What is the best kit for bio-Diesel small scale DIY manufacture?

[TOBASH]

I have access to grease. Lotsa' grease. I am thinking of bio-Diesel to start the car, and veggie oil to run the car when the engine is hot.

I see some people DIY the kits that make the bio-Diesel, whilst others buy ready made kits. Which is the best way to go? Who sells the best kits? Who sells the best supplies? What is the best way to go? I don't think I will have space to make more than 20-40 gallons at a time. Even 10 or 15 gallons at a time might be enough. Space and weight are an issue.

I am re-entering a surgical residency, so I will work about 80 hours a week. I don't want to waste lots of time, but I am guaranteed every third weekend free, so I have time to make fuels and there will also be time to let crud in wvo settle for 2-3 weeks prior to processing.

What would you DIY'ers suggest?

Now before people start ranting about how unsafe it is or how it is better to buy commercially manufactured BD, let me cut you off. I am not asking about that and I don't want to debate it. I just wnat simple answers about how best to DIY with either home made kit or a manufactured all inclusive kit.

Lets leave all the ridiculous debates about deadly methanol and Mother Earth scalding KOH/NaOH and toxic glycerine for another thread please and with all due respect.

I was a Chem major, so I am not worried about the quality of my BD once I make a few small batches and learn from my mistakes. (I am also not pompous enough to think that I won't make several mistakes on the way).

Best,

T

[dblugly]

After buying my system I realized how simplistic they are. I have helped a friend in WA. State build one as well as two friends local. PM me if you are interested in building one I can send you pictures, drawings, Etc.

[doctorb]

I'm looking forward to starting residency in a couple years...

I just finished a homemade WVO system on my 82 3B in an 88 FJ-62. I'm hoping to do a build-up thread eventually, but it ended up costing me 700 bucks to do it myself as opposed to a couple grand that some of these places are asking. As long as you're willing to wrestle with it, it's a good time doing it yourself, but there was certainly a good bit of wrestling. Most of the time involvement for me was scavenging parts. Once I had everything together, assembly was a breeze. Your call man. A kit sounds nice, but they can be pricey.

[TOBASH]

Originally Posted by doctorb

I'm looking forward to starting residency in a couple years...

I just finished a homemade WVO system on my 82 3B in an 88 FJ-62. I'm hoping to do a build-up thread eventually, but it ended up costing me 700 bucks to do it myself as opposed to a couple grand that some of these places are asking. As long as you're willing to wrestle with it, it's a good time doing it yourself, but there was certainly a good bit of wrestling. Most of the time involvement for me was scavenging parts. Once I had everything together, assembly was a breeze. Your call man. A kit sounds nice, but they can be pricey.

I am willing to wrestle with it. I have worked on cars since I was 19. I will do anything from weld to make sand molds for pouring Bronze. Just let me know what I need to do. Please feel free to PM.

Best,

T

[TOBASH]

PM and E-mail sent. Maybe we can create an instructional page on MUD? It is totally up to you. Thanks for the offer. I accept!!!!!


Best,

T

Originally Posted by dblugly

After buying my system I realized how simplistic they are. I have helped a friend in WA. State build one as well as two friends local. PM me if you are interested in building one I can send you pictures, drawings, Etc.

[Roberto]

If anyone can send me the pics and drawings I would love to make mine as well, but are we talking the processor for making it or the kits within the vehicles? Dont mean to hijack? I have an 83 BJ42 I am wanting to convert and its getting ready for a teardown and rebuild so would be perfect time!

Thanks
Rob
robert.l.curtis@us.army.mil

[dblugly]

For those of you that have asked about my system I will just post the information up here for all to see. But first, I am in no way liable for you, your house, your dog, Etc.. if something goes BOOM. I have been using my system for six months with no problems. There are a lot of Bio-diesel links out there and I will post links to the ones I use.

This first picture is a basic drawing of my system, I will also post pictures

[dblugly]

First pic is of the valves coming off the pre heating tank. For some reason I have two valves, I think one would be fine. The hose runs from the bottom of the heater tank to the top of the large cone tank. I heat my oil to about 120-130f. The plastic cone tank is rated for 140f.

The other pics show the heating element inside and outside of the tank

[dblugly]

Next is my cone tank. You can see the silver pre heating tank to the right. The heated oil is pumped from the bottom of the tank(notice the two valves yellow and blue) through the metal pipe into the blue pump out the vertical clear hose with yellow valve into the top of the cone tank (not pictured)

Once you have the disered amount of oil in the cone tank you pump the oil from the bottom of the tank back into the top making a loop, while the oil is making its loop you slowly add your meth/lye mixture from the smaller cone tank (hidden behind the big cone tank)

[dblugly]

Close up of the main lines and valves. All the pipe is one inch, except for the meth/lye "T" . Notice the bottom of the cone tank has a short section of the clear hose, that comes in handy when draining the glycerin and wash water you can see when you start draining your bio.

[dblugly]

Pic of the entire system, minus the drying tank. You can see the clear hose going to the top of the cone tank. That is how you fill the tank. It is also the return line when you mix the oil and meth, out the bottom through the pump into the top.

The hose lying on the ground in front is the drying tank line, notice it T's off before the filter.
The hose lying on the ground to the right is the completed cycle storage line. After the oil is converted, washed, and dried it flows through the filter into my storage tank.

