why waste time, and you're going to titrate it. Only you don't have scales and you're going to use old
Re: [Biofuel] WVO Market Question
Thanks! Ken Provost wrote: On Oct 17, 2005, at 7:03 AM, Mike Weaver wrote: I have a good friend in the restaurant supply business and he has access to pretty much all the WVO he wants. he did point out it would be pretty easy to de-water and filter it, and then just package it in 35 lb containers. I told him I suspected there would some market for this.. I've often wished someone would offer cleaned WVO. The closest you can come is "yellow grease" from the renderers, which is too expensive and really crap (high FFA). Even thought about doing it myself, but the licenses and permits would be a major hassle. Your friend might make an arrangement with a renderer to do the pickup and transport, and then sell it on consignment from the same facility as their yellow grease. Too bad it's not in California :-) -K ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
[Biofuel] Ethanol in St. Petersburg Times (FL, USA)
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/17/Worldandnation/Ethanol__Is_it_the_an.shtml AP ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] cost of B100 versus Petro in the Midwest USA
Jason, Shouldn't you factor in some sort of labor cost even if you make the BD yourself (ie, how long would it take to make and how much would you pay someone, in this case yourself, to make it)? is there no other overhead in addition to the cost of the fuel? what about fixed overhead (cost of the space, lighting, depreciation of the equipment, etc)? Ramon I consider my work and effort to be cheap if not free if it gains me something directly, as for materials and space, my yard is mostly empty, and i tend to go dumpster diving when it comes to parts, i rarely ever pay off-the-shelf for anything. --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
Kurt Nolte wrote: From what I understand, a rotary engine is actually a step /down/ in thermal efficiency; maybe it's just the materials used, but I seem to hear something about how they may have more power density, but their thermal efficiency suffers too much to really make them widespread. It's not the materials used, it's that there is so much surface area per unit of volume. All the extra surface area absorbs heat, which is wasted out the cooling system, and quenches the flame which increases pollutants. Rotaries (wankels, at least) are well suited for aircraft use in some ways - they're light, powerful, smooth, and reliable. Their failure mode tends to be losing power gradually, as opposed to piston engines that fail catestrophically when they seize up or break a piston or swallow a valve or the timing belt breaks. Unless you have something like an airplane, however, they're usually too thirsty to take seriously. Ahh, I see now. I knew they had some major disadvantage going against them, but couldn't remember what. Just out of curiousity, what's the hangup with cam-shafted engines? You put them in the same class as sliding vane engines (seal problems I can understand, those would have to wear out faster than more traditional arrangements), but I'm not really seeing a seal problem with the cam-cranked engines. Is there just something I'm missing? I put them in the same category because there have been so many to get - at best - to the prototype stage, and always seem to stall out at the just looking for the investor to start mass production, but we'll take a deposit on your engine now stage. They've all seemed like scams. The theory on them is alluring. Modifying the compression/expansion cycle to - for example - expand the combustion gases quickly and thereby reduce pollution seems like a great potential. Another would be to halt the piston at/just beyond top dead center and let combustion finish. Those both have some pretty serious issues when it comes to actual implementation. Another that's intriguing is the ability to have the expansion stroke longer than the intake stroke for more efficiency. I think the reason they never caught on is complexity, which translates into cost. It's easier to make a matching block and head when all the cylinders line up, and the valve gear required in a barrel engine is just awful. And the manifolding. the list goes on. You end up with an engine that's small in theory but has stuff sticking out all over. My dream for a long while was to combine the barrel (cam) engine with a cam at each end driving opposed pistons and a two stroke diesel. Needless to say, my RD budget and machining abilities never got me to the prototype stage:( --- David ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Test Batches
Hi Keith, I'm not sure but I had that first experience too. I just posted my results a few minutes ago. If you look at the picture at the JTF Make your own biodiesel contd page (biodiesel_make2.html) you will notice a thin layer seemingly on the top portion. I noticed that too when I made my test batch yesterday. It that a reflection or something? best regards, Ken Uy (tanuki) - Original Message - From: Keith Addison [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 3:09 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Test Batches I have made a few test batches and they all seem to end up hazy with a dark layer on top. Is this what happens when the reaction is not complete? No, but what's the dark layer on top? Do you mean you think the biodiesel layer is darker than it should be? ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
