There's more in the shed!

So this is what is left after loading my collection/settling tank and processing 24.5 gallons of WVO. There was at least 12 more in the shed but then my friend shows up with 12 more cubes of oil! OH SNAP!

Saw Dust/Wood Chip Filtering

So here's a photo with an example of the results of using maple sawdust & wood chips to filter settled biodiesel. Notice that you can see through the filtered flask. Going ahead with filtering this latest 24.5 gallons with saw dust. Results look very promising!

After some thinking and searching for a possible solution to my pump upgrade I stumbled upon the discussion and use of eductors as a way of increasing the mixing efficiency of large volumes of liquid with existing small pumps. The basic concept is that the liquid is pumped through a smaller orifice, thus creating a high pressure stream, which is shot down the center of a surrounding shroud. The back of the shroud is open allowing for the high pressure stream to create a vacuum. The eductor(s) would be submerged in the bio mix nearly reaching the bottom. Some have designs where the place one at the bottom and one at the near the top.

The eductor has the ability of increasing the mixing capabilities to 3-5 times that of the liquid being pumped. So if this is correct my 5gpm pump would be turned into something like 15-25gpm! Looks like fish pet stores sell them.

Jerry Rig II Update

Jerry Rig II processed 24.5 gallons successfully! Only minor issue was a small leak at the water heater element area. I figured if there were any leaks this would be where it would be, due to a mistake on my part on cutting a hole just a touch to big. I built the processor to low and will have to attach a longer drain hose in order to get good drainage of waste by-product. Also will need to get more powerful pump if I want to process 35-40 gallons.

Will also need to install a second water heater element if I want to preheat the oil faster in the processor. I might look at using the turkey frier to preheat like 5 gallons to 200-300 to help jump start and take a load off of the water heater element. Using the turkey frier I can get those temps in like 20 minutes. But I may go to the second water element in order to prepare for methanol recovery using the same processor, might save this for the spring/summer.

Also revisited testing using sawdust/wood shavings and filtering medium and it seems to work really well! I have friend that gave me some maple sawdust/shavings mixture and it worked great. I'm planning on loading up one of my PVC resin towers with this and test on this batch. Letting the methanol evaporate off as much as possible in order to extend the life of the sawdust and to limit the fire hazard as much as possible. Most likely get to that tomorrow and I'll post report and pictures.

IT'S DONE! Jerry Rig II is done and ready for it's maiden voyage today. Here's a video I posted on YouTube with an overview of the new processor.

Spent part of the morning re-working the 3/4" pipe to connect the WVO collection tank to the processor. Looks like I'll be able to reuse 100% of the pipe and parts from the previous system. I will have to get more parts to create a new method to use multiple injection streams into the processor. Instead of just one stream to mix/agitate I'm designing a system using 4 streams/ports. I'll post pictures or schematic later this weekend.

FINALLY! I've got the Jerry Rig II setup just about ready. I know, I know....it's taken me long enough it's been tough with family and work responsibilities but I'm just about there. Here are some pictures to show the progress.

From Jerry Rig Biodiesel Processor Updates

From Jerry Rig Biodiesel Processor Updates

From Jerry Rig Biodiesel Processor Updates

Yet another update

While waiting for the battery on my riding mower to charge, I decided to begin disassembling Jerry Rig I. Let's all take a moment of silence to honor and recognize all the biodiesel Jerry Rig I created...........ok that's enough.



As you can see by these photos that using the 16 gallon drum was VERY simple. I can say without a doubt had I been driving less than 500 miles a week I would have been still using Jerry Rig I to produce my biodiesel. This is a great size to begin with and easy/inexpensive to build. It also didn't require a whole lot of space to setup either. I've offered up the processor to a group of VW TDI owners to adopt. Lets see what happens.

Progress

Since my last post I've made some progress and should have Jerry Rig II up by mid week. I've finally plumbed the bottom for my WVO collection tank and ready to put it in place. For those going with a stand pipe design you can go to Lowe's and have them add threading to pipe in order for there to be enough thread that comes out of the bottom to attach to needed pipe to connect to system.

