Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum
Biodiesel => Biodiesel equipment => Topic started by: K.H on April 18, 2012, 06:31:02 PM
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One for Tony really
What are you doing with the bolt down base/lid?
I guess running a GL you will seal it for good when you've finished?,i need to keep mine removable for dewatering and playing.
My ideas so far are changing the bolts to brass which will make it a pain to remove or welding a bar accross but under the opening and having a threaded bar coming off that up the centre,then solder a brass nut into the existing 1 1/4" outlet,then i could just spin the lid on and off,any views?
Picked up the fittings i need yesterday 2 x 2" sockets for the pump,2 x 1" sockets breather and oil in and a 1/2" socket for a thermometer,off tomorrow morning to get some 2" box section for the legs,so out with the hole cutters this weekend!
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I was going to cut the legs off the tank, flip it upside down, and weld new taller legs on.
I have an ikea plastic cutting board to cut into a ring to make a big gasket for what will now be a top access hatch (since it's upside down!). If you were really worried about leaks you could weld it in place but it's nice to have an access port for fitting things inside :)
Then i was going to open up the hole at the bottom (was the top bolt securing the bladder) and weld in a 2" mild steel nipple from BES.
The 1 1/4" pipe comes in 7.6m lengths so I'll have loads left over, which would make suitably strong legs.
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Feeling a bit left out of this thread! I haven't got a 500 lt tank!
What I have got is A4 sheets of flexible, foamed PVC, about 3mm thick ... any use to you guys as gasket material? Haven't tried it on the processor, but it seem to be ok with bio on tank connectors on the settling tanks.
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Julian if you want one Mark seems to have a fairly regular supply of them :)
We're no longer constrained to 250l batches so why not go big and save the hassle of doing it very often?
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I was round at Marks the other night and saw the one he had, it's enormous. My shed is only 6 foot square and about 5 foot at the eves. If I put that in there I couldn't get any thing else in, hence my quest to go to a square processor and associated tanks and hence the interests in your tank.
What about the PVC?
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I am quite curious as to your PVC - is it very squishy or quite firm?
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All the girls ask me that!
It's fairly firm I guess but it's relative to the area you're compressing. It's very good at filling nooks and crannys and will compress down quite a bit.
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The rubber liner of these expansion vessels had the neck clamped by this flange. The material was quite thick, and there is a rolled rim that protrudes from mouth of the vessel's hole. I think that was designed to clamp the neck in place. So I think we need something quite thick to seal it (can't just use gasket sealant here!).
I think we'll have to experiment with a few options to find a suitable seal (or at least verify if your PVC is the right sort of width!)
Quite curious as to why KH wanted to swap the bolts for brass ones - was that to avoid sparking if removing when methanol rich? I really don't see that being much of a risk.
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Yes brass for non sparking,they only cost a few pence anyway.
A gasket sealant would be no use to me,i will be removing the lid every batch so something like Julians pvc could well be the answer but i still want it to be easily removable.
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I know exactly the sort of accumulator tank you're describing, we used to use them in the marine company I worked for. We had batteries of smaller ones coupled to a good old Mono pump and a few pressure switches and things.
If I remember the bladders were Neoprene or Nitrile,so not perfect for submersion in bio, but as a gasket might be OK. Why not cut the balloon part off and use the neck as the gasket?
Happy to post a piece of the PVC or I can bring to Chugs, if you can wait that long.
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Chugs would be great Julian,think i might have to fish the bladder out of the wheelie bin in the meantime
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You've thrown it away ... and there's me thinking you'd be fashioning it into some rather fetching rubber garment!
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Yes brass for non sparking,they only cost a few pence anyway.
Makes sense - where do you get them from?
A gasket sealant would be no use to me,i will be removing the lid every batch
You could oil one surface or use clingfilm to stop a gasket sealant from setting sticking - maybe a RTV silicon would be appropriate?
I suppose the nice thing would be to replace the steel with a glass lid so you can see inside and watch things like spray nozzles working correctly. These are a bit pricey but something like that?
http://www.trinity-portholes.com/sections/37/weld-in_trinity_portholes/
Could weld it onto a flange so it can still be removed?
I take it you're planning on using your existing monster pump on this new vessel then Keith?
