Most boilers/heaters, wood, coal, oil or gas fired can be easily converted to burn glycerin, provided that:
The fire box is refractory (highest temperature fire brick - ceramic blanket material does not have high enough temperature rating) lined and it is horizontal cylinder shape 9-10" ID (inside diameter), 12" long with another 8" of space beyond it, or the fire box is at least 20" deep (long), 13" high and 13" wide with a door or burner mounting plate opening large enough to allow installation of a prefabricated combustion chamber 12" OD (outside diameter) and 12" long. A combustion chamber is available, POR (Price On Request) A combustion chamber universal cradle (to support the combustion chamber lower portion from outside) is optional. POR Installing a ready made combustion chamber might be easier than building the correct size and shape inside the fire box. A box type (rectangular) 10” wide, 10” high and 12” long combustion chamber can be used too, but a horizontal cylinder type is preferred. The refractory mass should be as small as possible.
The boiler/heater can be cleaned easily, since glycerin has a high ash content and periodic cleaning will be necessary. The smaller the passages through the heat exchanger, the sooner will be the functioning affected.
Depends on the design of the unit and what level of efficiency has to be maintained in any particular application.
All filters/strainers in the system are washable. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the liquid contamination with solids or gelling. The liquids should be filtered to a minimum of 149 Mi (Micron)-100 mesh strainer screen. Finer filtering is beneficial but filtering to less than 40 Mi might not be practical. The three sintered metal liquid strainers on the burner are 90 Mi and the auxiliary air filter is 25 Mi. The nozzle screen is 100 mesh.
See the website: Glycerin Facts - Glycerin as an alternative heating fuel. The most often asked question is about Acrolein which is formed when glycerin is improperly burned at low temperature. The combustion temperature in the MK system is over 3200 Degrees F - several times higher than the dangerous level. The ashes are sodium pyrophosphate white, tan or light green color, hydroscopic, water soluble, lightly alcaloid and turn black when wet. A white, steam like "smoke" is always present when burning glycerin.
Burning the glycerin for heat generation happens to be the most economical way of disposal, without a major investment necessary. The MK system is the only one capable to burn crude glycerin AS IS!
A glycerin generator - biodiesel manufacturer can save the cost of disposal and save as well on other fuels needed for biodiesel production. USE IT AS IS WHERE IS. In some areas the cost for a non generator might be a few cents/gallon. In other areas it is possible to get it FREE or even get paid for taking it. On per gallon basis, converted to heat it should be worth at least 50% of the #2 heating oil going price which is much more than what it would bring when sold for other uses.
The burner output can be varied from about 100.000 BTU to 350.000 BTU by simply changing the pump pressure and the burner air intake volume. The adjustment range will depend on glycerin viscosity, methyl and water content. The glycerin burner is best used in applications requiring- long burns, short OFF periods.
Not at present. When higher output is needed a multiple boiler installation has to be used which has an advantage of being able to modulate output better than would be possible with a single high output burner.
How much glycerin do you generate? How much heat do you need?
Glycerin fired boilers or burners can be installed in the area which will use the byproduct generating additional revenue for the producer and savings for the customer,
The technical specifications chart on our website contains all the necessary facts needed to evaluate your particular application .
If you do not generate enough glycerin or if you do not need enough heat to justify purchase of glycerin fired equipment , it might be feasible to pool glycerin from several producers , install a burner or burner/boiler in a facility needing lots of heat - such as a commercial laundry, for example which would benefit by using less expensive fuel and you could sell them your byproduct making a good profit instead of having a disposal problem. See above : How much can I save heating with glycerin?
Compressed air is used by the burner only to prevent nozzle drip and the consumption depends on the pressure which is in most installations about 5 psi or even lower (about 0.2 //CFM).
The warranty is 1 year on parts and labor. There is no warranty on the nozzle because mishandling is the only reason for it's failure. The combustion chamber is considered a consumable item and it's life expectancy depends on HANDLING and type of installation.
The reliability of components is the same as in any fuel oil fired burner made by a major burner manufacturer , since all components are standard off the shelve parts, tried and proven.
A major variable is the fuel .
The burner will handle a fairly large variety of fuel qualities but the suitability of fuel is the main factor which will determine how much servicing will be required.
