Re: Weekly update

Hi Joyce,

Without details of what you are calling a failure I can't say exactly
what is the cause.

Creamy fyer oil is hydrogenated oil and it is more difficult to work
with, though not impossible.  Takes very careful titration, complete
mixing are extremely important.  I used to thing surrounding
environmental temp was important but as long as oil is min 110 and you
have allowed excess water to settle out overnight while heating and
then draining this excess watery oil off before reacting you are OK.
A couple questions.
What percentage of methanol are you using by volume of oil reacting?
20% would be my suggested minimum.

What Catalyst are you using and what is the base grams/liter value you
are using for that catalyst(lye, KOH)?
For Lye the Coop uses 5 grams/liter min base value then adds titration
value onto that.
For KOH we use 7grams/liter and add titration.

How are you mixing your methoxide and for how long?
Pump mixing works but only with proper jetting.  Methoxide mixing into
the oil should be very vigorous for at least an hour.

How long do you let glycerin settle before draining off and trying to wash?
24 hours is minimum, 48 is better in my opinion.  You can shorten this
time with a couple of tricks but if you have the time use it, you get
better production values and less fuel trapped with glycerin
by-product.

What method of washing are you using?
Bubble wash is, in my opinion, to light, causes oxidation of the fuel
and uses way too much water.  You should be able to vigorously
mechanically mix your wash water(20%hotwater by volume) into the raw
biod and get a good separation within 5-10 minutes.  Will still need
to settle for 24 hours for full separtion.  This needs to be repeated
until ph is neutral or the same as ph of water being used to wash
with.

There is a trick that can help with this tough/dirty hydrogenated oil.
5% prewash.

Basically when you've completed adding and mixing your methoxide for 1
hour you quickly add 5%(by volume of oil you are reacting) hotwater
and again mix for an additional 5 minutes.  This water mixed with the
glycerin and biod suspension attach's to soaps and FFA's that are
floating around and precipitates them out with the glycerin(basically
a much cleaner raw fuel to start washing) ie "5% prewash".  You then
go about your normal wash procedure.  You should see a much cleaner
quicker wash and far less of a chance of emulsion(mayonaise).
This method also gives a better production value by breaking loose any
biod that might have been still bonded to glycerin.

Without actually watching you make it or more details on your process
these are the best tips I can give you.

Seth
On 5/28/06, Joyce Castilloux <castillouxjo-/[email protected]> wrote:
> Just got this right back - not sure what happened
>
>
> Joyce Castilloux <castillouxjo-/[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> 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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