Graham Lammins set up.

[DavidA]

(Apologies to Graham if I spelt his name incorrectly)

Is anyone here using Graham's reactor set up ?
It looks very business like, and not too difficult to make.

Dave.

[Jamesrl]

I've made the occasional GL set up with a couple of updates as some on here might remember.

Graham's design is without doubt the best way to go.

[DavidA]

Can you point me to the updates ?

Cheers,

Dave.

[dgs]

I've made the occasional GL set up with a couple of updates as some on here might remember.

Graham's design is without doubt the best way to go.

Without getting into too much detail and not wanting all out war between two 'oldies' on the forum. There are two sides to every story.

I have never been a GL processor person. Too complicated and IMO responsible for poor bio very often amongst newcomers.

[DavidA]

I've never used any kind of reactor other than a 20 Litre drum. It works, but is very labour intensive (Makes your arms ache).

What do you see as the main cause of batch failure with GL's set up ?

[dgs]

I've never used any kind of reactor other than a 20 Litre drum. It works, but is very labour intensive (Makes your arms ache).

What do you see as the main cause of batch failure with GL's set up ?

If its a choice between a 20 litre drum and a gl proc I would prefer the 20 litre method all day long!

I've use the drum method lots of times, 3x 10 seconds mixings works as well as a pump for much longer and all done at ambient.

I will post more details when I pm. I know a lot on here love gl's and my views are contra to the ones most people have but just what I have found over the years.

[Julian]

Lots of info on GL processors along wit others on the wiki.  Check it out if you haven't already.

The wiki hasn't been updated for some time.  Notable missing methods are dgs's ambient processing and minimal, intermittent mixing on which you should find forum threads with a bit of searching.

[DavidA]

Thanks for that, Julian.  I'll have a look around.

[Tony]

I've been using the GL design for over a decade.  But TBH you do not need the venturi to condense methanol, just heating in an enclosed system pushes the vapour through the condenser.  I only really use the venturi to mix in the methoxide.

[DavidA]

Isn't the main purpose of the venturi to mix the meth in with the oil at the beginning of the process ?

[nigelb]

The purpose of the venturi is to create the vacuum to allow the methoxide to be drawn safely into the flow of oil.

[DavidA]

Pretty much what I meant; but put more elegantly.

Also useful for adding the 5% wash , if used.

[nigelb]

Indeed...and for sucking back in any samples taken during the mix

[Tony]

Isn't the main purpose of the venturi to mix the meth in with the oil at the beginning of the process ?

Yes but if you look at his state diagram valve V7 is also open for methanol recovery

http://www.graham-laming.com/bd/ecosystem/state_diagram_new.htm

I can see the thinking, to circulate the vapours through the condenser - however this is not necessary.