Springboard Biodiesel:

Small Scale Pre-Processing Unit

• Senior Project Design/2012-2013

Team Members

Jose CamberosMechatronic

Marcos EmperadorMechanical

James HoldenMechanical

Eugene OrlovskyMechanical

Advisor: Dr. Gregory Watkins

Springboard Biodiesel

• A biodiesel solutions company

• Produce innovative technologies to make fuel

• Create biodiesel from various sources

• Sustainable solution for fuel at lower costs

BioPro™

• 3 models (150,190,280)

• Chemically Alters Used Cooking Oil (UCO)

• Makes ASTM-Grade Biodiesel

Background

Figure 1: %WATER VS. FFA

� Must have low water content

� It must be filtered of solid Particulate matter

� Low Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content

Requirements:

Must Do:

• Reduce Water Content

• Processing Capacity 100gal./24hrs

• Coarse Filtration

• Meets Material Cost Limit

• Single Supply Voltage (Qualitative)

• Mobile (Qualitative)

• Operator Safe (Qualitative)

• Stable

Requirements:

Should Do:

• Small Footprint

• Compatible With Camlock Fitting(Qualitative)

• Pump Waste Oil From Floor Level(Qualitative)

• Simple Controls(Qualitative)

• 3 “C’s” (Cool, Clean, Clever) (Qualitative)

Would Be Nice:

• Automated (Qualitative)

• Process Saturated Fat (Qualitative)

• Water Content Sensor (Qualitative)

Design Solution

Fabrication

• Heating Tank

▫ SpringBoard Biodiesel (welding)

▫ NorCal Laser Cutting

• Reservoir Tank

▫ NorCal Laser Cutting

• Frame

▫ Group

• Heating Chamber

▫ NorCal Laser Cutting

▫ SpringBoard Biodiesel (welding)

▫ Platinum Powder Coating

Design Changes• Addition of Stop Cycle button

• -(2) Float Switches

• -(2) Water Heater Element

• Reservoir Tank

• Submersible Pump

• Additional fittings

▫ Closed loop

Testing/Results

• Test plan includes the following:

▫ Throughput� Required 100gal./24hrs

▫ Water Content� Water content value < .18%

▫ Filtration� Must not have particles >300 microns

▫ Small Footprint� Dimensions must be < (62.1” x 36.5”)

Requirements ResultsMust Do:

• Meets Material Cost Limit……………………………

• Single Supply Voltage (Qualitative) ………………

• Mobile (Qualitative)…………………………………….

• Operator Safe (Qualitative)…………………………..

• Stable…………………………………………………………

Requirements/Results cont.Should Do:

• Small Footprint………………………………………………..

• Compatible With Camlock Fitting(Qualitative)…..

• Pump Waste Oil From Floor Level(Qualitative)….

• Simple Controls(Qualitative)…………………………….

• 3 “C’s” (Cool, Clean, Clever) (Qualitative)…………..

Would Be Nice:

• Automated (Qualitative)……………………………………

• Process Saturated Fat (Qualitative)…………………….

• Water Content Sensor (Qualitative)……………………

Final Budget

Sales Total Project Cost

Engineering Labor

Fabrication labor

Raw Materials

Puchased Parts

Fabrication Labor$3950

Engineering Labor$44,590

Purchased Parts$1332.84Raw Materials

$94.99

Reflection•Problems:

▫Vacuum preventing flow

▫Submersible pump

▫Oil’s heat dispersion

▫Slow pump

•Solutions

▫Closed Loop

▫Get a higher rated Pump/solid tubing

▫Mixer

▫Better Pump

•Next Step?

Acknowledgements

Questions?