DEVICE FOR EVAPORATING RESIDUAL METHANOL IN BIO-DIESEL, BY MEANS OF A CAVITATION MEANS HAVING AN EXTENDED SURFACE AND UNI-DIRECTIONAL FLOW

摘要

The invention relates to a device for evaporating methanol in a process for producing bio-diesel by means of ultrasonic cavitation, comprising a cavitation device formed in stainless steel having a rectangular shape. The device is provided with an injection tube and an outlet tube (5) of dry bio-diesel. Grooves are provided in the upper part to permit the release in a gaseous form of the evaporated alcohol of a low molecular weight (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, etc.). Bio-diesel is admitted by means of the injection tube with alcohol of low molecular weight in concentrations of up to 5% by weight as a residue of the transesterification process with potassium methoxide. This mixture is admitted at a temperature of 35 to 45 °C in order to accelerate the speed of the evaporation of the residual alcohol by 50%.