robert luis rabello wrote: David Miller wrote: I love looking at new engines:) How'd that old mazda commercial go? Engines that go h ? You're dating yourself, now! (And me, too!) Hey, I can remember Coke I'd like to teach the world to sing commercial. I was pretty young then though, so that does help date me:) The biggest drawback to this engine would seem to be the efficiency - the faq lists its best case as .47 lb per horsepower hour, and .55 or more was pretty typical. By comparison, an efficient piston diesel will be down in the low .3's. In other words it would use about 50% more fuel for the same HP output. How would this compare to a typical Otto cycle piston engine? Typical 4 stroke otto cycle (OK, that's redundant:) engines usually run in the .4 to .5 lbs/hp-hour. This engine is pretty typical for a wankel. It's interesting that the airplane crowd has to take special precautions with wankels because the exhaust is so hot. Obviously this is because a mark of its inefficiency - the higher the efficiency the lower the exhaust temperature. --- David ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] methoxide solution - missing scale
Hello Keith Thank you for the thoughtful and considerate review of my weekend's fun in setting up our first mixer and solution of methoxide. Wow, the Dark Ages are back! LOL! How true, for me I don't know about Kurt. Um. Look, I really don't want to put a damper on your enthusiasm so I'll try not to but I'm in wonderment at the way you're going about it. Not to worry I can't be dis-enthused this easy. This just isn't what it's all about. What is it all about? I think you're missing the point. At least one, IMNSHO. You've got it all going your way, great information resources, and a bunch of people here to discuss it with who've been doing it a long time. I agree. There was a recent thread here or maybe two with a bunch of messages encouraging newbies having difficulty with the wash-test, saying how they'd also struggled but got there in the end and they're glad they persevered, they did it by removing the variables, checking their techniques, improving their practices. That's quite a strong contrast with this thread. Again, I can't speak for Kurt, my wife and I did what we could with what we had on hand, short of driving another thirty miles to get what we needed to do it right. There are a lot of newbies here these days, by the way, much more than usual, hundreds of them just one or two steps behind you and watching how you're going about it, and what they're seeing from you now is how to get away with being sloppy. Here we are, at the Biofuel list, in the year Anno Domini 2005, after six years of this, being sloppy. Yes, I see your point. I have found that I need to keep my mouth closed with the world view topics on this list because I feel others know better than I. It hadn't occurred to me that in this biodiesel process newbie thread others would be reading of my inexperience and thinking that if this knucklehead can do it then I should try doing this process sloppy as well. When you follow a planned step-by-step course into learning how to do something complex, in the early steps you'll probably be learning more than you're aware of, if the course is up to much. Since it's been developed in accordance with user-experience here it probably is up to much. Not sure what you are getting at with the last sentence. Why make small one-litre test batches anyway? So that you don't risk messing up right at the outset with a 150-litre first batch and end up facing a barrel of intractable and discouraging glop, right? I still feel better having made a sloppy and possibly useless two liter batch this weekend. It's much more difficult to make one-litre test batches than 150-litre batches. The only reason I did the two liter trial run is I needed to see first hand what I was going to need, or more accurately what I could scavenge and use and still get results. Kurt, do you think you're going to need the new 0.1 gram scale to measure the lye for a 55-gal reactor batch? Sure you'll use it, but you won't need those tolerances. With a one-litre batch it gives you a margin of error of 2.9%, kind of wide, but with the bigger batch it would be accurate to within 0.01%, ridiculously narrow, no need. The smaller the batch, the bigger the error, the more accurate your measurements have to be. A good reason to learn precise techniques doing small test batches, starting simple and adding one variable at a time, with quality checks not only of the fuel you make but of your procedures too, is that no matter how experienced you get, you never quite know what fiendishly cunning little challenges the next batch of WVO might be holding in store for you. The quality checks and test-batches aren't just for newbies, you do it with every batch. Many case-hardened biodiesel brewers do Poor man's titration bracket tests and quality