New Member

[lozzzzzz]

I got the control box finished over the week, then fitted it today and gave it a fairly good test. 

I put some measurements on the side of the sight tube, and set about heating 160l of water up to 60 degrees C. 

I took about 20mins to heat up by 10 degrees C.  by my calculations (based on SHC of water and Veg oil) the two heaters should have 160l of oil up to 60 degrees C in less that 40 mins  

As you can see in the video there is room to raise the venturi inlet to the vertical position.  I have now done that since taking the video.   

I'm hoping to try it with oil tomorrow.  Then I'll finish the lean-to and get the ground ready and get the settling tank in place. 

Not long now        

[Mickindashed]

That all looks nice and tidy. Next job is to ditch that funnel thingy and get an ibc or some barrels to keep your wvo in and a pipe from the storage to your processor. You'll find out why when you start using the funnel!

[lozzzzzz]

I'm not fully happy with it at the moment.  I don't mind pouring it in, but it quite easily spills over the top.  It'll be make of brake for that tomorrow when I try it with oil and with the gauze on top. 

[julianf]

Temperature rise in real world is non-linear (i dont know if you figured this into your calculations)

Ie, takes not long to get from 10c to 25c, but way longer to get from 25c to 40c.

[lozzzzzz]

Indeed it is, I did not figure this into my calculation though as it is far less significant in a processor than in a kettle for example.  There are a number of reasons:

Firstly the processor is insulated (although the top wasn't at the time)
Secondly the surface are to volume ratio is way better in the processor due to its enormous volume and relatively small surface area. 
Thirdly, with two heaters it takes relatively little time to heat when compared to cooling time, this further backs up the first two reasons. 

I tried it with oil today, 150 liters.  It went up 10 degrees in 7m40s then a further 10 degrees in the same time then 8m, then 8m, then just under 8mins.  Strange!  I only took it to 75 degrees

Sorry for about that, I teach this subject to HND students and love thermodynamics. 


Just a few jobs remain now, insulate the pipes, fit the taps to the settling tank, fit a better way of loading it, and sort the bubbling pipes. 

On that note, I could really do with some help.  I've used brake pipe and cut little slots into it at intervals, but I'm really not happy with it.  What do you folk use for bubbling?  Will a fish tank bubbling stone survive in the settling tank?

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

[Chug]

some fish airstones are ok some are not and break up someone will advise which if you want to use one, I cannot as I use a copper pipe ring, approx 8mm pipe with small holes drilled in it.

[Dickjotec]

I use a 15mm copper ring with holes in it. I have used fish tank bubblers, from memory the grey ones are ok in bio but the blue ones dissolve but I stand to be corrected on that as it was a long time ago. In the settling tank now I normally use just an open pipe with a nut on it to sink it which works fine for me.

[willbuild]

I use a grey one, had no problems with it. The blue one only lasted two sessions

[Tony]

I use sintered bronze pneumatic air mufflers, like this:



In action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJjWR_h2qdk

[Jamesrl]

And I use one of these.

[lozzzzzz]

Thanks a lot folks, that a great help.  I've got some copper tube to do something similar to what you show there James.  I'll be drilling 2mm holes in it.  What size holes have you got there?

Thanks again everyone

[Jamesrl]

Thanks a lot folks, that a great help.  I've got some copper tube to do something similar to what you show there James.  I'll be drilling 2mm holes in it.  What size holes have you got there?

Thanks again everyone

1.5mm holes and the ring is approx 225mm diam. powered by a 55lt/min Hailea pump.

[kamaangir]

And I use one of these.

You want to get some one that has a 3d printer to print you plastic one, copper is so last year

[Jamesrl]

 Yeh but no 'ere listen an' keep it to y'self, the printer's workin'.

I'm looking for a plugin to draw and print tubes, I could even print you a jet engine..

[Julian]

If you want to make small holes in copper, try a hardened steel spike used as a punch.  If you can grind one up very sharp and resharpen when necessary, it's very quick, accurate and no broken drills.

You can get much smaller holes than 1.5mm if you're careful.