BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

AGR Energy has recently released a smaller version of the BioPro's. It's called the BioPro 150.

It's smaller in size and makes 40 gallon batches. Price is significantly lower too. MSRP is at $5995 + Shipping.

The major differences between it and the BioPro 190 are
1) Smaller Batch Size (40 gallons instead of 50 gallons)
2) Removal of the automated water out system (you drain it manually after each wash)
3) It utilizes a single tank for both methanol & methoxide 
4) The fuel filler pump is available as an option but doesn't ship with it in stock form.
5) Instead of sight-glasses, it utilizes tank gauges, which work great!

The machine itself still does an automated processing & automated washing & drying but after each wash you manually drain the water out the bottom port.

In every other way, it's still a robust BioPro. Still made from high quality Stainless Steel & high quality materials, pumps, and other items. It's a really robust machine.

Warranty is also the same as the others as well.
1 year parts & labor.

If you're interested in one, feel free to contact a dealer near you.
You can see the list of dealers at: http://www.bioprodealers.com

For more information about it including pictures, an ROI Analysis & more visit this link:
http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/biopro150.php

Here's what an average ROI on it would run:

Enjoy!
Graydon

Hey Graydon - Thanks for the updates. These machines certainly make it easier to fit a processor in your garage. I am still hopeful the price comes down, or I find someone trading up and get one half or better off when I'm ready to buy.

How is the snowpack in the Wasatch about now?

Cheers

Biogrove,

I've heard others make similar comments. A primary factor making that difficult is, the Biopros hold there value very well. Even their original models sold a few years ago have sold recently on Ebay for >75% of their original value. That's after years of use (and lacking the updates of new machines). I think our 190 was an excellent investment, particularly give our expanding use of the machine.

Hey Erik

 Maybe I'll have to make a road trip up your way when it's warmer. I'd love to see one in action and see it up close if time and schedules permit.

 Cheers

You're more than welcome to come check out our biodiesel. If you're a renewable energy enthusiast, you should come up for the MREA Fair in June; this is a great event and easily worth the drive for. I'll be there with our 190.

 Else, in general, any time is fine to come check out the machine.

AGR occasionally will put them on sale too and I know one is coming soon....

I'll post the details here...if you have a poly processor tank, it'll be a sweet deal....

-Graydon 

AGR Energy is doing a great promotion on these right now.
Quite a chunk-o-change off on them too.

Details are here:
http://www.agrenergy.com/agr/recycle/

The promotion is good through April 1, 2008.

-Graydon

This looks like a nifty machine.  I'm again toying with the idea of making biodiesel since fuel is over $3.50/gallon.   Building and using an Appleseed kinda intimidates me. I haven't done any chemistry since college and mechanical things are not my strong point, though my boyfriend is pretty good at building and fabricating.  For my own usage it would probably take at least 2 years, probably 3 before the BioPro 150 would pay for itself, even if we did drive the truck and use the tractor more than we do now. If I could find someone (or two) locally to split the cost, I'd be all over it!

Or 3 or 4 or 5....

That's exactly what one of our dealers did.

Lyle Rudensey of BioLyle ( http://www.biolyle.com ) did that exact thing.

They bought a machine & then immediately started a coop to help cover the costs on the thing.

Check out his site as he has it highlighted on there quite a bit.

-Graydon

Hi Graydon,   I wanted to get your opinion on how much of a pain (and I know this is a subjective question) it is to manually drain the water after each wash cycle.

 Myself and three others are leaning toward the BioPro 150, but if the "automation" of removing waste water and automatically continuing to the next wash cycle is a big time saver, we might lean towards the 190 and look at bringing in a couple of extra investors.

 Many thanks in advance.   Your videos have been the real selling tool for the BioPro products, we sure appreciate the attention to detail!

 Regards,

Gary

Both machines are great. It's simply boils down to how valuable your time is to you and how you're set up. The automated water removal system of the BioPro 190 is very worthwhile for us. We start the wash cycle and return 24-hours later to clean, dry fuel. The 150 requires more user time, spaced out. You need to return to the machine every 3-4 hours, 3 times, to drain off wash water. If you have easy access to your machine while it's washing, this time will be reduced. On our farm, were rarely near the processor, except to fill or empty it. 

Many thanks for the feedback.    Except for the 1-2 people who basically live where the processor will be located, the remainder of the group is 20-30 minutes away.    Not having been in a processing group before, I'm not sure how others run the logistics of it, but we had planned to have each person responsible for processing their own batches (and gathering their own WVO).    So I'd guess that it would be somewhat of a major pain to have to come back in 24 hours and then basically have to be around the machine all day again to drain off the water every 3-4 hours.

I've run the numbers on both the 150 and the 190, and I think we'll just factor in a couple more members and go with the 190.    That way a member could start up a batch, say....one evening, and then just come back a day later to pull the glycerin, and the another day later to pump out their BioD. 

 Having said that, I'd be interested to hear from others who are "co-oping" to see how they handle their groups. 

 Now to find a dealer for us here in Houston.

Thanks!