Step 1 of running my diesel for nearly nothing

172gus said:
SB118, could you not put the heat exchanger into the oil rather than round the pipe. Just thinking it would have more effect. Kind of like a coil in a kettle.
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You can, but you need to do it inside the fuel tank, as the 8mm pipe simply won't bend tightly enough without collapsing to fit it inside the tube. If you heat the tank, you still have a lot of cold fuel in the lines before it gets to the filter & pump.
 
Hehehe I thought you'd started distilling your own booze when I saw the coil up the top. Maybe you are and the last post is a cover up because you saw the coil in your picture. I'm calling the authorities...

:D
 
I must admit, i've had to fall back on pump diesel a few times over the alst few weeks, but that's down to engine problems (weak battery, engine design not having heaters, etc)

The veg oil goes quite thick in very cold weather, and at times actually forms a frozen crust in the same way a bucket of water left outside overnight will. Which makes it somewhat tricky to start!

Might need to fit a twintank soon :(
 
How about a little titration to measure the quality of your feedstock, add your own catalyst (potassium hydroxide) and methanol and then wash it with a lye soloution (caustic soda), then you wouldn't need to worry about cold starts.
 
I don't want to go handling nasty & corrosive chemicals right now, my shed doesn't have enough space for proper storage of the methanol. I've looked at running a biodiesel processor, but i don't have space right now. The hassle of titrating, mixing the sodium hydroxide & methanol, adding the correct quantity, mixing & and heating to 55 deg C, stirring for an hour or so, then drawing off the waste products. I can live with a couple of crabby mornings ;)

Now i've got Dave i should be able to run the high melting point fats that i draw off during filtering, even less waste :D
 
SB118 said:
I don't want to go handling nasty & corrosive chemicals right now, my shed doesn't have enough space for proper storage of the methanol.

SNIP/

Now i've got Dave i should be able to run the high melting point fats that i draw off during filtering, even less waste :D
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You could make your own ethanol. ;)

I think you should use the heat off Dave's exhaust to help heat your hot water for your house, your sand filled box, copper tube and a Danfoss recirculating pump should do the trick. A motorised 3 way valve and a controller ( a couple of relays) and off you go. :D

Always found this subject fascinating, kudos to you for giving it a go, good luck! :)
 
i know nothing said:
I think you should use the heat off Dave's exhaust to help heat your hot water for your house, your sand filled box, copper tube and a Danfoss recirculating pump should do the trick. A motorised 3 way valve and a controller ( a couple of relays) and off you go. :D
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I've been trying to trick out a design for a heat exchanger, easiest on so far is to dip a length of the exhaust into a gert big water tub, need to find the sweet spot volume of water so that it doesn't cool too much over night, then we'll have heating in the morning too :D Need to find the wattage of a central heating pump to fit into the circuit now too. :eek:
 
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