Re: Weekly update

Hi Seth,
  We have not come to any of your meetings yet as we just learned about your group.  BUT - we are coming Tuesday June 6th to meet and get started.
  Meanwhile, since you are in charge of making the biodiesel - maybe you can answer a question for me.  It is about the oil I am using - or should say - trying to use.  It is second hand but according to the container it comes in - the brand name is SYCSO -a creamy liquid frying oil.  Do you have any experience with this type oil??
  Quick back ground on us.  We bought a unit to make biodiesel.  First batch was a failure- the lye didn't mix properly.  2nd one a success, 3rd one - a failure- reason unknown.  Then cold weather set in and the barn wasn't heated and we gave up for the winter.  Comes warmer weather - another failure.  So why did we have one success??  Might have been oil from another source but frankly - I can't recall - I think it was a mix of the SYSCO and another oil source.  So - either I am doing the titration incorrectly - (or my titration mix itself is incorrect) or the oil is not usable for this purpose.  
  Making biodiesel is not that difficult with the unit we have - so I am really frustrated at our lack of success.  Any suggestions or ideas on how to locate the source of my problems would be greatly appreciated.  Sincerely, Joyce & Phil
  

Seth Moody <[email protected]> wrote:
  Trying to reinforce the idea that fuel doesn't just appear out of
the sky. We make it and if we don't make it and train more people to
make it there will be very little or none for distribution. I think
you all know this but beginning to get mystified looks when I have to
tell people that there is no fuel for distribution because a we have a
backlog in washing. Hopefully we will not have this problem nearly as
much as the mixmasters on Friday and Saturday spent time getting more
totes cleaned up so that we have a full tote available for our second
stage washing

You guys did a great job when I just threw you into titration mode.
We had a few technical difficulties(methoxide mixer leaking(fixed),
cold scale doesn't like to operate(engine preheat for the scale), poly
lines disintegrating(make new line), shortage of power,(Generator now
operational(thanks Tom)) but just have to remember to cut
the problem into little bits and solve each little bit.

By the way, Tom spent a bit of time troublshooting the generator and
found all it really needs is to be moved out of its cover when running
so it gets better intake airflow and cooling, so we now have an
additional energy source for pumping crews and mixmasters.
YEEAAHHH!!!

I want to give the Mixmaster crew and oil support crew a huge hand this week.
1. Oil consolidation is moving rapidly toward sustainable levels with
the addition of two more
clean totes for oil and a clean tote for the new wash vessel.
2. Generator back online so we now have an additional source of power
for both crews.
By the way, we need to find some fat tires for the generator cart
so it can be easily
moved from spot to spot on the site.
4. Batch of fuel made
5. Batch of fuel filtered
6. Batch of fuel washed.
7. The South side of the Conex is nearly clear of totes, barrels and pallets.
This means we will be able to begin leveling and preping the
10X12 area for ground
breaking on our new processor shed.


Should have 100 gallons of dry fuel ready for distribution on
Saturday, keep the fingers crossed, if things go well Friday and
Saturday morning.

Food for thought:
Something I have been doing is trying to give people an idea of what
is coming for the weekend work party. It really helps to take a look
at what is on tap for the work party and imagine(visualize) yourself
doing each step of the task. I find this works for me very well and
especially when a problem occurs I am able to identify and solve a
problem much more quickly.


Here is the June Calender.
It looks very empty at this time.
Again let me know days that you are available for a work party, be it
a Friday or Saturday I will then put you on the calender for the
requested day and when I make the weekly announcements with the
calender attached you will be able to see where you've been tasked.

Have a great week.

Hope to see you at the work party.


Not so oily anymore(moving a bit quicker),

Seth
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