Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum

General => Chatter => Topic started by: oakwoodtv on April 02, 2014, 10:44:05 PM

Title: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 02, 2014, 10:44:05 PM
I have 300 lts of good bio in stock so on to the whites that have built up over winter.
Its about 40/60 good oil to rubbish its will be a heat and settle with two gly washes
batch hopping for a bit of warm weather.     
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Manfred on April 03, 2014, 12:22:03 AM
I got  one more good oil batch this weekend then onto the whites I've collected over the winter.  Do you use the same chem or do you ned to up the quantity a bit to process whites ? It's my first winter so not sure
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: RichardP on April 03, 2014, 03:39:19 AM
You should really do a bit more than heat and settle before glyc washing. I've done several batches of whites/crud and always dry it using the venturi and venting off to atmosphere - you'll be surprised how much water comes out and how good the oil can be after doing this.

Using a venturi isn't the only way, just get it hot and get it aerated one way or another - spray bar, diffuser etc. Once it stops steaming then glyc wash it.

Having done both just glyc wash and properly dry then glyc wash, results are always better after the latter - easier conversion and better yield.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: nigelb on April 03, 2014, 07:31:20 AM
I have to agree with Rich. I've found that drying with the venturi is key for me. It doesn't really matter how crap your oil is it will convert like brand new rape so long as it's dry.

The batch I made this week had a good percentage of palm and whites. It's ready to filter now and looks fantastic.

Difficult batches are generated by difficult methods.

I don't want to appear smug or become a trumpeteer but if your methods are kept simple, do the same thing everytime and you don't feck about with it, your bio will always be usable at the first time of asking.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Soft top on April 03, 2014, 08:07:22 AM
I've found that drying with the venturi is key for me. It doesn't really matter how crap your oil is it will convert like brand new rape so long as it's dry.

I've found the same. In fact I don't bother with the glyc wash anymore. I just heat and use venturi then process.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Jamesrl on April 03, 2014, 08:50:55 AM

I don't want to appear smug or become a trumpeteer but

There's nothing wrong with trumpeting Nige, actually I'm growing tired of telling peeps to dry their oil.

I'm amazed at the numder of folk, even the more experienced members, who ignore the importance of dry wvo.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: RichardP on April 03, 2014, 09:02:25 AM

I don't want to appear smug or become a trumpeteer but

There's nothing wrong with trumpeting Nige, actually I'm growing tired of telling peeps to dry their oil.

I'm amazed at the numder of folk, even the more experienced members, who ignore the importance of dry wvo.

Or the people who ask why their batch went tits up after not drying their oil properly, get told to dry, dry and dry it again, then go and have another crap batch because they didn't dry it. It's not like it takes much time out of your day, turn it on and walk away.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: kamaangir on April 03, 2014, 11:30:37 AM
In my usual by the seat of your pants bio making method, I used to have a 60L drum with an immersion installed in it. Thermostat blew so I by passed it, used to fill the drum with liquid oil till immersion was covered then get the kebab fat in there with a shovel. Get it to a rolling boil and you would be surprised how much water was evaporated.

By the time the steam stopped I would loose 10-20% of the level of oil!
Then I used to pump into processor till just above the immersion and repeat till processor was full. It was time consuming but can you imagine the soap with 10-20% water in your batch size? And if you then water washed your bio..........

Before any one chips in about bypassing a thermostat blah blah, this is just an anecdote about water content of whites and solids. I am not suggesting you do what I did, after all I am a professional (Iranian) with the correct PPE (hairy chest and boxer shorts!). ;D ;D
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Jamesrl on April 03, 2014, 01:06:31 PM

Before any one chips in about bypassing a thermostat blah blah, this is just an anecdote about water content of whites and solids. I am not suggesting you do what I did, after all I am a professional (Iranian) with the correct PPE (hairy chest and boxer shorts!). ;D ;D

Who are we to chastise a fully qualified professional Idiot wearing the appropriate PPE?

Carry on.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 03, 2014, 01:17:55 PM
In my original post I omitted the drying I do dry my oil with the venturi at 95 C.
Sorry for the lapse.

James four drums are Waiting for you to collect.

Richard.       
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Manfred on April 03, 2014, 01:42:23 PM
In my original post I omitted the drying I do dry my oil with the venturi at 95 C.
Sorry for the lapse.

James four drums are Waiting for you to collect.

Richard.       


   I can't recall you saying that you've made a crap batch either.  I must have read it wrong as all the other posters seemed to think  otherwise .   :). I thought it was a batch with crap stock .

 
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Jamesrl on April 03, 2014, 02:21:42 PM

James four drums are Waiting for you to collect.

Richard.       

Pm sent Richard.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 03, 2014, 02:34:21 PM
Manfred

You are correct I have only had one problem batch that had no conversion on
stage one found I had not mixed the methoxide properly and 90% off the
caterlist was still clumped in the mixing drum.

Watch it all go tits up next batch.     
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: nigelb on April 03, 2014, 05:28:38 PM
I can't recall you saying that you've made a crap batch either.  I must have read it wrong as all the other posters seemed to think  otherwise .   :). I thought it was a batch with crap stock .

I read it as crap feed stock and we all know the dangers of that. The first line of my first post backs it up.

Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 03, 2014, 10:45:43 PM
Up date what I thought was crap oil / whites turned out to be fine BCB holding
litres of water drained of 20 lts of brown water refiled with more crap.

Its at 90C now will drain down tomorrow       
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Julian on April 03, 2014, 11:13:44 PM
... turned out to be fine BCB holding litres of water

Been saying this for years, thanks for the confirmation.  I recon it's worth filtering and settling ALL oil prior to processing.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 04, 2014, 09:27:47 PM
Up date two.
Heated oil to 95 C de watered for three hours gly wash for one hour
the rubbish now looks like good oil.

Will process Saturday I think this will go as a normal batch now.

I have always been a bit worried about using such bad feed stock.

Richard.     
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Jamesrl on April 04, 2014, 09:33:05 PM

I have always been a bit worried about using such bad feed stock.

Richard.     

The brewing of whites/fats is not a problem it's the waxing and cloud point of the finished product that cause the issues.
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 04, 2014, 09:42:26 PM
James.

This batch will not be used till the start of June hoping the weather
will be kind to me.

 
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: Jamesrl on April 04, 2014, 09:53:25 PM
Did you get my earlier PM?
Title: Re: First crap batch of the year.
Post by: oakwoodtv on April 04, 2014, 09:57:35 PM
James PM sent.

Richard.