Hey everyone,
I'm working on a prototype biodiesel processor which uses a pump to mix the wvo instead of physically stirring it. I had an idea to put a brass fitting in the middle of the tube and then attach a heating element to it, with insulation, to heat up the WVO as it passes through the tube. This is a bit different than the standard way of heating WVO by immersing a heating element into the WVO and I was wondering if anyone had tried this or which is more energy efficient or heats faster etc. any comments appreciated

Sirnobody

 

Think I read somewhere that bio attacks Brass... Fabman???

 

Water heating element does the job. Plus they are very cheap.

 

Are you talking about an inline heater like the one below? They're great, just make sure your pump is running when it's on. Many prefer the inline heating set up.

Enlarged View of Product

 

Yep...works like that to inside a 1" pipe. Inline or in the side of your processor...either way it serves the same purpose.

 

So is that the setup the OP is referring to? I am unclear as to what is meant by the brass fitting.

 

It wouldn't matter if you used a brass, steel, cast iron, or whatever material for a fitting (he probably just had a brass unit on hand or is worried the chemicals in the process will eventually eat other materials). The heating element needs to be immersed in the oil no matter what its location is...either in the piping or in the reaction vessel. As long as you are circulating fluid past the heating element you will have a much more energy efficient unit than if the liquid were to stand still.

For example a chunk of ice will melt quicker in 60 degree water that is being circulated versus being immersed in 200 degree water that is just standing still.

 

I understand how an inline heater works. I have one on my wash tank. My posts were actually directed at the OP.

 

Because of two small fires in my processor I switched over to indirect heating and now my oil never touches the eliment.

 

Sorry for the delay, I decided on an immersed one for my prototype biodiesel rig im making out of a an old paint can. Im going to step it up to a five gallon bucket later on since i dont have a diesel vehicle and im doing this more for the novelty than anything. I was referring to an inline heater versus a direct, in the main tank immersed, heater and was wondering which is more fuel efficient.

 

Hi every body
I have a 1997 F-250 7.3 power stroke and want too go bio should I
use a 14% methenol or 22%