How to turn plastic waste into diesel fuel cheaply

[Beyond Biodiesel]

If you are going to crack hydrocarbons then you need to keep the first reflux at the temperature of the cracking unit; otherwise you will get a plug, as you showed above. DO not try to do too much at each stage. Instead think lots of stages not few stages in refluxing and condensing.

[waterboost]

Weird White Stuff

The picture below shows the top of the reflux (which was at 140degrees C) when we turned it off

[Beyond Biodiesel]

PS:
Your operators must have full-face respirators with filters that can filter out hydrogencynide, hydrogenflouride, hydrogenchloride gasses and hydrogensulfide gasses.

You must have two operators at all times, and one must be a safe distance away and next to a phone so that emergency personal can be called if the first operator collapses due to emissions of the above gases.

Your second operator must also have a way to shut off the heat of your pyrolysis unit at hand and a safe distance from the pyrolysis unit.

[Beyond Biodiesel]

did a run the other day with mixed ground plastic... 5 kg went in...

about 200ml of liquid fuel and 1 litre of water came out... lots of gas???

when the liquid stopped dripping we turned it off...

when it cooled we opened the reactor and noticed white shiny crystals???

opened the reflux and it was packed solid with white crystals???

opened the first condenser and yes... more white crystals...

they burn v.slowly and are v.energy dense?

What craziness have we created this time???

Sorry, I have not seen, nor heard of any white, shiny, energy dense, crystals. I cannot imagine what it is, other than salt, or aluminum, but salt and aluminum are not energy dense.

we did a test with the plastic (floating it) and it was full of unidentifiables (PET, PVC, ABS, etc....) so from now on we will be floating all our plastic...

If you are going to process halogenated hydrocarbons, such as PVC and ABS, then you will want to make sure that you have a very effective bubbler system, your bubbler is packed with rusty steel wool, your vent is far away from any person or animal, and your final gas is incinerated.

[waterboost]

Serious Disaster Avoided

did a run the other day with mixed ground plastic... 5 kg went in...

about 200ml of liquid fuel and 1 litre of water came out... lots of gas???

when the liquid stopped dripping we turned it off...

when it cooled we opened the reactor and noticed white shiny crystals???

opened the reflux and it was packed solid with white crystals???

opened the first condenser and yes... more white crystals...

they burn v.slowly and are v.energy dense?

What craziness have we created this time???

we did a test with the plastic (floating it) and it was full of unidentifiables (PET, PVC, ABS, etc....) so from now on we will be floating all our plastic...

[jonathan]

safety

if l understand l want valve that be opened whit retort pressure can l make two bubblers ? when l was working on hho and there is little gas left and suck back the last bubbler only explode

[Allcanadian]

@mjohnson

The easiest thing to do in my opinion is obtain some CO2 or nitrogen and use it as a purge gas.

I believe the easiest and cheapest purge gas is steam which would also preheat the system and would be driven off before the combustible gasses. As well if anyone is worried about a blowback then a blast door could be used. This is basically like a safety valve and a big check valve with a heavier spring set above the working pressure can be used as well.

AC

[Beyond Biodiesel]

Good suggestions mjohnson1. I hope imakebiodiesel is OK, because normally we would be hearing from him. Pyrolysis is dangerous stuff, so when a regular drops off I often wonder if they are OK.

Any way, mjohnson1, good to know that you have a bubbler. Presumably you are going to be using water to cool one or more condensers. I rout the condenser water through my bubbler to make sure it is full of water at all times, and the water is kept fresh, because it can acidify rapidly if there is any chlorinated hydrocarbons in your retort.

[mjohnson1]

ok thanks my friend it is welded very well l have to make last condensor and bubbler and try it with water because right know l have family proplems thanks for everyone who help me.. how much water l want to put in retort?

When you finish your last condenser and bubbler fill your retort with only water and see if there are any leaks. Make sure your bubbler is filled with water when you do this since the bubbler will exert a pressure requirement on the retort.

Even if your welds look good there may be tiny holes that are hard to see.

When you run your retort with plastic add 1/4th a liter as water expands when it turns to steam. This will purge your system like Beyond Biodiesel said.

[jonathan]

retort,reflux,condensor

ok thanks my friend it is welded very well l have to make last condensor and bubbler and try it with water because right know l have family proplems thanks for everyone who help me.. how much water l want to put in retort?

[Beyond Biodiesel]

Most compressors pumps used in air compressors cannot be used as vacuum pumps. Since you cannot get CO2, and a diaphragm vacuum/compressor pump is not available to you, then put water into your retort with whatever you plan to crack before you turn it on. The water will displace O2, and as long as your pyrolysis unit is leak-free, then it should operate safely.

[jonathan]

retort,reflux,condensor

l cant buy that type of gas l try to buy he tell me that l want license to buy co2 or nitrogen l try to find compresure so wwhat l want to do? first start compresor start retort and leave compresor on? can l use compresor from air compresor?

[mjohnson1]

thanks for help nice pump in malta its dificult to find pumps like that l buy my temp controller and sensor from ebay

The easiest thing to do in my opinion is obtain some CO2 or nitrogen and use it as a purge gas.

I welded a small diameter pipe coming off the bottom of my retort and then attached a hose barb to that using a coupler.

Make sure your small diameter pipe is sufficiently long if you're using a rubber/silicone hose for your gas. I had to extend mine because the hose began melting.

[jonathan]

retort,reflux,condensor

thanks for help nice pump in malta its dificult to find pumps like that l buy my temp controller and sensor from ebay

[Beyond Biodiesel]

The compressor is a small lab one that can be used for sucking or blowing... it has barbed fitting on the in and out

This is a common vacuum/compressor pump.

If you are going to pull a vacuum on your retort, you should make sure it can handle a pressure differential of 15PSI before you heat it up with a load in it.