mcguyver,
yes it makes sense. I was just trying to explain haw my two tanks are set up. The are open top 55 gal containers made from semi clear HDPE. I have a bulkhead fitting on the bottom with an exterior standpipe. At my 15 gal mark I put another bulkhead to remove the washed BD. I alow enough water out(through the standpipe drian) so that the BD level is just below the upper drain so that no water will contaminate the BD. I have yet to have any leaks, but I keep the water level above the gaskets of the bulkhead fittings all the time except when removing BD. Once the BD is removed I add water so that the level is above the bulkhead fitting.

Hey scaldy1,
I do have a problem with the water getting into my BD drain. I have to pump the first gallon into a bucket when I pump over to the drying tank. Then I dump the gallon back into the wash tank. I use the same pump to pump from the settling tank next to the wash tank. It is also a standpipe cone bottomed tank.


-mcguyver

mcguyver,
I also had water problems in the past, thats why I changed to the design above. I dry in my processor. It is a 105 gal stainless steel cone bottom tank witha removable lid. When I'm done processing, I drain the by product and pump into my two washtanks. When wash is completed, I lower the water level to about 1" below the lowest point of my upper drain(described above) and pump back into my processor. I have some flattened nipples that I put on my two exhaust ports near the top of my processor. It uses two pumps. Thes flattened nipples spray the heated BD and it dries rather quickly. You may want to try one of those bulkhead fittings on your washtank. If it is worth it to you to skip the "bucket step".

quote:

You may want to try one of those bulkhead fittings on your washtank. If it is worth it to you to skip the "bucket step"

Hey scaldy1,
Unfortunately this won’t get me out of the "bucket step”. Because I use the same pump for both operations, when I pump from the settling tank to the wash tank the pump and lines are full of unwashed BD.

Settling tank on the left, wash on the right.

I actually use the little bit of water to let me know when the unwashed BD is out of the line and the washed BD is coming through. It's actually only about 1/2 gallon.

-mcguyver