for the svo/wvo/biodiesel users out there

[JHZR2]

Hi,

question for the vegetable oil burners here... How do you filter your wvo? It seems that the filters that the various comapnies that do svo covnversions sell are very expensive. Those from neotcentric (sp?) sell have prohibitively expensive shipping, and those sold by greasel are 16" in diameter, I asume, which is so big its hard to use them in any small scale brewing of wvo for use.

Can anyone suggest a good system for filtering the wvo?
I was thinking of using a prefilter from an MB as a start (can they be backflushed to be reused?)
But then I want to gravity filter cold WVO (low visc), but cant find something that has both a good price and good filtering. I was thinking of coffee filters and a conical support, but dont know how small they filter.

What Id like to do is mist wash the wvo to collect some particulates anf lower the ph a bit. DO this over the course of a few days, and then settle the oil for a week or more. Pump it out through a prefilter and through a filter paper to get all the semiliquid globs of fat and particulates out, which passed through a staqndard MB prefilter, until I get to the water level in the first jug. The oil will be pumped into a 5 gallon vat, which will be heated and agitated to get any other suspended water out. This oil will then be used in the car.

But its all a question of what is a good, cheap filter to use... And I cant seem to find good ones. So any suggestions would be aqppreciated.

Soon Ill have a neotcentric svo kit in my 300D!

Thanks

JMH

[rwthomas1]

Good topic! After some researching I am under the impression that washing the oil, allowing it to settle for a week or two and then heating it, finishing with filtering is the way to go. Simple cheesecloth filtering for the first step. I think the reason that the filters are so large is to maximize the surface area to speed up flow. Coffee filters are likely way too small to be of any use. For end-stage filtering a pump-powered filter setup could be used. Cleanable, reuseable plate type filters are available from hydraulic suppliers in differing micron ratings. I believe some wvo users have suggested using regular oil filters as they should be good to about 20-30micron and are cheap. I have considered the viability of wvo conversions as opposed to biodiesel production and have decided to try making biodiesel and investing in the neccessary equipment. There are some pretty sophisticated recipes available and excess production will fuel other vehicles, heaters, etc. so in the long run biodiesel should offer more options. RT

[diesel don]

In filtering used motor oil, I started with coffee filters and never had a problem (other than slow, small amounts, etc).

I then ordered 5 of the big ones from greasel, but must wait for the ice age to melt. I also bought the pump (Northern EQ).

Therefore, I'll need to pump some serious grease just to cover costs. We are putting on some serious miles however, so I think it will cover quickly if I can get it to work.

Don

[rwthomas1]

I surely thought this post would attract attention..... Why'd it die? RT

[Joe Blowe]

Originally posted by rwthomas1
I surely thought this post would attract attention..... Why'd it die?

My opinion: Most of the Diesel Board members drive W123s (I'm surmising). Of that subset, there are several other "extreme" subsets, like extreme modifiers (manual transmission swap-ins and intercooler installations), concours fanatics, or SVO/WVO/Biodiesel geeks.

Fuel geeks are few and far between. Most people just want good quality DIESEL, and don't want to fuss with homebrews.

But if anyone wants further information on Bio, check my compilation of links.

[rwthomas1]

Thanks for the links! My buddy and I are seriously considering spending a fairly substantial sum of money on biodiesel processing equipment. I have an all-diesel fleet as does he, he also heats with oil and has a 48ft Hatteras that DRINKS fuel at about 45gallons/hour and has 700gallons on board. We are shooting for 75-100gallons a batch so as to make it worthwhile for his use rate. Still in the research phase as to chemical/hardware costs and transport logistics of the waste and finish product. I am still suprised that more aren't interested due to the recent increase in fuel costs. I like the thought of not giving another (unneccessary) penny to a petroleum company. RT

[Larry Delor]

I have a suggestion for a filter. After reading about using/not using a coffee filter, I remembered the large conical type of filters that restaurants use to filter their fryer oil with. If I remember correctly, they where about 8-10 inches tall, and about 10-12 inches in diameter. They would fit into a filter holder that would sit on top of whatever container you had handy. (NOT a plastic 5 gal. bucket, if the oil is still hot - thats another story)

Anyway, they seemed to filter out some pretty fine particles, and weren't all that expensive. If you know anybody in the restaurant biz, ask them if they filter their oil, and if they do, if they use a cone filter (vs. a machine).

Hope this helps,

-Larry

[dave1shere]

Go to these site they will explain all

http://biodiesel.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic

http://www.greasel.com/

http://www.mauigreenenergy.org/biodiesel.htm

http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/

http://www.greasecar.com/

[McRoth]

I've got a couple of other good ideas for filtering. If you use a pump to push it through the filter, try a stationary fuel tank filter. They are pretty big & are designed for it & not too expensive. Another option is one of those whole house water filters, I just saw them at Tractor Supply for about $15 for the housing & $3-4 for the filter elements in different micron ratings. I think Greasel's sock filters are measured in length, not width. I've been running on Biodiesel for a while & am going to convert to SVO soon. I'm just going to put a 55 gallon drum up above another one & make a sock filtering housing & let gravity do the work, let the top drum drain into a lower one.
I've got pics of my biodiesel processor at: http://www.emeraldisleforge.netfirms.com/Biodiesel%20Processor.html


Good Luck!

I remember when small block chevy's used toilet paper rolls as oil filters. It seems that a pvc pipe canister could be built to house a roll and pressurized wvo could pass through the filter. Any ideas on the micron rating here? Hey maybe that's why some people think chevy's are s#!*.

[autozen]

Hey, Larry, while you're at the restaurant asking about how they filter, don't forget to ask them if you can have their oil. I'm actually in the throws of converting my 83 300TDT with 320K on the clock to a single tank system. I am going to modify the glow plug time with the rear window defroster relay which stays on for 30 minutes. On a single tank system the glow plugs have to atomize the fuel until the oil in the tank is warmed. The WVO is pretty thick and particularly in winter. It gets especially cold here in Northern Calif. It might be 60 degrees out there this morning, but we've suffered some cold snaps where it has dipped down into the mid 30s. Anyway I'm going to install an in line electric heater to be working on the return fuel. I'm going to install an external transmission cooler and use the existing cooler as a heat exchanger to keep warming the return fuel after the thermostat opens. I've thought about a dual tank system, but it is more difficult on a wagon. I thought of installing a small tank in the jack storage compartment and making that my Dino tank,but it would be a pita.Well, that's my plan. Hope it works.

Peter

Just so everyone knows, it is illegal to burn ANY fuel that has not been taxed. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, and it irritates me as much as anyone that this is the case, but I just want to make sure that everyone knows that this is the case.

Good luck,

[autozen]

That is the one upside to budget cuts, Larry. Personnel cuts are a part of budget cuts.

Peter

[michael cole]

has anyone looked into using new veggie oil for biodiesel rather than used oil.with recent increases in diesel fuel and the inherent hassle of cleaning and filtering the stuff it may be economical to purchase cooking oil in bulk and still save$$$$$

[McRoth]

It's still WAY more expensive to buy new oil. In the store it's around $3.50-$4.00/gallon, bulk probably somewhere around $3.00. Compared to FREE & a little labor filtering=no contest. If you set up a good system, filtering can be very simple & use very little of your time.