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Building a reactor is only the beginning of setting up an efficient system, and how you set it up within the rest of the system can make all the difference in whether biodiesel homebrewing is a timeconsuming hassle or a fun hobby. This is probably my most useful class for anyone ready to get started homebrewing.
This is a class in a 'live' homebrew system setting, in which we will make full size batches of biodiesel in an Appleseed reactor, discuss what the experienced students in the class already do and what challenges come up for us, and show different efficiency or safety 'tricks' in live action. We will discuss other homebrew alternatives to the Appleseed (Graham Laming's Eco-System Processor, and larger processors) and illustrate several variations on the 'standard' process from the perspective of alternative equipment that may make these variations easier or to ensure higher quality biodiesel. This class also covers methanol recovery and alternatives to water-washing.
Biodiesel System Tricks class is geared to people who already know how to make biodiesel, either in a lab-scale, or for those who already homebrew but would like to compare notes with me on how I manage my system. You may take this class after attending a regular homebrewing class taught by someone else as well as if you have learned how to make biodiesel on your own. We dont go into a lot of detail on titration and chemistry here so that’s the info you should have ‘down’ already on your own prior to taking this “system tricks” class. This class will overlap SLIGHTLY with the Advanced Topics class but you may be interested in attending both regardless- the overlap isn't much.
See this blog post for details: Diary of a Mad Scientist system tricks post
For this class, you should have already made biodiesel either in a 'test' scale or in full-size equipment. You can take this class if you've attended a prior class of mine or of one of the teachers listed below under Advanced Topics.
The advanced class is designed for those who already make biodiesel (full-scale or test batches) or have attended hands-on workshops by teachers such as Jennifer Radtke, John Bush, Steve Fugate, BioLyle Rudensey, Piedmont Biofuels, Matt Steiman, Frankie Lind, Kalib Kersch, or others who teach from the http://biodieselcommunity.org techniques (check with me if a class is your only hands-on experience). This class is heavily discussion-based, and I encourage experienced biodiesel producers to bring a presentation or photos of their system and discuss their experiences.
This class mostly focuses on quality control, equipment design, glycerine/wash water processing, waterless washing alternatives, methanol recovery, working with high-FFA oils, and ethanol biodiesel. It is geared to both homebrewers and fleet/farm/small commercial producers.
Some of the topics covered in the advanced class include:
Quality control, analysis of real-world problems with offspec biodiesel, "ASTM
testing" for those considering commercial production, gas chromatography
versus other options for testing for conversion, acid-base biodiesel process,
advanced topics in dewatering of oil, using glycerine in your process for various
benefits, testing for soap, methanol recovery and equipment design, testing
recovered methanol for purity, zeolite and other methods for improving methanol
purity, issues to avoid when "waterless washing" with ion exchange
resin, acid-base chemistry and safety, testing for residual soap, acidulation
of soap in glycerine, special equipment considerations for handling strong acids,,
recapturing oils or biodiesel trapped in glycerine or wash water, dealing with
high-water-content oils, Graham Laming-type vapor control system, spill-proofing
your system, regulatory issues, taxes, larger-scale equipment design (for co-ops
or small farms), treating wash water and glycerine for disposal or other uses,
introduction to wastewater regulations, wastewater plant biology and chemistry,
and commercial tests for wash water- BOD, COD, FOG, etc, real-world test results
related to biodegradability/safety of sidestream disposal, burning glycerine
safely for energy, hydronic/solar applications for biodiesel and wash water
heating, disaster prevention scenarios exercises for larger-scale processor
systems, discussion of regulatory topics for non-commercial producers larger
than homebrew, solar heating options, very through discussion/demonstration
of several different options in washing, including drawbacks and advantages,
greywater systems for wash water recycling
Depending on time and interest, the Advanced Topics class may include hands-on lab exercises related to acid-catalysed esterification, soap testing, glycerine acidulation, and ethanol-based biodiesel
A one-day class where we build methanol recovery equipment, motorized methanol/lye mixers, modified Appleseed reactors with additonal mixing assists such as venturis or static mixers, modified (welded) wash tanks, drying tanks, Turk Burners for process heat, etc. If you wish to build any of this equipment for your own use, please email me. You may attend even if you don't want to build your own equipment of course.