Re: [Coproducts] Oil heating/methanol recovery

I am confident we will be ok if;
1) we are outside
2) we do a little hard plumbing to get the methanol drain down to the 
receptacle.

Since the output of the still will be ~98% pure methanol, there isn't 
much point in testing with the water-methanol mix.  Just use the 
glycerol and call it good.  There is no difference from a safety stand 
point.

Outside (under the shed) will take care of things hopefully on  a breezy 
day, so that, if any methanol vapor accumulates, it will be dissipated. 
Last time we used some foil to seal the tubing to the container - that 
seems like a good idea to me as it will conduct heat very well and 
condense any run-away fumes back to the jug.

Felix

Zac Imboden wrote:
> Yes, not on November's task list. As Cheryl mentioned, we need to 
> discuss long term versus short term projects and their overlap. 
> Basically, long term stuff will be tasks that have a bit lower 
> priority to fuel enhancements.
>
> Felix,
>
> There is a new thermostat in the water heater and at least heating 
> tests can be done. I hadn't considered the issue of the electrical 
> contacts. A very good point. Are we safe doing some moderate methanol 
> distillation testing if we have a closed hose for the methanol 
> distillate? I'm talking about mixing some methanol with water in small 
> amounts with more than enough water to cover the heating element in 
> the water heater.
>
> On Oct 31, 2006, at 9:21 PM, Felix Kersting wrote:
>
>> Gregg B asked - who is working on Methanol recovery?
>>
>> That is another Felix project.  Zac and I did a great job boiling 
>> some oil about 6 weeks ago. We got some water out of it as well.
>> I would dearly like to see Amanda and/or Greg Rhode take this on as a 
>> lead.  We need someone with this level of chemical background to be 
>> sure that safety awareness is brought to this important and delicate 
>> task.
>>
>> Although we can experiment with the water heater initially 
>> (outdoors), we need to find a device that will control the element in 
>> the heater without an open contactor - either remote or explosion 
>> proof. this will be important since we will need to have the still in 
>> the same location as the methanol storage from an isolation 
>> perspective.  Pete Kramer, Greg or Ron will have comments on that 
>> kind of hardware.  I have seen some solid state devices with analog 
>> I/O that will control 20A @ 240 volts.  Unless UL rated as 
>> intrinsically safe, they may still need to be 25' away from the 
>> tank.  Figure $200 - $500 to finalize this type of controller.  These 
>> may be also available from the online medium density electric element 
>> supplier (forget the name).
>>
>> I will meet with whomever wants to take this up as required.
>>
>> PETE K, please put this on the outstanding projects list.
>>
>> Sorry I haven't followed up on this one, but site issues are bigger 
>> right now.  I believe we will start some strategic planning 
>> activities soon and I will take project direction from that effort.
>>
>> Thanks to all,
>>
>> Felix
>>
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>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Zac Imboden
> [email protected]
> 1534 SE 35th Place
> Portland, OR
> 97214
> 971-563-2477
>
>
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