continuous flow biodiesel reactor f07-59cfbiodsl saluki engineering company engineers: brett...
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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