I want to build an Appleseed processor. I understand one needs a cone bottomed water heater.

My confusion is “Water heaters are not cone bottomed” the bottom tap is “near” the bottom but every water heater I have ever seen will hold a couple of GALLONS of liquid on the bottom.

So, is there a mass confusion in the home fuel community who are under the belief that water heaters are cone bottomed. OR does the process work with gallons of glycerin still in the bottom from the last batch?

Thanks,
Mike

My water heater doesn't hold more than a gallon, as it's an inverted cone with the outlet at the outside bottom edge. I never put water in the processor, except for the 5% prewash, and just drip drain it after pumping out the bio. I just fill it with oil, pump it to circulate and do a titration. 15 batches, no issues.

So yours does not drain completely either? and to confirm is NOT cone bottomed. I thought I was going crazy. Everybody talks about the benefits of the cone bottom; and I went through a field of water heaters with a flashlight, peering inside, and never saw a cone bottom. I picked out a nice 50 gallon, regular one, and noted that there was a gallon or so of water still inside that I couldn’t get out.

I imagine I could flush the water out with lots of SVO. THEN leaving clean oil on the bottom up to the level that the water heater will drain when on a level surface – make my batch calculations? The very next batch will have that same volume of oil replaced with glycerin for every batch there forward with a gallon or so of glycerin always on the bottom from the last batch before it. Does that seem right?

Just dry it out and use it. Like I mentioned, it's never been an issue for me, or anyone else I know.

I have not seen any appleseed processors in person, but If you tilt the water heater some, leaning toward the drain, would that help with removing more water and glycerin. But then when heating the oil if there is any water to evaporate it probably would not go out the vent pipe. Anyone give any pros and cons on this. This is my first post and have been reading alot on BIO and I can't wait to get some processed.

BTW, I don't know where to ask, Does it make a different what kind of WVO to get to make BIO. A local pizzaria I asked for a sample for me to try the titration and they are using Shortening. Should I stay away from certain oil. Thanks and I'll try to find the right forum for this question.

on mine i tilted the tank backwards poured poyester resin into until it started to trickle out. Once that cured I looked inside to find the heat generated during the curing of the resin caused cracking so I mixed up a little more poured it in and made sure the cracks were filled. Now when the processor is standing firmly on its feet the inside bottom is sloped to the pipe fitting and I have complete drainage.

Does the geyser have to be ceramic lined, or can it be an old copper one?

I was wondering also what kind of stuff could be in a old water heater? I got one a couple days ago which has a really old brown colored liquid in it, I'm figuring some rust. I'm planning on washing it out today, but is there any other suggestions about how to get rid of that, or if it's a problem?

i was wondering if its possible to use a gas water heater to make the appleseed processor?

i know it will take cutting out and welding a few fittings in place but i dont know much about the internal area of a gas water heater

any thoughts or info could be helpfull

If you are thinking of using a copper water heater you should read the paper (in German) http://tumb1.biblio.tu-muenchen.de/publ/diss/ww/2002/remmele.pdf referenced in http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html#copperstudy

Hi, I have been using a copper boiler for the last 8 Months, my Bio as been fine up to press, my car is running on B80 at the moment.