First BIG batch of biodiesel

This is our BIG biodiesel processor running it's first official batch. This setup will make about 275 gallons (theoretically) each day with seperate mix/wash and dry tanks. My Unimog standing in as the air compressor for one of the pumps as out little air compressor kicked the bucket. Big compressor will be here next week.

*UPDATE*
We've since ran about 4 batches, 1 flopped, bad oil... Finding little ways to improve the process each batch. Averaging about 3 days to do a batch with long wash and dry steps, working on fixes to speed that up. Average cost for materials: $1.05/gallon. Sure beats $4.75 for diesel and we're not sending cash to any foreign countries.

That means filling my tank only costs $30 vs almost $150. That leave me ~$120 per tank that I get to spend locally. Talk about an economic stimulas package.. 2 tanks of Biodiesel a month allows me alone to stimulate the economy ~12 more then I could with Bush's "stimulas package" without putting a huge drain on the goverment.

Think about that for a minute!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• biodiesel
• processor
• unimog

[Veikra]

7:26 Holy fricking BatNEST

[jobremski]

@Veikra Yeah, that is what happens when you run dual electrical 24V and 12V systems in your rig. I've since converted the truck to all 12V ;) Also found a bad ground on the compressor pressure switch which is why I had to jerry rig the compressor on the truck to make it run.

[phordguy]

Do you manually introduce the catalyst into the methoxide tank? Or is it pumped in somehow ?

[jobremski]

In this first revision we pumped it into the top of the main mix tank but we found the methoxide just floated on top and did not stir well. The second revision we used the main mix pump to suck the methoxide in at a slow rate. This allowed the oil in the tank to turn over about 5 times in the mount of time it took to introduce the methoxide. We would take a sample just after the methoxide was 100% introduced and set that jar aside and found the 20% glycerin split without any more mixing.

[jobremski]

We did however let the main mix pump run for 2 hours just to be on the safe side mixing the oil methoxide mix after the methoxide was fully introduced. Results were slightly better then the sample we took with no mixing so continued to use that process.

[vikingwolfofsea]

another question, did you make the plans for that up or did you find one in a catalog or something? that looks pretty complex

[jobremski]

I copied my little 2 tank 40gallon batch processor, which I intern copied from all the other makers of processors: biodiesel solutions, extreme biodiesel, etc all use the same design. They wanted $3000+ for a 40 gallon system, you can buy the tanks and build it yourself for $600. This larger one I believe cost us in the ~$6000 range. $3000 along for tanks and shipping. ~$1500 for pumps. Not sure what the pumbing cost us.

[Username93611]

Not that I imagine it would mean that much to you, but I personally applaud the sentiment in the video comments.

[Roversrocket]

Nice setup, however I was told to prevent oxidation of the oil at all costs in order to prevent polymerization with High iodine Value oils. (The gummy, plastic like, sludge and the scourge of every IC engine) Is there a way to dry without exposing it to air? Thats the only qualm I had but great video.

[jobremski]

Turn on the water line running to the misters hat are moutned in the tip of the tank. That water sinks to the bottom and over hours of running you will see a layer of water growing on the bottom because the biodiesel floats on top. Drain the water off the bottom by opening a valve on the bottom.

Keep misting and draining every few hours till the water you drain is clear.