Making Your Own Biodiesel

[timber]

Khun Jean

My wife's family have quote a few coconuts around the Chumphon area. Generally the monkey comes by once a month or so and they sell the good coconuts , now, for about 5 baht per coconut. It varies a bit depending on the market. It can go to 10 baht per coconut. So the cost of the cocnut is about the same as a litre of diesel. Other than some dried coconut meat and self use, no one seems to do much with the coconut. Except sell them. I will have to ask more questions when I go down there next week.

[yaimar]

Khun Jean

My wife's family have quote a few coconuts around the Chumphon area. Generally the monkey comes by once a month or so and they sell the good coconuts , now, for about 5 baht per coconut. It varies a bit depending on the market. It can go to 10 baht per coconut. So the cost of the cocnut is about the same as a litre of diesel. Other than some dried coconut meat and self use, no one seems to do much with the coconut. Except sell them. I will have to ask more questions when I go down there next week.

yaimar, Hi all. seems we are back to the used oil and the american crew who will sell us a bottle of magic. converter. . or the deadly chemicals . route. The other thing Is. We should be soucing a press/, so we can at least enjoy the healthy life style. from local coconuts

[udon]

$10,000 is over the top.

Sourcing from China and/or India should be half that. (for an oil extractor)

Or am I wrong?

[udon]

ENERGY ALTERNATIVE FUEL

Researchers: Ethanol goal in sight for 2008

ARANEE JAIIMSIN WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

Domestic ethanol supplies will be sufficient for achieving the Energy Ministry's goal to produce eight million litres a day of gasohol in 2008, energy researchers say. Gasohol producers will require 800,000 litres of ethanol a day in 2008 to meet the target and the volume is not beyond the capacity of local ethanol producers, according to Rangsan Sarochawikasit, executive director of the ministry's Bureau of Energy Research.

Gasohol is a 10:90 mixture of ethanol and gasoline. The government has set a deadline of January for all local service stations to stop selling premium (octane 95) gasoline and to offer gasohol 95 instead. Fuel companies have expressed concern about the availability of sufficient gasohol supplies.

Currently, Thailand has six ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 460,000 litres a day. Four more plants are due to start operating next year, which would enhance local supply capability, Mr Rangsan said at a seminar yesterday.

''In the worst-case scenario, the Energy Ministry would take some sugar from the export quota for ethanol production if necessary,'' he said.

The ministry has licensed 40 companies to produce ethanol but Mr Rangsan expects only 20 will go ahead.

To address concern about a possible shortage, the ministry in August liberalised ethanol production and said newcomers would not need licences.

In addition, the ministry is working with the Agriculture Ministry to improve cassava yields to five tonnes per rai from three tonnes, and sugarcane yields to 15 tonnes per rai from 10. Both crops are main raw materials for ethanol production.

The government is also encouraging ethanol plants to seek contract farming arrangements with farmers to ensure steady raw material supplies.

In addition to promoting gasohol, the Energy Ministry has set a target of 8.5 million litres per day of biodiesel to be available by 2012.

The main raw material for biodiesel is palm oil. The ministry aims to utilise four million rai in Thailand as well as one million rai in Burma, Laos and Cambodia for the purpose by 2012, said Mr Rangsan.

About 420,000 rai of palm oil plantations have been opened in Thailand over the past two years. undefined

The Export-Import Bank of Thailand and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation are supporting investment in oil crop plantations in the Greater mekong Subregion for re-export to biodiesel and gasohol producers in Thailand.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/05Oct2006_biz37.php

[Issangeorge]

"UDON, I lived between the coconuts on Samui.

The owner of the land collected coconuts twice a year. She did not do that herself but had people (and monkeys) do that. I am always curious, i asked her as much as i could about her former business. (She was one of the people who did not sell her land but build bungalows and houses herself).

She paid 90 baht per 100 coconuts collected. Then she sold it for 300 baht per 100. Everyday coconuts are collected by companies who tranport it to places where it is processed. Transport adds a little to that price. I estimate around 1-2 satang per coconut, because the nuts were transported with the thousands at once." Khun Jean, this place sounds like ArAn Resort, if so I used to spend a lot of time at Infoo Palace. I have half a rai of land near there with 14 coconut trees, maybe I should harvest them and use the oil to run my truck, lt might be enough fuel to drive from Issan to Samui and back every year. Issangeorge.