Viscosity of the fuel MUST NOT be higher than 220 SSU – about the viscosity of a 20W engine oil. The viscosity will vary with temperature. Temperature of equipment in contact with the fuel has to be the same as the temperature at which the glycerin is usable. (it would not be very comfortable to service the equipment in a room at 120 Deg. F)
Some glycerin will stratify – form layers in the tank – with each layer having different burning properties; Such fuel should be “homogenized” pumped around or agitated in some other way – the equipment for that purpose is available..
Some glycerin will clog strainers more than other.
Low lubricity fuel: Too much alcohol, water or other low lubricity
components.
Fuel containing abrasives.
Fuel not compatible with burner materials.
Send a sample of your glycerin for "burnability" test POR. A separate test is available to find the BTU content POR. The long range suitability and compatibility with the equipment of any batch of fuel, glycerin or other has to be established by the user.
A heating/air conditioning technician
should be able to install the burner . No special knowledge is
necessary. The manual contains all needed information.
SUGGESTION: (pertaining to MK burner installation) Since a considerable
amount of collateral knowledge is necessary to properly evaluate the
practicality of your proposed application , it is advisable to discuss your
idea with an experienced heating technician familiar with oil fired burners
. The basic principles for oil and glycerin fired burners are identical. Any
interested person is invited to come and visit our plant in North Ridgeville
for burner demonstration - bring a 2 gallon sample of your glycerin with
you. Please advise about your planned arrival at least 7 days ahead.
Vegetable oil can be burned - no problem. As a matter of fact, vegetable oil mixed with some biodiesel , diesel or kerosene is probably the best and most cost effective starting fuel for the MK burner. Crude based waste oil containing many different additives might cause filter clogging , unless system has been purged of glycerin first. The main problem with switching to other fuels is the fact, that glycerin BTU content is much lower, and consequently the firing rate has to be adjusted accordingly by adjusting the fuel pressure (pump pressure) or even by switching to a smaller nozzle – viscosity permitting (lower viscosity). For continuous running on vegetable oil or any other fuel , a different less complicated and much less expensive burner is available, the EC burner which is a modified CIS burner - visit our waste oil website.
There should be no problem as long as the viscosity is acceptable. Testing many samples of crude glycerin, we found that viscosity was – so far – the main factor determining usability of glycerin as a fuel . We “cut” a glycerin sample with 20% of water (not knowing what the original percentage of water was) and it was still possible to burn it!!! If in doubt about your prospective fuel usability , send a minimum 2 gallon sample to our North Ridgeville address. The cost of the test POR. The test will establish ONLY the "BURNABILITY" of the SAMPLE, not the long range effect (material compatibility) on equipment or EPA acceptability!
Our MK glycerin burner can be used in ANY installation where heat is required. The more heat you need, the more cost effective will be the application. The basic question is: Will it save me money??? Depending on how much your heating bill is - the burner can pay for itself in less than one heating season or it might take several years for a payback.
Depending on how much your heating bill is-the burner can pay for itself in a few weeks or it may take several years for a payback. The more heat you need, the more cost effective will be the application.
Yes you can. Glycerin can be used as a fuel wherever heat is needed. ATTENTION!!! Using non standard fuels - in order to save money - where uniform quality cannot be insured brings usually need for more maintenance. The system can tolerate quite a wide range in fuel differences which might or might not require equipment adjustment. Each batch of fuel is mostly different to some extent. The system performance will be only as consistent as the uniformity of fuel - BTU content and viscosity being two of the factors. It is important to establish what level of maintenance (cleaning strainers, etc.) is required with any particular fuel. When uninterrupted and uniform performance is essential a BACKUP should be in place even when using standard fuels. With non standard fuels the need for maintenance is always higher.
The investment necessary to build an electricity generating plant is very much higher than just a simple conversion of any fuel into usable heat, and it depends on many variables. The feasibility would have to be determined in each individual case by a competent person familiar with local conditions. Converting glycerin into usable heat is by far the most economical use for it.
Please send information: Country, nearest large city.
CompuHeat is looking for dealers.
The rewards can be considerable for the right person . you have NO
COMPETITION !!!
In order to qualify you have to be able to install and service the
equipment. An experienced heating technician familiar with oil fired
boilers/heaters should have no problems since the basic oil and glycerin
burning technology is identical.
A full day instruction is available with purchase of a burner. It
should prove quite informative even to a very experienced person.