Biodiesel Yes Or No?

racertracer · **Posted:** Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:25 pm

Impressive.

I think i'll start off small though, I need just 20 gallons a week of Biodiesel for right now.

Could PEX piping be used around the processor?

arms325 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 23, 2010 5:00 pm

On any thing that will be getting hot I would use metal pipe.
On my processor (hot water tank) I used a combination of 3/4 in metal pipe and ss flex hoses even with that you get expansion and contractions which will cause leaks. I used pvc pipe from my holding tank to the dry wash system (ion exchange) and pvc to the finished product tank. I used pvc from the finished tank through the pump out to the end of my shed/garage to fill my vehicles. I go through about 50 to 80 gallons a week

cwheels · **Joined:** Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:57 pm **Posts:** 11

arms325 wrote:

On any thing that will be getting hot I would use metal pipe.
On my processor (hot water tank) I used a combination of 3/4 in metal pipe and ss flex hoses even with that you get expansion and contractions which will cause leaks. I used pvc pipe from my holding tank to the dry wash system (ion exchange) and pvc to the finished product tank. I used pvc from the finished tank through the pump out to the end of my shed/garage to fill my vehicles. I go through about 50 to 80 gallons a week

You must have a cummins or a power stroke around too. That's an awful lot of driving in the little Libby

dkenny · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:22 pm

to use or not?

use -- YES!!..yes I make my own..use a commercial.I would not!...
why you might ask..its not that I'm against biodiesel or commercial producers..a couple of year ago the National Biodiesel board ran some testing on commercial BD makers...50% failed ASTM standards.. talk about a black EYE!!!
stop and think what would happen is 50% of the diesel fuel sold failed standards??

until recently my wife jeep ran B0-B100..something took out the CP3..( that's the part changed to make it work again, Thanks geordi:) ). What I don't know? .I do know 2 other vehicles were/are running the same biodiesel..jury is still out..i need to take apart the dead CP3..did a seal go?

that said..would I run biodiesel in a liberty again..YES!! without question..if its what I made..commercial..I would like to test it first..27/3..water? don't know what those tests are..I think that's another topic..and off topic for this thread.

In case you're curious I make around 50-100 gallons per week. year round..

for using pex tubing in a processor..WATCH THE TEMPS!!! MAKE SURE YOUR CONTROLS WORK!!..now am I against PEX NO!!..why? I have at the moment 2 functioning ( plastic cone bottom tanks with PCV plumbing)..and these are heated..before anyone flames me on this..have you failure tested you system? mine pass..YES PASS..lets see..
dry fire the element after drain BD..check
fire the element without pumping..check..with methanol in the tank..check..
fire the element with air circulating the contents..check..with methanol..check..
if you dig into the PCV vs PEX..PEX will win..higher temps and higher pressures..down side. brass fittings..and special tools to connect..for the brass fittings??are you planning on storing your fuel? no then no problem.

to be fair..plastic tank setups are not all bad..not always good either..BE CAREFUL !!
how's the heating done? controlled? how's the heating element mounted?
these are tough questions..so should be the testing!!!( but only with someone present)

for more info..
biodiesel.infopop.cc
make-biodiesel.org

or ... just pm some of us who make it..

-dkenny

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:48 pm

Thank you for your responses.

I picked up a water heater, and I have a question.

How do I disconnect the electrical connectors from the top heating element and reconnect it in a manner so that the lower heating element will continue to function?

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:57 pm

racertracer wrote:

Thank you for your responses.
I picked up a water heater, and I have a question.
How do I disconnect the electrical connectors from the top heating element and reconnect it in a manner so that the lower heating element will continue to function?

I disconnected both, removed the lower one & replaced with a lower wattage 110V element.

However, given the nature of your question, I highly recommend joining a BD forum and reviewing videos & discussions on how to make a processor. There are electrical connections, switches, thermostats, mix motor ect.. so you will have to acquire some electrical knowledge to keep it safe.
It's a very quirky process and a lot can go wrong so join the discussions & make sure you have access to the "gurus" who can help you with the inevitable problems you will encounter. (some of them very perplexing) It's not unlike owning a CRD!!
At the end of the day, you're good to go if you test, test, test:

http://www.biodieselnow.com/general_biodiesel_21/b/methods/archive/2008/04/01/how-biodiesel-is-made.aspx
http://www.graham-laming.com/bd/main.htm
http://www.biodieselnow.com/
http://www.brevardbiodiesel.org/EV/ev.html

racertracer · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:13 am

Thanks

Biodiesel Yes Or No?

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