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Biofuels
Biofuels and the production of biodiesel need a centrifugal pre-treatment of the oils and fats required for a cost-efficient production.
Biofuel Production Processes
US Centrifuge Systems works with customers in the alternative fuel industry for applications in algae processing, waste vegetable oil processing, biodiesel production and ethanol production.
The Environmental Protection Agency broadly defines biofuels as "solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass" (www.epa.gov). Biofuels are considered renewable forms of energy, and the biofuel production industry is booming.
Algae Biofuels and Microalgae Biofuels
Algae can be extracted from a variety of algae bioreactors, ponds, or waste processing systems. A centrifuge system provides an efficient way to separate and dewater algae prior to processing. Algae biofuels include:
- Biodiesel
- Vegetable oil
- Bioethanol
- Methane
Waste Vegetable Oil
Waste vegetable oil centrifuges are being utilized in biofuel production. Waste vegetable oil (WVO) can be modified for use as a substitute to diesel in a relatively simple process. The waste vegetable oil conversion process begins with filtering vegetable oil. Often, waste vegetable oil is from used cooking oil from restaurants. US Centrifuge Systems liquid-solid separation, solids dewatering and fluid clarification technologies provide efficient centrifuge liquid clarification of waste vegetable oil.
Types of Biofuels
Biodiesel Production
Biodiesel is as an alternative fuel produced from renewable resources through transesterification. Biodiesel is derived from fats or waste vegetable oils. Glycerin is created as a byproduct of transesterification and can be sold to soap manufacturers.
US Centrifuge Systems employs centrifugal technology for refining raw and waste vegetable oils for large and small volume biodiesel processors.
A generous price range is offered at US Centrifuge Systems with a wide capacity of equipment including horizontal continuous cleaning decanter centrifuges and automatic vertical semi-batch self-cleaning centrifuges, as well as smaller manual clean units ideal for filtering biodiesel. Machines can be used for centrifugal clarification and solids removal from waste vegetable oil, used cooking oil, raw vegetable oils, animal fats and restaurant greases prior to being chemically altered through the transesterification process.
Centrifuges at US Centrifuge Systems can separate solid particles as small as 2 microns. Maximizing centrifuge capacities and separation potential often requires processing the waste oil warm or heating the waste oil within a temperature range of 140 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve the best results.
Biodiesel and Magnesol
US Centrifuge Systems liquid-solid separation technology provides effective means of separating glycerin from biodiesel. A common practice for removing glycerin from biodiesel is by dry washing with magnesol. Magnesol absorbs the glycerin and unwanted substances from biodiesel and can then be removed by centrifuges.
Centrifuges are ideally suited for the separation and removal of magnesol and magnesium silicates. Separation equipment at US Centrifuge Systems can dramatically increase biodiesel production capacity and reduce process time as compared to outdated settling methods, which generally require several days. Centrifuge capacity for biodiesel oil extraction ranges from 5-gpm to 350-gpm.
Biodiesel separation equipment reduces production costs and increases productivity for a rapid return on investment for biodiesel processors looking to improve production capacities.
Biofuels: Ethanol and Centrifuges
Ethanol biofuel is ethanol made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes or sugar cane. US Centrifuge Systems offers the ethanol industry high capacity decanter centrifuge technology for whole stillage dewatering and corn soluble separations.
A full range of decanter centrifuges are available at US Centrifuge Systems for whole stillage dewatering applications. For corn dry milling plants, expected performance is 80 to 85% recovery of suspended solids with 32 to 35% dry cake, depending on feed temperature and whole stillage concentration. Normally for wheat, barley and other grains, the same performance can be expected with reduced machine capacity.
Beyond the Centrifuge (OPS)
US Centrifuge Systems expanded its research and development in 2000 with a successful waste-to-energy system. Sister company Organic Power Solutions was born, and now, high-value co-products are created and used in the production of in-house renewable energy, or sold to third-party energy companies. View waste-to-energy.
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