Substantiation of Parameters for the Inertial Mixer in A Biodiesel Production Reactor

Abstract

This paper reports results of the theoretical and experimental studies into the processes of transesterification of oils with methyl alcohol, which determined the material balance and established the molecular weight of the components involved in the process of transesterification as input and output products. The theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to calculate the indicators of the process of transesterification of fat-containing wastes depending on a change in the reaction duration and diameter of the inertial mixer of the reactor to accelerate the process of transesterification of oils with methyl alcohol. The process of transesterification is one of the basic methods for modifying the molecular composition of fat raw materials. With transesterification, the composition of fat fatty acids does not change, their statistical redistribution occurs in a mixture of triacylglycerols, which leads to a change in the physicochemical properties of fat mixtures as a result of changes in molecular composition. Transesterification of high-melting animal and vegetable fats with methyl alcohol improves the conversion of oils for the production of biodiesel from fat-containing waste. The results of the theoretical and experimental studies have helped determine the value of the flow rate of the reaction mixture, as well as the values of the geometric dimensions of the reactor, were determined (the diameter of the mixer, d=100÷500 mm; the length of the reactor is 1.5÷2.0 m). Processing of the reaction mixture made it possible to obtain a high degree of homogeneity in the concentration of components with large diameters of the inertial mixer ‒ 300...500 mm at average rotational speeds. The oil conversion has been improved, as well as productivity, by using equipment to produce biodiesel from fat-containing waste. Optimal pump performance is also ensured with minimal power consumption and reactor operatio