Process quality and process simplicity - girl Mark please reply

Friends,

The last Site plan meeting was on Jan 21 at the site.  As part of our 
discussion, we looked at a sample of fuel that Ron had drawn off the 
dryer.  The quart sample had an inch of water in the bottom, a glycerin 
layer, a soap layer and a clear fuel layer. Any fuel that has made its 
way to the dryer shouldn't have any layers in it - or water for that matter!

Clearly there is a process problem here.  None of our batches have 
passed the 3/27 test yet.  This is not absolutely critical, but it is 
the simplest test to determine if the transesterfication process was 
complete. 

There is a tote with about 200 gallons of emulsified fuel at the site.  
Karen, Zan & Ron  broke the emulsion with muriatic acid on the 24th (5 
gallon test).

We didn't make fuel on Saturday, because Ron, Zac & Zan found that their 
first titration was very high.  They decided to make a new batch of KOH 
reference solution and did a 1 liter test batch using the new titration.

While on site last Saturday, Kevin made a comment that the titration of 
each batch of oil was really slowing down the process - he suggested 
that I was the engineer and I should fix that! (in jest, of course).

I thought about this while I was working on the wash tank.....

Here are my thoughts -

Our original processor shed layout included an acidulation tank for acid 
reacting high FFA oil - the "bottom oil" we have been getting rid of 
until recently.  I believe there is still room in the shed for that 
tote.  I suggest we add that tote to the process. We can pump 150 
gallons of oil into that tote and titrate several samples from the 
tote.  This would determine the titration for all the oil reacted from 
that tote.  This means we could react oil as quickly as it was heated.  
This will eliminate titrating individual reactorfuls of oil and save a 
bunch of time on work party days. 

Futhermore, this would be a great thing to do on an evening during the 
week (Zac often drops by the site in the evening to fill heaters with 
oil to prep for work days).  The oil needs to be well mixed but could be 
recirced with a pump for 1/2 an hour or so and then samples set out and 
it pumped into waiting water heaters and heated.  The same evening or 
another time, titrations could be done - I suggest 3 or 4 for consistent 
results.  I would also suggest that a 1 liter test batch be done at the 
time of titration (at least for a while).  Saturday morning we would 
3/27 test the test batch before we push 150 gallons thru the process.  
This would allow immediate processing to begin on Saturday. 

We have the opportunity to start this process NOW!  The tote full of 
emulsion can be broken with muriatic and then reprocessed in this way.  
This will move a large batch of fuel through the process in a hurry. 

Another advantage is that high FFA oil can be acidulated in advance in 
this premix tote.  We will need a circulator/transfer pump on this tote 
eventually, but it's an easy step to insert into the process.

Also, Ron suggested to me that we should 3/27 test every batch before it 
goes to the wash tanks.  I think this is a good idea to make sure we 
have quality fuel going out the door.

Zan & Greg - I have included you on this post because I don't know if 
you are on the lists and you input is particulary import on this matter 
since you are both experienced fuel makers.

PLEASE SEND ME YOUR INPUT.  WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS AND PUT IT INTO 
EFFECT IF THERE IS NO VALID OBJECTION.

Thanks and see you on Wednesday,

Felix