MAKE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL
Produce your own biodiesel - no need for alterations to your engine.
Day One
1600 Arrival. Please ask at reception or in the restaurant for directions to your room.
1800 Supper in restaurant.
1900 Introduction to CAT and the course. Introductory discussion based on our experiences of biodiesel so far.
Day Two
0830 Breakfast in restaurant.
0900 Theory discussion. Potential scenarios for manufacture and use of biodiesel. What are the environmental benefits of biofuels? Biodiesel vs. the use of pure oil and other ways to use oil. What is biodiesel? The UK fuel specification EN 14214.
1100 Coffee in restaurant.
1130 Theory continued. Chemistry - how to make biodiesel, including basic chemistry, transesterification, pH and measuring pH, temperature and thermometers, qualitative vs. quantitative. Different types of reaction - single and dual stage reactions. Process design considerations. How a diesel engine works (or doesn't) and important fuel characteristics, including the effects of temperature, long term storage and mixing fuels.
1300 Lunch in restaurant.
1400 Practical sessions on making biodiesel in 1 litre batches. Hopefully both single and dual stage reactions will take place using new oil, used 'light oil' (Chinese restaurant oil) and used heavy oil (burger bar oil).
1600 Tea in restaurant.
1630 Session on biodiesel production process and plant design.
1800 Supper in restaurant.
Day Three
0830 Breakfast in restaurant.
0930 Practical sessions. Looking at yesterday's work. What we have made. Discussions about the results. A discussion on the costs of fuel production and how to market biodiesel.
1100 Coffee in restaurant.
1130 Statutory regulations in the UK. Environment Agency law, applications for permits, charging schemes. Customs and Excise law, how to register and pay tax on road fuels. Planning law. Health and Safety issues. The safe use and handling of flammable liquids.
1300 Lunch in restaurant then depart.
COURSE TUTORS
Phil Hunt is a Renewable Energy Consultant based in Milton Keynes; he developed and ran this biodiesel course with colleagues whilst working at Low Impact Living Initiative (LILI) based at Redfield Community in Buckinghamshire.
With John Halle and Dan Carter from Golden Fuels. Golden Fuels is a workers' co-op set up to make and promote the use of ethically and environmentally sound fuels and is the UK's leader in biodiesel training.