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I will take some photos tomorrow,it will make talking about things easier
Brass M bolts are available locally but i noticed they are also on ebay,those portholes are very tempting,imagine the slagging off i would get if i fitted one ;)
Going to flip it the same as you and use my existing 2" pipe work and pump but ive got to quieten it down,thinking of boxing 3 sides in and maybe fitting a comp fan to help cooling,funny thing is if i slightly close down the valve to the pump or open the sight tube it runs a lot quieter,the valve on the pipework from the pump makes no difference?
Only other headache is sorting the control box,ive got quite a few of the bits needed just need to get it put together,but then i had the parts when i built the present one but i just put plugs and leads on everything so i could make diesel asap,its too easy to let that side of things slide
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Know what you mean, my control panel hasn't transpired yet even though I've got most of the bits.
I'm putting IEC connectors on the pumps and commandos on the heaters so can always connect them direct to the mains to keep the fuel flowing if needed - though I'd be very nervous making batches without heater protection.
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What about one of these,tempting
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170826057812?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1202
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270962569992?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1202
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Can you find one made out of recycled trumpets ;D
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I should be picking up some box section and 42.4mm OD tubing on Thursday, got some spare gas for the welder so plan is to start fabricating on Saturday if the weather is OK.
I want to give it some height on the new legs and add a box section shelf between the legs so any cubie spills can dribble down into a container beneath... well - we'll see how enthusiastic I feel after a bit of fabrication this weekend :)
Have yet to order nipples and fittings from BES - really should do that soon - just need to make sure I get everything I need in one go really! Otherwise a few extras + £7 postage - that'd be annoying.
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Welding should be done on mine by the weekend and im off next Wed so aim to start putting it together then,what pipe work are you using 1"?
I want 2 ft clearance under the tank so will need to be on tiptoe to see in,capacitor arrived today and the pump is back up and running so thats one thing sorted
Im going to fit 2 imm heaters,one that RM got me has two thermostats,not sure if that will be useful or not
Whats the thinking on imm heights,both as normal or one higher up? and how will that affect the washing machine pressure switch ive got?
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I'm adding two immersions, one in the processor one inline (for a "proper" flash evaporator).
Pipework from the bottom will be split two ways for each pump in 42.4mm steel with 3.0mm wall, near enough to 1 1/4" bsp.
Good news on the pump - glad it's still going strong! One of mine has had new bearings (twice - first set of bearing were cheap and nasty and didn't last long, but second set has been good!)
If I was fitting two in-tank immersions I'd put them both as low as possible. Given the diameter of a 500l tank can't you put two at the same height using 11" elements?
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C'mon Keith lets see a piccy of the legs you've fitted. I wanted to do the same last weekend but had other jobs to complete. I'm envious you've made a start on yours :)
But, I do have two to play with thanks to Mark!
(http://img14.imagefra.me/i54o/tttonyyy/qu3o_97c_u886p.jpg)
The one on the left is a bit dented but will make a fine settle tank for large batches, and I have a 600l IBC for storage after settling (just visible in the background of that pic).
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"C'mon Keith, show us your legs" ... I've heard it all now!
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Now I have a mental image of Keith with fishnets that I didn't need today (or any day, for that matter!)
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Not to mention what he's up to with the rubber bladder!
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As far as ive got
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/6b76a9bc.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/54545d92.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/e1ba66e8.jpg)
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Oh wow that thing looks fabulous (darling!)
Now I really want to get on with mine. And paint it black too :)
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You're a bad influence Keith! This evening cut up some of the 1 1/4" BSP pipe with my little helper
(http://img13.imagefra.me/i554/tttonyyy/qu3o_c7b_u886p.jpg)
And then annoyed the neighbours by grinding three legs into the right shape
(http://img14.imagefra.me/i554/tttonyyy/qu3o_1cd_u886p.jpg)
Hopefully will glue them on with the MIG tomorrow. I'm bracing between them with some box section, plan is to make a shelf of box section through which spills will dribble into a catch tray below, but we'll see.
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Well the legs are stuck on, plenty of height, might even be able to get a 25l drum under there when the pipework is in place:
(http://img14.imagefra.me/i555/tttonyyy/qu3o_3a0_u886p.jpg)
Bottom bit needs some more box to make it a shelf, and underneath that will sit a drip tray.
Need to find some 4mm sheet to make some feet for it too (damn pikeys nicked a perfect bit I had)
Plan is to give it three hefty plates as feet and bolt them to the concrete floor in the outbuilding.
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Tony's just told me you have this thread running (I don't get on here very oftern :-[ ).
Wow they're looking good lads.
What about using cork as a gasket, I'm sure you can get them about that size.