checks with every batch, they've said so on the list. The more accurate and precise your measurements are the more your tests will tell you, and the less grief will fill your days. You have to get a 'feel' for it, they say. Like when you tie your shoelaces, you just do it, you don't even have to look, your fingers do it for you, it's easy. Actually it's a complicated series of operations, tying your shoelaces, it wouldn't be so easy to program a computer to do it. I don't think you get a good feel for it by trying to take it by storm, deciding it's not going to kick *your* butt, so you hurl volleys of random test batches at it and hit a wall of emulsion. So in the end you buy accurate scales after all, like everyone was telling you. But now you're advising Brian how not to need one. Now you've got the scales, but you also have the idea lodged in your head that you can measure half a gram of lye by volume in a beaker because you tried it and it worked. If you go teaching your fingers stuff like that you're going to find yourself tripping over your shoelaces a lot. You already are. You abandoned one-litre batches in favour of 300 ml batches in
[Biofuel] Mexico Looking for Biodiesel Help
Yolanda Medina is trying to find someone who is making biodiesel in the Mexico area and willing to help him with the learning curve.She can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED]No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Suggestions for a homemade lid
Great advice I will try it as well on a HDPE drum I have. Brian Rodgers On 10/17/05, Keith Addison [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Ken So, I have this stainless steel container that's probably in the 10-15 gallon range. Seems a shame to not make some use of it except that I didn't get a lid with it and my pal doesn't it either. The inner diameter is 15 inches. The outer diameter is 15 9/16 and the height is 25 1/2 inches. I was planning to use it for a stock methoxide solution but, if I can't come up with a lid I'll have to find a less hazardous use for it. Maybe there is a better use for it anyway...I'd still like a lid. Anyone have any ideas how to create a simple lid without too much wasted energy? You can make a lid for a tank from a piece of compound board cut to fit, with sheet plastic (resistant) glued on the underneath surface and four or six or eight toggle latches. Pop-rivet the fittings on the container side, seal with siliocon. Give the lid a silicon seal - apply a generous helping of silicon round the underside edge, allow it to set for 6-8 hours (depending on the weather) until it isn't sticky to the touch anymore but still soft. Place the lid carefully in position on top of the container and weigh it down with something heavy, making sure the weight is spread evenly around the edge. The silicon takes the shape of the rim but doesn't stick, no need for a release agent. There are some photographs of this here (though not on a wooden lid): http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor10.html Journey to Forever 90-litre processor It's about halfway down. Take care, Ken PS: I really busted my hump today in the gardens. We found 5 hostas (one of which was HUGE) on our local FreeCycle. Lots of work digging those holes. I also moved a bunch of other perennials and rearranged the vegetable garden to build my mini hoop house for late tomatoes and early spring crops. I am so tired I could fall asleep typing. There is almost nothing more rewarding, though! I can't wait for the extra charge that I'll have tomorrow. :-) Good for you. I also staggered in after busting my gut out there for hours today, then I did fall asleep for half an hour, I just woke up. I was clearing the ground under the trees at the edge of the pasture, huge tangles of weeds and creepers and tough grass growing through the piles of cut branches we left there nine months ago that we've been trying to get round to clearing ever since. Getting the last of the wood in now, we'll be needing it for the woodstove soon (though we'll use bioheating oil when it gets really cold). Also those are fruit trees, persimmons, and grass roots strangle fruit trees, all the fruit falls off before it gets there. We had to clear the leaf-fall areas for compost and mulch while there's still a little growth period left if we want fruit next year. So I got it all cleared and we did the compost and mulching too. Mainly we have to build a chicken run there in the next few days, rather than a chicken jungle. Meanwhile the pasture's looking great, that I was talking about to Andres a few weeks ago (ley farming). I got it all done and it worked a treat, interesting, more re which later. Nine months ago that field was a bog, flooded most of the time. Two days ago it rained solidly for 24 hours and the pasture absorbed it like a sponge, no flooding. Now we can sow winter grains and a new ley grass mixture there, planting date October 25 according to the local Japanese farmers almanac. I got good heritage grain seeds from some homesteader friends nearby, two kinds of winter wheat, two kinds of barley, rye, nice. Best wishes Keith ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Anyone find a source for used centrifuges?
