Calvin College
From Left: Joshua Harbert, Christian Ocier, Mitch Kenyon, Fred Thielke, Adebo Alao
Outline
•What – Project Overview
•Why – Underlying Reasoning
•How – Technical Requirements
•Who – Other Potential Users
•Acknowledgements
•Questions
Our Project
Design and construct a process to convert Yellow Grease into
biodiesel
•Capable of processing high Free Fatty Acid (FFA) feedstock
•45 gal capacity
•2-stage process
Our Project
Yellow Grease is obtained from Campus Dining Services
Tentative plans for reactor
•Donate to Calvin College
•Campus Student Organization will operate reactor to
fuel a campus commuter van
Why Are We Doing This?
1. We believe that:
•There is an energy crisis arising
•There is no single solution
2. We also believe that the solutions will be dependent on:
•Life style changes
•Cultural and regional resource use
•Sustainable/renewable energy
3. Education and good examples
will be very important
in solving this problem
Where Does Biodiesel Come From?
75 Million Gallons of Biodiesel
Produced from Various Sources in 2005
Soy oil has limited
potential
•Soy oil costs
$2.16/gal
•Processed yellow
grease costs
between $0.91$1.13/gal
other
18%
edible tallow
6%
inedible tallow
11%
yellow grease
8%
soy
57%
Alternatives For Our Process?
Total oils and Fats Available in 2005
Trap grease is an alternative
to yellow grease
•Contain high FFA
•Difficult to collect
•Difficult to process
tallow
27%
• Virtually Free
A process like ours is ideal
for high FFA feedstocks
other
21%
soy
18%
yellow grease
3%
trap grease
31%
Inputs and Outputs
How We Are Doing This?
Basic Components
• Reaction vessel
• Filter
• Polisher
• Pump
• Agitator
• Vacuum Pump
• Methanol Condenser
How We Are Doing This?
Glycerin
Waste glycerin can be reprocessed and:
•Produces Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol
•Yields a profit of $1.34 per gallon of glycerin
Based on a study by University of Waterloo Engineering Department
Adsorption
Polishing Column
Polymer Adsorbent
Vacuum Distillation
Vacuum Distillation:
•Pulls a vacuum on the reactor to recover
the methanol and remove the water
Advantages:
•Water in oil boils at ~140°C
•With a vacuum it is only 60°C
•Prevents fume leakage of Methanol and
Potassium Methoxide, which are
flammable and poisonous
•Uses significantly less energy
Energy and Cost
Some data based on calculations
and lab work
•$0.78/gal (free WVO)
•$1.88/gal (WVO @ $1.13/gal)
•Input energy=1.17MJ/kg
•Energy delivered=12.72MJ/kg
Who Should and Shouldn’t do This
Suitable for:
•Trucks, boats, generators, personal vehicles
•Most unmodified diesel engines
•Most moderate climates
Not Suitable for:
•Very cold environments
•Older diesel engines (natural rubber parts)
Thanks and Acknowledgements
•Energy Office of Michigan
•Calvin College
•The University of Waterloo
•Mary Jo Pulte
Questions?