As I've been given permition to build a bigger shed (8ft x 10ft) so I'll be looking for two of these tanks myself once it's done.
As Tony and Julian will agree my present shed just isn't big enough for what I have at the mo.
I just hope some more come in soonish.
At least I'll have your builds as a gide.
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Piped mine up today to work out the pump bracketing, looks a lot neater than the last one,i will weld up the bracket tomorrow then it can be put together,i might post a pic of the pipework loosely assembled,im actually using a cork floor tile as the gasket at the moment for pressure testing
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Cork floor tile, that's a good idea. I need to order in my plumbing bits from BES so I can also do the pump mounts (both of 'em!).
Got a patch of burn on my arm, must've had it exposed and a bit too close to the arc on the welder yesterday.
I'm a little concerned that mine is a bit high, it currently stands at 2.0m to the tip of the cap on the access hatch, but I have 2.1m to play with in the outbuilding so think it'll be OK.
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Roughly assembled,then i ran out of mig wire!
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/a8bd67c6.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/af6294d7.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/57e81fe6.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/a6a3f5f6.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/2fed26fa.jpg)
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Keith, have you got a union on the pump discharge?
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Keith, have you got a union on the pump discharge?
Yes its a 90 degree union right at the top,undone
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Just checking!
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(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/c3e64821.jpg)
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for port hole windows check out boat chandlery shops, alot do second hand 8)
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Though if you put a port hole window on you'll need another vent - maybe best to add it now just in case? :)
BTW, what fittings did you weld to the outside? Did you use mild steel nipples or "black iron" fittings?
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I used black iron for the 4 bigger ones,one of my mild steel imm sockets which RM kindly gave me back and the others were brass which i silver soldered on incl another imm flange
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sorry, i just have to keep popping back and looking at that beeeuuuuty!
8)
what a tool ;D
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I have bought a mini porthole BUT im not promising i will fit it,i would need to trust it a 110%
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Ahhh happy days, was showing a workmate the pics from this thread and said I wanted to put feet on mine, and he said, "Hang on, I've got just the thing" and a few minutes later turns up with four 6mm thick blocks 90mm x 200mm pre-drilled with holes in the corners for bolting to floors.
Absolutely perfect! And in continuation of our nautical theme they were going to be engine mounts for his boat but he decided to mount it a different way so these were spare (and just happened to be in his car).
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if planning a condenser, you would need the air circulation, on venturis theres 2x valves bottom for pulling meth and top for air intake to get the circulation going through head space and out to condenser...
just like to share with others if people read this build keep the air intake above liquid level, as if a power cut it could syphon contents...
now all this depends how you plumb your system, just would like to share my finding when i built one...
if its been spoken of already feel free to shoot me now :)
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whats a brtp ?
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whats a brtp ?
Bio rich time poor - alias Julian,hes got another way of demething using compressed air,ask him nicely and he may explain it ;D
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oh i seeeee
that sounds a really good idea, dont tell james he may steal that one :)
any testing on this method?
wouldnt it be too fast a flow?
although isnt the idea to keep liquid hot instead of chilling it rapidly?
hmmmmm, need to get my head round that one , off to sit in corner for an hour...
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if planning a condenser, you would need the air circulation, on venturis theres 2x valves bottom for pulling meth and top for air intake to get the circulation going through head space and out to condenser...
just like to share with others if people read this build keep the air intake above liquid level, as if a power cut it could syphon contents...
now all this depends how you plumb your system, just would like to share my finding when i built one...
if its been spoken of already feel free to shoot me now :)
No you're spot on, though it won't syphon just drain down to the side port level (as the vent must also be from the venturi port so impossible to syphon).
I always make sure the vacuum side is above liquid level to make sure my recovered Meth never gets polluted with oil/bio :)
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oh i seeeee
that sounds a really good idea, dont tell james he may steal that one :)
any testing on this method?
wouldnt it be too fast a flow?
although isnt the idea to keep liquid hot instead of chilling it rapidly?
hmmmmm, need to get my head round that one , off to sit in corner for an hour...
RM ... most of the info is in this thread ... http://www.biopowered.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,295.msg2612.html#new
Yes, very defiantly it CAN be too bigger flow. That's something that needs great care if the idea is used. From my tests to date it works, but I'd only recommend it for dewatering oil and Bio.
