biodieselpictures.com

[ProjectPurity]

I happened on a 250gal cylindrical home heating oil tank that i want to make a 150-180 gal processor out of. I've batted around the idea of just getting a couple ports welded in and sticking to the appleseed design entirely, but after thinking about widgets and other functionality increasing add-ons, i've come up with a design plan. The tank has three 2" bungs on the top, and square tube steel for legs already on the bottom. One 2" nipple or bushing would have to be welded on to the bottom, right where it domes down a little and legs would have to be made. The thought is to use the Goulds pump for this, and a static mixer to help out in making these large batches go complete.

Here's the tank:




And here is my reactor design:



Notice the standpipe within the reactor which allows for flow around it.... that's the main nifty add-on that i couldn't skip out on. It would allow me to drain out of the main area untill i got a little intermix, then drain from the purged standpipe right to the IBC washtank. With that i think i could get quicker washes....

What do you think?

[ProjectPurity]

Upon a really good suggestion, i've changed the design of the manifold at the bottom to allow for two 240V heating elements.... I think more heating power would be good. I'll upload the design of that soon.

[ProjectPurity]

I totally reworked the design, rendered it (mostly) in Solidworks (anyone who wants the assembly file please email).

It is now modeled on the Push-Pull Eocsystem Processor proposed by Graham Laming. Many 3D pictures to come and full build should be complete by June.

The excess plumbing is installed with shutoff valves so that the pump can "push" biodiesel/glycerine back through the bottom inlet, or "pull" it through that same inlet. In less words, the direction of flow (top-to-bottom bottom-to-top) can be reversed by the switch of a couple shutoffs.

Find out more about the Push-Pull process here: http://www.graham-laming.com/bd/push_pull_processor/push_pull.htm

[ProjectPurity]

Heres a cutaway view to show the elements position. This should position them below the 25gallon mark and close enough to the bottom to re-liquify hardened glycerine should that unfortunately happen.

[ProjectPurity]

The design is changing a little bit now... 1 1/4" black iron crosses are like hens teeth, and do NOT come cheap when you do find them ($27 a piece!). I'm redesigning the bottom manifold to use two extra tees ($3 a piece) instead. New Solidworks to be posted shortly.

[ProjectPurity]

Just did the volume calculation on the tank. 28" Diameter, 72" height = 191gal. It's smaller than what i had expected but still fits in fine with the 150gal batch size.

New Solidworks renders soon!

[ProjectPurity]

Good new renders of complete reactor design.

[ProjectPurity]

UPDATE: I've cleaned the tank as best as i can and will have it welded in a week or so. This consisted of filling it 1/4 with water and throwing in some de-methed glycerine, sloshing it around a bunch and draining it after it had sat for a day. I then filled it up to capacity, added another 10gal or so of glycerine and will drain that this weekend.

I've also added some more revisions to the SolidWorks, which i will post soon.

Changes since last revision:

1) Found solution to the problem that i will most likely not be able to see the color change w/phenolphthaline through a 1 1/4" braided vinyl tube. Added a parallel 1/2" clear vinyl tube that fuel can be forced through during that stage of processing so that a noticeable color change can be observed.

2) Moved the vactank to the right of the processor for easier routing of distillate and other fume lines.

3) Corrected the top portion of plumbing to be true how the tank really is. Also changed some of the routing of the processor plumbing to utilize fittings that are already welded in.

4) Added T&P valve to the processor for safety. I know that GL1 purists will say that it is not needed, but i like to take every measure to ensure that unneeded pressure will not build in my tank. The plumbing will allow me to pressurize the main tank in order to purge it, and as long is it is possible to build pressure in the tank, i would like to have an emergency relief valve.

5) Combined the site tube and the glycerine drain so that less welding/pipe is needed to accomplish the same goals.

6) Added standard Appleseed methoxide port w/ swing valve. Since i already have the parts, I decided to carry this design over to the new processor.

7) Still need to find pump to use for vactank as the Wilo that i have pictured will most likely be insufficient.

Pics to come later this weekend.
JB

[ProjectPurity]

Here are those pictures!