Continuous Flow Biodiesel ReactorF07-59CFBIODSL

Saluki Engineering Company Engineers:

Brett Seagle, Project Manager, ME

Edward Kramer, ME

Jeff Rohrich, ME

Shawn Robertson, ME

Kohki Ishii, ME

Cole Sheldon, ME

Faculty Technical Adviser: Dr. Kanchan Mondal

Outline

Executive Summary (Brett) Discussion

Safety and Handling of Chemicals (Brett) Chemical Management (Ed) Input Tanks (Jeff) Piping, Valves, & Fittings (Shawn) Pumps (Kohki) Mixing Tank (Brett) Settling Tanks (Cole)

Plan to Complete Project (Jeff) Tasks to be Performed Designation of Principle Responsibilities Projected Timeline

Resources Needed (Shawn) Summary (Cole)

Executive Summary

Continuous Flow Biodiesel Reactor All other biodiesel production systems have been batch style Better Suited for industrial applications Deliverables

Working Prototype Complete set of instructions Plan to scale up design

Team Responsibilities Brett Seagle - Project Manager, Mixing Tank Edward Kramer - Chemical Management Jeff Rohrich - Input Tanks Shawn Robertson - Piping, Valves, & Fittings Kohki Ishii - Pumps Cole Sheldon - Settling Tank

Total Estimated Cost: $482

Concerns When Working With Methanol Health Problems

Type of alcohol (methyl alcohol CH4O) Inhaling fumes (toxic fumes) May cause blindness or even death Highly flammable Flame is clear Low flash point (12 °C) Higher vapor concentration at room temp

Concerns When Working With Sodium Hydroxide

Health Problems Lye or caustic soda (NaOH) Prevent skin contact and inhalation Strong base (causes harmful burns) Slightly unstable (collects moisture from air)

Safety and Handling of Chemicals

Chemical Management

3 Major chemicals in reaction Methanol Sodium Hydroxide Vegetable Oil

Oil composition Reaction model Reaction coefficients

Chemical Management

Titration List of deliverables Activities already accomplished

Material Selection for Input Tanks High Density Polyethylene Carboy (4

Liters) Closed container Transparent Resistant to chemical properties of

methanol Inexpensive

Mixing Of Chemicals Methoxide will be added to tank Safety equipment (gloves, goggles, fume

hood) Methoxide will be at room temperature

Input Tanks

Piping, Valves, and Fittings

Piping Flexible polypropylene ¼” diameter Flexible polypropylene 1” diameter

Fittings Threaded fittings with barb ends to

connect piping to valves and tanks Rigid polypropylene or CPVC T-fitting

to connect circulation tube to settling tanks

(courtesy of usplastics.com)

(courtesy of usplastics.com)

Piping, Valves, and Fittings

Valves 2 Needle valves made of CPVC

Needle valves can be adjusted to achieve the very small flowrates required

Used to meter vegetable oil input and crude biodiesel output

1 Three way valve CPVC Directs flow between two settling

tanks

(courtesy of usplastics.com)

(courtesy of usplastics.com)

Pumps

Type – Peristaltic No contact between corrosive

fluid and moving parts of the pump

Uses compression to move fluid Adjustable flow rate by speed of

rotor and size of tubing Two pumps

One for mixing/circulation One for methoxide input

Relatively inexpensive Cost between $80-$100 each

Calibration Low flow rate for methoxide

input Large flow rate for

mixing/circulation

Schematic Model

Rotor

Tube

Mixing Tank Objective

Heating the Solution Bringing the Solution to Steady State

Heating the Solution Electrical Tape on Column and Tank if necessary Optimal reacting temperature of 50 °C Quickly heating the solution reduces reaction time

Bringing the Solution to Steady State Baffles create turbulence through static mixing Mixing blade not suited for our design

The Tank The size of a 20-lb propane tank Column has to be removable Packing material on a perforated shelf inside the tank Packing material increases agitation ½˝ High Density Polyethylene Balls

Settling Tank

Objectives Stratify biodiesel from glycerin Separate biodiesel from glycerin Flush glycerin once capacity is reached

Input Mixture will contain biodiesel, glycerin with dissolved methoxide, and some unreacted vegetable oil.

Biodiesel has a lower density than glycerin and will rise to the top

Over a span of 24 hours, biodiesel will overflow off the top as the glycerin level rises.

Once full, a valve will be switched to direct the input flow to fill the other tank so that the glycerin can be flushed.

Tasks to be Performed*

Make large batch of Methoxide Fabricate Mixing Tank

Cut propane tank, fabricate packing shelf, & attach fabricated baffles

Fabricate Settling Tanks Cut tubes and install fittings & valves

Test input tank flow rates Build stand for pumps and tanks Calibrate Pumps Test quality of biodiesel

* tasks to be completed in first 4 weeks

Designation of Principle Responsibilities

Chemical Management -Edward, ME Input Tank -Jeff, ME Piping, Valves, and Fittings -Shawn, ME Peristaltic Pumps -Kohki, ME Mixing Tank -Brett, ME Settling Tank -Cole, ME

Projected Timeline

Resources Needed

Chemicals $100

Input Tanks $12

Mixing Tank $30

Settling Tanks $70

Piping, Valves, & Fittings $70

Pumps $200

Total $482

Access to Machine Shop

Labor

Summary

Continuous Flow Biodiesel Reactor Consists of Chemical Management Input Tanks Piping, Valves, & Fittings Mixing Tank Settling Tanks

Plan to Complete Project Tasks to be Performed Designation of Principle Responsibilities Proposed Timeline

Resources Needed $ 482 for supplies Access to Machine Shop