Meet the Frankentank, a home-based biodiesel brewery designed to be safe
Dr. Luc Duchesne has developed a self-contained, home-based biodiesel production unit. This consumer-friendly invention looks like a moonshiner's still but mixes and refines biodiesel without constant supervision. The idea is to let the Frankentank mix the animal fat or vegetable oil with the alcohol and catalyst until the biodiesel is brewed. About 58 gallons of feedstock will produce 52 gallons of biodiesel. A batch of biodiesel takes between 8 and 18 hours to produce. The Frankentank prototype is being submitted for certification by the Canadian Standards Association. If approved it could be on the market early next year. Duchesne apparently is adamant that his machine meets all fire and electrical code standards for home storage. He also expects the fuel to meet ASTM standards. Duchesne says a small trucking company could save $50,000 and $70,000 a year using just one machine.[Source: Ian Ross / Northern Ontario Business]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DB 10:39PM (12/19/2006)
While small trucking companies may be good candidates, so would a small group of friends living in the same neighborhood. I think it would be cool if some every day consumers used this sort of thing. Share its use with 3-4 buddies, get waste oil from restaurants and save $$$.
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EGS 8:04AM (12/20/2006)
this would be great for home heating systems, remote homesteads and farms as well.
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