"How it's made" on biodiesel

[Julian]

Did any one see a "How it's made" program a couple of nights ago on one of the free view channels?

Details on the actual process were very sketchy.  There were more details on feed stock preparation than anything else, but a couple of interesting points came up.

One was that they the feed stock filtered down to 1µ before processing and used a vibrating filter (two separate processes).

The filter was rather good. It was a fine mesh screen about 600mm dia which must have vibrated in a circular motion because all the BCBs migrated to the circumference, leaving the center nice and clear.  Either they were doing this hot or all the fats had  been separated out, but it worked really well.

[julianf]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWWqSX3cE7o

[neisel]

Interesting to see the trouble they go to & importance they attach to filtering the oil clean before starting.

Does this mean we need to have a re-think on the rough filtering & glyc wash we typically do before starting the process?

[Julian]

Thanks, Julian.

I have to say it was nice to see all the preparation they.  It's some thing I've done since I started making bio in the belief that even tiny food particles harbour water.

[Julian]

Interesting to see the trouble they go to & importance they attach to filtering the oil clean before starting.

Does this mean we need to have a re-think on the rough filtering & glyc wash we typically do before starting the process?

I'd say yes, without a shadow of doubt.  1µ is way finer than I filter to, but in the past I've been accused of being anal about oil preparation!

[julianf]

i reckon that most of the fine BCBs in my feedstock come out with the glycerol pre-wash (if i use oil directly)

im more keen on rough filtering, and then pumping to an IBC holding tank, so as i can skim the clear from the top in the winter - in which case most of the BCBs probably fall out to the bottom - that will be a fun job at some point!

[therecklessengineer]

im more keen on rough filtering, and then pumping to an IBC holding tank, so as i can skim the clear from the top in the winter - in which case most of the BCBs probably fall out to the bottom - that will be a fun job at some point!

This is what I do as well. I also filter to about 100 micron after drying and before going into the processor - but this is largely because my processor pump has got really fine channels through the impellers. Any solids just clog it up and it's a right PITA to clean.

[nigelb]

I used to clean out one of those filter presses when I was at work. We had one in the chrome and zinc plating plants. It's surprising just what sort of crap accumulates in them and just how clean the water is that comes out. It was powered by a simple diaphragm pump.