Second pic is just a close up of the big cone tank, just to the right of it you can see the smaller meth/lye tank.

[TOBASH]

Originally Posted by dblugly

Pic of the entire system, minus the drying tank. You can see the clear hose going to the top of the cone tank. That is how you fill the tank. It is also the return line when you mix the oil and meth, out the bottom through the pump into the top.

The hose lying on the ground in front is the drying tank line, notice it T's off before the filter.
The hose lying on the ground to the right is the completed cycle storage line. After the oil is converted, washed, and dried it flows through the filter into my storage tank.

Second pic is just a close up of the big cone tank, just to the right of it you can see the smaller meth/lye tank.

So far, this is awesome, but I have questions about which pumps you used, where you bought the cone tank, where you got the heating element and how you make sure it doesn't get too hot, etc...

Also questions about where to get reagents and hos to mix. Also you had mentioned a feew links that you were going to post.

I sent an E-mail and a PM. If it is cool with you, can we correspond offline so I can get a better handle on stuff?

[calphi27]

others are following this thread too. please post up what you can!

[doctorb]

I have a parts list from my conversion w/prices and where I got everything in an excel sheet. Just did it for fun and would be happy to share w/anyone who's interested. Accompanying pictures should happen one of these days, but only have pictures of the tank, in-tank heater & line-in-line right now.

[dblugly]

Sorry for the break in post's, had some "Honey Do's" to do.

Some links:
Biodiesel & SVO Forums Home - Powered by eve community

Biodiesel Recipe Calculator - Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial

Make your own biodiesel: Journey to Forever

Welcome - Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial Website

These web sites have all been a great help. Anyone thinking about making Bio-Diesel, I recommend they try the "Dr. Pepper" method first. It is a small scale batch utilizing a Dr. Pepper bottle (any bottle will work) it gives you an idea what is involved in making Bio-Diesel.

TOBASH I called you and left my number.

[TOBASH]

Originally Posted by doctorb

I have a parts list from my conversion w/prices and where I got everything in an excel sheet. Just did it for fun and would be happy to share w/anyone who's interested. Accompanying pictures should happen one of these days, but only have pictures of the tank, in-tank heater & line-in-line right now.

DocA could really use the spreadsheet. I have sent an E-mail. Did you get it?

I will be away for 4 days. If I don't respond quickly, it is because I am not near a computer.

Best,

T aka DocA

[TOBASH]

I need to know how to attach the spreadsheet to this thread that DoctorB sent me.

I would love for this thread to be the jump off point for anyone wanting to do bio-Diesel.

If this could become the "Idiots Guide to bio-Diesel" I think it would really help the MUD as well as the rest of the bio-Diesel community. Even if the materials are already out there, dblugly and DocB have made things a lot easier to find and understand.

I will start to compile a parts list of things needed for building a processing unit, with parts numbers, etc.. I am however beginning a new job 2200 miles away, so this will be an ongoing project. In the mean time, DocB and dblugly have provided absolutely outstanding information and resources. I now understand what I need to do to begin, and what direction I need to move it. Their help has made the process painless.

Kudos to dblugly and DoctorB.

Best,

T

[Creeker]

What's up Doc (A and/or B)? Could I have a copy of the spreadsheet too? I'm starting to build my processor and could use all the help I can get.

Has anyone tried or seen used the Graham Laming "waterless" bio-diesel processor system? Here's how he describes it:

This is a compact home made biodiesel processor which avoids water-washing and limits methanol release to very small amounts. You can also recover surplus methanol from your biodiesel, which would otherwise be lost in the wash water.

This is a link:

GL's Eco-System state diagram

[TJDIV]

Originally Posted by dblugly

For those of you that have asked about my system I will just post the information up here for all to see. But first, I am in no way liable for you, your house, your dog, Etc.. if something goes BOOM. I have been using my system for six months with no problems. There are a lot of Bio-diesel links out there and I will post links to the ones I use.

This first picture is a basic drawing of my system, I will also post pictures

dude, are you left handed?


Good thread. thanks for the info.

[ThePookieBear]

If you don't have time to build one, I have read quite a few good things about Evolution Biodiesel Kits. I looked into the Fuel Meister ones they had on tv, but it seemed pretty hokey. No direct link, sent you to some mom and pop nonsense. But, the evolution ones seem pretty smack on, and the two smaller sizes are I believe twenty or forty gallons at a time.

[TOBASH]

Originally Posted by ThePookieBear

If you don't have time to build one, I have read quite a few good things about Evolution Biodiesel Kits. I looked into the Fuel Meister ones they had on tv, but it seemed pretty hokey. No direct link, sent you to some mom and pop nonsense. But, the evolution ones seem pretty smack on, and the two smaller sizes are I believe twenty or forty gallons at a time.

It amazes me that anyone would pay 3-4 grand on kits that used to cost 1 grand and can be made by oneself fairly easily.

Thanks for the input, but this thread really taught me a lot.

[ThePookieBear]

I guess I should have been more clear. If you don't have the time to build one yourself, and you have the money then the Evolution kit seems like a very nice product. (And still does either way) But if you can build one yourself then it would be MANY times cheaper, and I think you would have a better understanding of how it works and all. I personally would rather, and am going, to build one myself, but I just wasn't sure from your original post that you would have time to make one or not. If you do, I would for sure make one if you can. And, if you do make one and have the time; make sure to post if up for us. : ).