The US Navy uses (or did use) oil purifiers made by DeLaval that used centrifugal force. They would remove water and debris. IIRC, they processed 225 gph. They were fairly simple to operate once you got the hang of it. You may be able to find one surplus. I have been told they are similar to cream separators made by the same company. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
[Biofuel] first test batches
June 29, 2005. I remember that day. I rue the day that I joined this list!! Now my wife says I'm like a crazy Dr. Frankenstein going through his over 60 emails a day!! hahaha Well, folks, yesterday, I made two test batches and I am staring at the two bottles I have. The first test batch was 750ml of oil and 250ml of methanol laced with 4gms of NaoH (100% excess stoich). I first thought the oil was coconut oil but turned out to be palm olein. I heated the oil to 50C and poured it into a Coca-cola PET bottle. (I got lots of uses for Coke bottles!! I evengerminate my tomatoes from them) I poured the methoxide in and quickly capped the bottle, gave it a good shakeand placed it in a water bath at 60C. The moment the methoxide hit the oilit turned white and then turned dark. I kept it at the bath for two hours, shaking the bottle everyfive minutes. At about the half hour mark, the glycerine started to get pronounced and started dropping very quickly. No matter how I keepshaking the bottle it kept going back down quickly. There are two pictures I'd like to share. The first picture was taken2 hours after, just after taking it out of the water bath. Itwas still cloudy but the separation was clear. I was comparing it to the picture in the JTF site (make your own biodiesel contd. - biodiesel_make2.html) looks just like it. The second picture was taken 10 hours after. You can seeits gotten quite clear. Voila!! I did a second test batch with 75% excess stoich and not much difference except that the glycerine that dropped out is darker and there was lesser quantity. I presume that the first batch has a lot of methanol still in the glycerine hence the lighter color. I'll find outwhen I do the wash. Tomorrow,I'll do a gentle wash on both of them and I'll post my results here. My next test would be 4 liters of oil in a stainless stock pot. I wanted to do the first batchesinPET bottles just to see how the reaction works and looks like (also just to show my children I at least recover something from all the Coke they drink!!). My wifethinks I'm crazy staring at two Coke bottles with what's it in she doesn't know!! BTW, its3:00 in the morning and I'm still staring at it. And I'm sitting at my laptop writing this!! BTW, can anyone tell me why there seems to be a layer of dark stuff on top but actually isn't there if you take a careful look. It that a reflection of the glycerine layer on the bottom through the BD layer? Even the picture in JTF has that (the caption says "just made 20 minutes earlier, and still settling) Heck!! That bothered me when it first occurred. I thought I did something wrong!! What is that phenomenon? best regards, Ken Uy (tanuki) ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] first test batches
Tanuki, BTW, can anyone tell me why there seems to be a layer of dark stuff on top but actually isn't there if you take a careful look. It's the miniscus (cup like) effect. If you'll notice the sides of the vessel you'll see the liquid contents climbing up a bit in comparison to the center of the liquid. The light hits the two different heights/thicknesses of liquid differently. Parenthetical aside: Always measure from the bottom of the miniscus. Todd Swearingen June 29, 2005. I remember that day. I rue the day that I joined this list!! Now my wife says I'm like a crazy Dr. Frankenstein going through his over 60 emails a day!! hahaha Well, folks, yesterday, I made two test batches and I am staring at the two bottles I have. The first test batch was 750ml of oil and 250ml of methanol laced with 4gms of NaoH (100% excess stoich). I first thought the oil was coconut oil but turned out to be palm olein. I heated the oil to 50C and poured it into a Coca-cola PET bottle. (I got lots of uses for Coke bottles!! I even germinate my tomatoes from them) I poured the methoxide in and quickly capped the bottle, gave it a good shake and placed it in a water bath at 60C. The moment the methoxide hit the oil it turned white and then turned dark. I kept it at the bath for two hours, shaking the bottle every five minutes. At about the half hour mark, the glycerine started to get pronounced and started dropping very quickly. No matter how I keep shaking the bottle it kept going back down quickly. There are two pictures I'd like to share. The first picture was taken 2 hours after, just after taking it out of the water bath. It was still cloudy but the separation was clear. I was comparing it to the picture in the JTF site (make your own biodiesel contd. - biodiesel_make2.html) looks