I am trying to figure out which pump to use for circulation. It seems as the majority use the clearwater pump. Some have stated they think they are having incomplete reaction problems due to low pressure/flow. (may be correct, may not)
I have an injector pump (not diesel). It is an aluminm housing and has some brass inside. I also have a few used hydraulic pumps laying around. The injector pump will pump 12 gpm at 3000rpm. A hyd pump will pump much more at less rpm. Am I making to much of a big deal worrying about a pump?
Should I just go to harbor freight and get it?
I am planning on using a diesel truck tank as a reactor. I will wash and dry in a separate tank. The tank has a rounded bottom. Sealed, add a few bungs and go. And insulation. Fabrication is no problem for me.
Thanks
Steve

That's a good idea using the diesel fuel tank. I used those for open front wood burners. What are they 75 gallon or so? I think the Harbor Frieght clear water pump works great for my 30 gallon Appleseed Turnover. It may be with the larger capacity a bigger pump would circulate better. On the other hand, I see people with 60 gallon Appleseed processors using the clear water pump with no problems.
Brian

The HF Clearwater pump is pretty much too cheap not to use , works fine for most of us. If i understand you correctly you are using a semi saddle fuel tank, these are usually made of aluminium which is not a good material considering the corrosive nature of the methox mixture. If the tank is steel then it will work fine. Good luck

Steve,
Do not use the aluminum housing pump. Do NOT use an aluminum truck tank as your reactor! Aluminum is eaten away by the caustic. Try it and see. Dissolve a little of your lye into some water and put in a small piece of aluminum foil. Watch it disappear! The reaction generates hydrogen too, so keep flame away. The HF clear water pump works well on drum or Appleseed processors. But the 5-6 gpm is not quite sufficient if you go to a larger processor. I used to use an 11 gpm hydraulic pump in a 55 gallon drum processor. Pictures here. I use a 36 gpm gerotor pump on my current 130 gallon processor. I have a 125 gpm pump ready for my 550 gallon processor. Buy the cheap HF pump, or just use what you have. I think the HF pump is only like 28 dollars. HTH

Sorry about lack of clarity. The truck tank is steel. I am not sure of the tank size yet. Have to go pick it up.
I understand alum/methanol corrosive issue, forgot to factor in the lye.
Anyone using a small block checy oil pump to mix? I assume a hyd. pump that is cast iron and steel is also fine?
Thanks
Steve

AFAIK There's no fluid dynamics reason that you can't run two harbor freight pumps in parallel. 1" pipe should be capable of handling the 10-12 gpm. It might also provide a little beneficial discharge head to pump against.

That said, it's very possible that there's some operational disadvantage that I'm neglecting.

will putting the pumps in parallel double output if using the same suctin/delivery lines...or do they need to be in series and one pump out to the other pump inlet?

They will double as long as the inlet and outlet lines are big enough. In series they would stay at 5-6 gpm.

why buy, however cheap, when you haved better pumps to hand, free effectively. Use the steel bodied hydraulic pumps. Generally parallel will increase flow rate and series will increase pressure.

You want parallel. As stated use nice big inlet and outlet pipes so as not to restrict the flow.

quote:

Do not use the aluminum housing pump. Do NOT use an aluminum truck tank as your reactor! Aluminum is eaten away by the caustic. Try it and see. Dissolve a little of your lye into some water and put in a small piece of aluminum foil. Watch it disappear! The reaction generates hydrogen too, so keep flame away.


A good grade of Alum will work with Methonal, e.g. T6 grade. T1 and T2 is the most common however. The real issue arises when you are creating Methoxide. During the catalization stage there is a explosive gas that is created. Brass has it's own issues as well but not those type.

Doug Felt
800-874-8976
Dixon Pumps Inc.
PO Box 80008
Billings MT 59108
Fax 406-245-5606
www.dixonpumps.com
dfelt@dixonpumps.com