PROJECT PRESENTANTION

MECHANICALLY DRIVEN BIODIESEL REACTOR

PRESENTERS:

LILIAN JAMUNGA MOTONGORI

PROJECT PARTNER:BRIAN ONYANGO AGANDA

PROJECT SUPERVISOR: ENG. MUHAMMED A. SWALEH

In the early 2000, almost a quarter of the middle-aged population in Nyanza province in Western Kenya succumbed to AIDS, leaving orphans in the care of their grandmothers- Older Women Caregivers (OWCs).

These women (who farm) often have severe health issues, caused primarily by malnutrition and are challenged to grow enough produce to feed their families, due to crop failures caused by droughts.

Many of them practise tailoring as a source of income and this is not always enough for their needs. Their sewing machines are treadle operated and being able to use the same sewing machine in driving the reactor would be effective and relevant to their skills.

This project is part of an ongoing program for the Matangwecommunity health centre based in Bondo, Kenya which involves the production of biodiesel through the batch process under the mission: Fuelling older women caregivers for better health

There are different processes involved during the biodiesel production and the biodiesel reactor is just a part of it.

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of the biodiesel reactor.

The reactor uses power from a treadle sewing machine to run a turbine stirrer in mixing yellow orliender oil with esters in transesterification to produce biodiesel.

The following methods were used in collecting data, computing, evaluating and analyzing the data andfinally fabricating the reactor:• Use of theoretical components• Design calculations using available formulas.• Engineering drawings done using engineering softwares such as Solid works.• Experiments done to get done.• Practical measurements of components.

BIODIESEL REACTOR DESIGN The biodiesel reactor consists of the following:

• Power transmission• Drive system• Vessel• Agitator• Outlet

Important considerations in the designing Determination of amount of energy required or power required for satisfactory performance of mixing

operation. Process has to be well defined e.g., a mixing system is to be designed to make up and hold in uniform

suspension a 15% slurry. Description of the components to be mixed. Their properties at initial stage, final stage, overall specific

gravity, initial and final viscosity, concentration etc. Details of the tank geometry. Outline of the mixing cycle: It depends upon the nature of the operation. Decide whether the process is

a batch, semi-continuous or continuous etc

The following factors were considered in the design

Chemical and physical properties of fluid.

Power transmission from the user to the sewing machine and through the

horizontal and vertical shafts and finally to the reactor through the impellors.

Material selection

Shaft design.

Bevel gear design.

Impellor/ agitator design

Vessel design

Bearing design

Coupling design

The people of Bondo community practice farming as a source of food for their families and they suffer a lot while tilling the land manually since it is more time consuming and tiresome.

The few who are able to own tractors find it expensive to operate the tractors due to the high cost of diesel fuel.

There has been unemployment, low income per capita, higher costs incurred on imported fuel used in farming locomotives as well as underdevelopment in the Bondo area.

The main objective of this project is to Design and manufacture a pedal driven biodiesel reactor for production of biodiesel from non-edible oils that is locally available from the yellow oliender that grows in the area

The village-level biodiesel (VLB) project at the Matangwe Community Health centre in Kenya sought to increase the production and consumption of high nutrient foods, to provide OWCs with a source of income and in the long term, have a positive impact on their access to and use of health services.

Use minimum power requirement.

Achieve efficient mixing in optimum time.

Have a Best possible economy.

The equipment to have minimum maintenance, durable and trouble free operation.

Achieve compactness

Parameter Specifications

Tank diameter (Inches) 10

Length of tank (Inches) 18

Liquid height (Inches) 12

Vessel volume (Litres) 11.25

Shaft length (Inches) 20.25

Shaft diameter (mm) 17

Shaft material Stainless steel

Type of gear Bevel

Gear ratio 1:1

Impellor diameter (Inches) 4 inches

Number of impellors 1

Number of blades 4

Tip speed(rpm) 175

Type of turbine Flat blade

Type of Mixing Laminar

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE DESIGNED BIODIESEL REACTOR

The following were the

processes that were used during

fabrication:

Cutting

Grinding

Welding

Fitting

Human power

Sewing machine

Horizontal shaft (coupled)

Bevel gears

Vertical shaft

Impeller

The following is a diagram showing the process of power transmission in the biodiesel reactor.

Formulae

The total mixing time will be 6.4minutes

BUDGET

The design and fabrication of the reactor was done, it was connected to the sewing

machine through a coupling and finally got to work. The movement of the treadle at the

sewing machine would be able to rotate the impeller in the reactor. Thereby allowing the

oil seeds from yellow oleander to be mixed well with other components to form the

biodiesel.

It is able to do the mixing within 6.4 minutes and a capacity of 11.25 litres when

manually driven at a budget cost of $56

It is recommended that maximum volume of 11.25 litres be NOT exceeded since

vortexing wll occur and the mixing will not be properly done.

This project is recommended to people in areas of no electricity and need an extra

source of income by sale of biodiesel produced

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