incomplete rection, the problem is that not all the glycerine is draining
once the settling time is done and that glycerine is getting mixed with the
BD when it is being transfered to the wash tank and that is what is causing
trouble.
During the warmer months of summer this problem did not exist as the reactor
was able to hold it's heat but with the overnight dropping temps it has bot
done so well.
The solutions are fairly simple; insulate the structure and put a small
heater on a timer and/or use KOH instead of the NaOH.
I have absolutely zero science knowledge (except what I have learned doing
this)so I will not be experimenting with new and potentially dangerous
catalyst bases, that is best left to the pros :)
When the time comes and I feel comfortable enough, once having moved up to
KOH as a catalyst and things are going reasonably well then I would like to
go the two stage method route but not before. Call me chicken s#^t, but I
prefer to err on the side of caution and go at it methodically.
Luc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Welter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 4:46 AM
Subject: RE: [Biofuel] Cold Weather Processing
I'm wondering if since water present in small amounts can impede the
biodiesel reaction, if adding the water before removing as much glycerine
as possible be a cause for some of the problems with separation and
emulsions since there could be some extraneous reactions or possible
reverse reactions going on in the mix?
Also, in my experience, if you can get ahold of sodium methoxide or
ethoxide (or if you can make it yourself using sodium metal reacted with
ethanol or methanol) gives a much better separation of the biodiesel from
the glycerine and the glycerine is much thicker. I would suggest that if
you have trouble with separation, perhaps replacing as little as 25% of
the NaOH or KOH used with the ethoxide salt (on a molar basis) and seeing
how that works for you - adding more or less by trial and error until you
get a satisfactory result.
Also, using sodium ethoxide as a catalyst makes the use of ethanol instead
of methanol as the alcohol more feasible - (of course, that is if you can
find the salt or are willing to play with sodium metal - I'd say potassium
metal is way too dangerous outside of a lab environment)
most university research data shows that to use ethanol as the alcohol of
choice you need an excess of almost 200% ethanol meaning 3x the amount to
finish the reaction, and then the excess ethanol causes the glycerine to
not separate out and you get nothing but a mess...
Jeff
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Legal Eagle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Biofuel] Cold Weather Processing
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 20:15:53 -0400
The addition of glycerine to the BD being washed has caused some problems.
Excatly how mush gly is getting it there is hard to tell, but it is making
things difficult. The wash by oscillating sprinkler system works very
well, but it is a little violent and that doesn't seem to sit well with
the glyc and it turns out a layer of very thick soup that won't break, so
I have to empty the wash tank, BD first via the standpipe, and then clean
out the wash tank completely before re-introducing the BD. Once that is
done there are no more probs, except that a portion of the yield has been
diminished.
Of course, when dealing with colder temps and unheated surroundings, like
where I have my set up, it might be a good idea to simply re-heat the lot
using the reactor's heater and then firing up the pump, mixing everything
back together to be sure no hardened glycerine has stayed on the bottom
and then letting it settle back out for a few hours and drain it once and
then again a bit later, although that might just start the porblem all
over again. The best solution is a seperate settling tank or using KOH
instead of the NaOH, or better still, house the reactor is a heated space
when available.
During the winter months I am planning on insulating the building my
reactor is in as well as getting that secondary settling tank set up
properly. I learned from the creation of the pre-heat tank about things to
avoid, like 1/2 inch plumbing, and placing the heater too high in the
tank, so that this time those errors won't be repeated. The heater element
goes about 2 inches (5cm) off the bottom of the tank, that way it won't be
exposed should a small amount of product be needed to be warmed up. 3/4
inch plumbing everywhere except the methoxide delivery system where 1/2
inch is plenty.
For having my reactor finished only in the second week of August and
already having produced hundreds of liters I believe to be a fairly good
start. The Benz has gone on vacations with B100 in the tank on the way up
and a good portion of the way back. It is still now running on B100, and
today all those warnings about the filters clogging from all the dirty
fuel deposits came true. Just before leaving on holidays I had the car's
valves adjusted, all filters, oil and fuel changed for brand new MB parts
and only today does it crap out on me,ha! Tomorow is replace the fuel
filters day. It is funny because the fuel filter hasn't so much as a tiny
scratch on it and it is useless. BD cleans !
It is with great remorse that I will have to shut down production for the
winter, but then it will give me time to get it together for next year. I
am finding that my one good WVO supplier isn't able to keep up with me so
that will be on the list of things to do too.
The organic farmer today asked if he should buy a "biodiesel truck", so we
all know where THAT is going huh ? I make the fuel, he uses it to help run
his organic farm that produces food the way it is supposed to be done.
Win, win.
Luc
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