$14,000/mo diesel bill--Possible to switch to Biodiesel???

[DHarden]

Ok Biodiesel techs/backyard chemist I could really use some help on this one!!!



My father owns a sand and gravel pit around Logan, OH and his wash plant and every other piece of machinery including 4 loaders, trackhoe, 2 on-site dump trucks, dragline, earthmover, D9 dozer, 2 semis that make three 120 mile round trips/day and countless others all run on diesel. What used be a $8000/mo bill has now risen to over $14000/mo :--) with fuel price hikes. I realize it probably won't be possible to convert all of the equipment over to biodiesel but anything will help. I've done some research about biodiesel but most of the information on the web pertains to guys that are just making enough for their CTD to run on. I've also seen where it cost $. 6 to $. 9 to produce biodiesel and that sure beats $2. 25-$2. 50.



I guess what I am asking,

1. Is it possible/cost efficient to produce 200+ gallons of biodiesel/day?



2. Any biodiesel pre-built production plants available for large quantities?(biodieselgear.com is the closest I have found)



3. How will the older equipment react and what will need to be done to prepare the engines for the switch?



4. Maybe most important, how/where would I be able to round up that much veggie oil???





Any ideas or advice is greatly appreciated, if you produce a fairly large amount of biodiesel and would like to share some know how please feel free to email me at harden. 437@osu. edu.





Thanks guys!!

 

[n7gxz]

DHarden,



There are a number of websites that deal with biodiesel and how to produce it. If you want to get 200 gallons of fuel each day you'll need to get about 300 gallons of veggie oil per day do produce that. As for what will need to be done to the equipment, if it is older then about 1995 any of the rubber fuel system parts will need to be replaced. The problem is when BIO is produced Methanol is used in the refining process and the residual left in the fuel will eat away at the natural rubber so the natural rubber needs to be replaced with a synthetic rubber.



Kevin

 

[DHarden]

n7gxz,

Thanks for the information. I read about the Methanol eating away rubber like you said. I am wondering if there is any way to filter out the residual or counter it with an additive? The methanol is my main concern b/c all of the equipment is much older than 10 years. Thanks again for the info.

 

[DennyDay]

Biodiesel Site

Try biodiesel.org



Denny

 

[n7gxz]

From what I've read it sounds like commercial producers of BIO seem to be able to "wash" the BIO and all but eleminate all of the methanol. I know about your concern on the older equipment, I have a 1954 D2 that I've rebuild but a lot of the gaskets and such are NOS parts that have been collecting dust on the shelves for years.



Kevin

 

[LightmanE300]

The biodieselgear.com processors do have mist washing systems, and you shouldn't need to worry unless you're trying to run b100. I'm pretty confident you can run b50 in any of your equipment. This company in the UK offers a variety of sizes of biodiesel processors. http://www.green-fuels.co.uk/medium.htm

 

[DHarden]

LightmanE300,

thanks for the info, I emailed greenfuels to get more information about what they have to offer.



Also, I've read different sites including biodiesel.org and have found that production costs for biodiesel ranging from $. 4-$. 9. Is this cost accurate? I assume producing B20 cost quite a bit more than B100, what production cost does B20 have?



Thanks again guys,

Derek

 

[Todd T]

have you read the info on www.journeytoforever.org ? that guy explains how to brew your own and make your equipment. he also manufactures units to produce up to 400 gallons a batch.

 

[Moose Truck]

You can burn just the Waste Veggie Oil. A good site for info would be:

http://www.frybrid.com/forum/



The advantages of WVO are; No Glycrins to get rid of, and no Hazmats ( Lye, and Methanol, ect... ) Disadvantages are a more complex set of equipment (tank heaters ect. )

 

[dodge cummins]

is the btu the same in bio fuel compared to regular diesel