Finally found some washers to seal up the hole I slightly made a smidge to big for the electric water heater element.

Measure twice, cut once....DOH!

Well, I was delayed in getting Jerry Rig II up and running due to a dumb mistake in measurement. I was in the process of cutting a hole to mount the water heater element and upon inserting the element I realized I cut the hole just a smidge to big. Rather than using the inner diameter of the fitting I used the outer diameter. DOH! Being so busy with work and family I haven't had a chance to find a gasket and washer to try and fix my error. But in the mean time I've processed yet another 30+ gallons with Jerry Rig I.

I also had another minor set back in that both of my resin towers had a malfunction. Due to the weight of the resin and biodiesel in the towers they screens began sagging and came loose on one side thus allowing the resin to flow out. Due to the design I followed there's no easy way of repairing the screens as they are glued in. The design should have included some type of support structure to hold up the screens under load. I'm in the process of redesigning and modifying the design to allow for repairs and access to the screens. Here's a diagram of my idea.

Diesel Tax Credits

Here's a table of tax credit qualifying cars being sold. Surprise not a single one is US made.

T Minus 4 Days

 
 

Let the count down begin, T minus 4 Days! That is the target date for the offical launch of Jerry Rig II! It is my intention to get Jerry Rig II up and running and producing two 35 gallon batches this coming Sunday. As I begin to get closer to that day I will share the final construction and use of the new processor.

Here are some pictures of the plumbing for the bottom of processor. Man was tough finding the right parts but finally with the help of a Menard's sales person, Tom, I was able to find the right parts. So, to plumb JR2 using the kitchen sink strainer will require using a 1.5" Coupler, then a 1.5" nipple (4" in this case), and a 1.5" to .75" adapter to connect to my existing .75" system.

Next, bowling of the bottom of the processor! Stay Tuned!!

Aaah..Spring is in the air, time to Brew!

Well, I know I've shirked my duties in keeping the blog updated but man it's tough to find new things to right about! But fear not I have come up with a solution! REGURGITATION!

Yes, that's right re-visiting my experiences but with a slight twist. As you remember I was working on Jerry Rig II to upgrade to a production capacity of 30-35 gallons of finished biodiesel. Well, since I have to reconstruct and rearrange everything I thought I would document the whole thing for all to see. I'm looking forward to it!

On a side note I've been having a hell of a time obtaining lye from Lowes and other retail outlets. I called around to several chemical suppliers and none will do business with individuals without a business license. Would appear that the damn meth heads of made it more difficult for us law bidding citizens to acquire such chemicals. Damn drugtards!! But thanks to the kindness of some fellow brewers I was able to find a couple of sources for getting ahold of some potassium hydroxide(KOH). Wonder if any of the meth heads would sell me some their KOH?

Ford Fiesta 65mpg but not here in US! WTF?!

Well, you wonder why the American 3 are in such dire straights, here's your answer. Ford has a Fiesta diesel that they sell in Europe for around $13K and that gets 65mpg. But yet they won't bring it here to the the US! What idiots!

Here's the ad: show the car, text at the top showing price, text at bottom showing 65mph, and then screen goes black with " See you at the dealership."

More here.

Diesel doesn't get any sexier than this!

At the North American Auto Show in Detroit VW announced this concept diesel roadster. Sexy and 42mpg!

Biodiesel from Used Coffee Grounds

So here's the latest in biodiesel feed stock as a source for biodiesel. Used coffee grounds! Hell I drink enough that I could probably fuel a semi!

Some excerpts from the article:

"....Spent coffee grounds contain between 11 and 20 percent oil by weight. That's about as much as traditional biodiesel feedstocks such as rapeseed, palm, and soybean oil...."

"....Growers produce more than 16 billion pounds of coffee around the world each year........The scientists estimated, however, that spent coffee grounds can potentially add 340 million gallons of biodiesel to the world's fuel supply...."

Here's a link to the full article in Science Centeric web site.

I'm going to try to obtain a copy of the journal publication for complete details. Stay tuned!!