Your Biodiesel production cost per gallon? - Page 2 - Diesel Forum

Nitro454 · 04-17-2006, 08:53 AM

dkenna, did ya finally get all of your reactor done and start making it? ive been making it all winter long and running it. Currently, im running B100. working great [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Sparkydm · 04-17-2006, 04:06 PM

Where do you guys get such good oil? Just general ideas, you can
PM me if you'd prefer. I understand the chemical processing just
not how much is involved in tracking down the used oil to
make it from. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Nitro454 · 04-17-2006, 04:17 PM

ya just gotta go out and ask. I have a few restaurants(family owned, thats the key) that will put it right back in the cubies it comes out of. that way there is no water involved and with it being changed at least once a week, it is always fresh. the key to the whole process is to keep the water out of the oil.

Sparkydm · 04-17-2006, 04:43 PM

Thanks, do they just get rid of it if you don't have the storage
to keep up with their waste?

RickHredf250 · 04-17-2006, 05:48 PM

Agreed, owner operator kinda of places. Or maybe even regional chains that have say 4 or 5 stores in a metro area. I always make sure I can keep up with thier waste before I commit to it.
I think if I missed a pickup, I would get cut off!
I sent out 20 letters to random resturants and only got one sticking call and it was 5 gallons a week that never meterialized!
I also try and eat at the place every now and then. Helps build the relationship.
Best advice I can offer is be prepared to asnwer many dump questions (if you are in an area that no one is collecting for BD), and be prepared to handle what they offer as far as volume goes. Be great if you cann get a sample from them to test before commiting and also take a look at the container that it came in so you know what your getting.
Rick H...

OOPstroker · 04-17-2006, 07:06 PM

I bought Girly's books, that's about as far as I've gotten, but with $3 fuel or more looking to be coming real soon I'd like to get something up and going. Anyone have a simple version of that book? I'd like a guide to 1 system that works and not 4 or 5 different ones, get's too confusing.

Nitro454 · 04-17-2006, 07:32 PM

i take all the oil i can get. Throw it all in the 275 gallon tote until i need it. If I dont need it, i will make it and sell to friends and family. you will use more than what you think. Just think about how much fuel you use per week and get just as many places as neccessary to supply just what you need. I've never turned down oil.
As for using the metro store idea, that would work great, unfortunately there arent any of those around here. In a sense, living in the corn fields has its advantages and disadvantages. About 5 miles from my house they are building a BioD plant across the road from ADM. i cant wait to see just how big it is and the way that they do things at a plant like that.

StorminNorman · 04-18-2006, 07:46 AM

What???

<smart alec on> You mean this stuff I get by the barrel from Arby's that Tits out 11 is not Primo? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] <smart alec off>

Don't boil me in the proverbial oil, I only tested it.

I may never partake of a potato cake again.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
Norman

tlsmith · 04-18-2006, 11:14 AM

I see all your dollar figures, But how much time per gallon. I hate the high fuel prices and am considering making my own, so how much time is spent actually standing over this process when you are up and running? I figure to pick up oil when I am already in town so no special trips for that. I have read some about the process and understand the process takes some time. Do I have to be there all that time? Are there critical times in the process when you can't leave?

Nitro454 · 04-18-2006, 01:41 PM

the part that takes the most time really is just transferring the oil and bio from one tank to another. I put it in and let it heat. come back about 45 min later and add in the methoxide. let that go for about an hour then add in the water. let it mix for 10 more then shut er off. come back the next morning and drain the glycerin and pump into wash tank and start washing. i change the water ever hour and a half or so doing that 2-3 times. then it goes into the drum to be boiled and dried. I use a combo of boiling and pumping it against the side of the barrel to dry it. that takes about an hour and a half. All the while while it is doing its thing, i will usually go off and work on something else or go ride and come back and its done. also, all of my heating elements are on a digital time, that way if i forget to shut it off it doesnt burn down the barn. all in all there really isnt that much time involved once you are sure that you can trust your equipment and arent going to blow a hose or something. I usually do try to stay somewhere outside near it in case if something were to happen.

tlsmith · 04-18-2006, 11:13 PM

Thanks for the information. If I get you right it would take 2-3 hours of one evening and several hours the next day with being able to do some other close by work through that time.

Nitro454 · 04-19-2006, 03:17 PM

basically. Or if you trust that no hoses will bust or anything you can just get a timer and let it do its thing until you gotta change tanks, etc. But it is definately worth not having to pay the towel heads $3/gallon for #2. Plus everything is tax deductable when you get started....

terryrret · 04-20-2006, 01:48 AM

I get lots of very nice oil but you still need at least 20% Methanol to convert the oil to an "ester" properly . You can and should use less lye with clean oil but never lower the Methanol.
Terry

Nitro454 · 04-20-2006, 10:53 AM

well I will stick with what I am doing seeing as how it is all working out for me.