Latest spray bar

[nathanrobo]

Think I might have found a simple solution to the bio vapours that fill the work area during SB drying.  I tried putting a drum strainer over the top of the tank during drying, which appears to catch the fine bio droplets but let out the water vapour / steam.

The result was a that the air wasn't full of that pungent bio smell. 

[nigelb]

Just because you cant smell the bio vapours Nathan does not mean you're not breathing in a toxic level of methanol fumes.

[Julian]

I'm sure you have some scientific figures to back up the PPM level of the fumes in your work space considering you're offering this up as a solution?

Something of a rhetorical question me thinks!

Anyhow, he's talking about bio fumes and water vapour not methanol fumes.

[nigelb]

Assuming that he's got all the methanol out to begin with.

[nigelb]

The rhetorical element of my post two above this one has now been removed and modified but now becomes an issue with the potential of poorly demethed being dried in this way and liberating unknown levels of methanol vapours into the workspace.

I think it's a dangerous game to offer up solutions to problems without any thought of additional issues.

What someone thinks works for himself is not necessarily a solution for others.

[Head Womble]

So how much methanol is left in water washed bio ? (I know this is a how long is a pice of string question).

I would imagine that it's lower than in demeth and settled bio.

The reason I ask is I have previously washed and dried my bio in the reactor (condensed off),
but due to time constraints I've now setup a wash/drying drum with spray bar.

[photoman290]

wouldn't a hood over the settling tank with a large vent do the trick? 21/2 inch drainpipe or something like that.  the hood could go over the drum completely then there should not be any fumes at all getting into the workspace.? or to be precise very few. 

[nigelb]

The problem here is nobody knows about the levels of methanol left behind.

I think that what Nathan has done regarding his cover is fine for what he claims about his bio fumes. But, there is the potential for residual methanol left behind in whatever process he currently employs to be liberated into the workspace unknowingly.

I think a disclaimer is required here that residual methanol could be liberated and your workspace should be adequatly ventilated.

Safety first.

[nathanrobo]

So how much methanol is left in water washed bio ? (I know this is a how long is a pice of string question).

I would imagine that it's lower than in demeth and settled bio.

The reason I ask is I have previously washed and dried my bio in the reactor (condensed off),
but due to time constraints I've now setup a wash/drying drum with spray bar.

It definitely seems to be worth doing... again Keith's meth testing kit (with breathalyser), will show various results over time.  Talk to KH as he's graphed it.

I've taken to demething bio after dropping the glyc and then water washing.  I'm pump washing in processor and then settling for a few days.  I then dispense, pump into my drier, polisher, dispenser (one batch in the processor = two tanks full in the dispensing tank).

Also spoke to James RL about, making some kind of extracting hood utilising a boiler fan.   

[nathanrobo]

wouldn't a hood over the settling tank with a large vent do the trick? 21/2 inch drainpipe or something like that.  the hood could go over the drum completely then there should not be any fumes at all getting into the workspace.? or to be precise very few.

I wandered whether a oven extractor hood could be converted.  Would the filters get all clogged up very quickly?  Could these be replaced by foam which could be wrung out into the feedstock every now and then?

[nathanrobo]

Here's a vid to demonstrate - the fuel is reasonably dry but you can see light steam coming off the top:

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