just like it. The second picture was taken 10 hours after. You can see its gotten quite clear. Voila!! I did a second test batch with 75% excess stoich and not much difference except that the glycerine that dropped out is darker and there was lesser quantity. I presume that the first batch has a lot of methanol still in the glycerine hence the lighter color. I'll find out when I do the wash. Tomorrow, I'll do a gentle wash on both of them and I'll post my results here. My next test would be 4 liters of oil in a stainless stock pot. I wanted to do the first batches in PET bottles just to see how the reaction works and looks like (also just to show my children I at least recover something from all the Coke they drink!!). My wife thinks I'm crazy staring at two Coke bottles with what's it in she doesn't know!! BTW, its 3:00 in the morning and I'm still staring at it. And I'm sitting at my laptop writing this!! BTW, can anyone tell me why there seems to be a layer of dark stuff on top but actually isn't there if you take a careful look. It that a reflection of the glycerine layer on the bottom through the BD layer? Even the picture in JTF has that (the caption says just made 20 minutes earlier, and still settling) Heck!! That bothered me when it first occurred. I thought I did something wrong!! What is that phenomenon? best regards, Ken Uy (tanuki) ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Multi Fuel Engines
David Miller wrote: Hey, I can remember Coke I'd like to teach the world to sing commercial. I was pretty young then though, so that does help date me:) I was born during the Kennedy administration . . . Typical 4 stroke otto cycle (OK, that's redundant:) engines usually run in the .4 to .5 lbs/hp-hour. This engine is pretty typical for a wankel. But its power to weight ratio makes it ideal for personal watercraft, which is the market for which it is intended. I guess that makes sense! It's interesting that the airplane crowd has to take special precautions with wankels because the exhaust is so hot. Obviously this is because a mark of its inefficiency - the higher the efficiency the lower the exhaust temperature. Interesting! We have a fairly well developed understanding of fuel management now. I'd like to see engines purpose built with electro-hydraulic rotary valves that can be computer controlled as well. This would enable compound expansion (short intake, long exhaust) for maximized fuel economy. robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask
Well I use a clear water pump from harbor freight tools aprox $27.00 on sale and that is an item that is almost always on sale. I used a drill at first with a paint paddle through a steel top. After Keith made a coment about how it didn't sound so smart I built a sealed reactor from 55 gal drum with a removable lid w band clamp dump valve on the bottom of the drum and inlet in the lid I found the pressure bothersum to me so I also added a small 1/4'' hole in the lid I use it to pump in the methoxide and after that leave it open for a small vent the water pump chugs along very well with not much chance of fire or explosion. I do this outside in a open area. The only draw back is the pump will not self prime so it needs to be lower than the wvo to start. After some frustrations I just leave it on the ground through the whole process.and drain the pump after so it doesn't lock up with the glycerin. And if you have been mixing buy hand for some batches I think you have dodged a bigger bullet than this. Good luck Derick -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Vaughn Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 4:09 AM To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask I have made over 900 gallons of Biodiesel. The cheapy clearwater pump hasn't disolved yet and no explosions or mishaps. Bill From: Kenji James Fuse [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] almost too embarrassed to ask Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:56:25 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, My name's Kenji Fuse and I'm a homebrewer in Victoria, BC. Still killing myself stirring the stuff manually, so I'm ready to build a sealed processor. I have a question to put out to you fine experienced folk: what's the best mechanical method of mixing? Does the Clear Water pump really last long? I'm tempted to get one but I'm scared the thing will dissolve before my eyes, especially when the guy at Pumpbiz called me a penny-wise fool who would kill himself using it! He wanted me to buy the $200+ pump... Is it a good idea to get an explosion-proof pump? IS this just a marketing term, or are those electric Tuthill pumps really worth their gold? They are made for volatile fluids, so maybe, but the cost! I'm afraid to use an electric drill cuz mine sparks. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Kenji Old Paradigm Fuse ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
