Settling tanks

[Bio-boy]

Are they really necessary. I simply react and settle in the same tank and then water wash and dry in the same tank. Is the use of additional space for a separate settling tank in your shed really worth it? Are they mainly of use when dry washing?

[dgs]

I do the same as you, I think it is more important to those who de-meth and then just leave to settle (up to 4 weeks) Then having 2 settling tanks would be advantageous.

Of course having a seperate settling tank for the oil also helps, it's amazing what ends up in the bottom even though when pouring the  filtered oil in nothing seems to be in it.

I have 4xIBC's for oil of different qualities. The best oil (that I use for road fuel) is allowed to settle for at least a week then is glyc washed with the M67 and then held in another tank before being processed.

[Tony]

I demeth and have three batch sized settle tanks on rotation. Good to have stock in reserve!

[rbdazza]

i have done both, used to settle, process, wash and dry in one tank and then transfer to storage when finished. I now have 3 tanks, an oil drying tank (any crap that makes it in stays in here and not in the processor), a processor and a wash/dry tank. right  now I have a 4th outside with the M67 in it!

it suits me having multiple tank, I can load the processor up and run a batch whilst I drop more oil in to the settle tank. I can dump the bio in the wash tank and not worry about how long it takes as, etc. both work, it depends on how you process I guess.

for instance last Friday I had 1000l turn up and over 600l of it is gone from the IBC already. I've had a bit of time on my hands so have been able to plough through the oil (whites). after this week i'll have 400l of finished fuel, 190l in my wash tank, 190l in the processor (dried), 190l in the settle tank (dried) and still have the M67 tank to start loading with whites/slops I accumulate along the way. when my storage tank starts to get low I can move things along in a steady manner, but all the hard work of turning white slops in to dry usable oil will be done.