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vijay
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![[*]](./images/onepoint9/default_icon.gif) posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:24 PM |
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My GL eco processor
Hi all,
Firstly I'd like to thank Graham for his design and making it available to all for free. I'd also like to thank everyone (inc Graham) who have given
me advice so far and enabled me to get this processor built and getting my head around how a processor works. So glad I didn't just go out and buy one
cos although it's taken some time to build it, it's been educating 
Tried to make it as compact as I could. Anyway, here's a few pics of the almost finished processor
Still got a few bits to do, the outlet for the bio (need to get the barrels to check height), valve on the sight tube and then insulate the
pipework/top of tank. But I'l almost there
Just heating up a tank of water as I'm typing this
If anyone can see any problems, please let me know. I think I might have a problem with the main pump being too high to high so suck in the WVO as the
oil level is lower than the pump so won't prime 
Vijay
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by vijay]
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by vijay]
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scgfull
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:28 PM |
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Good Job - Well done.
You have given me some good ideas as regards layout, I hope you don't mind me copying some and adapting to my needs.
Steve
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Frisp
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:30 PM |
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Gorgeous. That has to be the prettiest GL I have seen yet. Pity you have to get it dirty...
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:31 PM |
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Hi Steve,
Course not, if you need anymore pics or anything, just ask
Vijay
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Twenty4Seven
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:35 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vijay
If anyone can see any problems, please let me know. |
The main problem is that it's way too CLEAN
Seriously, that's a really neat job - well done....
Nick
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chrismc
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:45 PM |
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Very neat and compact! Well done.
Its amazing how different peoples own versions of the GL processor are!
Like it very much
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scgfull
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:49 PM |
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Vijay,
What is the "loft tank" for?
It appears to be to capture overflow but you have 3 drums at the front which I presume are for:
Distillate, Glycerine and Methoxide.
Please fill me in.
Thanks Steve
PS Is that your main pump mounted in line with the base of the cylinder and is it a CH type?
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 07:58 PM |
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Hi Steve, no the tank is for the condensor water. Although Graham advises to use a larger tank, I wanted it compact so hope to be able to use the
smaller tank together with some ice to cool the water The outlet on the bottom of
the tank is pumped up through the condensor and back through into the tank via the white overflow pipe on the side.
Yes that's the main pump (on the right) and yes it's a CH pump.
Vijay
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scgfull
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 08:34 PM |
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Vijay,
Good Idea, I was looking at a long pipe from my rain water butt to provide the coolant but if your ingenious idea works, it will be worth
repeating.
Steve
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AndyGB
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:19 PM |
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How did you go about fitting the inlet in the bottom of the tank
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:31 PM |
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inlet at the bottom of the tank?? not sure what bit you mean
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AndyGB
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:35 PM |
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The tank you have upside down so the bottom of the tank which is now the top how did you cut the lnlet into it
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:48 PM |
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used a stepper drill bit and then a normal tank connector http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsessionid=VIFSO3E00JYKWCSTHZPCFFI?_dynchar... is that what you mean?
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mark230678
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:49 PM |
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Nice one, good luck with the water test.
I drilled a pilot hole and then just used a wood bit.
Not the best in the world but it worked.
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by mark230678]
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:53 PM |
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I tried a flat wood bit first but it just went blunt, the stepper drill made an easy job of it
Water test went well but has only heated to 80C. Tinkering time me thinks
Vijay
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by vijay]
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mark230678
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 09:59 PM |
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Mine went blunt as well, but have about 10 of them from diy kits that i have got for all the fathers days, xmas and birthdays.
Is 80 not enough.
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vijay
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 10:00 PM |
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Grahams instructions say to heat to 90C to dewater the oil. Don't know yet how vital it is to get to 90C
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Twenty4Seven
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 11:46 PM |
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Personally, I don't thnk it's necessary to heat to 90*C. The problem is that it takes ages (several hours) to cool down to processing temperature,
particularly if the oil is not especially wet.
I heat to just above the boiling point of methanol, say 65-66*C, and run the venturi for half an hour or so. Don't recirculate the vapour though -
just let the water drip out of the condenser into a jug or somesuch - dewatering will be quicker and more complete that way. Unless your oil is pretty
wet, this will be quite sufficient - you'll get to know how much to heat the oil initially with experience but, for me, the above normally works
pretty well.
Nick
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Twenty4Seven
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| posted on 4-7-2008 at 11:55 PM |
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Hi Vijay
You may find that the header tank you're using as the condenser cooling water reservoir is too small. This will be especially true if your feedstock
is very wet, requiring lengthy dewatering, or if you intend to run two batches back-to-back. You might need to consider auxillary cooling, such as a
car radiator (with fan).
Nick
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vijay
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| posted on 5-7-2008 at 12:04 AM |
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Hi Nick,
I'm hoping the oil isn't too wet as it'll have been heated up before it goes into my collection tank and allowed to settle for at least 2-3 weeks.
Don't understand what you mean about the header tank being too small, surely it's just circulating the water. If you mean the water getting warm/hot,
that's why I would use ice.
Vijay
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Twenty4Seven
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| posted on 5-7-2008 at 12:10 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vijay
Hi Nick,
If you mean the water getting warm/hot, that's why I would use ice.
Vijay |
Hi Vijay - you need to provide cooling to condense the water (or methanol) to match the heat required to turn the water to vapour (latent heat of
vapourisation). You may require lots of ice! Let us know how you get on.
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vijay
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| posted on 5-7-2008 at 12:17 AM |
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will do, luckily I have a large chest freezer in my garage 
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jakey.goodman
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| posted on 5-7-2008 at 04:33 PM |
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Thats is fantastic!! I may be using a few ideas if you don't mind!?
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mark230678
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| posted on 6-7-2008 at 10:43 PM |
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any chance of a few close up pics vijay, well impressed. want t o see where everything goes to cross reference with what i have cobbled together.
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vijay
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| posted on 6-7-2008 at 10:50 PM |
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Sure, of what bits? I've followed Graham's design but just made everything fit closely to the frame
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