[yaimar]

"UDON, I lived between the coconuts on Samui.

The owner of the land collected coconuts twice a year. She did not do that herself but had people (and monkeys) do that. I am always curious, i asked her as much as i could about her former business. (She was one of the people who did not sell her land but build bungalows and houses herself).

She paid 90 baht per 100 coconuts collected. Then she sold it for 300 baht per 100. Everyday coconuts are collected by companies who tranport it to places where it is processed. Transport adds a little to that price. I estimate around 1-2 satang per coconut, because the nuts were transported with the thousands at once." Khun Jean, this place sounds like ArAn Resort, if so I used to spend a lot of time at Infoo Palace. I have half a rai of land near there with 14 coconut trees, maybe I should harvest them and use the oil to run my truck, lt might be enough fuel to drive from Issan to Samui and back every year. Issangeorge.

Hi Issangeorge, yes we could all have a little bit of the action, with coco nuts. I would, after reading the forum . however. go WITH BUYING / HAVING MADE AN OIL PRESS/ TO USE THE OIL FOR MEDICAL /FOOD , AND MAYBE ADDING A LITTLE TO THE DIESEL IN THE TRUCK ,AS A LUBRICANT. THE PEOPLE FROM USA WHO MAKE THE BOTTLED INGRIEDIANT. TO ADD TO USED COOKING OIL IS THE WAY FOR US TO GO FOR CHEAPER BIODIESEL, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT THEM, WE WILL GET THEE IN THE END YAIMAR

[udon]

Hi Yaimar,

Please note, using upper case is considered to be bad manners, the equal to "SHOUTING"

[yaimar]

Hi Yaimar,

Please note, using upper case is considered to be bad manners, the equal to "SHOUTING"

udon date 2006 post 931124

dear kind sirs. i am as you must have guesed, not only a newbie, but a noviceat all things computerwise. I there for tender my deepest appologies to all, for shouting, and will infuture keep my voice down yaimar, p/s its me eyes as well.

[udon]

its me eyes as well

[Mobaan]

Yaimar ,that is the way I think.Espec. so after reading all the excellent background research done by forum members(Thanks Guys).

I did buy a starter set of the DSE (www.dieselsecret.com) -that included a short video (emailed to you ) a small booklet with instructions a 1 bottle of "secret" additive--enough for about 140 gal fuel--.(which they claim is absolutely needed for the process to work )--of course it is --.

They want us to add 10% Kerosene (or 20 % petroleum diesel) as a thinner ,

plus 5 % of the amount oil you are mixing of reg unleded gasoline,

plus some "Diesel-Kleen+ Cetane Boost"---(is that kind of stuff available in Thailand???)COULD ANYONE PLEASE CHECK ON THIS --yes this is shouting a plea for help!!

and of course some of the "secret 'additive.

The entire procees simply consists of thorough cleaning --pump the oil through 2 sets of reg household filters -one with 10-20 miron and the second one with 2-5 micron filter at the end of the procees the oil should pass throu a Waterbloch Filter to remove microscopic small water particles..-- and then straight into the tank and off you go .

That is simple enough for most Thai farmers to handle .

Here in the US ,I indeed can buy everything needed for around $200 (incl. freight charges ). I am bringing everything with me except the electric water pumps and the waterfilters ,which I know are available at Tool Pro or Global House etc.. And for $ 200 I will either have free fuel for my truck or a new experience to check off at the "Been -There-Done That " department (I would call that a cheap thrill!.

A friend is sourcing the availablity of cooking oil and by Mid December we will know what is black and what is white.

[udon]

Mobaan,

thanks for that info.

As you are in the States, why not get the "secret" ingredient analysed?

It should be easy enough!

Call any large police dept and ask for their forensic dept. (CSI?)

I've seen that guy's ads, and as soon as I see "secret" I think, "snakeoil"

Looking fwd to your next post.

[yaimar]

Mobaan,

thanks for that info.

As you are in the States, why not get the "secret" ingredient analysed?

It should be easy enough!

Call any large police dept and ask for their forensic dept. (CSI?)

I've seen that guy's ads, and as soon as I see "secret" I think, "snakeoil"

Looking fwd to your next post.

name yaimar

wow i am impressed with the way you guys have got to page 5 i too await your next post wonderfull stuff,just one thing udon ,what is snake oil? a con >

[udon]

Snake oil = Bullshit in a bottle, a con.

