What type of pump should I use to pump the oil, I was thinking of a centrifugal pump but Im not sure.Also will a vacuum cleaner filter work when filtering WVO.

Thanks,
Billy

First off, im not an expert, but I have an opinion, so here it is...
I hear that you need to filter all the crud out, so a vacuum filter might work, but I think many of those are paper based and it might disolve, re-introducing muck into your WVO. The magic number I hear floating around is to filter to 5 microns, but I think that can be after processing, right before you fill your tank.
As for the pump, I have had it drilled into me pretty hard that a cast iron, centrifugal pump is needed. HarborFreight sells one with a 300GPM rate for between 25-35 dollars, not bad price. It's not a premimum pump and will probably fail after some time, but from what I hear you can get a reasonable life out of it, to where you will probably be looking to build a new reactor by the time it fails.

The type of pump really depends on how you intend to use it. Are you looking for a WVO collection pump, something to transfer your finished biodiesel, a mixing pump for the appleseed or something else?

Are you thinking of the paper vacuum cleaner bags? I wouldn't use them. If your prefiltering before you make biodiesel, then a window screen is enough. Just get out the french fries and the dead rats and make biodiesel. If your doing a final poslish filter before it goes in your engine, then a 10 micron or finer filter is in order. Spin on filters will work here and usually will last a long time. If your filtering WVO to burn without converting it to biodiesel, the SVO forums here at infopop are the place to go.

I've been using the Harbor Freight pump for 2 years now, for a total of nearly 30 batches. It's an excellent pump, and works great even with 100+ gallon water heater tanks.

I found that filtering the oil cuts down on smoke in my dewatering tank. I use a 100 micron barrel strainer. I alao use the HF pumps,3 in my setup.Been using them since last aug.Only had one to fail and that was the start capacitor not really the pump.But I had bought an extended warrant and HF replaced it no charge.

Hi

got questions on the appleseed too:

i am currently translating this page:

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor/

for a french biofuel forum

can you explain me, on the scheme, how does the appleseed system is filled with straight oil? (i.e which way?)

thanks

bob_isat

Bob_isat,

Here you go:

http://www.b100supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=125

thanks a lot

Hi

Just read the thread about appleseed processor open source update.
Very interesting, but much translation work!

I have a few more questions about safety around appleseed :

Do you have to let the BD cool down before draining it to the wash tank (to avoid methanol fumes everywhere)

Is it dangerous to have an open bottle of methanol (ambient temperature) in a room ? Or does it releases fumes only when hot ?

And what about the electric thermostas? are they sunk in the processor or in a tube ?

thanks

bob_isat

Do you have to let the BD cool down before draining it to the wash tank (to avoid methanol fumes everywhere)

Typically the biodiesel will cool while it is settling. 8-72 hours is recommended. The longer it settles, the less methanol will be in the biodiesel and the cooler the biodiesel will be. I don't really have a problem with the transfer spreading fumes, but if you do, you can eliminate the fumes buy attaching a vent from the wash tank back to the processor.


Is it dangerous to have an open bottle of methanol (ambient temperature) in a room ? Or does it releases fumes only when hot ?

Don't leave your bottle of methanol open to the air. it will not only release fumes but also absorb water from the air.

And what about the electric thermostas? are they sunk in the processor or in a tube ?

In the American style electric water heaters the thermostats are measuring the skin temperature of the tank and are not submerged into the liquids.

OK OK OK

By the way, do you have an idea of how many people are home brewing with the appleseed in US ?

I don't know how many others are, but I recently built a modified "Apple Turnover" from an 80 gallon water heater. I flipped it over, cut off the top (original bottom?), and fastened the top 3 inches of a 55 gallon drum to it, including the removable clamp on lid. It fit pretty well, and I sealed it with a lot of silicone caulk.

I also added a supplemental stirer/mixer. My drill fastens to the driveshaft and it spins a 6 inch 'prop' at the tank bottom.

I process, separate, wash, and dry in the same tank, then send it to my overhead, gravity feed storage tank. I should be able to process 50 gallons of wvo, but so far have done about 42.

I'll try to add some pictures.

Yesterday (10/02/07), completed first 50 gallon batch. Looks great!

Jim

Congrats on your first 50 gallon batch!!

Keep up the good work!