Re keeping it hot ... yes and no ... the idea is to get the water out as quick as possible, even if it cools the oil, but from tests to date, a 3Kw immersion can keep up with the cooling effect of my compressor at full tilt and still raise the temperature slowly. To recover a bit of heat, you can run the venturi simultaneously, which will circulate some of the vapour through the SHHE, if you have one.
I have considered repositioning the SHHE to recover heat from the full flow of the compressor, but that's another toit.
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Theres me keeping a low profile posting the build on here and Tony posts a link to it on the VOD ;D
Anyway the pump brackets are on and sprayed so i should be able to assemble it tomorrow (day off) and have it running on Sat,will only be 75% finished but should be capable of making bio,will post some more pics tomorrow night
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Want me to remove the mention on VOD Keith? Sorry if you wanted a lot profile, but it *is* an interesting build (I'm most envious of the progress you're making - mine will take months!)
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No,only joking-------------------------------------------------------Grass!
I have used the edit button a bit tho ;)
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i'll be there waiting on saturday, if im not to drunk as a skunk, on those pics K
i bet it will sound like thunder rip roaring away = crakin
tony, wheres yours dude, come on pull ones finger out :)
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More pics
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/839d348d.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/13db33f0.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/6cd10349.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/1ddab819.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/1bcfcb34.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/4e15f11e.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/446293b5.jpg)
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looking really well kieth! brilliant job
got a Q though you used it yet?
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Jeez give ma chance ;D
Need to calibrate the level first :P
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Looks the dogs, well done!
However ......... is the colour scheme some form of anti theft device?
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Just used what was about,wont matter when its insulated,have you spotted the mistake,took RM about 30 seconds and i didnt realise until i leak tested it,got covered in paint putting it right
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i got a Q with the over uses of not needed parts :)
re: the site tube, was the elbow and fittings really needed there? or could you of gone straight up Teed off pipe?
:o
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Got me beat I'm afraid ... not too easy to see minor details from the photos.
Only possible issue I can see is the sight tube seems to be capped off, but knowing you there's a very good reason for that.
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The cap has a hole in it,fed up with switching the pump off and forgetting the sight valve is open,then watching a jet of oil shoot skywards - i use the sight valve to introduce air when dewatering
The big valve on the left needed to be above the take off to the wash tank,took me about 4 hours to spot it,RM about 30 bleedin seconds!
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Got me beat I'm afraid ... not too easy to see minor details from the photos.
Only possible issue I can see is the sight tube seems to be capped off, but knowing you there's a very good reason for that.
yeah i saw that but knowing K's professionalism i didnt want to offend... :-X
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No missed it completely!
Would a larger diameter tube solve the problem? I have a funnel on my sight tube and constantly use it for returning samples and 3/27s, back to the processor. Couldn't do it so easly with such a small tube.
Just one thought with the pump, and I'm not familiar with that design, but might it trap glycerol in the housing? If so, can you spin the suction pressing 180°?
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The cap has a hole in it,fed up with switching the pump off and forgetting the sight valve is open,then watching a jet of oil shoot skywards - i use the sight valve to introduce air when dewatering
The big valve on the left needed to be above the take off to the wash tank,took me about 4 hours to spot it,RM about 30 bleedin seconds!
how does turning pimp off force a jet out site tube? cant get me head round that?
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Probably hydraulic shock of oil/bio dropping back down the discharge pipe.
A non return valve in the discharge pipe might sort it too.
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Probably hydraulic shock of oil/bio dropping back down the discharge pipe.
A non return valve in the discharge pipe might sort it too.
good idea - is the pump self priming against not? being a puller not a pusher?
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No missed it completely!
Would a larger diameter tube solve the problem? I have a funnel on my sight tube and constantly use it for returning samples and 3/27s, back to the processor. Couldn't do it so easly with such a small tube.
Just one thought with the pump, and I'm not familiar with that design, but might it trap glycerol in the housing? If so, can you spin the suction pressing 180°?
Only a small amount from whats in the pipework after the isolating valve but the pump has a reverse so i can shoot it back into the processor
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The sight pipe just refills as it normally would but just quickly,its not really an issue the little cap stops it
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may have it? due to the ferocity of the pump and pipe dia, the contents after turn off and the oil returning to level drops fast due to vast volumes of liquid thrown into main tank, so a sort of hydraulic push as brtp states occurs and the only place to go is an open site tube, (a venturi of sorts) how the romans transfered water by GRAVITY up hill! velocity = mass X momentum.
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Spot on,better description than anything i could come up with
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the pump has a reverse so i can shoot it back into the processor
Wa'ss that all about then?
