[Homestead] Waste Vegetable Oil vs. Biodiesel

Lynda lurine at softcom.net
Sun Aug 17 15:21:35 EDT 2008


There are single tank systems.  They run the biodiesel or SVO through a 
heater and then to your injection system.

WVO "can" be made into biodiesel.  You simply set up a still and use a 
filtration system that separates out the gylcerine.  That's what most folks 
do with WVO.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Bowen" <don.bowen at earthlink.net>


> You should be aware that WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil) is not the same as
> Biodiesel.  WVO is what is in the fryer tank at the local French fry 
> place.
> It could be Canola, palm, safflower, Peanut or any number of different 
> plant
> extract oils.  WVO is then the feed stock for Biodiesel.
>
>
>
> To use WVO directly in your engine you must make modifications to your 
> fuel
> system.  WVO does not flow as easily as Diesel so will plug up your fuel
> system when cold.  An engine using WVO is started on Diesel (or Biodiesel)
> then when warmed up shifted to WVO.  Before shutdown it must be switched
> back and the fuel system purged of WVO.  The first modification is a
> separate fuel tank for the WVO.  Special fuel lines with water lines are
> then run from the tank to the WVO fuel filters and are plumbed into the
> engine cooling system.  Hot water from the engine warms the fuel lines and
> the WVO in the tank.  A switch over valve is connected between the WVO
> filters and the inlet to the normal engine fuel filters and the fuel lines
> from the Diesel tank.  The fuel from the fryer tank is filtered before
> pumping into the vehicle WVO tank.
>
>
>
> Biodiesel does not require any changes to the vehicle fuel system.  In
> almost all respects it is a direct replacement for Diesel fuel and more
> importantly a replacement for heating oil.  To make Biodiesel you start 
> with
> WVO as a feed stock.  The conversion from WVO to Biodiesel is a chemical
> process that uses ethanol to clarify and dry WVO to remove the fats which
> come out as Glycerin, water, and some other minor waste products.  The
> process can be done in your garage with home made equipment.  It is a
> straight forward process but somewhat complex and can be time consuming 
> and
> must be done carefully.  Ethanol is a hazardous material and must be 
> handled
> carefully.
>
>
>
> I do not have the figures at hand but there is not enough fryer oil to
> replace Diesel fuel.  Producers of WVO are seeing a revenue stream as
> Biodiesel becomes more popular and waste haulers are getting into the act.
> Airlines are looking into bio jet fuels and with home heating oil prices
> between $3 and $4 it could become a moral issue between heating homes or
> running around.
>
>
>
> There ain't no free lunch.
>
>
>
> Don Bowen  KI6DIU
>
> http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
>
>
>
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