Re: Fuel quality, equipment usage, and procedure

In order to reach a consensus about a certification process, we need  
to figure out how to make fuel with our new configuration. Since we  
converted to KOH back in late October/early November, we have been  
having problems. The mayonnaise comes from that time period. **The  
coop has never made fuel in the winter** as far as I know.

  On top of this, we have reconstructed our fuel-making process. So  
now the coop is basically starting from scratch.

We need to solve these problems, not create a new program. And the  
way to solve it is to start making fuel with the new set-up and iron  
out the difficulties. We have many members who have experience making  
fuel. We should get a commitment from some of these members to help  
attack this problem as a group and keep moving forward.

I am available Saturday to make a batch. The sooner we start making  
batches, the sooner we can iron out any problems and start making  
good fuel.


On Feb 7, 2007, at 10:18 AM, R Buckner wrote:

> Mixmasters,
>
> We have fuel quality, equipment usage, and procedure problems.  We  
> have approximately 400 gallons of poorly processed fuel, unusuable  
> in its present form.  We have about 25 gallons of contaminated  
> methanol.  We had a burnt-out heating element in one of the water  
> heaters.  We had a pump with a writing pen sucked down the  
> propeller end.  We also have unknown chemicals in the conex and shed.
>
> Suggestion-
> Let's create a biodiesel-making certification program.  We can  
> reach a consensus about the process, standardize it, and teach it  
> to everyone in the co-op interested in making biodiesel.  The  
> program would consist of training workshops about fuel, equipment,  
> and procedure.  Graduation would require the successful making of a  
> five-gallon batch of biodiesel and a certificate of approval from  
> the co-op.  You would then be allowed to use the co-op's resources  
> to make a larger batch of biodiesel.  This process would give us  
> oversight and assurance to fuel making quality.
>
> It is time consuming and costly to repair or replace broken  
> equipment.  It is difficult to find a solution to the bad fuel and  
> contaminated methanol.
> Karen and I are the only ones who have been working on the mayo in  
> the last two months.
>
> Please approve this suggestion or come up with an alternative for  
> quality control, and implement it as soon as possible.
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
>
>
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--------------------------------------------------------------
Zac Imboden
[email protected]
1534 SE 35th Place
Portland, OR
97214
971-563-2477

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