[lannarebirth]

Workshop on biodiesel in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai - The Energy Management and Conservation Centre (Emac) at Chiang Mai University is spearheading efforts to train community leaders to take advantage of the cost and environment benefits of biodiesel.

Its second biodiesel workshop is training members of communiฌties throughout the country to become fuel self sufficient.

The second workshop kicked off last month and runs until August next year. As many as 500 will be trained in biodiesel production.

"The aim is to help community members cope with rising global oil prices and promote the use of biodiesel," said Emac director Assoc Prof Prasert Rerkkriangkrai.

More than 550 people participated in the first workshop which ran from September 2005 until this July.

Once again, training course costs are 80percent subsidised by the Energy Ministry's Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo).

The first workshop saw three model communities built. They are now producing their own biodiesel from used vegetable oil and oil. The model communities are at tambons Nong Kaew in Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Din in Phichit and Kud Nam Sai in Khon Kaen.

"These three communities serve as models for others to study their operation and administration systems. People have shown great interest in joining the workshops. This is an indication of the effects of global oil prices and a move towards self sufficient energy," the director said.

Spaces at the one-day workshops remain open.

Just six to eight people are trained each day and receive instruction in production proceฌdures, input materials, and safety.

They are then equipped to build their own 150lirecapacity biodiesel plants.

By Atsadaporn Kamthai

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/09...es_30015744.php

[udon]

They are then equipped to build their own 150 litre capacity biodiesel plants.

I sure would like to see what they supply to make 150 Litres at the end of the course.

Thanks for that info.

[Mobaan]

Reg Biodiesel worhshops :

There appearently is a modelvillage nearby -Kud Nam Sai /Khoen Khean.

Does anyone have free time on hand to go there and check it out ?

Also I am still hoping someone will have achance to tell me if "Diesel Kleen=Cetane Boost" or something of that nature is available locally (Udon).

Lets keep the momentum going on this ,even if the diesel prices maybe down a bit temporarily-we need to plan longterm.

[Maizefarmer]

It doesnt miss me that the Chang Mai workshops are geared very much towards using used cooking oil - and of course used petroluem oil. It really is the only way to justify small scale production at current Thai diesel prices.

[SnakeBite]

I think the question that you guys should be asking these guys with portable biodiesel machines is "What is the methonol recovery rate?" If it is nill recovery on this point then you are wasting too much in your process. I haven't found a small machine yet that does have this feature. There are larger machines available with almost a 90+% rate of recovery on this methanol.

[Maizefarmer]

Fair comment - although the meth loss in terms of value is proportional to the overall quantitty produced - and these guys are doing comparatively small batches - even with total loss they are still knocking out biodiesel at roughly half the cost of pump diesel.

Tim

[timber]

I have been chasing this bio-diesel thing for about a year now. Everything seems to deadend with bio-diesel opportunities with higher prices for other uses. I thought that vegetable oil would be the way to go, but in looking at answers.com it looks like bio-diesel will remain a small home type operation.

Many advocates suggest that waste vegetable oil is the best source of oil to produce biodiesel. However, the available supply is drastically less than the amount of petroleum-based fuel that is burned for transportation and home heating in the world. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restaurants in the US produce about 300 million US gallons (1,000,000 m³) of waste cooking oil annually.[1] Although it is economically profitable to use WVO to produce biodiesel, it is even more profitable to convert WVO into other products such as soap. Hence, most WVO that is not dumped into landfills is used for these other purposes. Animal fats are similarly limited in supply, and it would not be efficient to raise animals simply for their fat. However, producing biodiesel with animal fat that would have otherwise been discarded could replace a small percentage of petroleum diesel usage

[yaimar]

I have been chasing this bio-diesel thing for about a year now. Everything seems to deadend with bio-diesel opportunities with higher prices for other uses. I thought that vegetable oil would be the way to go, but in looking at answers.com it looks like bio-diesel will remain a small home type operation.

