US20100175986A1 - Manufacture of Biodiesel - Google Patents
Manufacture of Biodiesel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100175986A1 US20100175986A1 US12/227,707 US22770707A US2010175986A1 US 20100175986 A1 US20100175986 A1 US 20100175986A1 US 22770707 A US22770707 A US 22770707A US 2010175986 A1 US2010175986 A1 US 2010175986A1
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- Prior art keywords
- magnetic field
- biodiesel
- reaction
- methanol
- reaction zone
- Prior art date
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- Abandoned
Links
- 239000003225 biodiesel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 57
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 230000005291 magnetic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 235000015112 vegetable and seed oil Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000008158 vegetable oil Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000000376 reactant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 150000008044 alkali metal hydroxides Chemical group 0.000 claims 2
- KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M Potassium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[K+] KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 19
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000005672 electromagnetic field Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 5
- 235000019198 oils Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 238000005809 transesterification reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000005294 ferromagnetic effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000003995 emulsifying agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000019484 Rapeseed oil Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000019387 fatty acid methyl ester Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000035484 reaction time Effects 0.000 description 2
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium hydroxide Inorganic materials [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001017 Alperm Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 208000016444 Benign adult familial myoclonic epilepsy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229910052692 Dysprosium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910000640 Fe alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fe2+ Chemical compound [Fe+2] CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052771 Terbium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000739 chaotic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001311 chemical methods and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010961 commercial manufacture process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010779 crude oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000014113 dietary fatty acids Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 1
- KBQHZAAAGSGFKK-UHFFFAOYSA-N dysprosium atom Chemical compound [Dy] KBQHZAAAGSGFKK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000016427 familial adult myoclonic epilepsy Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000000194 fatty acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229930195729 fatty acid Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000004665 fatty acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- ZGNITFSDLCMLGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N flubendiamide Chemical compound CC1=CC(C(F)(C(F)(F)F)C(F)(F)F)=CC=C1NC(=O)C1=CC=CC(I)=C1C(=O)NC(C)(C)CS(C)(=O)=O ZGNITFSDLCMLGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052747 lanthanoid Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002602 lanthanoids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001404 mediated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- GBMDVOWEEQVZKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N methanol;hydrate Chemical compound O.OC GBMDVOWEEQVZKZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000004702 methyl esters Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000010363 phase shift Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010499 rapseed oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036632 reaction speed Effects 0.000 description 1
- 241000894007 species Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- GZCRRIHWUXGPOV-UHFFFAOYSA-N terbium atom Chemical compound [Tb] GZCRRIHWUXGPOV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11C—FATTY ACIDS FROM FATS, OILS OR WAXES; CANDLES; FATS, OILS OR FATTY ACIDS BY CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FATS, OILS, OR FATTY ACIDS OBTAINED THEREFROM
- C11C3/00—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom
- C11C3/003—Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom by esterification of fatty acids with alcohols
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
- B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
- B01J19/12—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electromagnetic waves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
- B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
- B01J19/087—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electric or magnetic energy
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
- B06B1/08—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with magnetostriction
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C07C67/00—Preparation of carboxylic acid esters
- C07C67/03—Preparation of carboxylic acid esters by reacting an ester group with a hydroxy group
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10L—FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
- C10L1/00—Liquid carbonaceous fuels
- C10L1/02—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
- C10L1/026—Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only for compression ignition
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10G2300/00—Aspects relating to hydrocarbon processing covered by groups C10G1/00 - C10G99/00
- C10G2300/10—Feedstock materials
- C10G2300/1011—Biomass
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E50/00—Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
- Y02E50/10—Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P30/00—Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry
- Y02P30/20—Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry using bio-feedstock
Definitions
- This invention relates to the manufacture of biodiesel, i.e. the manufacture of fuel which can be used to power conventional diesel engines but which is derived not by petrochemical processing steps from crude oil, but rather from biologically produced materials, most notably vegetable oils.
- biodiesel The basic method of manufacturing biodiesel is well-established and indeed has been commercialised in a number of countries. It consists in taking vegetable oil and methanol and reacting them together in the presence of a catalyst. A transesterification process takes place giving as the reaction product a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, which is the biodiesel itself) and glycerol. In the case of the use of rape oil as starting material, the biodiesel product is often referred to as rape methyl esters (RME).
