Oh good - more plastic tanks and cheap parts

We can build you a custom unit with really expensive proprietary parts if you would like and if you want the $3000 stainless tank option, then we can certainly accomodate you.  Most people opt to have something that works reliably with parts that they can replace if they break them.

Turbo,

I see you edited your prior post. You originally asked me to point out the cheap parts, but then removed the question. I'm not sure you're seeing the same thing I am, so I thought I'd point out the "cheap parts" I see. I'm sure this list isn't exhaustive as details are difficult to make out with the poor picture quality, but I hope helps you make improvements (zoom in if necessary).

 

Part A: These valves are well-known to fail amongst the Biodiesel community. I've personally had the handles on this valve type snap off, and the application was merely Biodiesel storage.

Part B (twice) + C: In your rewrite of the prior post, you suggest you use cheap parts so they are easy to replace. I give you credit for at least admitting that as an outcome - one experience suggests to me, is likely. Installing a brittle PVC part in a critical location is not good design.

Part E: The bend in your tubing is a problem. Either 1) the tube will end up kinking here (similar to the kink shown at D), the tube will collapse, and fluid flow will stop, or 2) the reaction mix isn't hot. It should be obvious why either of these issues are a problem. The Appleseed designers made simple modifications to keep the runs of hose as straight as possible for this very reason.

Part F: I'm not a fan of PVC hose barbs. There are better parts available - ones that don't get "squishy" when you run hot fluid through them.

Part ?: This looks like the silhouette of a pump. What brand/model are you using? Is there a reason that not being shown clearly in the picture? (Another $30 Clearwater pump?)

There should be a ventilation condenser on the top of your unit. These tank lids don't always seal perfectly, and fumes are not desirable in this application. Allowing the tank to "breath" through a simple condenser is a nice, inexpensive solution.

 

This is just another iteration of a bad product. I have great concerns that a user will be poisoned or injured when the cheap parts fail. I hope you fix the problems before trying to sell these units. Why didn't you simply spend $5 more per part to get carbon steel? This indicates disregard for your customers or a lack of proper respect for the materials being processed.

Further, keep in mind, this processor corrects the major issues your machine has and costs only $1,400. It's also worth noting that this seller has taken comments from the community and has made improvements to his design.

Note: If you make the suggested modifications to your unit - which are not expensive - I'll happily withdrawn my criticism of the "cheap parts". Post more pictures of your unit here and ask how to make the unit better. There are many people here that would lend their expertise and/or experience. We're all interested in seeing good, reliable reactors made and sold ... with good, honest, receptive people selling them.
 

What do you use for heat?

Are the tanks LDPE, MDPE, or HDPE? 

-Graydon 

I can see the confusion because this is a picture of the system "Tankenstein" we personally use and some of the parts are not in the picture.  Notice that the tank is an 85 gallon tank which is not in our production model, the drum and heater are not present.  All bends are less than 15 degrees, the unit in the picture has one pvc valve for the glycerin drain only and the production models have all brass although I was not aware of anyone else using brass 3-way valves, I really do like the condenser idea better than the recovery system we use, and the pump is a SELF-PRIMING PGA diesel transfer pump.  The next unit we build I will update the picture with the full system.  The parts that would tend to need to be replaced during normal use are the only ones we felt needed to found at a hardware store.  Good parts were a staple even down the the plastic, chemical resistant skid we mounted it to.  I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything and suggestions (not insults) are welcomed.  I was offended by your "cheap" comment because we really tried to improve the design with good parts and supply everything except the oil to get started.  I will post better and more pictures of the next production unit as I can.

Scooter

Graydon,

The tanks are medium density poly and we use the standard steel drum and drum heater.  We tried submersible heaters and found that even though we filter the oil going in, we still had gunk (fat) and small debris collect on the heater which ruined it. 

Turbo Scooter:

This is a picture of the system "Tankenstein" we personally use and some of the parts are not in the picture.  You will notice that the tank is an 85 gallon tank which is not in our production model, the drum and heater are not present, all bends are less than 15 degrees, this unit has one pvc valve for the glycerin drain only and the production models have all brass although I was not aware of anyone else using brass 3-way valves, I really do like the condenser idea better than our recovery system, and the pump is a SELF-PRIMING PGA diesel transfer pump.  The next unit we build I will update the picture with the full system.  The parts that would tend to need to be replaced during normal use are the only ones we felt needed to found at a hardware store.  Good parts were a staple even down the the plastic, chemical resistant skid we mounted it to.  I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything and suggestions (not insults) are welcomed.  I was offended by your "cheap" comment, but we really tried to make a good design, with good parts, and supply everything except the oil to get started.  I will post better and more pictures of the next production unit as I can.

It's good to see you're receptive to input. I'll post some pics of parts that I use - ones that would be more reliable replacements - as soon as I can get pics. IMO, designing a processor for "normal use" is ethical remiss. As a system designer, you're obliged to over-engineer your product to accomodate for user error, accidents, etc. I hope you are trying to achieve this type of standard.