Ethanol production/steam powered battery charging and misc projects finally under way

[David Buschur]

Sugar beats are good for ethanol production but compared to corn extremely hard to harvest, clean and process. Also, you lose the feed stock corn gives you AFTER it's used for ethanol.

[Spoolin0nYou]

A diesel tractor can be converted to run used vegetable oil that you can get from local restaurants for cheap or free.

[David Buschur]

Another update.

This afternoon I decided I had some time so I'd give double distilling a shot. I took my already distilled ethanol and put it back in my boiler. That was around 4pm. It is now 11 pm and I am still distilling that batch. I didn't consider how time consuming this was going to be. The still is running good for the first few hours it was running around 4 gallons per hour of 90%. The first and second 5 gallons measured 90%. The third was 88.7% and the fourth was 87%. The 5th, 5 gallon run is coming out now. I'd guess the average of what I put in the boiler was only around 75%, so we pulled an additional 15% off the water off by distilling it again.

This is honestly too time consuming though. I will double distill the last of this barrel at some point. In the future I think I am going to just run it in the car as it comes off the column, so maybe in the high 70% range.

[SS Laser]

So if I understand this Dave. When you say 70% is the rest water? If it is water, are you worried about that much water being in the car if you get what I am asking. I know there seems to be a good bit of water in pump E85. I know you are saying the 2nd distill is time consuming. But what if you just did a few gallons a 2nd time then blend it with your high 70%? What would that blend end up I wonder?
Also back in the day of moonshine running they would put some in the car as I have heard it. Wonder what the proof was of that moonshine. Because when you say 70% what proof would that be?

[Spoolin0nYou]

70% alcohol is 140 proof. Moonshine is usually around 190 proof, or 95% alcohol.

[SS Laser]

70% alcohol is 140 proof. Moonshine is usually around 190 proof, or 95% alcohol.

Thanks Mike, for the alcohol/moonshine education. I had no idea about that.

[Spoolin0nYou]

Thanks Mike, for the alcohol/moonshine education. I had no idea about that.

I run a liquor store, so it's knowledge that I use on a daily basis. And I like to drink. A lot.

[David Buschur]

I ran some more ethanol today, cleaned up the barn etc., super nice day here for December, about 50 degrees.

I have been considering building a new boiler and still. Today I finally took the time to take some measurement and draw up what I want to do. This leaves me with current operation and the need to sell it.

If anyone is interested I am going to sell this complete boiler and still. I am going to sell it all cheap so I can start on the new operation.

Two ways to buy it, the boiler and the still complete and ready to run minus the cooling tank/radiator/12v pump, $2,000.

If you want the complete operation like it is on Youtube, with the aluminum cooling tank, radiator, fan, 12v pump etc., $2500.

It is possible for me to ship this via truck freight but I'd rather sell it to someone who can come and get it.

I can take payment through the shop if anyone is interested with paying with a credit card.

[SS Laser]

Damn Dave! Another project I can't wait to see.

[David Buschur]

Thanks Wayne, this new set up is going to be awesome. I worked on the drawing again last night and spoke with Mile High Distilling about the new column I'm going to have them build. It should run about twice as fast as what I have now.

[SS Laser]

Sounds cool! Please post pictures here when you get new parts.

[Spoolin0nYou]

Can it produce moonshine?

[David Buschur]

Mike, ethanol and moonshine are the same, exactly the same.

[David Buschur]

I started a new Facebook page for my moonshine/ethanol passion. Stop by and like it:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moons...32776606836246

I'm currently building a work of art!

[David Buschur]

I've been working on making a new boiler/burner unit to up the efficiency of my ethanol production. The new unit is made, entirely of 304 grade stainless steel. Not a cheap project but it sure is a work of art!

The top is formed to help with the steam flow into the column. The top also has two 6" V-band holes to allow for filling and easy clean up inside. The very top port is 4" and is going to be the mount for the new 4" higher efficiency column. The burner is still "wood" fired, anything that burns can be put inside. It is much larger than my old unit, the burner box in this one is 28"x28" and 14" high. That's a lot of room for a lot of burning material. The heat now goes around the bottom and four sides of the boiler which will heat it faster and keep it hot longer with less wood.

Here are some pictures of the new unit:

[David Buschur]

I've run the new set up a few times now. Ran it again last night and had the highest production to date, nearly 8 gallons. Here's a little video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUMyd...eature=channel

[SS Laser]

Damn it looks good! You did not say you redid the cooling tank set up! That looks good also. Sounds like you got it working good. Glad to see you are getting it figured out. Hope to get to see it in person some time.

[David Buschur]

That's the same tank I had before Wayne, I just welded the top on and then stood it on end making it vertical. Takes up less floor space. Yesterday I worked all day re-installing my old tower (the one you saw run) back on the wall again. I think it's a bit more efficient than this set up and want to test and see if I'm right or not.

[ny-quiL]

still is bad ass, wish I could run a setup like that here in the city
For now I'm making 'fuel' a gallon at a time, this thread inspired me

[David Buschur]

I see no reason you can't make it like this in town. If you use a gas burner instead of wood there is no smoke or anything, nobody would ever know.