Design, fabrication of multi-functional reactor system and its application for biodiesel production

Abstract

A new multi-functional reactor system and its application for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil were designed, developed, and studied in this research. Recent literature has shown that a dedicated reactor is used for multiple operations such as bio-diesel processing, fermentation, and high-temperature reaction ranges of 0-250°C. Through the agitator geometry, a multiple functional reactor system provides precise control of mixing that facilitates operation, distributing high turbulence flow residence time, a larger mass, and greater heat transfer. Parameters like dimensions of reactor and Reactants’ physical properties must be taken into account in accordance with the philosophy of reactor design prior to the recently initiated design work. The control logic for running a reactor has also been developed. The multi-functional reactor system designs require the use of two applications for mechanical thickness measurement, such as PVElite, and Solidworks for 3D modeling. Following this, the design specifications for the manufacture of the laboratory scale multi-functional reactor system shall be added. Based on the design details, i.e. 2 kg pressure and 250°C temperature with a working volume of 3.5 liters, a reactor was built and constructed and very promising results were shown when experiments were carried out. The purpose of the multiple functional reactor system is to develop a technological solution for the design of a reactor on a commercial scale. The experiments were carried out by using Jatropha oil as feedstock for oil/alcohol molar ratio (1:5), reaction time (90 minutes), reaction temperature (65°C) with two heterogeneous catalysts Calcium oxide (CaO) and Magnesium oxide (MgO) at three various percentage ranges (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 wt.%). The result shows that biodiesel production in a multi-functional reactor system is relatively simple and more efficient.