Todd posted a good reply to this question a few months ago. It's here:
http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/38094/
Date: 2004-09-03
From: Appal Energy
Subject: Re: [biofuel] pump size
Best wishes
Keith
I have a 1" clear water pump hooked up to an eighty gal hot water heater.
I used all 1" plumbing for my manifold with 1" full port valves.
The tank opening is still 3/4" but there should be ample pressure
pushing the oil through the opening.
How long should I have to run the processor to get full reaction?
Thank you, Jeremy
You're referring to this? "Re: New method for the production of home
made bio-diesel":
<snip>
I am building the Appleseed reactor and so far I have spent about $200 on
lab gear (glass ware, pH meter, scale, etc.), and three steel 55 gal drums.
Still looking for a suitable 50-60 gal water heater for which I will most
likely spend $50 - $100 from a local used plumbing shop. If you have a
recycled construction materials yard there that would likely be a good
source for wood or steel for racks and frames as well as the plumbing
supplies. I have decided to go new on the pump and vacuum pump since it
would be difficult to determine the actual condition of used one. Beside,
you may not know what it had been used for which might introduce
contamination into your process
Be aware that the 1" clear water pump usually recommended for these
reactors is too small for that size water heater. Those pumps will
handle at most a 25-gallon reactor. So you'll have to extend the
processing time considerably to get a complete reaction, or use a
bigger pump. Or at least try using the 1" clear water pump at its
full 1" capacity, rather than stepping it down to 3/4", which will
probably mean changing the fittings on the tank.
Also be aware that the arrangements on these processors for
draining the glycerine by-product do not achieve good separation
and you're quite likely to get some glyc along with the biodiesel
to be washed in the wash-tank, compounding the washing problems
you'll have if the process isn't completed properly.
So don't just blindly follow the instructions as it seems most
people building these reactors do. Think about it yourself, figure
it out, step by step.
Best wishes
Keith
80 gallons is definitely too big for that pump when it's fitted as
recommended by the people who promote those processors, ie, stepped
down to 3/4". I'd say it's also too big for it at 1", especially as
you have a 3/4" inlet.
I don't understand this:
The tank opening is still 3/4" but there should be ample pressure
pushing the oil through the opening.
What's the difference between having the tank opening at 3/4" on the
one hand, and having the pump itself stepped down to 3/4"? Do you
think giving the oil a head-start to build up some speed (and
pressure?) in a length of 1" pipe will make any difference? I don't
know (though I doubt it), I'm asking.
How long should I have to run the processor to get full reaction?
I don't think there's any formula that can tell you that, there are
too many variables. For instance, we might tell you something that
was correct for an 80-gallon tank using that pump that we happened
to know of (though we don't), but if your tank had different
dimensions (say short and fat rather than tall and thin) it probably
wouldn't work. You'll have to find out by trial and error. Use these
tests:
Quality testing
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_vehicle.html#quality
I'm not knocking the pump, by the way, we use one, for 60 litre
batches, and it's great. I probably am knocking the people who
recommended it for use with 200-litre tanks and more - and then
kicked up huge unseemly smokescreens of denial and obfuscation when
it was suggested here that it was too small for such a tank... only
to admit it very blithely four months later on another list, as if
it all the fuss they'd made here had never happened. Yuk. Too much
ego, not enough of what makes people human, IMHO.
Best wishes
Keith
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