BIODIESEL
The BioPro™ 190 and 190EX convert
vegetable and animal oils into high quality (ASTM-grade) biodiesel. These oils
are converted through heat, mixing and chemical processes called esterification
and transesterification into biodiesel fuel which will run in any diesel engine
without the need to modify that engine.
What's unique about the BioPro™ 190
is that the majority of this process is done by the machine with very little
user interaction. Instead of having to turn valves, meter in chemicals, and
carefully monitor the machine, you simply pour in your ingredients, press a
button and walk away.
Before starting the process, the
user fills the machine with 50 gallons of filtered, dewatered oil. The oil can
be any organic oil (tallow, fats, waste vegetable oil from restaurants or
virgin oil pressed from crops). In most cases, waste vegetable oil is used due
to it's wide availability.
After filling the machine with oil,
the user fills the machine with a predetermined amount of catalyst and
methanol. The catalyst is easily weighed and placed in the machine. The
methanol is then added to the machine. The final step is to measure out the
proper amount of sulfuric acid. The user then presses "The Big Green
Button", waits for the mixing to start and then pours the sulfuric
acid into the machine. Then THE USER WALKS AWAY allowing the machine to do its
work. There is absolutely no need to monitor the machine at all. It does the
majority of its work all by itself!
How does the machine convert the
feedstock oil into clean, crystal clear, ready to use Biodiesel?
REACTION
1 - ESTERIFICATION
a.k.a. the "Acid" stage
During this stage, the machine mixes sulfuric acid and a portion of the methanol into the oil. The sulfuric acid goes on the hunt for free fatty acids and modifies them so that the methanol can attach to them and create biodiesel.
During this stage, the machine mixes sulfuric acid and a portion of the methanol into the oil. The sulfuric acid goes on the hunt for free fatty acids and modifies them so that the methanol can attach to them and create biodiesel.
Over the course of a few hours, a
lot of heating and mixing will occur to make sure that the acid and the
methanol have had a chance to do their job. A thorough Acid (esterification)
stage helps to make the Base stage successful.
REACTION
2 - TRANSESTERIFICATION
a.k.a. the "Base" stage
After the acid stage has occurred, it's time for the base reaction (transesterification). In this stage the machine mixes in the Base catalyst and the rest of the methanol into the main tank. During this stage, the catalyst, which is usually Lye (Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH) or Caustic Potash (Potassium Hydroxide - KOH), attacks the oil and begins breaking the molecules apart into glycerol and fatty acid chains (the catalyst used is extremely powerful). Just after the molecules are broken apart, the methanol begins to attach to the fatty acid chains. This causes the glycerol molecules to begin to seperate out of the substance into a mixture called "glycerol".
After the acid stage has occurred, it's time for the base reaction (transesterification). In this stage the machine mixes in the Base catalyst and the rest of the methanol into the main tank. During this stage, the catalyst, which is usually Lye (Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH) or Caustic Potash (Potassium Hydroxide - KOH), attacks the oil and begins breaking the molecules apart into glycerol and fatty acid chains (the catalyst used is extremely powerful). Just after the molecules are broken apart, the methanol begins to attach to the fatty acid chains. This causes the glycerol molecules to begin to seperate out of the substance into a mixture called "glycerol".
This stage takes several hours to
occur. While this stage is happening the machine is mixing the oil, chemicals,
and methanol together with an extremely powerful, tri-blade impeller. This
helps to thoroughly mix things together and helps ensure that all of the oil
has a chance to be chemically treated.
SETTLING
PERIOD
a.k.a. Glycerin Drop Out
After both reactions have occured, the oil is allowed to settle for a period of time. This allows the glycerin to fall to the bottom of the tank and separate away from the freshly made biodiesel. The settling can take several hours with a standard BioPro™™ or it can take a matter of minutes with the BioPro™™EX. At either speed, this settling helps to ensure that the raw biodiesel is glycerin free.
After both reactions have occured, the oil is allowed to settle for a period of time. This allows the glycerin to fall to the bottom of the tank and separate away from the freshly made biodiesel. The settling can take several hours with a standard BioPro™™ or it can take a matter of minutes with the BioPro™™EX. At either speed, this settling helps to ensure that the raw biodiesel is glycerin free.
MID
POINT - DRAIN GLYCERIN
At this point, after 24 hours (or 8
hours with an EX model), the user comes back to the machine and drains out the
settled glycerin and begins the washing cycle. This is the only user
interaction that is required during the entire processing cycle.
WASHING
BEGINS
The BioPro™™ 190 now begins the
washing cycle. During this process, the machine will turn on the heat and
lightly spray a mist of clean, fresh water into the biodiesel to begin the
process of cleaning the biodiesel. It may sound strange to add water to biodiesel,
but it works. Because water is heavier than biodiesel, it quickly falls to the
bottom.
As the water falls, excess methanol
and soap molecules attach to the water and fall with it, thereby cleansing the
biodiesel. After the first mist wash, the water is then pumped out and another
mist wash is performed, only this time the big tri-blade mixing impeller comes
on mixing the water and the biodiesel together to create a tremendously
effective washing action. we call it an "agitated wash cycle". It
mixes the water thoroughly with the biodiesel so that it maximizes separation
of the impurities out of the biodiesel.
The machine then lets everything
settle for a few hours, drains off the water and starts another agitated mist
wash. In an effort to cleanse the biodiesel, the machine performs this last
wash cycle with the massive tri-blade impeller going in full force. Once it's
done, the water settles to the bottom and is once again automatically pumped
out by the machine.
DRYING
BEGINS
Now the final settling stage begins.
After the wash water has been drained off, the heat remains on and the
tri-blade impeller kicks in again. The combination of the heat and the mixing
help to evaporte any excess water from the freshly washed biodiesel. After the
heat & mixing is done the BioPro™ allows the biodiesel to settle out one
last time. During this time the now heated biodiesel evaporates off any excess
water. When the process is complete, you're left with a clear, clean tank of
biodiesel that is ready to use!
That's all there is to it. Instead
of having to transfer everything around from container to container the machine
does it all for you. When it's completed you hook up the hose to the fuel pump
(comes included) and pump the finished biodiesel straight from the machine into
your vehicle. How's that for automation!
BioPro
190 Specifications
|
Processing Capacity
Ingredients
Power Requirements
Reaction Method
Wash Method
Operation
Weight
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