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Biodiesel

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Comments

  • #102
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Fine with me, I thought that Stev.K and I were getting a bit off topic but Im happy to keep the discussion here.
    Stev.K the best and also the cheapest vessel for a biodiesel processor is a steel oildrum. It holds 205 litres so can process 150 litres of wvo at a time. you can use the 2" and 3/4" threaded openings as connections for the pipework . The pipework should be either black iron or qualpex, no copper or zinc.
    For fittings use either black iron BSP or standard 3/4" compression fittings. You will be able to get nickel plated ball valves but you will have to settle for bronze bends and tees. A standard circulation pump of the type used for central heating is best, get one of the older models with the high wattage (90watts min). Another popular pump is the Clarke TAM105
    As to the layout there are lots of options, you can find plans all over the internet. Some are reliable some are not.
    The heater all of us use is a 3000w incalloy immersion heater, mounted vertically into the bottom of the processor.
    Once you get some oil the first thing you need to do is test it using a titration kit, you can make this up yourself using stuff you can buy in any pharmacy and supermarket.
    The result of this test tells you what process you are going to have to use. There are 3 processes. If your oil titrates at less than 2.5 then you can use the single stage base process ( unless you drive a late model common rail engined car). If the oil tests at between 2.5 and 6 you must use the 2 stage base/base process. If the oil titrates at over 6 you must use the 2 stage acid/base process. I know this sounds a bit complicated but once you get your head around it its fairly simple really.
    <MODSNIP>


  • #103
    stev.k
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭stev.k


    Sorry if i was getting of track:o, steel barrel it is then,ill take out the emersion from the copper tank <MODSNIP>


  • #104
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    <MODSNIP> For more information I would recommend a website called make-biodiesel.org. Despite the similarity in names its nothing to do with me, its run by an American called Rickdatech. Its not a forum, just an information site which has all the information a beginner could need and more. Most importantly there is no wrong or out of date info on his site unlike many others.


  • #105
    teddyroosevelt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭teddyroosevelt


    [modsnip][modsnip]


  • #106
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Teddyroosefelt, the supplier you mention is now out of business. Pretty well all medium sized commercial biodiesel makers in Ireland have now gone bust because of the punitive tax regime. Even the future of the one large producer, Green fuels in New Ross looks shaky.
    The government are so desperate to raise tax that they are wiping out fledgling industries that could lead to jobs and growth. Soon we will have to import the biodiesel that is mixed with petrodiesel to fulfill our fossil fuel obligations.


  • #107
    Bioman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Bioman


    I'm just getting started in making biodiesel, I used to buy it from a guy in Killarney but he stopped when the vrt went on, is there anyone willing to give me a few pointer as to how to get started without laying a heap of money till I see how it goes. Thanks


  • #108
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Hello Bioman,
    Ive been making my own for 6 years now and its not difficult.
    First you have to locate a supply of wvo, liquid oil not semisolid lard.
    Second you have to test it with a titration kit to find out what process you are going to use.
    Third you can look at options for processors, large or small, steel or stainless, water or drywash, buy or build it yourself.
    <MODSNIP>


  • #109
    Bioman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Bioman


    That would be great imakebiodiesel I really appreciate the help.


  • #110
    Bioman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Bioman


    I have 1 supplier with 120 Ltrs a week. I have no clue as to size of processor or what the difference between stainless and steel is. I might be able to locate more oil but am waiting for him to get back to me.


  • #111
    CRM Ireland
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 350 ✭✭CRM Ireland


    This making your own biodiesel is rather fascinating. I just moved out to the country and I have a detached garage which would provide me with somewhere to manufacture it for personal use.

    @imakebiodiesel: Ive noticed in some of your previous threads that you have shown people how you make it at your house. Do you still do this? Ive not seen a similar post from you in a while.

    I have a lot of studying of the subject, I know absolutely nothing about it other than from what Ive read in a few threads on here. I cant imagine it will be all that difficult though. Can you suggest a place/guide where I can read up on it a bit more, so I know exactly how complicated it is before I go around seeking a source of WVO? Im in contact with takeaways through my job, so I probably have a good chance of success.

    Im in the market for a second hand car and Id love to have an early 2000's Land Rover Discovery. I used to have a 93 200 a few years ago which although a complete shed, I loved until someone stole it and burned it out! Ive yearned after one everytime I pass one on the road, but the crippling fuel costs have prevented me from seriously considering it. I think making biodiesel would be a fantastic way to be able to afford to run it, and also learn something that Ive never done before. Ive always been into computers, so getting my hands dirty will be great! Have you heard anything about the 300s/TD5 (2000-2004) running on biodiesel? Reliability, modifications etc?


