I spoke with Graydon (through e-mail) today to set-up a time and date to observe the BioPro demo in action. My location is closer to the Nebraska BioPro dealer, but Utah would be a cool road trip. The BioPro dealers sell all the chemicals you could possibly want,…………pretty much an endless supply. Anyway, I thought I’d pass the information on to those of you who are having a difficult time finding chemicals. There are BioPro dealers scattered throughout the United States including Alaska, so you may try to locate one in your area. Nonetheless, I’m excited to see the BioPro in action.
Operating Costs:
Here's a breakdown of how you can calculate how much a BioPro 190 will cost to run. All figures were based on local prices in Utah near the end of August 2006.
Electricity
If the machine is used in an environment where daytime temperatures are in the low 80's F and night time temperatures are in the 60's F, the machine will draw approximately 25 KwH (Kilowatt Hours) during a batch. You'll need to look at your utility bill to see what your rate is, but a common figure is about $0.10/KwH. So, on average, you'll use $2.50 worth of electricity per batch.
Methanol
Methanol will vary based on where you live and also by the quantity you buy it in. In Utah, a 55 gallon drum of methanol runs about $155.00 for a 55 gallon drum, so about $2.82/gallon. The BioPro 190 will use 10 gallons of Methanol to make a 50 gallon batch. Based on $2.82/gallon, the BioPro 190 will use $28.20 worth of methanol per batch.
Catalyst
The BioPro 190 can run on either Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) or Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). KOH is usually a little more expensive than NaOH but is preferrable by some people. In Utah KOH goes for $60.00 for a 50 lb bag. NaOH goes for $41.34 for a 55 lb bag. So, 55 lbs is 25000 grams. 50 lbs is 22727 grams.
If KOH is used, you'll use 2350 grams. That comes out to roughly $5.11 per 50 gallon batch. If NaOH is used, you'll use 1520 grams. That comes out to roughhly $2.76 per 50 gallon batch.
Sulfuric Acid
The BioPro 190 will use 190 mL of high-grade (95-98% pure) sulfuric acid in the conversion process. Sulfuric Acid in Utah goes for about $33.18 for a 2.5 liter container of it. Based on those figures, the BioPro 190 will use $2.53 worth of Sulfuric Acid per batch.
Water
The BioPro 190 will use approximately 45 gallons of fresh water during its cycle. Water prices vary from place to place, but we estimate that it uses about $0.50 of water per 50 gallon batch.
The Totals
Using KOH as the catalyst
Electricity - $2.50
Methanol - $28.20
Water - $0.50
Sulfuric Acid - $2.53
KOH - $5.11
Total - $38.84 per 50 gallon batch
Per Gallon cost - $0.78/per gallon
Using NaOH as the catalyst
Electricity - $2.50
Methanol - $28.20
Water - $0.50
Sulfuric Acid - $2.53
NaOH - $2.76
Total - $36.49 per 50 gallon batch
Per Gallon cost - $0.73/per gallon
Return On Investment
To calculate Return On Investment do the following.
1- Take the current price of diesel fuel ($3.59/gallon in Utah)
2- Subtract the cost to make Biodiesel in a BioPro 190 per gallon ($0.73-$0.78/gallon)
3- Record the difference ($2.86 using NaOH / $2.81 using KOH)
4- Divide $7995 by the per gallon savings
- NaOH - $7995 / $2.86 = 2795.45 or approx. 2800 gallons
- NaOH - $7995 / $2.81 = 2845.20 or approx. 2850 gallons
5- Identify how long it'd take you to go through that many gallons of fuel
You'll now have the total time it will take to get a return on investment using a BioPro 190
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according to one source 1 ton of wood chips will only produce 6 gallons of methanol. So far no one whom I have spoken with has actually made any so I might just have to do some experimenting for myself.
. My reflux still only produces 5 gallons at a time and is not really suited to making enough fuel for driving. I sure would like to find out what catalysts the big producers use for methanol forming.
