>No, actually I am refering to the single stage regular type process. >The problem I am forecasting and trying to avoid is when using a >water pump with the water heater processor I don't want to end >up "gumming" the pump with solidified glycerine, soooo, I figure >that once having mixed it for about an hour or so with the methoxide >(sodium hydroxide) and letting it settle for a couple hours then I >should be able to extract the glycerine and then follow that with >the BD and then wash it right ?
Are you planning to drain it or to pump it out? Anyway, two hours' settling time isn't long enough, IMO, 12 hours or 24 would be better. Not ready for washing after only two hours. What's your observation so far, with test batches/small batches? Does your by-product harden? If so, how long does that take to happen? What's its melting point? >The original question was at what temp I should be processing but I >think you were right about 100F being too high as in another post I >believe around 35C-40C but then 40C is over 100F so I got to go read >what you suggested before going any further, although 100F is not >100C and shouldn't cause any major problems from what I remember >reading (listen to me, the king of theory, ha!) I just don't want >the glycerine to harden up and jam the pump that's all. We're getting confused. I didn't say 100F (38C) is too high for *processing*, it's not high enough, process temp should be 130F (55C). You said the glycerine would "harden" at under 100F, and I said I think the melting point (also the "hardening" point) would be lower than 100F. I'm sure the glycerine is not going to harden during processing and jam your pump, so don't base your processing methods on avoiding something so unlikely, but on producing the best product. At any rate, situate the pump inlet above any likely level of settled by-product (some may settle during processing, but most won't). The by-product content of the small amount of processed BD remaining in the pump is highly unlikely to jam the pump even if it does go solid. If you let the batch settle overnight, or longer, and the by-product happens to solidify so you can't drain it, re-heat it. This has a bearing on the heating element you use. If it's too strong it'll burn the oil (WVO) in pre-heating and the BD in re-heating. List member Matt Pozzi gave us a number: "Make a rough extimate of the element's area of contact with the oil (length*pi*diameter) and make sure the output will be around or less than 3W/sq cm, this will ensure no burning of the oil whilst heating. Elsewise you will need to stir while heating." Obviously when re-heating settled BD you don't want to have to stir it. So two smaller heaters might be better than one big one. >Girl Mark says she uses potassium hydroxide rather than sodium >hydroxide, and I would LOVE to do that but can only get it through a >chemistry warehouse and it costs big time, which would raise my >production costs considerably. Also you need to use more of it. Here in Japan it's the same price as NaOH, but still costs more because of the extra quantity needed, but we think it's worth it and seldom use NaOH. Best Keith >I got another question but will make >another post to cover it. >Thanks for your help. > > >--- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >I know I have read this somewhere, but where exactly escapes me at > > >the moment. > > >Using sodium hydroxide as a catalyst will encourage the glycerine > > >to "harden" at under 100F right? Does this mean that while > > >processing I should be sure to keep the temperature ABOVE 100F and > > >then drain it off about an hour after I have stopped mixing ? > > > > "Encourage" is the right word, though it won't necessarily happen >at > > all. Whether it hardens and at what temp depends on a few things. > > More info here: > > > > How much glycerine? Why isn't it solid? > > http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make2.html#howmuchglyc > > > > As I recall (it's been awhile), when it solidifies it takes a >while > > and it doesn't happen evenly, it gets lumpy first. Mostly it >didn't > > set, apart from a few lump sometimes. Using KOH we've never had it > > solidify. I think your 100F would be a bit high, melting temp >should > > probably be lower than that, not quite sure of that though. I've >got > > some solid stuff, I could melt it and let it set again, check the > > melting point, but it'll take me awhile to get round to it. > > > > >I am building Girl Mark's Fumeless Processor using a water heater > > >(30 gal capacity), and it would seem that that (100F) would be the > > >way to go, although I am still not 100% certain about the draining > > >the glycerine so soon after stopping the mixing. > > >Any pointers ? > > > > You're talking about the acid-base process, right? It's an >optional > > step (as is removing glyc during the 2nd stage), so if you're not > > happy with it you could try it first without. Your processing temp > > for the 2nd stage should be 55 deg C (130F); one hour after > > processing (depending on the weather) it should still be above >100F. > > Most, but not quite all, the glycerine by-product will have >settled > > by then, but you'll be settling it properly and draining it all >later > > anyway. > > > > HTH > > > > Best > > > > Keith ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. 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