Biodiesel Evaporators

We have successfully designed and constructed the evaporator systems to improve the vital evaporation and distillation stages for our clients' Biodiesel facilities.  We have successfully provided optimization of existing systems as well as providing new separation systems for biodiesel companies on continents around the World.  We also trouble shoot existing biodiesel installations to improve their performance.

TYPICAL BIODIESEL EVAPORATIVE SEPARATION PROCESS STEPS

Biodiesel (methyl ester) is manufactured through the trans-esterification of a variety of vegetable oils either virgin or used/reclaimed by using methanol and KOH/ NaOH as catalysts. Methanol is present in excess.  The reaction and process are either batch or continuous but traditionally batch.

There are several separations which are necessary in the Biodiesel process:

  1. Biodiesel /methanol separation
  2. Glycerin /methanol separation
  3. Biodiesel /water separation
  4. methanol / water separation

Optional:  99.5%  wt Glycerin can be achieved by using a vacuum distillation column.

TYPICAL VOBIS BIODIESEL SEPARATION PROCESS STAGE DESCRIPTIONS

Following the reaction stage our systems are implemented to provide the following separations.

1.  Evaporator for biodiesel /methanol separation

Feed: 93% biodiesel and 7% w/w methanol

Bottoms stream will contain less than 5,000 ppm (0.5%) methanol

Operation: Continuous, 24/7

Operating pressure: Atmospheric

 

2.  Evaporator for glycerin /methanol separation

Feed: 58% glycerin and 42 % w/w methanol

Bottoms stream will contain less than 5,000 ppm (0.5%) methanol

Operation: Continuous, 24/7

Operating pressure: Atmospheric.

 

3.  Evaporator for biodiesel /water separation

After the washes they have 1% to 3% water which must be evaporated.

Feed:  98% biodiesel and 2 % w/w water

Bottoms stream will contain less than 5,000 ppm (0.5%) water

Operation: Continuous, 24/7

Operating pressure: Atmospheric.

  

4.  Methanol / water separation.

Feed: Feed to column is 95% methanol and 5% water (could be 98% vs. 2%)

Methanol output stream 99.9% methanol

Bottoms stream will contain 5% water

Operation: Continuous, 24/7

Operating pressure: Atmospheric.

 

Optional:  99.5% wt Glycerin can be achieved by using our vacuum distillation column design.

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Vobis, LLC provides fabrication, biodiesel evaporation and granulation components, and modular biodiesel evaporation, granulation and pelleting systems.  We support our technologies with experienced engineering and testing services. Our fabrication services, biodiesel evaporators, crystallizers, distillation systems, multiple effect evaporators, falling film evaporators, thin film, wiped film and short path evaporators, extruders, pellet mills, spheronizers, and spray dryers have proven themselves in multiple client applications.  Our formulation development and contract production services are available for both Evaporation as well as Granulation.
ASME Fabrication, Biodiesel Evaporators, Thin- Film Evaporators, Biodiesel / Ethanol Plant Fabrication, Distillation Systems, Short- Path Evaporators, Falling FIlm Evaporators, Multiple Effect Evaporators, Crystallizers, Solvent Recovery Systems, Mixers, Extruders, Spheronizers, Fluid Bed Systems, Fluid Bed Dryers
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