| 摘要 |
In an economical and efficient process and apparatus for producing biofuel from waste oil, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, waste oil is esterified with alcohols to produce alcohol esters and the by-products of the transesterification reaction are recovered. Static pressure may be used as well as continuous flow-through reaction vessels and separation tanks without the need for additional pumps. There may also be specialized reaction tanks that have vertical rotating feed tubes having separators and inlet and outlet openings. The method and device achieves efficient production of biofuel while employing reaction and mixing tanks having a limited size, which in turn permits a smaller plant layout or "footprint". For example, the largest tank may be in a size of about 36/100,000 times the desired plant output in gallons per year. The benefits of the process and apparatus include minimal space for a plant; minimal on-site feedstock needed therefore minimal on-site storage is needed; minimal capital costs to build a plant e.g., reduction by about fifty to sixty five percent (50 to 65%); reduction in construction time from typically over one year to under three months in many plants; minimal energy usage, e.g., reduction by about sixty percent (60%); minimal labor costs due to the automatic continuous flow; minimal pumps needed thereby reducing pump operation and maintenance costs; environmentally friendlier and safer plant design; and due to smaller plant footprint, lower capital cost and minimal construction time enables site selection much nearer to the raw material supplies, thereby minimizing or even eliminating transportation costs for yellow grease or vegetable oil.
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