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  • #112
    doubledecker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 ✭doubledecker


    check out
    http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/
    I don't make biodiesel, only filter waste vegetable oil, but plenty of great info on that site.. search away and read read read.......


  • #113
    Bizziebee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭Bizziebee


    CRM Ireland wrote: »
    This making your own biodiesel is rather fascinating. I just moved out to the country and I have a detached garage which would provide me with somewhere to manufacture it for personal use.

    @imakebiodiesel: Ive noticed in some of your previous threads that you have shown people how you make it at your house. Do you still do this? Ive not seen a similar post from you in a while.

    I have a lot of studying of the subject, I know absolutely nothing about it other than from what Ive read in a few threads on here. I cant imagine it will be all that difficult though. Can you suggest a place/guide where I can read up on it a bit more, so I know exactly how complicated it is before I go around seeking a source of WVO? Im in contact with takeaways through my job, so I probably have a good chance of success.

    Im in the market for a second hand car and Id love to have an early 2000's Land Rover Discovery. I used to have a 93 200 a few years ago which although a complete shed, I loved until someone stole it and burned it out! Ive yearned after one everytime I pass one on the road, but the crippling fuel costs have prevented me from seriously considering it. I think making biodiesel would be a fantastic way to be able to afford to run it, and also learn something that Ive never done before. Ive always been into computers, so getting my hands dirty will be great! Have you heard anything about the 300s/TD5 (2000-2004) running on biodiesel? Reliability, modifications etc?
    HiCRM Ireland I would just like to let you know there are a lot of us now in the world of biodiesel I am now one of the small home brewers in Ireland and if there is one man that can point you in the right direction it's imakebiodiesel he also builds processors so if it's a starting point your looking for its there I made the mistake of buying a processer from the uk and then I got know support what so ever if it wasn't for imakebiodiesel I would have given up long ago thats just my tuppence worth anyway and I wish you the very best of luck with it, the satisfaction is well worth the frustration


  • #114
    stocking
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭stocking


    hi all,
    is there any chance somebody might let 'imakebiodiesel' know that I'm trying to get in touch with him. I pm'ed already but no luck. alternatively, maybe there is somebody around Dublin willing to show how it's made, etc.
    I'm very interested to see the process/get involved in trying.
    thanks in advance.


  • #115
    Bizziebee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭Bizziebee


    Hi Stockling not Sure if This Helps but I believe that Imakebiodiesel is In the USA at the Moment, as for getting more information if you go to http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/ this is the Bible for beginners everything you need to know is contained on this forum its where i educated myself and am still learning every day since :)


  • #116
    stocking
    Registered Users Posts: 54 ✭✭stocking


    Bizziebee wrote: »
    Hi Stockling not Sure if This Helps but I believe that Imakebiodiesel is In the USA at the Moment, as for getting more information if you go to http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/ this is the Bible for beginners everything you need to know is contained on this forum its where i educated myself and am still learning every day since :)

    thanks a million for you help. I know that forum allright. I'm more about getting to talk to somebody who is already involved. imakebiodisel used to run demos and he also sold equipment etc. I wonder if anybody else does the same....

    thanks anyway.


  • #117
    CRM Ireland
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 350 ✭✭CRM Ireland


    stocking wrote: »
    thanks a million for you help. I know that forum allright. I'm more about getting to talk to somebody who is already involved. imakebiodisel used to run demos and he also sold equipment etc. I wonder if anybody else does the same....

    thanks anyway.

    Youre in the exact same boat as myself. I was looking at someone to guide me in person and quite probably someone who could sell me the equipment too.

    I was talking to a couple of takeaways whilst working today and I "just happened" to mention my interest in making biodiesel. I was trying to suss out if I would be able to take the oil from them instead of the current company who lifts it for them. I didnt outright ask, but it seemed very clear I could take it so long as I ensured Id take it ALL the time and not leave them with a stockpile mounting up.

    Id like to make sure that I have a good chance of success before I offer to collect it, because I dont want to let them down and also blow an opportunity of a good source.

    Is there anyone in Louth or thereabouts? Im in Clogherhead (near Drogheda) but Im travelling all over Monaghan/Cavan/Louth during working hours.


