Process guide

[Tony]

I've been tweeking the process guide to include water washing and other finishing steps - could someone have a peer through (especially water washers - Nige and Keith!) to make sure this is OK?

http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Biodiesel_Process_Guide

Is there anything we can do to make the whole thing simpler?  Better layout? Flow chart?

[nigelb]

Everything looks ok to me Tony. A flow chart might be useful for some. Deffinitely worth putting one together jusst to see how it looks.

Nige

[Julian]

I agree, a flow chart would make it easer to understand ... another use for an image map me thinks!

[K.H]

Looks OK to me

[MattC]

I've had a go at a high-level flowchart based on a GL-style process and uploaded a couple of alternative versions. Not sure how to direct you to the images but maybe you can take a look and see if you think they could be used.  Let me know what changes you think are needed and I'll update as required.

[edit]
Seem to be here: http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/File:Gl_process_01.png
and here: http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/File:Gl_process_02.png

How do I see a list of all uploaded images?

[Julian]

Those are rather smart Matt ... we like!

To view recently uploaded files go to "Special pages" in left hand menu - toolbox, then "Gallery of new files"
or if very recent you can look at "Recent changes" in the left hand menu - editors box

[Tony]

Those flowcharts are the dogs danglies - very nice 

[MattC]

Thanks.  Which version do you prefer - top-to-bottom or left-to-right?

I guess we need a whole bunch of variants, with/without glyc pre-wash, water wash, WBD, 2-stage, etc.?  Should they also show the appropriate points to perform tests?  Should they also include conditional branches (e.g. Perform 27/3 test.  If pass then this else that)?

Might also be nice to have one chart showing the process steps for the major variations side-by-side for ease of comparison?

[Julian]

Personally I think I prefer the vertical one, but it ought to be you decision, you did the graphics.  Possibly start with a basic one, then perhaps an all encompassing version, sections of which could be boxed off as options.

As you say, problem is there are so many variations!

Can you turn it into an image map linking to the various operations and components?   If not, I don't mind having a stab.  I already had a play here ... http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/Image_map_test  two top left switches.

[Tony]

I'd say vertical, just because it has more room for expansion vertically with extra steps.

[K.H]

Thats really good stuff Matt,well done,wish i could do things like that

[Tony]

I was just about to put it on the GL page (before the operating steps) but the steps numbered in the diagram don't tie up with the "operating steps" on that page.

IE step 1 dewater ties into steps 1-3 of the GL process.

However, I like the diagram as-is.

Could make the GL process Step 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 for oil in, heat, dewater?

Any ideas?

[MattC]

I suppose I should have consulted the existing text before launching in.  That's just the way it came out of my head.  I'll take a look and try to produce something that matches the GL sequence more closely.  It was done in Powerpoint.  If you like I can send you the original file to play with.

[MattC]

Here's another one I've been working on for a while.  Please let me know if there are any inaccuracies/omissions or improvements.  It could perhaps do with some temperatures in the "heat" boxes and maybe some timings? 

http://www.biopowered.co.uk/wiki/File:Process_flowchart_01.png

Also, I'm not very well up on water washing, so this might need a bit more detail.  For example, do people usually evaporate off the methanol beforehand or does this come out in the wash?

[Tony]

I think the beauty of your first diagram was simplicity.

Personally I'd rather adapt what the page says then your diagram - it's by far the best flow description of what we do than anything I've seen before.