Waste Vegetable Oil Fuels

Purpose:

I use waste vegetable oil as my feed stock for my biodiesel making process. I do my best to get the very best oil out there. I don’t waste my time with bad stuff. (Check out the Greasel guys collecting oil DVD if you have a spare $25). It’s a great resource, though a bit spendy, especially for this crowd.) Even with my efforts for good oil there is still a chance for water and food particles. This is my solution so I can be sure that given enough time I won’t end up with any water.

Description:

The setup is three barrels in series. Each of the barrels is set up like a “stand pipe wash tank” with the barrel upside down and the bungs used as drains. The barrels are all set up so that they can be individually isolated in case one of them needs work. The isolation valves also act to drain both the product and the waste. The physics behind the separation is that liquids with different densities will stratify given enough time. Since oil is less dense, it floats on water. The process flows from one barrel to the next so that gradually the oil becomes cleaner as the top product from one barrel is transfered to the next.

Use:

The process begins as barrel A is isolated by closing both the waste valve (Aw) and the product valve (Ap). The waste oil is poured into the barrel and allowed to settle for some time. That time depends on many factors including temperature. The more viscous (viscosity is temperature dependent) the oil, the longer it will take to separate. Solid oil might take a very long time. Experience will tell you when is enough time.

After “sometime” it is time to transfer the oil in A to B. Make sure that B is valved correctly by opening the isolation valve (Bi) and closing Bp and Bw . Then open Ap and let the good top product into B. Once the transfer is complete isolate B by closing Bi. Ap should also be closed in preparation for the next batch.

If you wish, you may now drain off the water and particles (”bads”) of A by opening Aw. Once again experience will tell you how much to drain and after how many gallons of oil. Hopefully you will have waited long enough to get only bads, but not too long so that bads get into B.

The process continues as we wait for the oil in B to again separate. Like before, only your experience with your oil will tell when it has separated enough. After “sometime” it is time to transfer the oil in B to C. Make sure that C is valved correctly by opening the isolation valve (Ci) and closing Cp and Cw . Then open Bp and let the good top product into C. Once the transfer is complete isolate C by closing Ci. Bp should also be closed in preparation for the next batch.

If you wish, you may now drain off the bads of B by opening Bw. Once again experience will tell you how much to drain and after how many gallons of oil. Hopefully you will have waited long enough to get only bads, but not too long so that bads get into C.

Finally, after “sometime”, it is time to transfer the oil in C to the processor. Make sure that the processor is valved correctly by closing all valves except for a top vent and the processor input. Then open Cp and turn on the processor pump to move the good top product into the processor. Once the transfer is complete Cp should also be closed in preparation for the next batch.