- RME rape methyl esters
- the transesterification reaction is driven to completion very much faster by carrying it out in a reactor vessel where the reaction chamber area is subjected to high alternating rotary electromagnetic fields and, in addition to the reactants identified above, the reactor vessel includes a large number of magnetostrictive components.
- a method for the continuous manufacture of biodiesel which comprises reacting vegetable oil and methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerol, wherein the reaction takes place in a reaction zone in which magnetostrictive components are present in the mixture of reactants and the zone is subjected to a strong alternating rotatory magnetic field.
- the rotation of the magnetic field is preferably at least 3000 rpm.
- the magnetostrictive components are excited by the primary magnetic field to generate a resonant acoustic or ultrasonic field within the chamber.
- the production of such a resonant field may be assisted by dividing the chamber into sections e.g. by the use of a plurality of perforated baffles or the like through which the mixture of reactants may pass, and the spacing of which is chosen to match the desired resonance.
- reaction speed is materially accelerated. It is undoubtedly related to the magnetically generated effects mediated by the individual magnetostrictive pieces of material. These may be particles or, for example, small cylindrical iron bodies. For reasons of economy, iron-based materials are preferred, but ferrous alloys, particularly ones including lanthanides such as dysprosium or terbium may provide enhanced results, as may mixed materials such as alfer. If desired, non-ferrous ferromagnetic elements or alloys may be used.
- a very quick intermixing, decomposition and, which is most important, activation of substances in the active centre of the reactor chamber makes it possible to realise physical-chemical processes at a rate that significantly exceeds that achieved in conventional chemical-physical processes. In other words, this allows one to pass from diffusive to kinetic reactions.
- reaction rate is generally dependent upon the strength of the primary magnetic field and the frequency of its oscillation, and on the mass and dimensions of the magnetostrictive components activated by the magnetic field. In practical terms, however, there is a trade-off between the cost of generating the electromagnetic field and the economic benefits of the faster reaction.
- FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a central reactor chamber forming part of apparatus for carrying out the invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a continuous operation pilot plant for biodiesel production.
- FIG. 1 this shows diagrammatically a core reaction chamber assembly for making biodiesel, together with a power supply, for example a 3-phase 50 or 60 Hz AC mains supply, denoted 1 .
- a power supply for example a 3-phase 50 or 60 Hz AC mains supply, denoted 1 .
- the coils 2 are located around a non-magnetic tube 3 , e.g. of stainless steel.
- a reactor chamber 5 in the form of a stainless steel cylinder of capacity of 1.5 litres is located centrally in pipe 3 .
- Reactant mixture may be fed into chamber 5 via an inlet pipe 6 and leave via an outlet 7 .
- Inside the chamber 5 are a large number of cylindrical ferromagnetic/magnetostrictive components as activating agents.
- the activating agents may be vigorously affected.
- the power source 1 is the conventional electric mains
- the oscillation frequency is 50 or 60 Hertz
- the rotation rate of the field is 3000 or 3600 rpm.
- FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a complete pilot plant for the continuous manufacture of biodiesel in accordance with the present invention.
- the actual biodiesel production takes place in a reaction chamber generally denoted 10 .
- This is surrounded by coils 36 energised by a power supply unit 11 .
- the raw materials of biodiesel manufacture are kept in appropriate storage vessels, viz. a waste oil supply tank 12 , a methanol tank 13 and a store for potassium hydroxide 14 .
- Methanol hydroxide may be fed by means of a pump 16 into a mixer unit 18 where the potassium hydroxide is dissolved.
- the solution is then passed by a pump 17 via one of a pair of metering valves 22 into an emulsifier 24 .
- oil may be pumped from a holding tank 12 by means of a pump 20 and via a second one of the pair of proportioning valves 22 into an emulsifier unit 24 .
- the mixture of oil with methanol and potassium hydroxide is emulsified by means of vigorous mechanical agitation.
- the emulsion then flows through the reaction chamber 10 .
- chamber 10 which is generally cylindrical is an axial threaded rod 30 on to which are threaded four metallic perforated discs 32 .
