I know that I can't add stuff (ie Methoxide) to my processor without allowing space (ie by venting) but could we add stuff to the processor by attaching an expansion tank to the top of the processor? At least for part of the processing? Would the vapors eat the diaphram? Would it even work or would you have to use an overly large expansion tank? I don't know, just a thought...

Some pull a vacum to allow it to be added.

Hello OnaRampage

How would an expansion tank handle an explosion?

quote:

Originally posted by Tilly:
Hello OnaRampage

How would an expansion tank handle an explosion?

I imagine it would be pretty cool from a distance. Especially if it was not in my shed.

But I wasn't thinking of an expansion tank as the only means of venting a processor. There would still be a need for an overpressure situation, which I'm thinking would be met if there was an explosion.

Just a thought...

Hello OnaRampage

Over pressure vents and explosion vents are two different things.

OnaRampage,

Your very close. Gas bags have long been used in industry to completely seal hazardous environments.

I've been toying with the idea of making some gasbags out of plastic drums and trash bags. You would use a pipe going through the bungs and hose clamp the trash bags to the inside so air can go in through the pipe and inflate the bags. Then you attach the vent directly to the drum so the methanol fumes stay inside the drum and outside the trash bags. I would have twice the air capacity in the drums as is in the mixing tank to allow for unintentional air leaks into or out of the system.

It would need a separate pressure relief that could be a bit of pipe mounted vertically with a toilet flapper sitting in the top.

Then to top it off I would put a length of large diameter pipe near the processor to stuff full of steel wool. That would absorb the oxygen in the system and make tank fires less likely.

Just make sure the methanol can drain out of the system once it condenses out and you'll have a class act, totally sealed processor that operates completely at atmospheric pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Tilly:
Hello OnaRampage

Over pressure vents and explosion vents are two different things.

I guess then my question would be how does a vent handle an explosion? It seems that if you have an explosion, it doesn't matter a whole lot how you are venting. If you have a processor fire, yes I could see a major difference, especially if a fire led to... an explosion.

Just a thought. Maybe not a good or practical thought.

A piped, rigid, steel/iron 1" (or BIGGER) vent from the processor to the great outdoors with no obstructions would do a lot to prevent an overpressure situation with resultant shrapnel. Not a guarantee, but better than an overpressure/overtemp valve that reacts too slowly to an explosive event to prevent pressures from building very rapidly to the failure point of the vessel.

HTH,

troy