Tiny reactor could boost biodiesel production.
#1
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Tiny reactor could boost biodiesel production.
Just found this:
Tiny reactor could boost biodiesel production
Credit card-sized device converts vegatable oil almost instantly
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:07 p.m. ET April 19, 2006
PORTLAND, Ore. - A tiny chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil directly into biodiesel could help farmers turn some of their crops into homegrown fuel to operate agricultural equipment instead of relying on costly imported oil.
"This is all about producing energy in such a way that it liberates people," said Goran Jovanovic, a chemical engineering professor at Oregon State University who developed the microreactor.
The device — about the size of a credit card — pumps vegetable oil and alcohol through tiny parallel channels, each smaller than a human hair, to convert the oil into biodiesel almost instantly.
By comparison, it takes more than a day to produce biodiesel witih current technology.
Conventional production involves dissolving a catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, in alcohol, then stirring it into vegetable oil in large vats for about two hours. The mixture then has to sit for 12 to 24 hours while a slow chemical reaction forms biodiesel along with glycerin, a byproduct.
The glycerin is separated and can be used to make other products, such as soaps, but it still contains the chemical catalyst, which must be neutralized and removed using hydrochloric acid, a long and costly process.
The microreactor under development by the university and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute eliminates the mixing, the standing time and maybe even the need for a catalyst.
"If we're successful with this, nobody will ever make biodiesel any other way," Jovanovic said.
The device is small, but it can be stacked in banks to increase production levels to the volume required for commercial use, he said.
Biodiesel production on the farm also could reduce distribution costs by eliminating the need for tanker truck fuel delivery, part of the growing effort to meet fuel demand locally _ instead of relying on distant refineries and tanker transport.
"Distributed energy production means you can use local resources _ farmers can produce all the energy they need from what they grow on their own farms," Jovanovic said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2006 MSNBC.com
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12390443/
Credit card-sized device converts vegatable oil almost instantly
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:07 p.m. ET April 19, 2006
PORTLAND, Ore. - A tiny chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil directly into biodiesel could help farmers turn some of their crops into homegrown fuel to operate agricultural equipment instead of relying on costly imported oil.
"This is all about producing energy in such a way that it liberates people," said Goran Jovanovic, a chemical engineering professor at Oregon State University who developed the microreactor.
The device — about the size of a credit card — pumps vegetable oil and alcohol through tiny parallel channels, each smaller than a human hair, to convert the oil into biodiesel almost instantly.
By comparison, it takes more than a day to produce biodiesel witih current technology.
Conventional production involves dissolving a catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, in alcohol, then stirring it into vegetable oil in large vats for about two hours. The mixture then has to sit for 12 to 24 hours while a slow chemical reaction forms biodiesel along with glycerin, a byproduct.
The glycerin is separated and can be used to make other products, such as soaps, but it still contains the chemical catalyst, which must be neutralized and removed using hydrochloric acid, a long and costly process.
The microreactor under development by the university and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute eliminates the mixing, the standing time and maybe even the need for a catalyst.
"If we're successful with this, nobody will ever make biodiesel any other way," Jovanovic said.
The device is small, but it can be stacked in banks to increase production levels to the volume required for commercial use, he said.
Biodiesel production on the farm also could reduce distribution costs by eliminating the need for tanker truck fuel delivery, part of the growing effort to meet fuel demand locally _ instead of relying on distant refineries and tanker transport.
"Distributed energy production means you can use local resources _ farmers can produce all the energy they need from what they grow on their own farms," Jovanovic said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2006 MSNBC.com
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12390443/
#5
DTR's Locomotive Superhero and the DTR Sweet Tea Specialist
I wonder if this would work with WVO too. If it does, i'd go into collecting WVO if the reactor was at the right price.
matt
matt
#6
Originally Posted by Blue3quarter
I wonder if this would work with WVO too. If it does, i'd go into collecting WVO if the reactor was at the right price.
matt
matt
Unless there's some crazy hocus-pocus stuff going on.
I don't see how it'd work without a chemical reaction...
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#8
Registered User
Originally Posted by Begle1
WVO is just used vegetable oil; if it works for virgin vegetable oil then it will work with waste vegetable oil.
Unless there's some crazy hocus-pocus stuff going on.
I don't see how it'd work without a chemical reaction...
Unless there's some crazy hocus-pocus stuff going on.
I don't see how it'd work without a chemical reaction...
Edwin
#9
Registered User
this may have potential, but i would guess that any kind of large scale production is pretty far off. our fuel tanks holds 35 gallons. wondering how long it would take to convert just one tank with a nano-converter?
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