New User Group - Biodiesel

A good idea, but I would take it one step further... A group for all exotic and new types of fuels and their applications.

Then somebody give us some points here! I could use another "good answer" on my CV!!!

Ditto

What all you say here is true, but I and rlindey have one question... The points! Where the heck are all our dang "good answer" points?!

very good idea .

Sounds like a great idea.

I'm interested. Count me in! In my small rural town, I've become a small-time oil tycoon with a refinery in my garage harvesting used cooking oil from restaurants and processing for my car.

USER GROUP Idea is excellent.

The emerging Technologies such as Waste Plastic in to Diesel, Municipal Solid Waste in to Diesel, Algae converted in to Diesel are various feasible solutions could find USERS of Diesel with without Decentralised Plants in their topography over aperiod of Time.

Pl. proceed with the Plan and bring all those who are open on a single Group platform by choice.

Greetings, All!

It seems we are starting to pick up a small following of interested people. I was wondering if any of you are actively involved in any alternative projects or just interested observers. Personally, I harvest used cooking oil from a local restaurant, filter and burn in my diesel. (which is my test vehicle) I also plan to be involved with a small biodiesel manufacturing project at a local technical college, and plan on investigating some value-added ideas for the glycerin by-product from biodiesel production.

Why yes I make my own biodiesel. I use it to heat my 200 year old house. Last year I made about 1500 gallons at a cost average of about $1.00 USD per gallon. I think I saved about $2,500 bucks. While the porcess is time consuming I believe it is worth the effort. the resulting non-use of petro products is great as is the savings.

Bob

Is certainly an applicable field

What about creating an engine that can burn and derive power from any flammable liquid. The last time I saw an engine like that, it was the turbine engine in the Chrysler 1964 turbine powered proto-type car... Literally, it could run on any liquid that would burn!

An old friend has a 6x6 WWII troop transport and runs on any liquid that will burn. It can run on diesel, gasoline , turpentine, soy oil and cheap vodka

I will work with one of those as well, but only for a little while.

Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Form the car not the fuel!!!

Oh yeah!!! The Model T or Model A Ford was like that also... My Mom's parents had one they ran on kerosene and all kinds of stuff!!!

Welcome aboard! My old diesel car runs quite well on used cooking oil. There's seldom enuf wind to even fly a kite in my area.

WCFLOYD, I understand what you mean about the wind.We live in S.E. Pa and it,s not a heavy wind area. However, there is always some wind in the wintertime,and I believe the generator in conjunction with the solar panels will keep a decent battery pack charged.Along with my solar powered soda can hot air heater,I,m hopeing to cut down my oil bills this winter. My garage is totally battery powered now, I simply use my conventional battery charger when the windmill can,t keep up. My old ford p/u is on it,s last legs and I really do not like the 10 mpg I,m getting so therefor, make my own fuel if I can figure out how. Has anyone here ever heard of a company called " DIESEL SECRETS" ? their advertising is allfully appealing. Thanks for the reply

Hello Mister406

From what I have read do not use diesel secret.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/419605551/m/1311010701.

http://www.biodieselnow.com/forums/p/1863/7374.aspx#7374

These site are pretty good and I was able to get a lot of info about making enough biodiesel to heat my house last year. Check it out.

The hardest part was getting the methanol and the caustic (NaOH or KOH). NaOH can be bought in some hardware stores while I get my KOH from a chemical distribution company. They are quite regulated and require lots of documentation.

If you want to start start small and once you get the method down large batches are a matter of multipicatoin. Email me if you want more info.

Bob

Happy New Year All

Even thought the world energy crunch has ebbed, for the time being, and the urgency seems to have diminshed as well, I think it imperative the continue the move towards alternative energy sourcesand away from the traditional petro power.

There have been several posts relating to this issue and I wold like to see a group dedicated to this theme.

Bob

Nice idea! ...cast my vote

So how many of you are making biodiesel??

If you are what are you using it for, Auto, Home heating, Marine?

Any enlightening method of production?

I personall heat the house in the winter (1600 gallons this past season), so I am stockpiling for now. I will start reproduction soemtime in July or August.

My latest alteration to my method is to add somoe of the glycerin (about 2 gallons per 38 gallons WVO) from the previous batch to the WVO as it is heating up. This helps break down the FFAs (free fatty acids) reducing the amount of caustic needed. I have also been able to reduce the amount of MeOH I use ( particularly nice since this is the most costly item needed). I am now getting about 10% more BD per barrel.

Happy cooking

Bob

I am working with York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC in their biodiesel program. They have an automated unit that makes 100 gal with a 2-step process. First step reacts the waste veggie oil with methanol and sulfuric acif to esterify all the free fatty acids, then adds caustic to neutralize acid and do base catalyzed rxn. I am going to be looking at using an acid-functional ion exchange resin to catalyze the first rxn instead of sulfuric acid. Its a lot safer to handle. The idea is to load the resin beads into a chamber, like sand in a pool filter, heat the oil and methanol up to temperature, and recirculate it thru the packed bed. We are using reclaimed methanol distillate from a chemical process instead of virgin methanol and it works well at less cost. The reclaimed methanol is 99+% pure by NMR last time I checked.

WCFloyd,

I googled the college and searched for BD and found http://www.yorktech.com/collegenews/11212008.htm

The article stated that the school uses up to 4300 gallons of fuel. Where you able to provide enough Bio Diesel or do you mix with regular diesel? Did you change out equipmet from standard ICE to Diesel??

I hope you can reuse the beads for subsequent batches??

What type of WVO are you getting? Since you have many sources I can only gather that there are a variety of type. I have 2 sources. The on I work at provides me with the mojority of my need, it is canola oil and always in a liquid form. My other source is a hydrogenated one and is usually solid. I have been saving this for a reserve so far, but this summer when the weather gets warm I will try to convert it. I am curious as to how you handle different oils.

I would like to know how your batches come out with the beads.

Thanks

Bob

We are still in the developmental stage with a half dozen or so batches under our belts. The idea is to get cooking oil (soy) from the cafateria and a couple local restaurants and make biodiesel to power the campus lawn mowers. I think they are using in the diesel tractor mowers with no modifications. The beads are used as a catalyst and are reusable unless they get fouled. We haven't done it yet, but its on the list. It ought to work. Be careful with the partially hydrogenated oil.It may still solidify in the lines if it gets cold. I've made biodiesel from several different sources to study, and partly hydrogenated got a little viscous, if I recall. You may be able to use it in a blend. Make a small batch of bioD with it and make a couple blends with your canola oil bioD and set them in a refrigerator for an hour or so and see how they look.

Sounds like an excellant idea. I will and if I remeber i will let you know

Thanks

Bob

If anyone comes up with a way to get my pool + algae to become useful in producing some biofuel, be sure to let me know!

I'm interested in biodiesel, too. I don't want to buy any more foreign fuel. I want American made fuel.