Question about heating wvo for processing biodiesel?

Question

to heat 50 gallons of wvo in a 55 gallon steel drum- would a 115 volt immersible element heater from a hot water tank do the job? the oil has to be heated to 130 degrees f. I wonder how long that would take with that setup?

Answer 1

Nope.  A hot-water-heater element will cause the oil to carbonize: it's way too hot.  Oil is usually heated with a very large, well-distributed electrical heating element or with steam pipes.  It's not such a simple enterprise, and if you decide to do it in your garage you'll draw the interest of authorities on several levels, especially if you're planning to run your automobile on public roads with untaxed fuel.  

Outside of that, let the wings of your imagination carry you away.

Answer 2

You need to know the amp draw of the circut.  You also need to know the specific heat of the liquid.  I will assume water with a 10 amp draw.  This will be 1150 watts.  We will go from 70 deg F to 130deg F.  Delta T = 60 degree f.  I will also use 7.5 lbs/gallon.  About 400 lbs.  It will require 1 Btu/lb deg F * 400 * 60 = 24000 BTU's.  1 Wat = 3.4 BTU/ HR.  3.4 * 115 ~ 400 BTU/hr.   Take 24000/ 4000 and you get 6 hours.  I guessed at alot of values but that is the procedure.  I neglected that the barrel will loose energy, that is the best you could do, you also need to make sure the temp. of the element is over 130 degrees.

I want to add, heating a combustible/flammable liquid to its flash point or even within 20 degrees is very dangerous.  Ground the tank and make sure no flames are in the area.  Read NFPA 30 before you begin.  Do not blow yourself up.

Answer 3

2n2222 manages to pooh-pooh every idea that comes on here.  Relax, or at least, research.

Here's one that uses a home hot water heater.

http://home.swbell.net/scrof/Biod_Proc.h...

Here are some more

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_pr...

The first person did the math, you might want to insulate the 55 gallon drum to speed things up.

http://www.b100supply.com/Insulation_p/1...

Here's a drum heater, pricey but proves 480W will do the job.

http://www.uvps.com/product.asp?code=DRU...