Site Plan

Sorry I won't be at the mtg tonight. IMO, our meetings should always be at 
one of our supporters establishments. Or a prospective supporter.
I want to make a few observations.
7+ weeks and no fuel. No comprehensive plan. no schedule. Never a BOM, scale 
drawings or anyone that knows the process or the hardware from cradle to 
grave. We have some very capeable members. Just poor project managment. We 
had a process that was beginning to work. We had barely started 
benchmarking.  We had fought all summer to get power out there. It was a 
battle just to build a shelter. Winter was comming and we needed those 
amenities if the coop wanted to continue production through the winter. And 
then, production was shut down and everything torn apart and thrown outside 
under the hard fought cover. Fumes have never been a problem. They were 
adressed in the original processor build with a quick connect/hose to the 
outside. The conex STILL needs proper ventilation. Methenol evaporates at 
145 degrees. We react at 130.
Those reactors should have been moved outside one at a time. Cold weather 
bench testing needs to be done. Maybe a good time to try out the eductors. 
If it works, do another one. In the mean time, the struggling continuous 
production is not disrupted AND members continue to LEARN. And we are all at 
the bottom of the bell curve.

Felix, you have done a lot of work digging up code and dealing with the 
local authorities. It really helps give direction and helps the coop with 
its mission to be a model for safety and the environment.  If you want to 
get your hands dirty, work on finishing the methanol distillery. If you 
don't have the time, we can load up a few gallons and drop it off at your 
house. Or give to another member to r/d.  Or work on finishing the oil 
collection tank. How bout doing the oil heaters? Just bang out a scale 
drawing and give a BOM. What about finishing your dryer? Those are just some 
of the things that should have been done before moving everything outside. 
Maybe you don't understand that there is still nobody comfortable with the 
current (abandoned) process. That's why I keep saying "Baby steps". Keep up 
your hard work. It's a tough balance between life/work/family.

Anyhew
fast foreward to now and IMO, to get through the winter, Insulate the crap 
out of the main reactor. And use the other 2 for wash tanks. Use 1 pump for 
the reactor and another for the 2 wash tanks. Leave the top tank connector 
to pump fuel from the reactor to the first wash. Use a standpipe in the 
first wash tank to pull the fuel out to wash 2 and the last tank has the 
fitting on the bottom of the drum. You would still need to use the mixing 
lid. 1 eductor has proven that it will make 300 gallons of mayo in 40 
minutes. Mount the pumps somewhere in the middle of the tanks to help keep 
glycerin from settling in the pump. Use quick connects on the pumps. We 
could have set plywood under the containment. Should probly do it anyway. 
Get the main reactor going and that should give another day or two to plumb 
the wash tanks. It would be a good idea to measure volume too. Measure out 
the cones and graduate the sight tube every 10 ML or so.  I guess we'll just 
have to put an open barrel in that warm "little house" and let it dry for a 
week or 2.

Due to the cold weather, I have concerns that the oil will not be dry enough 
for a good reaction. Especially if it's heated in a saeled container. You'll 
get around 10-15 gallons of bottom goo from heatin/settling 50 gal. I was 
always surprised how much condensation was on the lids of the reactors. The 
oil collection tank should help reduce that number a lot.

So, you all can pick me apart now. I'll be the big bad azzhole but I just 
calls em like I sees em. I think if the main players stay focused on the 
process, one at a time, to the point where you are bored, things will 
evolve. But I think we're back to square 1. Time to get the wheel turning 
again. Let the builders build.  Nothing but a bunch of people with tools 
can't do.

Tom

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