  • #118
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Hello guys, as someone mentioned earlier I have been away in the US and havnt posted for a while. The reason for the US trip was my son had entered a science competition here in Waterford. His project won first prize which was an all expenses trip to Pittsburgh to compete at Isef, a world wide competition for young innovators. We went to New York for a week first to get him over the jet lag and to enjoy the sights.
    His project is Polydiesel, a novel solution to fuel shortages and disposal of waste plastics. He has built, with some help from me, a reactor that pyrolyses 1 kg of dirty, mixed waste plastic into 970 ml of liquid fuel. The fuel consists of 60% diesel, 30 % kerosene and 10% petrol. We have separated the diesel fraction and run my Skoda car on it. It runs very smoothly and when tested on the NCT smoke tester is cleaner burning than regular diesel.
    We are currently constructing a larger reactor to produce about 50 litres of polydiesel per batch.
    The Isef competition was amazing. 1500 smart young people and their brilliant ideas.. To be honest I thought we had little chance but he won a second prize in his category.
    Back home and down to earth, Im still making biodiesel every week and am happy to help anyone who wants to get started. Because of the rules of this forum I cant give my phone number or address but Im sure you can find me on other forums specifically about biodiesel.


  • #119
    SeanW
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭SeanW


    imakebiodiesel wrote: »
    Hello guys, as someone mentioned earlier I have been away in the US and havnt posted for a while. The reason for the US trip was my son had entered a science competition here in Waterford. His project won first prize which was an all expenses trip to Pittsburgh to compete at Isef, a world wide competition for young innovators. We went to New York for a week first to get him over the jet lag and to enjoy the sights.
    His project is Polydiesel, a novel solution to fuel shortages and disposal of waste plastics. He has built, with some help from me, a reactor that pyrolyses 1 kg of dirty, mixed waste plastic into 970 ml of liquid fuel. The fuel consists of 60% diesel, 30 % kerosene and 10% petrol. We have separated the diesel fraction and run my Skoda car on it. It runs very smoothly and when tested on the NCT smoke tester is cleaner burning than regular diesel.
    We are currently constructing a larger reactor to produce about 50 litres of polydiesel per batch.
    The Isef competition was amazing. 1500 smart young people and their brilliant ideas.. To be honest I thought we had little chance but he won a second prize in his category.
    Back home and down to earth, Im still making biodiesel every week and am happy to help anyone who wants to get started. Because of the rules of this forum I cant give my phone number or address but Im sure you can find me on other forums specifically about biodiesel.
    Congratulations to your young man!


  • #120
    Stovepipe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    hello all,
    Did you mention in a previous post that this is already an industrial process in Ireland? Why is the world not doing this already to reduce the vast amount of waste plastic out there?

    regards
    Stovepipe


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  • #121
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    This is being done on an industrial scale in Ireland Germany and Japan. Cynar PLC, an Irish company has a plant in Portlaoise processes 60 tons of waste plastic from Bord na mona and Portlaoise County council. They process it into diesel which they sell in bulk to fleet owners. They are currently building similar plants in the UK and Canada.
    The technology is not new but what has changed is the viability. High fuel prices combined with rapidly rising land fill costs have made this process financially attractive.
    What makes our process different is the small scale. Up until now pyrolizing plants have been massive industrial units. Our unit is scaled to household or small business needs. We use a cheap disposable catalyst which is replaced for every batch. If you want to follow our progress we have set up a website explaining the process and the project. Im not allowed to post a website address here but if you pm me Ill send you the address.


  • #122
    Stovepipe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    thanks for the reply. I had no idea such a thing existed. Upside as I see it: getting fuel from waste is an excellent idea and it consumes what would otherwise go into landfill or the sea. Downside: the Govt will impose the same duties on the fuel so it means no saving to the hard-pressed motorist to use it. that's cynical of me but they've effectively already destroyed any personal or industrial incentive to use green fuels, by taxing the **** out of it.apart from that, well done to your son.

    regards
    Stovepipe


  • #123
    fasttalkerchat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,652 ✭✭✭fasttalkerchat


    imakebiodiesel wrote: »
    This is being done on an industrial scale in Ireland Germany and Japan. Cynar PLC, an Irish company has a plant in Portlaoise processes 60 tons of waste plastic from Bord na mona and Portlaoise County council. They process it into diesel which they sell in bulk to fleet owners. They are currently building similar plants in the UK and Canada.
    The technology is not new but what has changed is the viability. High fuel prices combined with rapidly rising land fill costs have made this process financially attractive.
    What makes our process different is the small scale. Up until now pyrolizing plants have been massive industrial units. Our unit is scaled to household or small business needs. We use a cheap disposable catalyst which is replaced for every batch. If you want to follow our progress we have set up a website explaining the process and the project. Im not allowed to post a website address here but if you pm me Ill send you the address.