Only pump I know that will, theoretically, pump backward is a Mono, but I don't think even they will do that in practice as the rotor will unscrew on some models.
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may have it? due to the ferocity of the pump and pipe dia, the contents after turn off and the oil returning to level drops fast due to vast volumes of liquid thrown into main tank, so a sort of hydraulic push as brtp states occurs and the only place to go is an open site tube, (a venturi of sorts) how the romans transfered water by GRAVITY up hill! velocity = mass X momentum.
Yes, as Keith says, spot testicle on, great description.
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the pump has a reverse so i can shoot it back into the processor
Wa'ss that all about then?
Only pump I know that will, theoretically, pump backward is a Mono, but I don't think even they will do that in practice as the rotor will unscrew on some models.
Dont really know,but its good fun messing about
Its the S/S AL50 here
http://www.marcopumps.gr/en/catalog/01-surface/tellarini.html
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8) i have my moments, sometimes detromental to my well being, but its what makes me human (i make mistakes)
;)
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I wonder if im brave enough to post the build up on the VOD
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I wonder if im brave enough to post the build up on the VOD
that isnt the question as you and me know its the negative aspect vod holds aswell as a mixed in price cost
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Ah sod it,i can take the stick,im going in,wish me luck,smoke me a kipper and i will be back for breakfast!
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Ah sod it,i can take the stick,im going in,wish me luck,smoke me a kipper and i will be back for breakfast!
the alto ego lol brilliant....
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Nice! You're way ahead of me, I only just put the feet on mine let alone pump brackets. Yours is looking good - curious to hear your plans for insulating it!
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Nice! You're way ahead of me, I only just put the feet on mine let alone pump brackets. Yours is looking good - curious to hear your plans for insulating it!
Not sure,that will be the last thing i do,now its supposedly summer it shouldnt be urgent,i will probably go for foil bubble wrap as i like the neatness of it
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Just thinking back to your squirting sight tube ... if you are testing on a partially full tank, the effect will be much worse than when running with a full one. Might not happen when the tank's full.
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Just thinking back to your squirting sight tube ... if you are testing on a partially full tank, the effect will be much worse than when running with a full one. Might not happen when the tank's full.
could stick and elbow on the top and back into side of tank
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For the record I doubt you need a swept 90 on the discharge side of the pump. Inlet maybe but not the outlet :)
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Just thinking back to your squirting sight tube ... if you are testing on a partially full tank, the effect will be much worse than when running with a full one. Might not happen when the tank's full.
could stick and elbow on the top and back into side of tank
Surely its a common problem IF you forget to isolate the tube?,the levers there i just have to remember to use it ;D
But i can guarantee its a problem Tony hasn't got mainly because his sight tube pipe is still in my garage ;D
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No comment on swept 90s ;)
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I've got one and it's "bollocks" ;)
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Not common with me, but then I've not got big manly pipe work running such a height. I'm sure a lot depends on the tank level. look at it at two extremes ...
Imagine if the tank were completely full, the pump would just be circulating fluid. When it stops the flow round the circuit simply ceases and there's no back flow.
With a few mm in the bottom of the tank, you have quite a volume due to 2" pipe work (I bet you'd be surprised how much it is if you work it out) and head due to the height of the pipe, wanting to rush back into the tank. I'm sure the small bore of the sight tube isn't helping ... I use 22mm acrylic on a much smaller set-up.
I've had a similar thing on a piping system on a ship. We had a pump in the engine room pumping sea water up to above main deck level (big tanker, so long pipe) and a non return valve just after the pump. Pipe work would have been around 10". Idea being as soon as the pump started flow should be available at the top level. What happened in practice was that when the pump stopped water tried to fall back down the pipe and the NRV slammed shut with such a force it sounded like an explosion.
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While you're adding bits Keith, if you put a second pressure sensor on that trips when the tank is full, you can control the fill pump from it using a SSR so it never overflows the tank. It's going to take a while to pump cold WVO in and it'd get tedious watching the level slowly rising.
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shouldnt take long with that big pump, would need to up the bore to holding tanks though...
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Its a Stuart Turner that fills the processor RM,bottom right in the pics,mind you with the capacity of the processor the 205 isnt going to overflow it
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/446293b5.jpg)
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Nice! You're way ahead of me, I only just put the feet on mine let alone pump brackets. Yours is looking good - curious to hear your plans for insulating it!
