07 Jan 2008
I found one company in Suffolk, UK who provide training on how to produce Bio-diesel as part of their cost.
Their process:
1. Waste Vegetable Oils or crushed rape seed
2. Methanol + Sodium Hydroxide + Heat + Agitation
3. = Crude Biodiesel & Glycerin
4. Drain off Glycerin
5. = Crude Biodiesel
6. Wash (wet or dry)
7. = Biodiesel
Systems:
• Bio Fuel Flask
a) Capable of producing 500L of biodiesel a week. b) Production all within self contained unit. c) £1495
• KB 150 Processor
a) Batches of up to 9000Lof crude biodiesel in 14 hours. b) £3750
• KB 300
a) <1800L in 24 hours. b) £4750
• KB 500
a) <3000L in 24 hours. b) £5950
Now to add to the equation you need a washer. But I’m not sure of the costs?
Depending on how much time you have to commit to a venture of this type, you might want to consider a unit to fully automate the process; however this will really drive up the costs!! (KB150 =£9995 / KB300 = £10995 / KB500 = £11995)
On a final note in the UK you can make 2500 liters a year duty free.
07 Jan 2008
Thnx for feedback. Initial reaction:
-We do ca 10,000 miles pa
-@say 35 miles per gallon this needs 286 galls, or x4.5, 1,287 litres.
-Using their figs of 22P/litre for chemicals & energy, this would save us (at pump price of £1.05) 1287x £0.83 = £1,068 pa.
-Cost to buy small plant £1500. Say additional £500 for washer, storage, etc. etc. Payout in 2 yrs.
-Problems: sourcing feedstock, plus cost to obtain and deliver to house, this figure not included in above calc.
-What volume of feedstock is needed to produce a litre of finished diesel?
-Where & what is required for storage of biodiesel when produced? (& required Methanol & feedstock). Any HSE regs. about distance from dwellings?
Conclusion, not for us at present, but should have application with people who have ready access to free feedstock & suitable storage facility.
17 Mar 2008
The BBC have just done a piece on this in the ‘Money Programme’ which may provide some ideas.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b009f3rz.shtml?filter=txdate%3A14-3&filter=txslot%3Aevening&start=1&scope=iplayerlast7days&version_pid=b009f3qt
