Method for continuous production of biodiesel fuel
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for the continuous production of biofuel by the transesterification of a triglyceride. The apparatus comprises a high shear homogenizer; a reaction chamber; a gravity driven separation device; an evacuated packed thin film stripper; a counter current pack water contactor; and, an evacuated packed spray drier, wherein each component operates with minimal heat and mass transfer resulting in a high capacity process with a reduced footprint.
1. A method for continuous production of biodiesel, comprising:
charging a homogenization device with a quantity of an oil as a nonaqueous phase, a quantity of a lower order alcohol as an aqueous phase, and a quantity of a catalyst;
exposing the aqueous phase and the nonaqueous phase to a shearing force within said homogenization device to form an emulsified mixture;
transferring said emulsified mixture to a heat exchanger device;
heating said emulsified mixture until a reaction temperature is reached;
transferring said heated emulsified mixture to a reaction chamber containing a hydrodynamic environment so that a chemical reaction occurs producing a first reaction product;
quenching said first reaction product;
transferring said first reaction product to a gravity driven separation device; and,
activating said separation device so as to form a heavier glycerin phase and a biodiesel phase.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring said biodiesel phase to a booster heat exchanger device;
heating said heat exchanger device and said biodiesel phase under pressure;
spraying said biodiesel phase into a stripper device;
applying a vacuum to said stripper device such that the majority of any residual methanol and other volatile components are vaporized;
condensing and liquefying said gaseous phase in a condenser to form a liquid phase;
contacting said liquid phase with an acid;
extracting water soluble components into a water phase and removing as water vapor; and,
removing remaining said biodiesel and drying said biodiesel.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;
transferring said glycerin phase to a booster heat exchanger;
heating said glycerin phase under pressure;
spraying said heated glycerin phase into a stripper device such that any residual methanol and other volatile components are vaporized; and,
transferring said glycerin to a storage container.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuring acid and citric acid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of sodium methylate salt, potassium methylate salt, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said separator is a packed coalescing tank.