Biodiesel Home Heating Burner

Presumably it is serviced regularly as a bought-in service and a record of the service kept for insurance and warranty purposes?

Boiler service companies can install the correct jets for the fuel during routine servicing provided the full spec on the fuel is provided to them. Of course, a jet for the new fuel to fit the boiler type does have to be available. I'd discuss it with the servicing company as a first step.

Generally speaking, if the viscosity of your Bio-Diesel is the same as the oil you were using, there should be little need to change the jet or spray nozzle size. You may have to adjust the combustion air setting and possibly the flame retention head. I would suggest having the burner set-up by a reputable oil burner service company in your area that is familiar with Bio-Diesel. There are many variables that can be tweaked to provide for reliable ignition and maximum efficiency. Too much to go into here.

try these guys, tons of info http://www.homepower.com/

search the archives.

Brad

ps the previous answers are correct also

National Biodiesel Board site

http://www.biodiesel.org/

besides the need to fine tune the burners, other potential issues would probably involve contact w/rubber or plastic parts, that are incompatible & the fact that Biodiesel is a solvent & will flush the crud out of the fuel tanks. the severity of any issues will berelated to the quality of the biodiesel & the concentration, 20%biodiesel/80%dino diesel is fairly common from commercial wholesalers.

For me this is a stupid idea.

If you really want to do something for the environment you should alter the installation so that you harvest solar heat, store and use it in winter time.

Add a wind turbine and use the power to heat your house. (this can reduce the size of the heat accumulator)

But leave the Biodiesel for transportation/mobile use, this market is already stressing the world food chain to much.

Mail me if you want support in the design.

I started burning 100% Biodeisel that I made in the garage this autumn. I have talked to others in my area that also burn Bio and they recommended increasing the fuel pressure and reducing the nozzle size while increasing the nozzle spray angle. This helps in atomizing the fuel which gives a better burn. Another issue is the bio tends to drip out of the nozzle when the furnace is not running. This can cause fouling of the air deflector and nozzle it self. I have recently found out that there is product that can be installed at the nozzle that is a pressure activated switch. This will supposedly stop the drip.

To date I have not had any problems with the Bio attacking any of the pump seals. I have changed the filters but probably did not have to as they were clean. I do clean the nozzle assembly every 10 days or so as a precaution. It is very simple to do and assures me that I will eliminate "no starts"

Good luck

Just ran into this site you might find it interesting http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/enewsletter/FYI_82_Biodiesel_11_13_06.htm

Brad

Dear Belgian Gwen,

Thankyou for your input. Although we did not find your suggestion of it being a "stupid idea" anyway helpful. A suggestion of stupidity either originates either from great intelligence or total ignorance. Either way it is a judgement. Your suggestion of the world being close to the edge regarding food production is not correct, and that using up valuable growing resources for fuels rather than food is also incorrect. As you must also be aware that decrees from Brussels (Belgium), have contributed to so many red tape laws being made in Europe that prevents farmers producing certain foods, and that they are paid to "not produce" certain foods. Hence this keeps foods in a supply/demand/price to market loop. (Controlled Economics)

The bottom line is, and please don't forget that from European Government view it's about "Economy" rather than "Ecology". Ministers and politicians believe in "Ecology", but by the time it filters down to actually doing something it has already become "Economics". And also we have enough land and food to feed the people of this world. I encourage you to reply with some positive Engineering suggestions as asked. Also thanking all Engineer contributors so far.

Dear guest,

As I stated: the thoughts are mine. The judgement is yours.

As you might also have picked up in the news: half of Belgium is trying to get rid of Belgium/Brussels.

Never forget: the rules on agriculture are imposed by the EU, which has nothing to see with the locals. We don't judge a New Yorker on what has been decided in the UN security council.

I never told that world is near the edge on food production. No, we can do a lot more and there is still plenty of it for everyone. Except that the biofuel market has taken such a high start that a lot of what is produced for food is now burned as fuel.

The poor do feel this, when you need to invest nearly all your income on food you do feel a rise in prices of 10% as a hole in your stomach.

And the 10% has already happened. which is a direct result of higher base product prices for agricultural products.

A example: when I bought a bag of grain for my chicken three years ago I paid €5,40. Now I need to pay €9,- for the same amount.

But you are right on the real food production problems: rules are based on economics, and ecology has to swallow. But the same group of descision makes wanted to stop this subsidised agricultural system. They were nearly executed: to many have organised their complete business on the rules and should really not know what to grow when the rules don't suggest.

Hello Im not an engineer, but i am a heating contractor. I have been experimenting in not bio diesel but straight wvo. It is working very good in my burner as long as i heat the oil. im keeping it anywere from 120 to 140 degrees and it burns good it does tend to burn a longer flame so the wider angle is very important. Ihad to really reduce the gph on the nozzle also. My main problem is if it is off for to long it wont reignite. Ihave raised the oil pressure to max to help with lighting. with this way of doing it my cost for heating is next to nothing. Lets face it that is the main reason for any of us to look for an alternative heating sorce is to save money. I myself used to burn firewood for heat so im saving trees and burning a product that is a nusaunce to most resturaunt owners. The main advice i have to you is to make sure the your flame doesnt burn to hard on the back of your firebox as it will burn it out. I have found an item on ebay that can burn any oil im going to purchase to test soon. Im not sure if this helped at all but just wanted to put this out there.