Fuel from Coconut Cooking Oil

I suspect this can be done. You would want to investigate such things as fuel viscosity, nozzle configuration, fuel filtration, and pressure to the nozzle; also the nature of unburned fractions that might foul the fireside of the boiler. I don't know that there would be any big problems here--just some things to look for.

I hope this can be done.

Can we use the existing diesel burner for this fuel? can this burner be retrofited for this fuel?

Trouble with coconut oil is that it is more a grease than an oil - if you feed t into the furnace it will be the same as any other oil. You could try thinning it with kerosene which will help ignition.

You could need to strain it to remove foreign matter - old chips and bits of fish.

If it is very dirty give it a hot water wash that will separate out the crud.

You need a burner that won't plug and isn't sensitive to viscosity and impurities.

Here is a link to a description of a Babington burner:

http://www.aipengineering.com/babington/Babington_Oil_Burner_HOWTO.html

These are inexpensive and very flexible.

I will explore this. Thanks.

The large renderers do it all the time with yellow grease and tallow. They preheat it and filter it (if not already clean from process). It is treated like No. 6 oil, in a similar burner, in fact they use it in the same boilers. If the yellow grease and tallow markets are down, they can burn it as fuel, then if the price comes back, switch to no. 6 oil and sell the products. The clean air permits need to be altered to burn yellow grease or animal fat. It is cleaner, but the permits need amending just the same.

As a worst case, you can convert it essentially to biodiesel by combining with ( sodium hydroxide ?) and alcohol. you can search for the details. Its a batch process. Several companies sell systems to do it.

Why bother - it will burn if liquefied. Why lose the claolrific value of the glycerin

Hi NOP727, yes 100% possible. If necessary, please lower the viscosity of the oil for proper automization. Rangasamy

It can be done easily but you should clean the oil. warm the oil to about 120F and filter to remove large particles then clean with a centrifuge. Coconut oil will go solid at room temp so you will have to keep it very warm to flow. You can also thin with furnace oil or diesel but some heat works well.