canola oil question

eluv8

I was asked the other day about designing a system for canola oil. If you havnt guessed yet they are making bio-diesel. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if I can size the boiler and heat exchangers the same as water or if there is a change in the formula I need to apply. Also out of curiosity does anyone know the flash point of canola oil at 140? They will be heating 1000 gallon tanks from 70 to 140 and need to do it in a 1 hr time frame. What do you guys think? I wouldnt want to see this guys insurance quotes. They estimate being able to make bio-diesel for about 1.27 a gallon, and thats buying unused canola oil.

S R Denny

I don't have an answer to your question, but the people at this board might. groups.yahoo.com/group/altfuelfurnace

tim smith

Call Taco

Their engineering dept could size a shell & tube heat exchanger I would think for this. This might be the simplest method. Also Maybe they might be able to help with sizing a direct immersion tube bundle for tank, then you would only need one pump per tank to do job. My guess is you will be appx 1 million btu per tank to do that temp rise. Also a buddy of mine in Seattle could probably size and build tube bundles for you. Seattle Boiler works, Craig Hopkins. 206-762-0737. He has build boilers for ships, waste facility off gas boilers etc. Knows what he is doing. Good luck.

Dekstrous

Thanks for the link I will check it out.

Barbarossa

oil heater

Assume the oil is 7.7 lbs/gal has a .48 btu/lb sp. heat you get 1000 gal*7.7lbs/gal*delta of 70 F*.48 = a net of 258720 btu/H you can ajust the numbers to the actual values the client will give you as this is for olive oil. Remember it is the net and has no losses in the number. This type of process is uasuly done with steam but hot water can do it, direct fire runs the risk of charing on the exchanger.

eluv8

Thanks for the additional information, the original plan did spec steam but the subcontractor wants to use hot water. Are there any good books on the subject?

Barbarossa

Books

There are not any books that come to mind like Dan's though there is a need for sure. Two other items you will need excess BTUs to go from ambent to operating temp in there time frame. Then there is the question of leaks. do you want the oil to enter the boiler or can you accept water in the process. You have to design for that possablity be it hot water or steam coils or jackets.