"Reactor Mechanics and System Tricks" biodiesel homebrewing class for
advanced beginners
New session- August 4 or 5, 9-5, Oakland, CA, $70
one-day class, two sessions

to register: www.girlmark.com/tour
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This class is geared to people who already know how to make biodiesel,
either in a lab-scale or one-liter setting, or for those who already
homebrew but would like to compare notes with me on how I manage my
system. This may become a two-day class at some point if I find that it
needs that much time to run through all of the proposed syllabus listed
below (two-day class would be a weekend activity)

In this class we run actual full-size batches, in a real reactor at an
actual site, and try to run the class through every single step so as to
discuss 'tricks' and tips on reactor mechanics. Ive been obsessing about
how beginning biodieselers (and some advanced people) don't tend to use
secondary containment, tend to make more messes than they should, tend
to gas themselves with methanol by draining glycerine unsafely, etc. I'd
like to do this class as a way to help students overcome this aspect of
the learning curve- the common equipment-based mistakes having to do
with operating procedures.

This class is geared to people who already know how to make biodiesel,
either in a lab-scale or one-liter setting or 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.

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Syllabus looks something like this:


Start a batch of fuel in a large Appleseed homebrew processor.
Discuss safe heating, tank fires, use of hydronic heating methods, and
heat exchangers. Demonstrate heat exchanger-based Appleseed.
Discuss some electrical safety interconnects proposed for heating
element control in 'regular' electric heaters.
Discuss tricks for measuring lye safely
Discuss tricks for measuring methanol safely
Discuss pumps for pumping methanol safely
Demonstrate air-powered pumps and discuss air compressor requirements
and electrical consumption if using air pumps for reactor mixing.
Discuss materials compatibility with various fuel processes and
chemicals used, and discuss where inappropriate plastics can still be
used with fewer consequences.
Discuss sight tubes and sight glass sources, ways of using them, ways of
installing them, what to look for in industrial parts catalogs
Demonstrate use of powered methanol/lye mixers that are not just passive
carboy method. Discuss pros and cons of both types of systems.
Discuss methanol vapor release to atmosphere.
Discuss fire safety issues.


drain a batch of glycerine in another Appleseed (my processor trailer)
and discuss how to avoid methanol vapor exposure during this process
discuss/demonstrate how to separate glycerine from biodiesel to minimize
emulsions. Most beginner mistakes having to do with emulsion are
actually a separation issue where the person inadvertently contaminates
their wash tank with extra soap because they haven't separated the
glycerine from the biodiesel completely. There are some tests to ensure
this is actually done.
Discuss standpipe separating tanks, and demonstrate several ways of
designing them.
Discuss ways to minimize contamination with unwanted material.
Discuss various kinds of quick-connects and other ways to deal with the
messes caused by hoses. Most spills and other hazards are probably due
to homebrewers relying on hose rather than pipe.
Demonstrate the use of hard plumbing and ways of managing multiple valves
Demonstrate different methods of labeling the process and the steps, and
demonstrate one system using a 'protocol checklist' to minimize
confusion when operating multiple valves.

Transfer finished fuel from processor trailer to wash tanks and discuss
washing equipment
Demonstrate several types of washing nozzles and important considerations
Discuss closed versus open wash tanks
Discuss venting and air displacement
Demonstrate use of non-siphoning overflow mistwash tank plumbing
Demonstrate use of sump pump to move water to a drain
Demonstrate soap test titration
Discuss emulsions (I will make one for us to play with)
Break emulsion with various ways
Discuss wash tank heating methods
Discuss water disposal and ways of separating oils and water and what
happens when it is done with various methods
Discuss/demonstrate water neutralizing

Drain wash water from first wash and discuss "how you know when you're
finished with washing"
Go into more detail on emulsions and water retention
Demonstrate separation of water and biodiesel using various kinds of tanks
Discuss "white stuff" that isn't emulsion
Discuss materials compatibility and water hardness issues with regards
to washing
Discuss three different drying methods for getting water out of washed
biodiesel
Discuss tests for dryness of finished biodiesel

Test some finished biodiesel for quality in various ways

When the batch that we're making is finished processing, we can perform
an 80%/20% two-stage base-base process and demonstrate various equipment
methods required to make it easier
We will follow it with a 5% water prewash for minimizing soap in wash.
There are many ways of handling this complex process (80/20 followed by
5%) and we'll demonstrate and discuss several possible solutions to the
unwanted complexity

We will burn some glycerine in a homemade glycerine burner and
demonstrate ways of moving the heat safely to heat a batch of oil for
another batch of biodiesel.

I'll briefly discuss filtration though this isn't terribly complex
We'll discuss different hosing material and tricks for
handling/wrangling lots of hose

We'll demonstrate a 'cubee handling' system for minimizing the hassle
involved in processing oil that comes in 5 gallon cubes
We'll demonstrate straining of oil
We'll discuss, possibly only theoretically as it cant be shown in a
one-day class, the 'heat and let settle' method of dewatering wet oil
We'll discuss fire safety if you choose to dewater oil using boiling
temperatures.


Mark