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Small-Scale Biodiesel Production

John Nowatzki

Extension Ag Machine Systems Specialist

North Dakota State University

204/21/23

Small-Scale Equipment

40 gal in 24 hours - $2,495.00Home Biodiesel_Bentonville, AR.

50 gal in 2 hours -$12,675.00BK-300 BioKing_Netherlands

80 gal in 8 hours-$6,800.00 Ester Machine B100 Supply_Georgia.

50 gal in 60 hours - $7,995.00 BioPro_190 SSI Indiana.

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Biodiesel

Biodiesel Today What is Biodiesel? Oil Extraction and Preparation Processing Quality Factors Questions/Comments

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US Biodiesel Production

864 million gallons projected for 2007

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US Biodiesel Plants

864 million gallons per year.Organization of producers, blenders & marketers

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US Biodiesel Plants

Organization of producers, blenders & marketers

1.7 billion gallons per year

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Bio-fuel InformationSwitchgrass Corn Wood Grain Straw Soybeans Sunflowers Canola

Yield/Acre 5 Tons 115 bu1 10 Tons 2 Tons 32 bu1

(1920 lb/ac)

1360 lb/ac1 1375 lb/ac1

Ethanol 80 gal/ton

400 gal/ac

2.7 gal/bu

310 gal/ac

80 gal/ton2

800 gal/ac

75 gal/ton3

150 gal/ac

Biodiesel 1.48 gal/bu

47.3 gal/ac

6 gal/cwt

82 gal/ac

5.9 gal/cwt

81 gal/ac

Processing

Cost/gallon

$1.50 - 2.00(USDA estimate by

2012)

$1.10(Current USDA

Estimate)

$1.50 - 2.00(USDA estimate

by 2012)

$1.50 - 2.00(USDA estimate

by 2012)

$.50(Current USDA

Estimate)

$.50(Current USDA

Estimate)

$.50(Current USDA

Estimate)

1. 10-year average ND yields, ND Agricultural Statistics Service. 2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Bioethanol Multi-Year Technical Plan, Preliminary Draft (Golden, CO,  July 1999).

3. Iogen Corporation, Ottowa, CA

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Biodiesel Fuel CharacteristicsBiodiesel

B100Biodiesel

B20Biodiesel

B5Petrodiesel

#2

BTU/gal 118,296 127,259 128,200 129,500

Cetane Number

55 50 48

CFPP(winter blend)

-10(winter blend)

-26(winter blend)

$ Value

(BTU content)

2.26 2.43 2.45 2.50

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What is Biodiesel?

Processed engine fuel made from vegetable oils and animal fats

B100 – Pure Biodiesel

ASTM D6751 Standard

1004/21/23

Remove Extraneous Material Screening Pass Over Magnet

Seed Preparation

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Expeller Pressing or Solvent Extraction Heat Seeds Crush Seeds Oil Extraction – Expeller Press

Crude Oil Cake

Oil Extraction

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Degumming Remove Phospholipids (gums)

Water Wash Remove all Water

• Water - fatty acids form salts • Heat to 120°C

Oil Preparation

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Chemical Reaction Oil plus Alcohol Yields Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters + Glycerin

Catalyst - Potassium Hydroxide Proportions:

10 parts oil - 1 part alcohol 10 parts biodiesel - 1 part glycerin Catalyst based on fatty acid content

Requires Excess Alcohol

Processing

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ASTM standard D6751 18 factors

Purity Storage Cold Weather Properties Engines Operation

Complete Conversion Catalyst and Glycerin Removed

Quality Factors

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Biodiesel Quality Factors

American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications.

Biodiesel Standard: ASTM D 6751

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Total Glycerin - Incomplete Reaction Free Glycerin - Incomplete Washing

May Separate in Storage Clogs Filters

Total Acid number Methanol Carryover Effects on Seals and Hoses

Quality Factors

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More Information

John NowatzkiExtension Ag Machine Systems Specialist

North Dakota State University

Telephone: 701-231-8213

Email: John.Nowatzki@ndsu.edu

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/energy_efficiency/