Not sure,that will be the last thing i do,now its supposedly summer it shouldnt be urgent,i will probably go for foil bubble wrap as i like the neatness of it
Keith, we get thurmal bubble wrap come into work, loads and loads of it. it's not in hudge sheets but big enough.
I'll grab some for you and Tony if you wont, can bring to chugs if you can wait that long.
How tall is the finished unit ?
Looking really good BTW.
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Oooh yes ridiculous amounts of bubble wrap would be good please Mark.
Mine now has 6mm feet on it and is much, much more stable. Just need to figure out what I need for a big BES order to get all the fittings.
Looking at costing and how much pipe I'd need, it's actually cheaper to buy 7.6m of 1" tubing and cut and thread rather than 6x 1" BES barrel nipples, and that's not including the F-F couplings.
I'm curious as to how much all the 2" pipe on Keith's cost, but I suspect he doesn't really want to add it all up...
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Tony I'll bring some home for you,
as space is going to be tight in my car for the BBB could you follow me home and pick it up from there.
Keith if you wont some I should be able to sweeze it in and bring it to the BBB.
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Cheers Mark - what time were you thinking of heading back Sunday?
I've always gone before lunchtime before, to spend a bit of time with the family (since I've abandoned them for the rest of the weekend).
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I was thinking of leaving about lunch time,
I don't wont to leave to early as Vince is getting the rocket fuel out on Saturday night.
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I was thinking of leaving about lunch time,
I don't wont to leave to early as Vince is getting the rocket fuel out on Saturday night.
Fair point, should allow the alcohol time to filter through (I plan to sweat it out by sleeping in the car again, lol)
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I'll be in my fishing bivi again this year.
I'm sure we can work it out so we leave together.
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I'm sure we can work it out so we leave together.
That's how rumours start ;) But yes, definitely!
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Mark some bubble wrap would be great,I can easily wait for the BBB.
The processor is about 6 ft,I can get you an exact measurement if you want?
The porthole ( the damn thing hasn't turned up yet)
The more I think about it the more I feel it would be better on the wash/settling tank,any views?
Pun intended!
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Today children Keith's going to look through the .... ROUND window!
Unless you know the spec of the glass and any seals, I'd be inclined to stick it on the wash tank, as nice as it would be to have a sight port on the processor, I'd play it safe!
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OK Keith I'll grab some for you as well.
About 6ft is close enough for me, it least I know it'll fit in my new shed (when I get it) if I can get another two of those thanks that is.
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Well it's really up to you how tall you make it Mark, I put a lot of height on mine because I've got the height in my outbuilding - currently it stands 2.0m tall and will be 2.1m with pipework. I figured I could put 25l drums under it if needed though really I doubt I'd need to.
Here's mine with its feet on - nice and stable now :)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/547514_10150970901133169_595908168_11976159_1139857881_n.jpg)
There's no reason you couldn't have yours shorter and use the height of bio to force any settled glyc out if necessary.
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I see yours is still reversable with legs on both ends ;D
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It's bloody heavy, they act as handles to lift it up, I'll either leave 'em on or weld on some actual handles to move it about with :)
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I'm thinking more and more about one of these as a reactor,
I think that putting one of jims cones on the bottom would not only increase the volume slightly but also improove the draining of the gly.
Also welding in a flat panel would let you put in three immersion heaters, two in parallel and one on it's own, that should bring it up to temp quicker.
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I'm thinking more and more about one of these as a reactor,
I think that putting one of jims cones on the bottom would not only increase the volume slightly but also improove the draining of the gly.
Also welding in a flat panel would let you put in three immersion heaters, two in parallel and one on it's own, that should bring it up to temp quicker.
Do you mean two in series? In parallel that's just like having three on, IE 9kW.
Two in series would do 750W each (1500W for the pair) then one on it's own at 3kW for a total of 4500W.
I'm going to do one in the processor and one inline, for a total of 6kW.
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You're right, I ment in series so the elements don't get as hot and don't crustup as much.
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I suspect you'd really need 6kW to heat that volume of oil in a reasonable time, so eight immersion elements, four sets of two in series.
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2 x 3kw intank heaters,13C to 64C 1 hr 20 mins ,280 litres and the height to the top of the fitting on the removable plate 73" :)
Ahhhhhh bought a new router now!,the above was short and sweet,i hate trying to post using the mobile!
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You, should have said, I've got a spare router here!
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Cheers!
64.99 too late :)
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And I'd have only charged you GBP 60.00!
