Home Scale Ethanol Production with Blumedistillation.mp4

Comment by Thurmond Moore III on February 10, 2011 at 4:24pm

100,000 gallons per year is NOT a Small Alcohol Fuel Producer! It is a Medium Alcohol fuel producer as defined by the Feds. A small fuel producer can only make 5000 gallons per year of 200 proof. I was excited about this machine but it misses the target for me and anyone else wanting to make fuel for their "small farm or ranch" and not for resale. California mentality tends to over size and over value everything. A 100,000 gallon plant for $125,000 is 10 times too big and 10 times too expensive for me to EVER consider his machine. O well, that leaves the market WIDE open for an actual machine that will serve the needs of a REAL Small Alcohol Fuel Producer.

Comment by Eddie Carter on February 11, 2011 at 11:37am

Thurmond, if you want something more cost effective (<$30,000) check out Allard Research & Development. I bought their unit for $25,000 and it is only 5' x 3' x 6' and can be monitored remotely via an Iphone. It runs off of 240v electrical service and my unit will produce 2 gallons/hour... idea for a smaller setup.

Comment by Thurmond Moore III on February 11, 2011 at 1:04pm

Thanks Eddie,  I have spoken with an Allard dealer but Allard has never answered any contact I have attempted (About 6 tries in the last 9 months). I would have loved to buy their unit but for me to drop that kind of cash on a purchase they should have been very willing to talk but they were not. I have 20 years of Semiconductor Fabrication Equipment experience and at this point I believe I can develop an off the shelf solution with a web interfaced controller that will make 50 gallons or more a day for an investment of less than $10,000. If successful I will probably publish plans under an open source license. I have been very put off that NO ONE from yeast and enzyme suppliers to equipment builders really wants to support the true Small Producer. I have found a couple of companies after calling and speaking with numerous sales reps. that will supply needed enzymes and yeast but the leading edge supplies are pretty much off limits to the small producer. That is sad because I am doing this to improve my ranch operation and not for resale or profit but rather cost savings and to be a better steward of what God has provided.

Comment by Eddie Carter on February 11, 2011 at 2:12pm

I agree, i had difficulty in making contact via phone several months ago... turns out a contractor or someone had cut their phone line and Allard was having trouble getting it repaired.

I agree too that it is a chunk of money but I needed the tax write off and thanks to the Govt we are allow a significant Equipment deduction. I unfortunately dont have the time to build something for now and this system is pretty nice. I plan on trying to make a small business out of this. I have many people already wanting to buy my ethanol from me. I am trying to setup a CSA/CSE (I am a big dreamer).

 

You may want to check out Steven Harris at Knowledge Publication (USH2.com Soloar, Hydrogen, Biomass, Energy Group on Facebook). Steven is supposedly working on building a still (possibly solar) that i think he plans to sell at Knowledge Publications for home/backyard.

 

That yeast/enzyme issue can be difficult too. I am getting my yeast from Mile-Hi Distributing (you probaly are aware of them) but I have a link to other that maybe you posted, i think some time ago.

Nonetheless, all of the work we are doing (I have run all ethanol I have produced in lawn mower and 2007 Nissan Murano) does help the environment... we are doing more than most!

By the way, I was introduced to a 7th generation herbalist who has references to family writings discussing the "black stuff" in the ground. He tells me that he uses a very common fungus that can be found everywhere to ferment his grass clippings to make ethanol. I have been trying to get that fungus information from him but he is reluctant at the moment... I keep trying though.

Comment by Thurmond Moore III on February 12, 2011 at 10:52am

Fungus to break down grass clippings (cellulose) makes perfect sense because most cellulase enzyme is derived from certain fungus (either natural or genetically modified). I have been looking around the pastures on my ranch for fungus that is breaking down mesquite and native grasses. There are termites here that encase the grass with mud tubes and then proceed to consume it. They definitely have the right components in their body to do the conversion. The question is how to extract the enzymes or fungus for a larger scale use. Several look promising but no testing done or data yet. Gene splicing CAN be done at home. There was an article some years ago in The Scientific American series, "The Amateur Scientist". I would rather let nature work naturally for me though. Think permaculture.

 

Thurmond

 

By the way, I was introduced to a 7th generation herbalist who has references to family writings discussing the "black stuff" in the ground. He tells me that he uses a very common fungus that can be found everywhere to ferment his grass clippings to make ethanol. I have been trying to get that fungus information from him but he is reluctant at the moment... I keep trying though.

Comment by Chamsiddine Afraitane on October 24, 2011 at 1:18pm

Is there anyone who have a small still for around $ 5000.

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