    Brilliant to hear this happening. I went to see a few places selling biodiesel and it was all a shed operation, probably just washed diesel. All the best with this.


  • #124
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Stovepipe you are right, most of the price of fuel is tax, and the rest is profit for Big Oil.
    As a friend of mine wrote many years ago, If you want to know what freedom feels like, make your own fuel, grow your own food and dont borrow money.


  • #125
    flutered
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,694 ✭✭✭flutered


    imakebiodiesel wrote: »
    Stovepipe you are right, most of the price of fuel is tax, and the rest is profit for Big Oil.
    As a friend of mine wrote many years ago, If you want to know what freedom feels like, make your own fuel, grow your own food and dont borrow money.

    i am unable due to health reasons to do either no. one or no. two, but no. three i adhere ridgely to, if i could i would be on to no. one immediatly for my trusty 96 virata 2.0l vitara, i am toying with the idea of if purchaseing biodesiel is possible, i do have a 100 gal container, all it requires is some fittings, the main obsticle is the purchaseing of a trailer to place the container on.


  • #126
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    It is not easy to purchase genuine biodiesel. If the operation is legal the price will be higher than regular derv. Two people have sent me samples recently of what they purchased as "biodiesel". I was able to analyse them and in both cases it was very badly washed agricultural diesel. Asides from being illegal it was filthy stuff, laden with water, and would quickly harm an engine.


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  • #127
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    It seems I misunderstood the rules of the forum and I may post the website address about converting waste plastic to diesel fuel. I should point out though that this is not a commercial venture. The website simply describes the progress of our experiments with this technology. Others are welcome to use the information to experiment themselves without having to reinvent the wheel. I am a great believer in the power of open source development but I would make the point that if you choose to try out this technology you are responsible for your own safety. Messing about with hydrocarbon gases at temperatures well above their flash points can be very dangerous.
    www.polydiesel.webs.com


  • #128
    installer
    Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭installer


    Hi imakebiodiesel, firstly congrats to both you and your son, secondly I am really interested in producing biodiesel, I must admit that I have no knowledge on the subject other than what I have read here but would be really interested in visiting you at your place for a visual insight into the process. Also I will buy 1 of your kits to get me started, could you pm me the details inc price etc so I can begin preperations.
    Thanks and keep up the good work.


  • #129
    paddy147
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,858 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    Does the goverment interfere much in this...as in tax the fcuk out of you for producing it???


  • #130
    installer
    Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭installer


    i'l be using it mainly for home heating so i guess the chances of them finding out are fairly slim.


  • #131
    imakebiodiesel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 203 ✭✭imakebiodiesel


    Hi Installer, I post on this site to provide accurate information to people interested in biodiesel. I cant and dont want to promote my business here.
    Paddy, The revenue will want 44cents per litre. Im registered as a Tax Warehouse and pay my dues but Im told by others who have tried to register that some revenue officers will simply refuse an application by a small producer. This makes it very difficult for someone who wants do things by the book.


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  • #132
    installer
    Registered Users Posts: 139 ✭✭installer


    Hi imakebiodiesel, I understand completely and have actually come across other sites that you are on so to speak and i will be in touch. I think its great what you are doing and it offers a brilliant insight to people on what can be accomplished given the right tools and a litle motivation.


  • #133
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    installer wrote: »
    ...I will buy 1 of your kits to get me started
    Folks, I've spoken to imakebiodiesel about this already, but just so everyone else is clear, the purpose of this thread is to provide advice on making biodiesel. It is not a place to either advertise or request goods or services.

    Ta.


  • #134
    mickredirl
    Registered Users Posts: 112 ✭✭mickredirl


    Just come across this tread. Any updates on where to buy biodiesel. I think its unfortunate that Bio diesel appears to have not evolved more in Ireland in the last few years!!

    Hopefully Im wrong.



  • #135
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 92,480 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    @mickredirl please re-read the post above yours. Please don't reopen very old threads.



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