I thought I'd share my new recovery setup where I can recover from the glycerol and Biodiesel at the same time.
1. After processing I shift the glycerol from the processor to the glycerol still (the smaller Hot Water Cylinder on the left) via the plumbing and using the site tube to turn the taps off once all glycerol is across.
2. Then I power on both Hot water Cylinders as stills. I use 3 aquarium air pumps which pump air down via copper tubing into the bottom of the cylinders creating a bubble mass not unlike bubble washing. This does two things, agitates the bio or glycerol and also aids in moving the vapour out the top of the stills and to the condenser outside the shed.
3. The condenser uses copper coil in a bucket with cold water coming in at the base and drains at the top so I can keep things as cool as possible. I wish to change to a radiator and fan and get away from using water entirely.
With this design I am able to recover around 30% i.e. I use 33litres methanol to process 150litres wvo and recover at least 11litres which is at 97%+ purity with this pot still design.
Once all the methanol is recovered from the bio after about 5 hours I transfer it to the washtank where I air wash it for 24hours and all done, passes 3/27 with instant clear results and water test for soap passes with no soaps…..
Also the methanol to atmosphere is kept to a minimum …..

Bio Pics

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HDJ80,

First, that slideshow is REALLY annoying in that the pictures are constantly changing size, hard to look at, and I can't figure out how or if I can slow it down or stop it (short of clicking to open every picture individually.

Second, cool. So a separate water heater to drain the glycerin into and then recover methanol from both simultaneously; BD in the processor, glycerin in a second water heater, both plumbed together to a single condenser.

I think there is a large dead space that you are putting methanol into to get it to the condenser on the BD side, but with the bubblers it must be working OK for you. And I suppose if some methanol stays in there, big deal, it will just be a little extra on the next batch anyway.

I agree with Ryan -- lose the special effects. I couldn't look at it for more than a couple slides.