- the positioning of the discs 32 may be adjusted by turning them on the threaded shaft 30 and is adjusted to tune the system so that, during operation, it constitutes an acoustic resonant cavity.
- ferromagnetic cylinders 34 which can be excited vigorously by means of the magnetic field generated by coil 36 internally of the reactor chamber 10 .
- the treated emulsion emerges from an outlet port at the end of the reaction chamber 10 and passes into the holding and settling tank 26 .
- Biodiesel may be withdrawn via a valve 27 located part way up the side of tank 26 and glycerol via a valve 28 near the bottom.
- the feedstock for conversion to biodiesel was rape seed oil.
- the dissolution unit 12 was controlled in order to provide an 8% by weight solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol.
- the potassium hydroxide solution in methanol and feed oil were then emulsified on a continuous basis at a weight ratio of 122 kilograms of the potassium hydroxide in methanol solution per 1000 kilograms of the rape seed oil.
- the flow through the reaction chamber was 5 tonnes per hour of emulsion.
- the emulsion was subjected to intense agitation as a result of the application of the rotating magnetic field by means of coils 36 .
- the length of the reaction chamber under the influence of the magnetic field was 670 mm, the inner diameter of the chamber being 100 mm.
- the reactor chamber was tuned to operate as a resonant cavity.
- the speed of sound in the emulsion being around 2000 metres per second, the generation of an acoustic standing wave having a wavelength of around 166 millimetres and a fundamental frequency of around 12 KHz was achieved. Measurement showed that there was a certain amount of 24 KHz and higher harmonics were achieved.
- the chamber included, located captive in each of the sections, 600 gm of magnetorestrictive components in the form of iron cylinders of length 15 mm and diameter 1.0 mm.
- the power consumption during continuous operation is around 3 to 4.
- the amount of methanol in the output is less than one percent by weight. If desired, this may easily be removed from the biodiesel by an appropriate rectification or distillation process and recycled to the methanol storage tank 13 .
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
- Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to the manufacture of biodiesel, i.e. the manufacture of fuel which can be used to power conventional diesel engines but which is derived not by petrochemical processing steps from crude oil, but rather from biologically produced materials, most notably vegetable oils.
- The basic method of manufacturing biodiesel is well-established and indeed has been commercialised in a number of countries. It consists in taking vegetable oil and methanol and reacting them together in the presence of a catalyst. A transesterification process takes place giving as the reaction product a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, which is the biodiesel itself) and glycerol. In the case of the use of rape oil as starting material, the biodiesel product is often referred to as rape methyl esters (RME).
- Commercial manufacture as practised consists in combining the vegetable oil with methanol in a reaction vessel in the presence of a catalyst such as sodium or potassium hydroxide or sulphuric acid. The transesterification reaction strips the fatty acids from the glycerol backbone of the vegetable oil molecules and attaches methanol molecules to them. Extra methanol is put into the reaction cylinder to increase the output of e.g. RME and, following the end of the reaction, the mixture of biodiesel, glycerol and excess methanol, the catalyst and sundry impurities is then removed from the vessel and separated, the methanol and catalyst usually being recycled into the process, and the biodiesel sold as such. The glycerol is a valuable by-product which can be used in various manufacturing processes.
- It is well-established that the current methods of manufacturing biodiesel on a commercial scale are not particularly efficient. In particular, the reaction time for the mixture is substantial, usually 1.5 to 10 hours, and power consumption is around 40 Kw so the total energy needed to make the biodiesel is very substantial. Proposals have been made to reduce the reaction time, particularly by adopting a continuous rather than batch approach and pumping the oil and methanol mixed with the catalyst through a reactor chamber at high pressure, for example 80 to 100 Bar. The pressure is required because, operating in this way, as the mixture is passed through a reactor vessel including static reactor elements, there is intimate phase mixing which gives a very high mass transfer between the reactants. The engineering requirements of operating at such high pressures are, however, challenging and the energy consumption correspondingly high.
- We have now discovered that the transesterification reaction is driven to completion very much faster by carrying it out in a reactor vessel where the reaction chamber area is subjected to high alternating rotary electromagnetic fields and, in addition to the reactants identified above, the reactor vessel includes a large number of magnetostrictive components.
