Bio plant shed

[nathanrobo]

Been discussing my new shed and want to make sure that I include anything that could be useful.

The objective is to have an area that remains immaculately clean, have all the facilities that might be useful

• Power
• Water
• heating run off GCH - dual coned (jacket) processor
• Tiled, bunded floor
• Cavity insulated brick / block walls
• Polycarb roof
• French doors for plant access - large processor
• DG window for extra light

power cable, water, copper for heating etc will go down 4" pipe with draw wires.  Overall size 5mtrs x 4 mtrs probably.  What did I miss that can't be put in later?[/list]

[Julian]

Sink preferably with drainer (if you want one, I have a lefthanded bowl and a half unit with drainer ... yours if you can arrange collection) and therefore obviously drainage.

[Tony]

I think the most important is power - lots!  Make sure you cable appropriately for at least two immersions and pumps running at once, as well as plenty of strip lighting

I've also added a dusk to dawn light outside the shed's door, I can't tell you how useful that has been.

I guess an ethernet cable would be nice in case you ever want a webcam keeping an eye on things, or some form of remote control - though that could easily be added later.

[nathanrobo]

I think the most important is power - lots!  Make sure you cable appropriately for at least two immersions and pumps running at once, as well as plenty of strip lighting

I've also added a dusk to dawn light outside the shed's door, I can't tell you how useful that has been.

I guess an ethernet cable would be nice in case you ever want a webcam keeping an eye on things, or some form of remote control - though that could easily be added later.

Thanks Tony, the ethernet and external light are easy ones.  The power amperage is more of a challenge... I have a 16 amp outlet in the garage (shed will be about (50 ft or more away),  I don't think that's not enough juice.  The house has a consumer unit and the ring main is divided into the left hand side on one circuit and the right hand side of the house on the other circuit.  Getting a fresh supply from the consumer unit will mean taking up a lot of floor boards.  But maybe that's the only way forward :_(

[nathanrobo]

Sink preferably with drainer (if you want one, I have a lefthanded bowl and a half unit with drainer ... yours if you can arrange collection) and therefore obviously drainage.

That could be good! Not sure bout drainage... legality or distance to the nearest drain, just outside the back of the garage.

[Julian]

Sink preferably with drainer (if you want one, I have a lefthanded bowl and a half unit with drainer ... yours if you can arrange collection) and therefore obviously drainage.

That could be good! Not sure bout drainage... legality or distance to the nearest drain, just outside the back of the garage.

On the legality font, you may well need planning permission and building control for what you're describing anyway.

[nathanrobo]

Sink preferably with drainer (if you want one, I have a lefthanded bowl and a half unit with drainer ... yours if you can arrange collection) and therefore obviously drainage.

That could be good! Not sure bout drainage... legality or distance to the nearest drain, just outside the back of the garage.

On the legality font, you may well need planning permission and building control for what you're describing anyway.

Yep, need to check that... got an extension underway & that's under building control.

[julesandtash]

I have a sink with running hot and cold water in mine - invaluable.
I also have a dishwasher (the old one that was in the house when we moved in - when I fitted a new kitchen I was allowed the old one).
It is great for washing all the glassware, sieves and everything else that gets manky. I even take out the top drawer and put my collection drums in from time to time - gets them lovely and clean.

A nice flat surface to work on would be a good idea - you are bound to get a clogged pump or something that needs putting down and working on.

Something else I have in mine which I find invaluable is compressed air (the compressor lives under the sink). There are thousands of uses for compressed air from getting methylate and methanol out of drums to clearing blocked pipes and even drying items. Just dont try using it to dry your biodiesel (ask bio-rich-time-poor about that one).

I would certainly agree on the power thing, a decent sized feed is a must.
I have a 40A (9 KW) supply into mine fed through 10sq.mm cable

But, above all else, and something I would swear by having recently had necessity to use it, is a Fire Extinguisher
I have even considered a couple of those automatic dry powder ones that you can hang from a hook over items to protect them

[Julian]

Just dont try using it to dry your biodiesel (ask bio-rich-time-poor about that one).

Don't dismiss the idea out of hand!  It works far better than a venture when the ambient humidity is low.

However my recent experience must bring into question the efficacy of using an aquarium pump, as many do, in humid conditions.

[nathanrobo]

I have a sink with running hot and cold water in mine - invaluable.
I also have a dishwasher (the old one that was in the house when we moved in - when I fitted a new kitchen I was allowed the old one).
It is great for washing all the glassware, sieves and everything else that gets manky. I even take out the top drawer and put my collection drums in from time to time - gets them lovely and clean.

A nice flat surface to work on would be a good idea - you are bound to get a clogged pump or something that needs putting down and working on.

Something else I have in mine which I find invaluable is compressed air (the compressor lives under the sink). There are thousands of uses for compressed air from getting methylate and methanol out of drums to clearing blocked pipes and even drying items. Just dont try using it to dry your biodiesel (ask bio-rich-time-poor about that one).

I would certainly agree on the power thing, a decent sized feed is a must.
I have a 40A (9 KW) supply into mine fed through 10sq.mm cable

But, above all else, and something I would swear by having recently had necessity to use it, is a Fire Extinguisher
I have even considered a couple of those automatic dry powder ones that you can hang from a hook over items to protect them

I thought 10mm Sq would do the job, the armoured cable that I have isn't 10mm, so I've have to get some.  Looking at it i'll need to get a cable put into the consumer unit through floorboards to the garage, then out in armoured.

The sink with h & C is a must, as I want to wash out stuff, including containers.  I've got a spare compressor that I could site behind the shed in a box and pipe in.  The fire - extinguisher gonna be useful if I ever get a visit from someone official looking - what do you think an automatic one would cost?  Ref the pumps, I've 3 x 110lpm pumps from Glenn, a couple of Stuart pumps, compliments of steve for dewatering and processing. Assuming a couple of pumps on the processor itself, I was thinking about being able to isolate each on the pipework so that if a problem occurs mid batch, I can carry on.  The processor is likely to be 400 - 450 litres in stainless (waiting for tank prices at the mo). 

Rather than the 3 tank set up I previously had, there will only be a dewatering straining tank and the processor for reacting, washing and drying (venturi).  Polishing / dispensing will happen in the garage (i'll be able to spray bar dry and push through polishing drying pots for final dry here). 

[Oilybloke]

 You will also need a kettle, mug, milk & coffee.

[nathanrobo]

Good point!  Not to mention a cupboard for vodka

[julesandtash]

Mine is 400 litre stainless - one of the 'Whywaste' tanks that were going around a while back - cost me all of £75 and it is a solid and corosion free as the day I got it.
All of the fittings that penetrate the skin are stainless and I welded them in with stainless mig wire to keep the corrosion resistance.

[nathanrobo]

I don't think Bertle will mind me saying, but I'm waiting for a quote.  Whatever I do, I'll need to get on with it as I haven't made a batch since November and feedstock is beginning to build. Probably good till the middle of March though.

[greasemonkey]

Have you checked the price of polycarb lately? Your going to need good stuff on the roof, to support snow when it comes. Its eye wateringly expensive. Triwall is reasonably insulating, but not as good as a couple of inches of kingspan or fibreglass.

I'd say put a solid roof on, out of corrogated, or whatever, and insulate it well.
I painted the inside of my shed with very bright white kitchen and bathroom paint. The difference it makes to the light is unbelievable, its like having another striplight in there.

By insulating the roof, it will make it a lot nicer to work in when it is pouring with rain. You will need earplugs under polycarb, coz of the racket it makes.

If you rgoing to put a concrete floor in, yu may as well put two inches of kingspan under the concrete. it will make a huge difference.