He Made His Own Biodiesel Processor

He Made His Own Biodiesel Processor ENERGY Alternative Fuels 32-3-33 Robert Robinson's been happily using his home-built biodiesel processor for four years. "My raw material is used cooking oil that I get for free from restaurants. It's usually partially hydrogenated, so I decant the liquid vegetable oil off the top, filter it, and use it for fuel in a æstraight' Mercedes Benz that I've converted to run on vegetable oil," Robinson says. "With the hydrogenated fraction, I pour about 35 gallons at a time through a strainer, and into the biodiesel processor. It heats up the oil to 120? F and I add about 7 gal. of methanol, into which I've mixed a certain amount of lye. Then the processor stirs the mixture for 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. Next, I transfer the reactants over to a settling barrel, where I let it settle for at least eight hours." The biodiesel reaction produces glycerin as a byproduct, and since it's heavier than the biodiesel, it settles to the bottom where Robinson can drain it off. He's usually left with 30 to 35 gal. of biodiesel per batch. "I use this biodiesel in my 4-WD GMC Suburban, but have also supplied some friends and family members with biodiesel to use in their diesel trucks or cars," the Sacramento, Calif. man explains. To set up the system, Robinson had design and engineering help from his friend Maurice Leighton. The "single 60-gal. tank biodiesel processor" is made from a propane tank set vertically. The rounded bottom has four threaded ports for the heating element, thermostat and drain. The other end is cut off to accept the motor, bearings, paddle shaft and lid of the pour opening. "The thick walls made it suitable for the installation of electrical hardware, and the height of a propane tank reduces the floor area needed, compared to barrel-type tanks," Leighton explains. "This operating system has an æauto run cycle' that enables the heater to operate, then turn off and automatically begin the mixer motor cycle for a pre-set time before shutting off automatically. There's also an æoption cycle' that just operates the æmix motor cycle' without heat." According to Robinson and Leighton, anyone can build this processor if they have electrical knowledge and experience with wiring schematics and relays. Robinson will answer questions by email. He'll sell detailed plans and schematics if there's enough interest. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Robinson, 8448 La Riviera Drive, Sacramento, Calif. 95826 (NatureBob@att.net).

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