Market Comparison: Why buy a centrifuge?
Batch Processing example:
WITHOUT a centrifuge:
If biodiesel is produced in 212 gallon (800 liter) batches, and each batch requires one hour to react and follows the recommended minimum of eight hours undisturbed settling in a heated tank for gravity to separate the 20% glycerine, you could produce
212 gallons of biodiesel per 9 hour work day. That is 4,240 gallons per month based on a 9 hour a day 5 day a week schedule. To increase output to allow the maximum number of batches per day, you would have to add
eight additional heated 212 gallon settling tanks (1,700
gallons of settling). This introduces complications from maintaining heat to the tanks, providing sufficient physical storage area for the tanks, and from decanting from the tanks the next day so new batches can be run.
WITH a centrifuge:
Using the same 212 gallon reactor, the vegetable oil is reacted
in one hour and then transferred to a holding tank. Another batch of biodiesel can then be started in the reactor while at the same time an
automatic PC-5 centrifuge is used to
separate the contents of the holding tank. The separation would
take 50 minutes at 5 gpm without need of monitoring. Now you can
produce 1,700 gallons (8 times more) of biodiesel in one 9 hour day. That is
33,920 gallons of biodiesel per month based on a 9 hour a day 5 day a week schedule. Because the centrifuge is automatic, it is very simple to start, separate product without adjustment, and shut down.
PROFIT comparison: Comparing these two examples, if the profit per gallon of biodiesel was $1, you would make $29,700 more each month using the centrifuge. The centrifuge will pay for itself
very quickly.
Continuous Production example:
Current technology centrifuges capable of comparable flow rates sell for much more than the PC-5, and should be run continuously 24 hours a day to minimize losses and problems. They require an agitated homogeneous mixture entering the centrifuge. Some of these systems employ 5 kW motors and complex routing systems.
The PC-5 centrifuge sells for much less for the same flow rate, and can be run continuously 24 hours a day 7 days a week (except for a ten-minute cleaning cycle every 250 gallons) or used intermittently for batches. Additionally, it runs quieter (65-70 db), can be shut down and restarted easily, and only uses a 1.5 kW motor. Another benefit is that if the production system were to supply a near pure concentration of biodiesel or glycerin, the PC-5 will sense this condition and automatically adjust and handle it, unlike current technology centrifuges. The mixture being separated does not need to be homogeneous or kept agitated in the holding tank, therefore the PC-5 can run unattended; the PC-5 can be monitored for warning or recording purposes, as it has status outputs that can be read by a PLC.
We also will be offering a higher flow rate centrifuge, the PC-10, for continuous process plant and larger batch facilities. Multiple PC-5 and PC-10 centrifuges can be placed in parallel to increase throughput, allowing for incremental facility growth.
Market Comparison: Why your methanol recovery?
DM series selling points:
- Designed to recover, not throw away the methanol
- Recovers 70-80% of excess methanol from the biodiesel AND
glycerol combined
- Recovers the methanol without adding heat during extraction,
does not promote reverse reaction
- Tested at 98.5% purity of recovered methanol allowing for
re-use
- Designed for years of use and continuous operation with
minimal maintenance
- Automatic PLC controlled operation
- Intrinsically safe sensors and C1D2 safe controls and motors
- Includes chiller for distillation process
- Very efficient and power saving design
EV series selling points (used with DM series):
- Designed to recover remaining excess methanol from biodiesel
after separation and washing
- Connected to DM Series to use existing vacuum and
distillation technology
- 20-50kW heating elements for rapid heating and completion of
drying process
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