Hi Nick, Jeremy >I'm new to the group but the safest way to heat would be a heat >exchanger system where you heat water then pipe the hot water or >steam to your processor then either recycle /circulate back to your >heater, Maybe not suitable but how do you heat water now, maybe you >could pipe some of your existing water to heat the oil. >just some thoughts and looking to make some biodeisel myself when I >move into my own home >Regards >Nick
Previous posts on heat exchangers: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/29337/ http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/29341/1/ (The whole thread's linked from the table above the message.) Plenty more on this in the archives. Re water heaters, the usual processing temperature is 130-135 deg F, household hot water might not be hot enough. Todd posted this to another group a few months ago (pardon me, Todd) - it might not apply to Jeremy's case since he's off-grid, but still: >Most water heaters (in the US) are factory set at ~120*F. They also >have a "one time trip" mechanism, set anywhere between 160-180*F, >that permanently disables the entire heater should it every >malfunction and go above that temp. The only way to get to that >temperature short of a malfunction is to take the face of the dial >off and manually alter the stops. If you do, you'll have to manually >calibrate the new dial range and make absolutely certain that the >water tank's temp never exceeds 160*. Otherwise you'll be buying a >new thermostat. > >You'll also want to keep such a rigged water heater separate from >any residential uses to prevent scalding of residents. > >As for your specific application? You can accomplish what you're >trying to do without rigging the heater at all if you insulate both >water and veg-oil tanks, the feeder and return lines. You'll want to >do this anyway to keep your electic bill from sky rocketing as a >result of trying to combat the Artic heat sink outside the tanks. A >coil of copper 20' in length in the veg-tank would be more than >adequate to achieve the temperature rise you seek in short order. >The plumbing will need to be assembled in a manner that permits >complete drainage of the exchanger, feed and return lines to prevent >frezing pipes as a result of intermittant use during winter. > >You'll also need to install a circulation pump. (along with two >shutoff valves,if you use your existing residential water heater). > >You can find a reliable, low amperage draw, water circulation pump >capable of temps up to 212*F at >http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2003111009432450&item=2-116 >7&catname=water They have a few other models for lower temps, but >the cost is about the same. > >If you're going to use your existing residential water heater, >you'll need to install two shutoff valves, one each for the feed and >return lines and a backflow valve on the return line. The backflow >valve is needed because your residential system is pressurized. > >Todd Swearingen ----- > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jeremy > To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 3:07 AM > Subject: [biofuel] Propane heated water heater processor > > > I am going to build a water heater style fumeless processor as >described by Girl Mark. I am wondering if anyone has converted a >natural gas or propane hot water heater into a fumeless biofuel >processor. I live off grid, and an electric hot water heater >conversion would max out my solar/diesel generation capacity. I am >guessing that it would only take a couple of gallons of propane to >heat the oil. I am concerned about the safety of an open flame in a >processor. Thanks for any response. I don't know much about gas-powered hot water heaters. If you're not happy about it, you could pre-heat the oil in a separate tank and then pump it into the processor once it's hot enough. You could use an open flame for that (we do) just as long as there's no methanol around, in any form. Once methanol comes into the picture, no more open flames. This then leaves you with the much smaller problem of maintaining the temperature, which doesn't take much, especially if you insulate the processor. Maybe your off-grid system could take that? Best wishes Keith > Jeremy > Tonasket, Washington ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/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. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