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Been an expensive week
car repair
car tax
web hosting thingy
router
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Excuse me if I scoff ... couple of weeks it was the log burner with inclusive boiler, flue and Bloody Building control at £150.00 for a guy that knew nothing about stoves!
Currently refitting kitchen and utility room. Have you seen the price of decent ovens and hobs these days? I could eat out each night for a year for that sort of money. I've given Mrs. Bio Rich an old flat iron and suggested she cooks on the log burner but the idea wasn't received well.
What's wrong with the car?
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Discs and pads
Nothing in the building game surprises me,what some customers prioritise is amazing
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2 x 3kw intank heaters,13C to 64C 1 hr 20 mins ,280 litres and the height to the top of the fitting on the removable plate 73" :)
Ahhhhhh bought a new router now!,the above was short and sweet,i hate trying to post using the mobile!
That's not bad if it isn't insulated too, must be like an oil filled radiator!
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Yep,i thought that was ok
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A couple more pics
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/f5e132fe.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/66d2923f.jpg)
Jobs left to do
Fit eductor - JRL, could be years
Condensor - Get Julian pissed at BBB so he does it for me,while i sit with a beer/fags
Insulation - See Mark at the BBB
Electric supply - Tues-avoids all Jubilee crap
Control box - Ask/grovel on VOD forum
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Shame, it looked so promising at the beginning!
Condensor - Get Julian pissed at BBB so he does it for me, while I sit with a beer/fags
That usually takes a case of good Chilean red, but as I'll be driving, I'll leave space in the back of the Disco so you can load it while I make your condenser.
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Keith when you say "Control box" do you meen just the box or a compleat prewired system.
I ask as I have a 50cm x 40cm x 30cm box sat in the garden,
got it for myself but can always get another one later as I don't need it yet.
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Keith when you say "Control box" do you meen just the box or a compleat prewired system.
I ask as I have a 50cm x 40cm x 30cm box sat in the garden,
got it for myself but can always get another one later as I don't need it yet.
Complete system,ive managed to collected together quite a few parts now,thanks for the offer tho
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Ok mate.
If you bring all the parts to the BBB maybe you could get HC to do the honers.
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Ok mate.
If you bring all the parts to the BBB maybe you could get HC to do the honers.
Ive asked him a couple of times but no joy
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Processor is looking great Keith. Looking forward to getting on with mine when I get back, just need to order some pipe fittings now!
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Tomy and Keith, I have the silver bubble wrap for you, more than enough for two layer each.
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Sounds to me like the large majority of these processors are owned by you!
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Not at all mate, I'm just happy to help where I can.
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Tomy and Keith, I have the silver bubble wrap for you, more than enough for two layer each.
Thanks Mark,another one i owe you
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You all take too much advantage of Mark's generous nature ... I think it's scandalous!
PS, thanks for the float switch, Mark!
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Im sure the pleasure is in the giving ;D
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doh i want some thing free ;D
* ok, back to business, kieth does or is your system gonna run water anywhere that will get hot eg: condenser type affair and need cooling to make more efficient?
* whats the fridge compressor for?
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doh i want some thing free ;D
* ok, back to business, kieth does or is your system gonna run water anywhere that will get hot eg: condenser type affair and need cooling to make more efficient?
* whats the fridge compressor for?
The fridge compressor is connected to a sparge pipe in the bottom of the tank to help dewatering the oil.
If i load Julians car with Chilean red at the BBB he is going to crimp some pipe for me,in other words ive got to do it myself,then im going to make condensor,its only going to be used to dewater,just so i know the oil is dry
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will the condenser have water going through fresh all the time or recirculated, or no water at all for cooling only vapour from oil cooking ?
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It will be recirculated in some way or other,havent got that far yet ;D
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http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/viewthread.php?tid=31782
got simarlar to this stuff...
(http://img.alibaba.com/wsphoto/v0/507081625/Freeshipping-F462-Liquid-cooling-water-cooling-radiator-AS120-with-fans-fan-cover-fittings-2500K-2600K-1100T.jpg)
(http://i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/235/821/381/381821235_996.JPG)
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Tomy and Keith, I have the silver bubble wrap for you, more than enough for two layer each.
Mark, thank you very much. You're like our one stop shop for biodiesel recyclables.
Top Wombling mate!
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Ha,i like that,Mark - Top Womble!
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I think he's Great Uncle Bulgaria, after all he is in charge of a wombling facility. :)
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We've got a new man at the wombling facility and all weekday wombling has ben stopped :(
but weekends I'm still in womble mode ;)
Now I just need to store things until the weekend.
