New Fossil Fuel free Build Begins (biodiesel processor)

[dremd]

Made a few test batches (quart each) and many were flops. I'm getting better results now that I started drying the oil in the microwave until it quits popping (No flops yet). So now it looks like my collection tank needs to be a collection tank/ vacuum drying tank due to the very high humidity levels we have in South Louisiana.

So I'm painting the tank Matt black, moving it from the shade and in to the sun and trying to figure out how to run the vacuum pump more ofen with out it being on continuously.


Few thoughs on running the vacuum pump.
1) Run it while out collecting, that way I get 2 advantages a) quicker pickup and b) start drying faster quicker. Issue is my 1kw Honda Generator Honda Marine - Honda Generator - EU1000i isn't up to the task partially because the motor appears to be purely inductive, but it still will not start it with a light bulb plugged in as well. I don't know of any inverters larger than my generator is, and which are also reasonably priced. Any Ideas?

2) Vacuum switch, Haven't looked to see if such a thing exist yet, but If I could switch the pump on whenever vacuum dropped below (above?) say 27 psi then I could just leave it vacuum drying for days out in the yard.

3) Light Timer run it for a half hour every few hours (more during the day) Wouldn't be ideal, but would be easy and get me running.

Also stopped by Harbor freight today and my pump STILL ISN'T in STOCK Errr. It's harder to find parts that you pay for than the parts that you get for free.

[dremd]

Long Time, No updates.

Got a new source for WVO; looks like 25~35 Gallons a Week. Restaurant owner is a friend of the Family, he has to terminate his disposal contract (that he PAYS for) and I have to get a collection container over there and we should be good to go. If anybody is in the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana area I highly recommend stopping by Cafe Des Amis Cafe Des Amis Especially on Saturday Mornings.

Should give me and my friend enough fuel for the Foreseeable future :-)

Now I've got to build the processor


Edit:
Processor Pump is on the way!

[MetroMPG]

2 weeks back I met the first local guy I know of who is doing bio-D from waste restuarant oil.

It was a funny conversation: he was really keen to tell me all about what & how he was doing it, but when I asked where he was getting his oil, he clammed up.

It was an innocent question. Once I assured him I wasn't going to start my own bio-D conversion, he filled me in. But apparently it's not as easy as you might think to find a reliable source.

[MPaulHolmes]

25 to 35 gallons a week. Man, that is awesome. What the heck are they cooking in that restaurant. Fried fryings? Do you drive 1000 miles a week? That'd be a heck of a commute. I suggest buying a 50,000 gallon drum, and stockpiling the stuff and then opening up your own station. It's weird how one person's treasure is another person's garbage, and vice versa.

[bennelson]

25 to 35 gallons a week sounds like plenty!

You may have to start selling biodiesel in dark, back alleys...

Do you have any photos to post? Us "visual" people would love that!

[dremd]

I definitely need to start taking pics; I'm a visual person as well.

Well Fuel giveaways (with Donations!) should be easy my best friend has a 120 mile a day commute in a TDI Bug, Her Husband drives a F-250; another friend drives a F-250 on D2 and would love to put money anyplace but oil companies (He works for one).

Also looks like if I make less than 500 Gallons a month I'm in the clear as far as road tax goes. In a perfect world I'd make just under that and use the profit to do more eco-mods.

[dremd]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

25 to 35 gallons a week. Man, that is awesome. What the heck are they cooking in that restaurant. Fried fryings?

Lots of things are fried there; they do quite a lot of business, and they must change it very often because the waste oil is beautiful.

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

Do you drive 1000 miles a week? That'd be a heck of a commute.

On occasion; not very often, but it does happen.

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I suggest buying a 50,000 gallon drum, and stockpiling the stuff and then opening up your own station.

If you can point me to a low cost 50,000 gallon tank I'd be all over it. I'm not exactly rich, but maybe compared to some ecomodders . . . .

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

It's weird how one person's treasure is another person's garbage, and vice versa.

That's what makes it so great!

[MetroMPG]

The local bio-d guy I met told me the issue has been that most restaurants here already have recycling contracts with an out of town company which even provides waste oil tanks (probably for ease of pickup/transfer). When they discovered some restaurants were giving some of the oil away, they threatened to pull the contracts. The restaurants, being wary of losing reliable oil removal, apparently complied.

[dremd]

I have heard from several people that the most important thing is RELIABLE PICKUP, if an owner has to be bothered about disposal even once, you are out of that spot.

I want to figure out some sort of resettable timer/ reminder system for pickup.

I'm also planning on giving them 2x as much container volume than they should ever need, that way if I can't make a pickup for a month, I should still be in the clear.

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by dremd

I want to figure out some sort of resettable timer/ reminder system for pickup.

It's called a calendar!