Got a 3 stage processing system all set up, that was very kindly donated by another forum member greenchef. 2 x GL style's and 1 x fenland, plus a 205 heated settling tank.
I have several hundred litres of oil and partially reacted bio diesel now transfered into settling drums awaiting transfer into the first stage processor. All the processors bar the heated settling tank have now been positioned to replicate how greenchef had his set up. My view is, I may as well set it up in the same style as greenchef.
A quick 10 minute job unbolting one of the pumps to remove a foreign object, as it was wrapped around the impeller shaft and causing the motor to run at a fraction of it's main speed. Once that was stripped down, cleared and reassemble it ran perfectly.
All processors have been pressure washed out to get rid of the gunk and rust that settled. One thing I still need to do is get off my rear end and get some gaskets for one of the processors.
Once that's done I'm going to do a trial run to get a feel for the entire system by simply heating and pumping clean water from one processor to the next in the method that greenchef used, that way it will help me to start developing the muscle memory of knowing what valves etc to turn on/off, and to see if there's any leaks anywhere. I'd rather do that with clean water than sticky oil.
Oh, and 5 and 10 micron sock filters for the first stage water wash processor. Still need to get those and fit them to the Fenland.
Edit: Extra things I've done since grunting everything into position, is tinker with one of the processors today using clean water to flush it through and to also get accustomed to knowing which levers to use and when. Turned off all the outer venting pipes so it continiously pumped round and round. In all I must have filled it with about 70-80 litres of water. No leaks, all good.
Any crud that was in the pipes was immediately flushed through. Repeated the process a second time with clean water as a final flush through. Emptied the water out via the bottom outlet and job done.
So, that's one processor ready for use. Now to gasket up the 2nd processor and replace the filter socks in the 3rd processor and give them the same flush through treatment and pumping familiarisation before then pumping from one processor to the next to simulate a full batch process.
The closer I get to making my first batch, the more excited I get!