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More jobs done today,fixed the last leak,insulated it and fitted an eductor,only the condenser and control box to go now.
Thanks to Will Crosby for its vest and Head Womble for its nice shiny jacket,also Nigel for a couple of fittings to get the eductor in place
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/97634591.jpg)
(http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm323/KRH01/2593fbc2.jpg)
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Hey looking good :) Is that a bio processor or a satellite? Or one then the other ;)
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How's it all running Keith? Did you fix the leak?
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All leaks fixed ,the only on going problem is rust,the tank was quite rusty between the liner and skin,the first couple of batches were ok but since fitting the eductor it seems to keep removing rust.
Every sample contains a fine powder like sediment,thankfully washing seems to remove it but its about time it was all gone and it stopped
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goodness me....I don't think I've seen quite so much silver bubble wrap in one place before. Very nice chap!
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kieth - now you done a few batches what is your verdict on the eductor???
does it convert more quickly or you have seen no change to speed of processing? or is it just minimal hard to say?
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Yes I'm also curious. I was a little underwhelmed by the eductor demo at the BBB, and it was clear that positioning was critical (not so easy to achieve with steel fittings welded into a vessel).
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Well ive not noticed much difference but that could well be down to me and the positioning,using the original "inlet pipe" and using the shortest possible fixing combination a correctly positioned eductor limits my batch to 280 litres of oil.
After finishing the build (control panel excepted) i moved over to a 2 stage non titration which ive noticed gives varying amounts of glyc so that also doesn't help the eductor position!
Just to complicate matters i have methylate on order so that will also mean alterations to the position or batch size so until i settle on a process and catalyst ive stopped playing with it.
Oh and im still getting rust particles in every batch,showing no signs of stopping.
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Interesting. Why the volume limit with the eductor? Surely you can fit 375l of veg in with 75l Meth for a grand total of 450l, well within its volume capability?
BTW did you port and polish that Y trap, I forgot to mention how super shiny it is :) Does block up quickly with BCBs though when filtering oil, I'm looking at extending the trap part to take more volume. Was wondering whether something like that could be used to trap rust bits (or are they dust rather than flake?)
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Its to do with the original inlet pipe i fitted,i went through the side at the highest point where the side was still flat-before it curves in towards the bolt down top,i did this without thinking about an eductor.
So by the time i fit a slow 90 then a reducer and the eductor its correct position below the surface of the oil means a batch size of 280.
Im not going to move the inlet unless i see big gains from the eductor.
Ah yes the Y trap spent a bit of time on the polishing wheel :),i like shiny!
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Cor it is posh at Tosser Towers, got a machine to polish your boots. Around here we just scrape the muck off as best we can ;)
Was planning to put my pipes in through the curved bit at the top. Got some HSS burrs that seem to be good at shaping steel holes to unusual profiles.
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I get the butler to do that
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"The Master? Why yes, he's in the batcave making biodiesel at the moment, can you wait?"
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Keith, could you run some kind of acid through the processor, to remove the rust? Not sure what, but maybe a weak solution of sulphuric? just an idea.
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If it keeps up i will have to do something like that,i should of blasted it when i had the chance
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Presumably the rust doesn't cause any problems though? Most of it must go with the glyc and the rest get washed out by your finishing process?
Even though I don't water wash I can't see it staying in suspension during the settling process, if not drywash + 1u filtering would sort the rest.
Besides, those of us with vehicles going on for a couple of decades old are quite familiar with in-tank rust :)
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Yes most goes out with the glyc,the rest in the wash,the two final filter show no contamination but i just dont like the idea of it been there just in case
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I wouldn't worry, after all the masses that visit fuel stations pump their fuel out of rusty steel tanks buried beneath the forecourts... that's why they say you shouldn't fill you car right after the tanker has visited, as all the water/rust sediment has been stirred up by the tanker delivery. Not that I'd remember how to operate a forecourt pump these days 8)
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I wouldn't worry about a swept bend before the eductor,
the pipe diameter will be reduced at the eductor anyway, so a standard 90° will not effect the flow rate.
My eductor feed is 22mm (the rest of my pipework is 28mm) the eductor nozzle is 15mm so that's still the most restrictive part.
Does my eductor still work ? Well it makes the whole reactor shake whereas if I'm running the venturi is steady as a rock,
so yes I'm sure it's still working.