Many advocates suggest that waste vegetable oil is the best source of oil to produce biodiesel. However, the available supply is drastically less than the amount of petroleum-based fuel that is burned for transportation and home heating in the world. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restaurants in the US produce about 300 million US gallons (1,000,000 m³) of waste cooking oil annually.[1] Although it is economically profitable to use WVO to produce biodiesel, it is even more profitable to convert WVO into other products such as soap. Hence, most WVO that is not dumped into landfills is used for these other purposes. Animal fats are similarly limited in supply, and it would not be efficient to raise animals simply for their fat. However, producing biodiesel with animal fat that would have otherwise been discarded could replace a small percentage of petroleum diesel usage

post 941750 Hi, yaimar again, just in passing, as i had a good bit of hands on ,making boi diesel. and it was reported in the local press, as a success.???? I wrote a letter to the editor . See phuket-post.com . I am still looking for the grail, same as the rest of you .going to study the adverts at the top of the page. I see some one, was asking if any one knew of a coconut oil supplier near chumpon, there you go, per ardua

[Mobaan]

It became a bit quiet on this topic lately .

I will be back to Udon Next month and will bring the "snakeoil" ,some filters etc as indicated earlier. At this time I do not own a diesel vehicle -however will buy a new Toyota P/U as soon as I get back . To be honest I a a bit reluctant to try the product I can get from superfiltering used veg.oil (with the addition of the "snakeoil" ) in a new vehicle .

Is anybody out there willing to try the resulting Biodiesel in an old truck or farm machinery .(HOW ABOUT YOU MAIZEFARMER) I am willing to travel around -would welcome the chance to meet some you folks in person-or you are certainly welcome to come and visit with us near Udon-just bring your old klonker with you.

[Jamie]

Any fish farmers out there? Another possibility that you might want to think about is growing algae in the fish ponds during the off season. Certain types of algae are very oil rich, in some cases 250 times more oil could be produced per algae per acre compared to other oil crops like soybeans.

The algae is harvested, dried and then the oil is liberated (cheapest way is via cold press). A warm climate such as what is experienced in Thailand would be ideal seeing most algae grow quickly in the 25-30 C temperature range.

I'm hoping to do something similar in a cooler climate to see what numbers one can get.

[Maizefarmer]

Fascinating!

Never mind fish farming – it may well be worth building a dam just for the sake of growing algae for bio-fuel

An average of figures from 6 web sites give the following

Gallons of Bio Diesel per 1 Rai per Year

Corn . . . . . . . 7

Soybeans . . . .18

Safflower. . . . . 35

Sunflower . . . 42

Rapeseed. . . 50

Oil Palm . . . . 263

Micro Algae …..1850 - 6100 (depending on type of algae)

It’s a complete no – brainer which is the best.

How would you feed the algae – and human or animal waste will do.

[lannarebirth]

Fascinating!

Never mind fish farming – it may well be worth building a dam just for the sake of growing algae for bio-fuel

An average of figures from 6 web sites give the following

Gallons of Bio Diesel per 1 Rai per Year

Corn . . . . . . . 7

Soybeans . . . .18

Safflower. . . . . 35

Sunflower . . . 42

Rapeseed. . . 50

Oil Palm . . . . 263

Micro Algae …..1850 - 6100 (depending on type of algae)

It’s a complete no – brainer which is the best.

How would you feed the algae – and human or animal waste will do.

Fascinating indeed. I think you'll like this second link Tim.

http://sustainablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/g...een-energy.html

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older...H/usda1490.html

[Jamie]

Certain micro algae are very high in oil content, but in order to just grow a certain species, you need to do it in a closed system. Algae that generally have higher oil contents tend to grow slower so they could be over taken by less desirable ones, that is why they are grown in controlled and closed systems.

I believe there is a company here in the US that builds closed systems, but it's probably something anyone with some ingenuity could do themselves.

I still think natural algae (the species growing on sewerage or fish ponds) would be the most cost effective even if the oil content may be lower.

[Maizefarmer]

There are arguments for both closed and open systems - like choosing which cow is the best, when it comes to cultivating algae for bio - fuel production, highest yield may not be best.

Its a case of what is best for your circumstances, which after all the figures are done may mean a strain of algae that yields less but is cheaper to cultivate.

My personal feeling would be to go for a closed system - only because of my engineering background and I like messing around with "contraptions".

Closed systems are doodle to build and with the amount of sunlight we have in Thailand, although principly designed fro artificial lighting support, their overall increased efficiency used with the natural sunlight we have in Thailand, may well be a good way to go.

An excellent thesis on the principals of closed system bio mass units can be found at:

http://library.wur.nl/wda/dissertations/dis3423.pdf

What that dissatation doesn't have in it is not worth knowing - it really is a complete A - Z bible on the subject.