- Operating in this way, a transesterification reaction can be carried out at normal temperature and normal pressure very rapidly, and the excess of methanol needed in traditional operation is unnecessary.
- According to the present invention therefore there is provided a method for the continuous manufacture of biodiesel which comprises reacting vegetable oil and methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel and glycerol, wherein the reaction takes place in a reaction zone in which magnetostrictive components are present in the mixture of reactants and the zone is subjected to a strong alternating rotatory magnetic field. The rotation of the magnetic field is preferably at least 3000 rpm. Preferably also the magnetostrictive components are excited by the primary magnetic field to generate a resonant acoustic or ultrasonic field within the chamber. The production of such a resonant field may be assisted by dividing the chamber into sections e.g. by the use of a plurality of perforated baffles or the like through which the mixture of reactants may pass, and the spacing of which is chosen to match the desired resonance.
- The precise mechanism by which the reaction speed is materially accelerated is understood now in general outline. It is undoubtedly related to the magnetically generated effects mediated by the individual magnetostrictive pieces of material. These may be particles or, for example, small cylindrical iron bodies. For reasons of economy, iron-based materials are preferred, but ferrous alloys, particularly ones including lanthanides such as dysprosium or terbium may provide enhanced results, as may mixed materials such as alfer. If desired, non-ferrous ferromagnetic elements or alloys may be used.
- In the active centre of the reaction zone, high intensive physical fields of different nature are generated, such as electromagnetic, mechanical, acoustical and inertonic. Their specific power is very significant and when they influence species of the substance under consideration, they ensure deep structural and energetic changes including changes in the valence electronic shells of atoms. In our apparatus the electromagnetic field is generated in such a way that in the reaction zone the configuration of the field becomes so effective that the magnetic agents are in a resonant condition, which allows us to maximise the effects of magnetostrictive agents. The resonant effects allow the control of turbulence and hence the agents move along special trajectories, such that they do not practically collide, which preserve their destruction. These effects can be enhanced by the inclusion of resonance sub-chambers in the reaction vessel. The total influence of these factors results in deep excitation over the whole of the cross-section of the reactor and in a strong degree of activation of all components of the substance which participate in the process of the transesterification reactions. This yields significant increases of the surface of interaction or interface of the process.
- A very quick intermixing, decomposition and, which is most important, activation of substances in the active centre of the reactor chamber makes it possible to realise physical-chemical processes at a rate that significantly exceeds that achieved in conventional chemical-physical processes. In other words, this allows one to pass from diffusive to kinetic reactions.
- The improvement in reaction rate is generally dependent upon the strength of the primary magnetic field and the frequency of its oscillation, and on the mass and dimensions of the magnetostrictive components activated by the magnetic field. In practical terms, however, there is a trade-off between the cost of generating the electromagnetic field and the economic benefits of the faster reaction.
- The use of ferromagnetic particles subjected to a rotating magnetic field and being suspended in a liquid has been previously proposed, see “Intensification of technological processes in apparatus with vortex bands”, D D Logvinenko and O P Shelyakov, Technika, Kyiv 1976 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,969,129, 4,093,189, 3,869,251 and 3,691,130 for various aspects of this. None of these publications discloses the value of the technique in biodiesel or similar manufacture, or the use of a resonance effect in the reaction vessel, which is found under the influence of the primary non-stationary electromagnetic field, to improve reaction rates. The resonance is produced by means of a special winding for each of the three phases of the reactor. Each phase is fed through a parallel resonant circuit, such that the resonant frequency is within the kilo-Hertz region.
- We have found that this can be achieved by winding the coils which produce the rotatory magnetic field in a way which is very different from the conventional approach to winding coils e.g. in an electric motor or generator, and by driving them electrically with different phase shifts, frequencies and amplitudes. Preferred arrangements which may be driven by power suitably modified from that provided by a standard three-phase mains supply include three sets each of two windings, each set being supplied with current derived from each phase of the supply. The coils are not driven in a synchronous manner, and act to produce a controlled chaotic action in the magnetostrictive particles, which individually resonate at high frequency if the drives to the coils are appropriately tuned.
