Drying Biodiesel.

[dgs]

Bill, have you ever checked the water level of the bio so you can relate it to the value in the headspace.

[Bill]

I've tried with a carbide manometer but the readings were small, so either the moisture levels were low or the method wasn't working to well for me. Must have another go at it sometime. Never tried to correlate any readings.
That's why the other thread about an electronic immersion sensor for moisture was worth looking into but so far I find that method less convincing.

[dgs]

Yes, I found the same. The manometers can be an absolute pain. Very roughly with most peoples manometers I think @ 180mms deviation equates to 500ppm (100gm or 110ml sample size)

When I get my arduino I will also be doing some tests re the immersion of the capacitance sensors.

[GedsJeep]

right, after a bit of work and fiddling, i think we may nearly be there on the scouse drying nozzle..

https://youtu.be/tXPGBvYYT0U

all it needed was a jubilee clip (hose clamp, whatever) to close the width of the opening.

it was too wide, causing a lot of splashback.

the vid is 160L of 90degC Wvo.

(maybe a bit too much but i got carried away...)

tam 105 is the pump.

[dgs]

right, after a bit of work and fiddling, i think we may nearly be there on the scouse drying nozzle..

https://youtu.be/tXPGBvYYT0U

all it needed was a jubilee clip (hose clamp, whatever) to close the width of the opening.

it was too wide, causing a lot of splashback.

the vid is 160L of 90degC Wvo.

(maybe a bit too much but i got carried away...)

tam 105 is the pump.

tam 105 is the pump

GedsJeep is the operator

Scouse Drying nozzle is the equipment

Hope you solved the splashback problem with oil at 90 degC

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Just tried another cheap sensor for comparison, Temp is only 0.2degs difference. R/H is 2% difference. I don't think that is bad at all.

[Jonzeyboy43]

Dave is there 28 hours in your day?

[dgs]

You know what it's like when you get an obsession about something. I don't know what it is about getting involved with bio but it's sort of got hold of me like nothing I've known before. I must say I really enjoy it. I'm virtually counting the days to next years bbb.

Now I am about retired I can spend up to 30 hours a week collecting oil, brewing, pumping , pouring, experimenting, etc, etc. i find it relaxing and very satisfying.

When my missus sometimes comes into the bio room she just looks at me concentrating on something and leaves shaking her head.

[GedsJeep]

right, after a bit of work and fiddling, i think we may nearly be there on the scouse drying nozzle..

https://youtu.be/tXPGBvYYT0U

all it needed was a jubilee clip (hose clamp, whatever) to close the width of the opening.

it was too wide, causing a lot of splashback.

the vid is 160L of 90degC Wvo.

(maybe a bit too much but i got carried away...)

tam 105 is the pump.

tam 105 is the pump

GedsJeep is the operator

Scouse Drying nozzle is the equipment

Hope you solved the splashback problem with oil at 90 degC

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just tried another cheap sensor for comparison, Temp is only 0.2degs difference. R/H is 2% difference. I don't think that is bad at all.

you`ll have to wait for the sequel.

splashback II more than a dribble

to find out.....

[Bill]

....When my missus sometimes comes into the bio room she just looks at me concentrating on something and leaves shaking her head.

Look more closely, she's probably rolling her eyes upwards at the same time.

[dgs]

Correct.

[dgs]

I dried another batch today using the turbo dryer and the cheap R/H sensor as reference. I left it at 60degs for 5 hours today as I couldn't get the R/H as read by the sensor lower than 30%. Last time it was 26% after 4 hours.

S/B test shows 105ppm. Todays ambient R/H was something like 20% higher than when drying the previous batch.

As the R/H of the air exiting the fan is considerably lower than ambient, next time I intend to duct the exiting air straight into the silica gel container, making it a sort of sealed circulation unit. It should in theory lead to much shorter drying times.

[oakwoodtv]

Won one of those sensors on the bay from America £1 37 with free postage.

Will have a play when it arrives.   

[dgs]

Good lad!

[therecklessengineer]

As the R/H of the air exiting the fan is considerably lower than ambient, next time I intend to duct the exiting air straight into the silica gel container, making it a sort of sealed circulation unit. It should in theory lead to much shorter drying times.

Have you tried introducing the silica gel directly into the biodiesel? Via a nylon bag or somesuch?

[dgs]

As the R/H of the air exiting the fan is considerably lower than ambient, next time I intend to duct the exiting air straight into the silica gel container, making it a sort of sealed circulation unit. It should in theory lead to much shorter drying times.

Have you tried introducing the silica gel directly into the biodiesel? Via a nylon bag or somesuch?

No, never. I have seen posts where it works as an indicator for water, but I wouldn't like to try it directly. Even if it worked it would have to be washed with methanol to remove all traces of bio then re-dried.

In any case as I usually water wash the starting point is somewhere around the 1100ppm level and I'm sure this would soon saturate the silica.