What astounds me the the shear quantity of bio fule that can be produced from a given area of algae versus the equivilant on land. Even the chocie of one of the less effcient bio fuel algaes appears to comprehensive outproduce the best of soil grown crops.

But looking at it from a comparative volume perspective only, is to to miss the true advantages:

You dont have to keep clearing land, you don't have to keep applying fertalisers, you don't have to employ armies of pickers, you don't have to worry about pest damage .. just mentally go through all the costs (planting, fuel, maintanance and harvest) of growing a biofuel crop on land, and compare those costs to the costs growing a biofuel algae.

Chalk & Cheese.

Out goes the used cooking oil idea - a couple hours on Excel indicates bio fuel algae is overall 1/5 the production cost of using used cooking oil (18%).

A properly designed 1/3 - 1/2 rai closed slat or tubelar system would wipe out my annual diesel and electricity bills (Baht 500K plus), plus all the biofuel production costs.

[Jamie]

Maize,

Yes there are certain advantages and disadvantages to both systems. Whereas a closed system would be more expensive, you also get to pick and choose which algal species you wish to use. I wouldn't even think of using artificial light for someone in Thailand seeing as the added cost of electricity would increase your overhead. One problem I think you would find with a closed system and using micro algae is seperation of the algae from water. I think in this case you would definitely have to use a centrifuge unless you could somehow come up with some other straining technique.

Another added bonus to growing algae is the by-product. The remaining algal biomass can either be ground up and used as a fertilizer or it can be used as a livestock feed.

If you ever get something set up, I'd like to hear how it goes. As I said, I'm hoping to do something similar in a colder, northern climate with an open system (sewerage ponds and fish rearing ponds) to see what numbers come out. As of now, I believe there is only one company in New Zealand (Aquaflow Bionomic Corp) that has been very successful with producing biodiesel from sewerage ponds.

[Maizefarmer]

Jamie

Your observations are valid - yes, closed systems do enable to establishment of artificial enviroments, hence enabling one to choose more or less whatever strain of algae they wanted to cultivate.

Looking at the sheer volume of bio fuel produced ( and I am still amazed at the quantity that it is possible to produce) for a given area, I woudln;t be suprized if it weren't possible to plot a graph showing energy consumption (for light produced) versus extra algae production (extra bio fuel) - and to scale the project on an extra bio fuel versus extra energy in such a way that the net bio fuel production justifies using some of that bio fuel to produce light energy?

It would not suprize me at all if this was possible - hence despite the light levels we have here, the use of artificial light for at least some part of the dusk to dawn period, the increase in fuel production justifies it. Wouldn't suprize me.

Centrifuge - a doddle to build: they are used extensively in the agricultural chemical industry and mechanically are right up my street.

Producing bio fuel from sewerage ponds is a different matter - you do undertsand that don't you?

In the case of bio fuel from algae the sewarage serves only to feed the algae, and is not the basis to the fuel production as it is in sewarage.

As far as that side of it goes, well, I have a daily supply of fresh cow manure - over 3 tons of the stuff per day - enough to support a 50 rai algae plant!!

The algae "cake", post oil extraction would be fed back into the slurry tanks (from which the liquid feed to grow the algae is taken in the first place), which as you quite rightly note will add to the fertiliser value of the manure slurry. This is used to fertilser forage grass fields.

You do understand how the algae is extracted from the tubes, don't you? - you run rough plastic balls through the system, which strip the algae off the glass tubes, and then use the centrifuge to seperate them from the water/algae mix.

Wheres the initial capital chew- up going to come from setting something like up in Thailand? I would think it's going to be the cost glass tubing, which isn't made locally (I know because Alfa Laval asked me to 2001 to try and source a Thai manufacturer for them - and there was only one manufacturer whose QC and consistancy was compleltey sub standard.

Nope, that would have to be sourced from the USA or Europe. But other than for that, the rest of the compnents required for a closed system can be built locally using components from the ChonBuri chemical industry scrap yard - where you will find any type of tubing, coupling, valve, brewing tank, motor ect ect etc that you'd ever want ....

[Jamie]

Maize,

Perhaps you have already thought about this and already have this in place. Since you have a supply of manure, how about constructing a biogas reactor for extra power production? If you are producing over 3 tons a day (wow, thats a large amount) you could well make enough biogas to possibly run your entire operation. I have no clue how power is distributed in Thailand or if you could sell the excess to the grid or not.

Sorry if this was a bit off topic.

Jamie