- The plant or apparatus used to carry out the process of the present invention may vary in scale, depending on the desired throughput in continuous operation. These are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a central reactor chamber forming part of apparatus for carrying out the invention; and -
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a continuous operation pilot plant for biodiesel production. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , this shows diagrammatically a core reaction chamber assembly for making biodiesel, together with a power supply, for example a 3-phase 50 or 60 Hz AC mains supply, denoted 1. This feeds current to a set ofcoils 2 constituting an electromagnetic field generator. Thecoils 2 are located around anon-magnetic tube 3, e.g. of stainless steel. Areactor chamber 5 in the form of a stainless steel cylinder of capacity of 1.5 litres is located centrally inpipe 3. Reactant mixture may be fed intochamber 5 via aninlet pipe 6 and leave via anoutlet 7. Inside thechamber 5 are a large number of cylindrical ferromagnetic/magnetostrictive components as activating agents. Since thechamber 5 is located between thecoils 2, when the coils are connected to a suitable source of oscillating electrical power and controlled with a view to providing a rotating magnetic field at the centre of thereaction chamber 5 of strength 0.10 to 0.15 Tesla, the activating agents may be vigorously affected. As thepower source 1 is the conventional electric mains, the oscillation frequency is 50 or 60 Hertz, and the rotation rate of the field is 3000 or 3600 rpm. -
FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a complete pilot plant for the continuous manufacture of biodiesel in accordance with the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , the actual biodiesel production takes place in a reaction chamber generally denoted 10. This is surrounded bycoils 36 energised by a power supply unit 11. - The raw materials of biodiesel manufacture are kept in appropriate storage vessels, viz. a waste
oil supply tank 12, amethanol tank 13 and a store forpotassium hydroxide 14. Methanol hydroxide may be fed by means of apump 16 into amixer unit 18 where the potassium hydroxide is dissolved. The solution is then passed by apump 17 via one of a pair ofmetering valves 22 into anemulsifier 24. Separately, oil may be pumped from aholding tank 12 by means of apump 20 and via a second one of the pair ofproportioning valves 22 into anemulsifier unit 24. In the emulsifier unit, the mixture of oil with methanol and potassium hydroxide is emulsified by means of vigorous mechanical agitation. - The emulsion then flows through the reaction chamber 10. Located inside chamber 10 which is generally cylindrical is an axial threaded
rod 30 on to which are threaded four metallicperforated discs 32. The positioning of thediscs 32 may be adjusted by turning them on the threadedshaft 30 and is adjusted to tune the system so that, during operation, it constitutes an acoustic resonant cavity. Also located in the reactor 10 areferromagnetic cylinders 34 which can be excited vigorously by means of the magnetic field generated bycoil 36 internally of the reactor chamber 10. - The treated emulsion emerges from an outlet port at the end of the reaction chamber 10 and passes into the holding and settling
tank 26. Biodiesel may be withdrawn via avalve 27 located part way up the side oftank 26 and glycerol via avalve 28 near the bottom. - The following example, which used the apparatus shown in
FIG. 2 , will serve to illustrate the invention. - The feedstock for conversion to biodiesel was rape seed oil. The
dissolution unit 12 was controlled in order to provide an 8% by weight solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol. - The potassium hydroxide solution in methanol and feed oil were then emulsified on a continuous basis at a weight ratio of 122 kilograms of the potassium hydroxide in methanol solution per 1000 kilograms of the rape seed oil.
