Greg, For both a pressurized esterification reactor at 100 psi or an atmospheric reactor, they should work well. Worlds of difference between the fill pressures of propane and the equivalent of what goes into a bicycle road racing tire. The biggest reason why these tanks aren't recertified or fail certification is that by the time their stand ring starts to rot out the dealer is of the mind that their life cycle is almost up and it's cheaper/easier to replace the tank than to repair/recertify it for only a few more years use.
The nice things about these tanks is their dished top and bottom, which allows for good separation of the glycerin cocktail from the fuel layer. You'll probably want to install this tank upside down on a stand so as to gain access for a center mounted circulation/transfer pump. Install two entry ports for oil and methoxide on top. One can be used as a vent when filling to prevent back splashing. Install an insulation blanket and you've got something similar to the hot water tank processors that are being cooked up elsewhere. Propane has a nasty habit of impregnating every pore on the inside of tanks and continually exuding for literally years after a tank has been abandoned. You're right about displacing any gasses with water before cutting. If you have access to a CO2 tank (diverted from a MIG welder?) you can keep a small flow going into the tank so the water level is sufficiently apart from wherever a torch or plasma cutter might be working. That will allow for a quick and clean cut rather than the water pulling heat away as you cut Two of these puppies in line would make a nice acid/base system Todd Swearingen. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Harbican" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 1:06 AM Subject: [biofuel] Old propane tanks > I have a possible source of propane tanks that have failed certification, and, might be able to get one or two at scrap prices. I know to fill them with water to force out any propane than may still be in them, so they don't explode when I go to cut/drill into them. I figure that if I can locate a 40 lb tank, that has failed certification, that it should make a processor that can handle about 20 gal at a time. > > Any advice as to converting them to a BioDiesel processor? > > Greg H. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/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/
