How much BD can i expect to produce in a week?

[marty]

Using the traditional Appleseed Reactor and related DIY equipment, how much BD can i expect to produce in a week (assuming that WVO availability is not an issue)? That is, how many different operations can be going simultaneously? For instance, once i get the Methoxide and WVO mixing in the reactor I can get another batch of Methanol and NaOH started. And then once the wash/dry cycle starts I could get everything moved over again, etc. Is this a reasonable assumption? Or is this just wishful thinking? If it's reasonable, then how much BD would i have at the end of a week? and two weeks?
Thanks, Marty

[febrocks]

Well. You mix and let separate. I guess you can pump out reacted batch to a settling tank and start another . The problem is you still have to wait for the separation. You will have to get as many tanks for as many batches you want to make. If you dry wash, then you can just setup a bunch of big columns and put all you settle bd in what ever size tank you think you will need. If you water wash, you can have multiple wash tanks and of course multiple dry tanks. I personally won't have a carboy of methoxide sitting around. If you have big chunks of koh/naoh, then you can let it just sit and dissolve.

Good luck.
Eugene

[marty]

Eugene,
Thanks, that's good info. But the question still stands: How many gallons can a person reasonably expect to make if he had several wash tanks and several dry tanks. (And promise i won't have a "carboy of methoxide sitting around.")
Right now I only have a 2006 F250 Powerstroke, but if this takes off we would trade our gasoline vehicles for diesels and i want to be sure that i would have enough capacity down the road (unintended pun). I could see my need growing to about 100 gallons per week. If the capacity for an appleseed reactor is not sufficient then i would opt for one of those kits (such as DynaDroit) that can process 40 gallons per day.
Can the Appleseed Reactor and related equipment produce 100 gallons per week without too much trouble?
Thanks, Marty

[febrocks]

You can make as much biodiesel as you want. Build as many processors and /wash/dry tanks to accommodate your needs. But if you have to deal with multiple processors, wash tank and dry tanks, your going to be doing more work. If your wanting to do this as easily as possible, I go with one of those automated systems like biopro. Just my opinion. You get the big hit up front but save a lot of time and troubles.

Eugene

[Bio-Texas-DFW]

Here's how to break it down...

(assuming the WVO is ready to go - all 100+ gallons of it)

-Fill the appleseed with WVO get it to heating
-Start mixing the MethOxide
-When the oil is up to temp pump in the MO
-Mix (time depends on amount of product in the processor)
-Add 5% water
-Pump into a separate settling tank (simply a 55 gallon drum)
-While that batch is settling start over -- Fill the appleseed with WVO and bring it up to temp

While that process continues (allowing the batches to settle in a different container than the processor) you can start on the dry/wet wash process on the first batch after it has separated.

Based on a 40 gallon batch, you could potentially (given enough settling tanks) make several batches on day one, then finish them all on day two! That's based on a heating and mixing time of say 3-4 hours for each batch.

Day one make 2 batches (8 hours).
Day two wash 2 batches and make 2 more batches.
Day three 2 batches finished, 2 batches washing, make 2 more batches.
Day four 4 batches finished, 2 batches washing, make 2 more batches.
Day five 6 batches finished, 2 batches washing, make 2 more batches.
Day six 8 batches finished, 2 batches washing. (continue making more batches for next week)
Day seven 10 batches finished. (continue making more batches for next week)

Based on 40 gallon batches you'd have 400 gallons at the end of the week.

I figure this is pretty conservative. If you can get the process down and know the oil very well, you can probably cut the batch time in half and make 6-8 per day if you wanted/had the time. If you made 5 batches on Saturday (200 gallons) you wouldn't have to produce BD but once every other week. Or in your case, simply make 2 processors and then double all the other equipment and be done in one cycle (as in running both processors at the same time).

[marty]

Thanks Andrew,
That's exactly what i was looking for.

Marty

[Bio-Texas-DFW]

You're very welcome.