Author Topic: Batch not going well (Read 3388 times)

Tony · « **on:** April 16, 2014, 05:29:00 PM »

Thought I'd squeeze a bit more into the processor - just a few more litres...

Got 15l of Methoxide in before noticing the condenser carboy was full of brown liquid.

So, I am hoping if processed for a bit and the glyc drained off I'll have enough headroom to cram in more of the Methoxide.

Going to be a long evening I think!

Jamesrl · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:30:49 PM »

What is it with us experienced brewers, we're never satisfied so we push it just that liitle bit and bugger up a well practiced system.

Of course we could never match the expertise of BRTP at fecking up a batch.

willbuild · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:36:09 PM »

what would of happened if a non return valve was fitted?

Tony · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:36:37 PM »

So my cylinder is 166l, I normally do 125l batches, but thought I'd squeeze in 130l. Cold. Forgot 10% expansion, really 143l... + 15l Methoxide = 158l + bubbles from the venturi - well, that's why it overflowed.

What is interesting is that the Methoxide I mixed 20l with excess catalyst, but now I'm effectively two-staging because of this... issue.

I only got 15l in (75% of what I mixed), but I've just drained about 20l-22l glyc - probably some oil in there.

So the last 5l went in and I have high hopes of a clear pass (fingers crossed). Even though I've only used 16% Meth by volume - normally I go 20%.

I only mixed 20l because I have 5l recovered Meth to reuse, which would normally take me up to 20%.

Tony · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:46:57 PM »

Well, 10/90 clear pass already... not expected

julesandtash · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2014, 06:57:31 PM »

I thought you had a big processor Tony, not a toy one

Tony · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2014, 07:08:31 PM »

Well I've got a 500l cylinder I've welded legs on, and two 660l rectangular tanks, I'm still pondering the upgrade

Well, it got deferred with kitchen installations and Largo tinkering (Monday is cambelt day - well, actually cambelts - it has two...)

Tony · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2014, 08:27:59 PM »

All done on this batch, 135l of hot bio somehow and 2.5l recovered Meth from the biodiesel phase (didn't take long, can't have been much in the mix), total Meth use 18.5l.

So if it cools to 125l with shrinkage then this is 14.8% Meth usage or thereabouts with minimal energy spent on recovery.

I'm going to dry this again

(As in, 16% Meth by volume, overdosed catalyst two stage 75:25 followed by demething just the bio phase to bring it down to 15% or better).

Julian · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2014, 10:51:26 PM »

Quote from: Jamesrl on April 16, 2014, 06:30:49 PM

Of course we could never match the expertise of BRTP at fecking up a batch.

I'm proud to have an area of excellance for which I'm recognised.

Tony · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2014, 12:34:30 PM »

I'm doing a second batch this way at the moment, it's also going a treat

Batch 125l

Stage 1 - 15l Meth with 55g/l NaOH, 20l Glyc out.
Stage 2 - 5l Meth with 55g/l NaOH, pending. Edit: easy 10/90 clear pass. about 5l Glyc and 2l recovered from the bio phase.

14.4% Meth consumed and a clear pass

julesandtash · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2014, 06:35:22 PM »

55g/l is a massive amount Tony. Are you really using 6.8Kg of NaOH on a 125litre batch?

That is some serious overdose

Tony · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2014, 07:53:24 PM »

Naw 55g/l meth not oil

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