bio deiesel from alage

[Tinman]

hey guys been looking into making bio-diesel from algae just wonder what you guys think. it seems fairly easy as my sources of chip fat oil dry up as companies now pay for it from chip shops.

[Mud Dog]

You'll need vast amounts of algae, but yes, i'ts been done.

[Tinman]

what i have found so far seems to suggest that 200-400l produces several liters a day. i have access to everything needed and set up and operation is very basic. im gonna get a large bottle and set up a small scale version and harvest it for a few days to see how much it produces and then convert to bio-diesel and try it out in a variable compression engine i have access to to be able to see if its suitable.

[Mammabeer]

Stuart, it is certainly a viable option as the huge fuel companies are also looking into it as an alternative fuel source.... there was a conference in July/August somehwere in Indonesia on this...just search on Google- you should be able to get some papers..... I can try and look for you next week when I am back at work .....

[Tinman]

cheers guys
i will have a go on small scale trying several different methods and ill let you know how it all goes.
even if i have to still get some diesel anything is better than nothing. im currently working out operation costs, water, electricity, nutrients and initial set up cost.
im still looking for some form of clear tubes or bags or large bottles that will allow UV light through, other than that i have sourced the rest.

[dalkill]

from what i read you have to find the right strand of algea.
Bennie's brother was busy with something like this.
Wonder how far he got? Benny?

[Tinman]

just about any strand will work just some produce more than others.
iv got a list of the top 10. the difference in yield also depends on conditions as they all seem to require slightly different.

[BenHur]

My brother's project is running along nicely last we spoke about it, they are busy erecting a a prototype plant to test the feasibility of such a project, as the mine group he works for want to go big on this. Their by-product from the coal burning ovens is carbon monoxide, which they will burn in a special internal combustion engine that will be used to generate electricity and the carbon dioxide this engine emits will be the main food for the algae in their reactors. The last time we spoke he said they were looking at a strands that will yield on avarage 40% bio oil, 40% petro-chemicals (so they can make petrol and diesel) and the remaining product will can be used as cattle feed (The percentage yields will differ seasonally). At the mines they can not grow algae in open ponds, due to the dust contamination and water loss due to evaporation (they do have limited water supplies) thus they will grow their algae in closed reactors.

[Mud Dog]

This would be an interesting project to hear more about. Please keep us posted of progress, Bennie. Thanks!

[Tinman]

we have one of those engines that can burn the carbon monoxide, it starts on petrol and then switches to the CO which is produced from a small coal fire, we use it on a farm as a PTO
i have found the strand that suits my climate best and found a place where it can be got from.
im now just trying to track down large clear cylinders, if anyone has any idea where you can get something like that it would be much appreciated as i would prefer round to square.

[Mud Dog]

We used to build up to 100 litre, octagonal fish tanks with 6 to 8 mm glass. The panels were just bonded with silicone but you have to have a re-inforcing hoop top and bottom. In your case it would'nt matter what it looked like, so a non- stretch duct tape bound around a few times at each end should do. You could make it short & squat like a barrel or longer like a cylinder / large diameter pipe, just as long as you can reach in to the bottom with your arm so that you can put some extra silicone along the joints and smooth it out.

[BenHur]

we have one of those engines that can burn the carbon monoxide, it starts on petrol and then switches to the CO which is produced from a small coal fire, we use it on a farm as a PTO

Cool then maybe try pumping the exhaust gasses into your algae tank as food

[dalkill]

so if tinman and bennie's brother can do this, why can't we do this on global scale.
it's a conspiracy man :-)

[BenHur]

it's a conspiracy man :-)

I agree, get the local ganja smokers to blow into your tanks and see the algae grow...


I wonder if I can use my pool as a algae pond :?