- The flow through the reaction chamber was 5 tonnes per hour of emulsion. During its passage through the reactor chamber, the emulsion was subjected to intense agitation as a result of the application of the rotating magnetic field by means of
coils 36. The length of the reaction chamber under the influence of the magnetic field was 670 mm, the inner diameter of the chamber being 100 mm. The reactor chamber was tuned to operate as a resonant cavity. The speed of sound in the emulsion being around 2000 metres per second, the generation of an acoustic standing wave having a wavelength of around 166 millimetres and a fundamental frequency of around 12 KHz was achieved. Measurement showed that there was a certain amount of 24 KHz and higher harmonics were achieved. The chamber included, located captive in each of the sections, 600 gm of magnetorestrictive components in the form of iron cylinders of length 15 mm and diameter 1.0 mm. - The power consumption during continuous operation is around 3 to 4
- Kilowatt hours per tonne of biodiesel produced. The amount of methanol in the output is less than one percent by weight. If desired, this may easily be removed from the biodiesel by an appropriate rectification or distillation process and recycled to the
methanol storage tank 13.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0610393A GB2438403B (en) | 2006-05-25 | 2006-05-25 | Manufacture of biodiesel |
GB0610393.1 | 2006-05-25 | ||
PCT/GB2007/001957 WO2007138285A1 (en) | 2006-05-25 | 2007-05-25 | Manufacture of biodiesel |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100175986A1 true US20100175986A1 (en) | 2010-07-15 |
Family
ID=36687721
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/227,707 Abandoned US20100175986A1 (en) | 2006-05-25 | 2007-05-25 | Manufacture of Biodiesel |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100175986A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2046717A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2438403B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007138285A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU2524727C2 (en) * | 2012-10-31 | 2014-08-10 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью научно-производственное предприятие "Солвэй" | Vortex layer apparatus |
US9944871B2 (en) | 2011-07-20 | 2018-04-17 | Genuine Bio-Fuel, Inc. | Method and system for production of biodiesel utilizing ultrasonic shear mixing to reduce the amount of energy needed by 45 to 50% and eliminate the use of water |
RU2669274C1 (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2018-10-09 | Петр Валентинович Рубеко | Vortex electromagnetic layer reactor (velr) |
CN109877029A (en) * | 2019-03-01 | 2019-06-14 | 沈位 | A kind of ultra-magnetic telescopic ultrasonic transduction device |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
MD4173C1 (en) * | 2011-02-08 | 2013-01-31 | Государственный Университет Молд0 | Process for the production of biodiesel fuel |
EP2839875A1 (en) * | 2013-08-19 | 2015-02-25 | Alnico Technologies Limited | Magnet enhancement of chemical processes and magnetic field implementation for liquid quality enhancement |
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US6440057B1 (en) * | 1997-11-24 | 2002-08-27 | Energea Umwelttechnologie Gmbh | Method for producing fatty acid methyl ester and equipment for realizing the same |
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DE10122011A1 (en) | 2001-05-07 | 2002-11-14 | Hochschule Zittau Goerlitz | Process for the production of esters from naturally occurring fats and oils |
ITBO20010429A1 (en) * | 2001-07-09 | 2003-01-09 | Ipctisa S R L | METHODS AND DEVICES TO HYDROLIZE THE ESTERS OF NATURAL FATTY ACIDS AND SUBSEQUENTLY ESTERIFY THEM WITH METHANOL IN NATURAL OILS BELOW |
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- 2006-05-25 GB GB0610393A patent/GB2438403B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-05-25 EP EP07732976A patent/EP2046717A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-05-25 US US12/227,707 patent/US20100175986A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-05-25 WO PCT/GB2007/001957 patent/WO2007138285A1/en active Application Filing
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US3869251A (en) * | 1971-11-22 | 1975-03-04 | Karl Lazarevich Tsantker | Apparatus for intermixing materials in a reaction vessel containing ferromagnetic particles |
US6440057B1 (en) * | 1997-11-24 | 2002-08-27 | Energea Umwelttechnologie Gmbh | Method for producing fatty acid methyl ester and equipment for realizing the same |
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US9944871B2 (en) | 2011-07-20 | 2018-04-17 | Genuine Bio-Fuel, Inc. | Method and system for production of biodiesel utilizing ultrasonic shear mixing to reduce the amount of energy needed by 45 to 50% and eliminate the use of water |
RU2524727C2 (en) * | 2012-10-31 | 2014-08-10 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью научно-производственное предприятие "Солвэй" | Vortex layer apparatus |
RU2669274C1 (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2018-10-09 | Петр Валентинович Рубеко | Vortex electromagnetic layer reactor (velr) |
CN109877029A (en) * | 2019-03-01 | 2019-06-14 | 沈位 | A kind of ultra-magnetic telescopic ultrasonic transduction device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2438403A (en) | 2007-11-28 |
GB0610393D0 (en) | 2006-07-05 |
EP2046717A1 (en) | 2009-04-15 |
WO2007138285A1 (en) | 2007-12-06 |
GB2438403B (en) | 2011-02-23 |
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