Make or buy?
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From: Huntsville, TX
Make or buy?
Here where I live the nearest place to get bio is about 100 miles away. I am thinking about getting a transfer fuel tank for my truck so I can justify going that far to get it. What does it take to make it?
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Biodiesel isn't too bad to make. There is a little bit of a learing curve and some equipment to set up. You will need a processor to mix the methoxide with the oil to convert it to biodiesel. Then the bio needs to be washed to remove any leftover contaminates. Now you have wet fuel and you need to take the water out so you need a setup for drying. The picture I have attached is my processor. I am making 150L (40 gallon) batches. I process in the cone bottom barrel closest to the camera. From there the next barrel is my mist wash setup and the last barrel is my dryer. Start to finish I can run a batch in about 2 days. I can process 40 gallons per day though. I have about $500 - $600 in this processor but that was all scrap copper money from work so I call it a wash. I am figuring about $0.75 / gallon to process (Methanol, Lye, Electric, etc).
Kevin
Kevin
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There are more compact designs available. I made mine based on the space i had avilable. You can use an old (or new) electric water heater for the processor (any sealed container). I chose to split my wash and dry tanks so I could be washing and drying at the same time. I can have 120 gallons of fuel in process at any time with this system. I have even made batches in a 2L soda bottle so you can go really small if you want to.
I am working on a presentation for a local high school alternative energy class. When I get that finished I will post up some better pics of the process.
Kevin
I am working on a presentation for a local high school alternative energy class. When I get that finished I will post up some better pics of the process.
Kevin
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From: Huntsville, TX
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From: South Texas Coast
Commercial kits push the cost way to high.
Check this processor out
http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor/
then figure a couple of 55 gal drums with it, one for storage and another for washing. That's a bare minimum processing system although I have heard some make do with a single 55 gal drum.
You wont be able to run multiple batches at once but a 40 gal batch should last a few days, at least long enough to run another batch.
Check this processor out
http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor/
then figure a couple of 55 gal drums with it, one for storage and another for washing. That's a bare minimum processing system although I have heard some make do with a single 55 gal drum.
You wont be able to run multiple batches at once but a 40 gal batch should last a few days, at least long enough to run another batch.
Last edited by Phydeaux88; Nov 6, 2007 at 08:49 AM.
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Our Co-op is going to try an all in one processor this coming year. We acquired an old bulk tank (milk tank). It is a 300 gallon stainless steel tank with an agitator built in. We are figuring we could do 200 gallon batches in it.
My processor is basically an appleseed built around a cone bottom barrel. I still use an electric water heater element to heat the oil.
My processor is basically an appleseed built around a cone bottom barrel. I still use an electric water heater element to heat the oil.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Nova Scotia
Here ya go Knash...
http://www.homebiodieselkits.com/hobikit.html
Thats a matter of opinion, which I notice you have plenty of...
I go through approx. 6000 litres of fuel a year (not including my home heating oil). At a savings of 75% from what diesel sells for, I will recoup my investment of a commercial unit within 1 year.
http://www.homebiodieselkits.com/hobikit.html
Commercial kits push the cost way to high.
I go through approx. 6000 litres of fuel a year (not including my home heating oil). At a savings of 75% from what diesel sells for, I will recoup my investment of a commercial unit within 1 year.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Joliet, Illinois
I thought he wanted a transfer tank so he can head out and refuel fewer times per month, or in a year by getting more fuel every time he went, like adding a 100 gallon transfer tank to the bed of his truck.
There are truck salvage yards that will sell 50 gallon saddle tanks fairly cheap and those round aluminum diesel big rig tanks from 70 to 150 gallons or more capacity but those cost more.
But Blains farm and fleet, tractor supply, and truck parts suppliers have them as well.
Also there are extrs capacity replacement tank that replace the stock tank, like pulling the 18 gallon rear tank on a F250 and adding the bronco 36 gallon one.
There are truck salvage yards that will sell 50 gallon saddle tanks fairly cheap and those round aluminum diesel big rig tanks from 70 to 150 gallons or more capacity but those cost more.
But Blains farm and fleet, tractor supply, and truck parts suppliers have them as well.
Also there are extrs capacity replacement tank that replace the stock tank, like pulling the 18 gallon rear tank on a F250 and adding the bronco 36 gallon one.
Fleet Mechanic
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From: IN
Originally Posted by CanadianSmokie
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Fitzpatrick Alabama
I have 4 55 gallon drums side by side by side. I built a mixer that sets over in them out of an old greenhouse fan. I can move my mixer from drum to drum. I can make 3 4 40 gal batches at a time. In my whole set up, I have less than $50. The biggest problem is finding a good steady supply of good WVO. If you can get that, you can make bio some kind of which way. I good way to start to see if you want to do it would be to have a galvanized pipe fitting welded in the bottom of an open top drum, attach a $30 Harbor Freight pump to it, and you have an instant reactor, its not efficient, but it will get you started, as most people like to see some result before they spend a lot of money, the more good results you see, the more you are willing to spend on making it more efficient.