This section describes the design elements we needed to define in order to produce a physical working model.

Design Elements

This is our proposed design concept for mixing.  The reactor tank will be pump mixed through a system of pipes outside of the reactor.

Design Element 1:  Mixing

Hoppers will be used to eliminate the handling of chemicals.

Design Element 2: Hoppers

Ideally we would like to utilize a biodiesel generator to produce the biodiesel.  We have calculated that we would only need to use 5-10% of our biodiesel produced to run the generator.  Therefore this method is preferred.

Design Element 3: Power

To heat the reactor tank to the reaction temperature, we will use immersion heating elements that will be in direct contact with the reactor fluid inside the reactor.  We will use a thermocouple to monitor the fluid temperature.

Design Element 4: Heating

Eglin 1—Team 12: Biodiesel Plant

The methanol recovery is a unique component of our system.  The main goal is to recover some of the methanol that is vaporized during the reaction process.

Design Element 5: Methanol Recovery

This washing method was chosen because it will tell us whether or not our reaction was complete.  When the water and fuel are mixed, they should separate if there is a complete reaction.  If the reaction was not complete, they will not separate.

Design Element 6: Washing