NT pump quit pumping after methoxide introduction. Had no back up. What can I do with what i have in the processor. It has since cooled back to ambient temperature. Can it be reprocessed, what would that procedure be like? Or is it trash?

Is your reactor sealed? Do you have a way to heat the contents in the reactor? Do you have valves installed so you can isolate the pump and replace it without draining the whole batch? How much experience do you have and/or is this your first batch?

Finest regards,

troy

quote:

Is your reactor sealed?

No

quote:

Do you have a way to heat the contents in the reactor?

Yes

quote:

Do you have valves installed so you can isolate the pump and replace it without draining the whole batch?

Yes

quote:

How much experience do you have and/or is this your first batch?

Have probably made about 500 or so gallons so far in a home made cone bottomed 55 gallon drum style processor. Great success up until now.

Looks like the methanol maybe floating on top of the oil ?

Found one other related post where there were suggestions of repairing the failure and reheating & processing, with only maybe adding a little methanol to compensate for what may have evaporated. There was no resolution posted on that thread regarding results.

Guess it cant hurt to take a whack at it. Just looking for experienced thoughts and advice on the matter.

Thanks

being that it's an unsealed reactor, you need to either shut off valves to isolate the pump from the reactor and swap the pump quick
or
drain the contents into buckets, cover with saran wrap to seal the methanol in, and swap pump.
As long as you can keep the element submerged and fluid running, it should be ok to reheat, but again I would cover the top of the reactor with saran to minimize methanol loss and exposure

Replace pump, heat up, add some methanol, reprocess until it passes the 3/27 test.

You can close the top of the drum/processor right?

troy

just as suggested, replaced pump last night, reheated, added maybe 2 liters of methanol, processed, and all seems well this morning.
Guess i just panicked, in hindsight it seems kind of obvious. Thanks for the support.

May all your biodiesel related problems be that easy to solve!

troy