I'm having trouble...

[mAdMaN]

Hi all, I'm new to these boards. Anyway, my buddy and I want to make ethanol for a fuel to use in your average engine. So far, we have built a still, and tried distilling a few things. Now we know the process of getting fuel ethanol starts with something like corn and ends with burning liquid. But what we don't know is how to make corn (or anything else) into a distill-able subtance that will output ethanol. We want to try distilling lots of things, like corn, potatoes, sugar, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. From my research on this website and many others, I found out that we need to somehow mix each thing with yeast, and let it ferment for a few days, then distill it.

The still we made is just an aluminum pot, and on the lid, we have attached a 3 foot long (meter long) copper pipe, and at the top of the pipe, there is an elbow that connects to a long downward spiralling copper tubing. We put a lot of silicone around the rim of the lid, and let it dry overnight before we used the still, and we clamp the lid down, so no steam escapes the pot. And that's it.

Just today, we emptied a couple bottles of beer into the still and distilled it. The resulting liquid was clear and smelled like a mixture of alcohol and honey. But it didn't burn. I poured the substance onto a flat serface and put a burning match onto it, but it put it out. I also tried holding a burning match just over it (as you would light some liquors) but it also did not burn.

Also today, we started fermenting some wheat. Basically, we boiled some water, and dumped a package of powdered wheat and another package of whole grain wheat into the water with some sugar. We let it boil for about half an hour, then we let it cool down to 120 degrees F (the temperature the packets of yeast say to use them at) then we put three packets of yeast into it. Now, about 5 hours later, it's a foamy substance that keeps rising. We don't have a lid on the pan, nor are we controlling the temperature. Whatever it is, it smells like beer mixed with banana bread batter.

Oh, and in my research, I have found some mention of letting crops germinate and fermenting them before they finish growing or something like that. Because I live in Chicago, growing my own plants is just sort of out of the question, especially at this time of year. Even if I could use my back yard to grow corn or something, how could I get ethanol year-round? So whatever I use has to come from local fruit markets (luckily I live near a street with tons of fruit markets) and any supermarket or grocery store.

I was hoping if someone here could please explain to me, in simple terms, just how to take ears of corn and make them into something to distill, so my buddy and I can get some ethanol that would be good enough to run something like a snow blower engine. And don't worry about this engine, we have modified it before. Oh, and if there is something wrong with our still, please tell me. Thank you!

[Guest]

You have alot to learn, I suggest you do more reading at http://www.homdistiller.org onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow and I mean read it again and again untill your eyeballs fall out.

1st off, the kind of still you made is simply a pot still with a column...you wont get a high enough proof out of it, what you will need for fuel is a reflux still.

2nd , the best thing to use is not corn(even though even the comercial ethanol fuel companies say it is) you need to find something that is cheap to grow or buy that is very high in sugar. corn needs to have the starches converted to sugars...and even after the conversion, there isn't much sugar. I feel that sugar beets is the way to go for fuel...you can get 1200 gallons a year out of 1 acre.

As far as just dropping some feedstock into still, and lettin it rip......forget it...you have to let the stuff ferment out to the highest %abv possible, then run it through a REFLUX still SLOWLY.



You have alot of reading to do.
When you learn a bit more, I will give you a few links to check out.

~pothead

[Brett]

im with pothead

u have to read through the site to learn about distilling, this site n the forums has taught me everything i know and although at the moment i only make sippin spirit i do intend to progress to fuel alcohol.

To make the high purity alcohol u need for running and engine u need a reflux collum, this site http://homedistiller.org/ explains all from building to running and making a wash (thats what u ferment).

fermenting refers to the yeast making alcohol, basically the yeast is a living thing and it eats the sugar and creates alcohol as a by product, so for fuel production the key thing is yeast and a source of sugar.

As far as what to use to ferment well there are 2 options again explained on the site above, u can pick something with high sugar content or u can pick something with a high starch content (starch can be converted to sugars by a brewing process called mashing). basically u have look for cost to purchase vs sugar or starch content and if its free (like stale bread from the bakers) then even better. u can use the food seach at the top right of this link to find some data for different foods http://www.nutritiondata.com/....

Just as a note be sure ur car can run on ethanol making the engine run isnt the problem but u must be carfull with any plastics or rubber pipes and gaskets the alcohol will degrade them very fast also u need to check and modify fuel pumps and maybe carbs/injectors. theres some reading on it all here http://www.journeytoforever.org/biofuel ... #alcmanual


hope this helps a little

[Guest]

hey, try lookin at this stuff too...
http://www.eere.energy.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/33058.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://www.abcesso.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow





~pothead

[mAdMaN]

Ok, guys, I have made some changes to my still. Now my column is almost 3 feet tall, and it's 1.5 inch wide copper pipe. I gently packed it with steel wool scrubbing pads. At the top, there is an elbow, and from there, it adapts to 0.5 inch wide copper tubing, which is in a big coil...my condenser. I fashioned a fermenter from a pressure cooker (made it to let air out but not it), and I started ferementing sugar a week ago in it. Basically, I put a bag of sugar in some water, boiled it for a couple of minutes, and let it cool to 115F and put a few packets of yeast in. And it has been doing something over this week, I hope those yeast have made me some alcohol.

Anyway, I tried distilling some things here and there, rotten fruit, stuff like that, and I keep getting the same clear, akward-smelling liquid out of it. Apparently, I have to monitor the temperature of my still, but from where? At the top of the column, or in the boiler? And it has to stay around 78C, is that it? or can it get higher? Not as high as 100C, when water boils, right? Please tell me, because even though this site has been helpful to present facts, when it comes to details it seems like a bunch of mixed up and contradicting opinions. Oh, and remember I just want something that burns, it doesn't need to taste good, be safe to drink, or smell nice. Thanks in advance!

[Tater]

You need to read a lot more before you try anything. Really if your not willing to learn some theory.You need to find another hobby before you hurt yourself.Everyone here is willing to help a fellow wannabe distiller. But few are willing to spoonfeed fokes who clearly havent read much on the subject.

[Hillbilly Rebel]

mAdMaN,
A good book about the how to and science involved in making alcohol for fuel is "Moonshine Motorfuel" by Tom Hamn. It is a little dated but if you can find a copy it will answer questions you didn't even know you had.

[tim]

Hi all, I'm new to these boards. Anyway, my buddy and I want to make ethanol for a fuel to use in your average engine. So far, we have built a still, and tried distilling a few things. Now we know the process of getting fuel ethanol starts with something like corn and ends with burning liquid. But what we don't know is how to make corn (or anything else) into a distill-able subtance that will output ethanol. We want to try distilling lots of things, like corn, potatoes, sugar, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. From my research on this website and many others, I found out that we need to somehow mix each thing with yeast, and let it ferment for a few days, then distill it.

The still we made is just an aluminum pot, and on the lid, we have attached a 3 foot long (meter long) copper pipe, and at the top of the pipe, there is an elbow that connects to a long downward spiralling copper tubing. We put a lot of silicone around the rim of the lid, and let it dry overnight before we used the still, and we clamp the lid down, so no steam escapes the pot. And that's it.


What tohell is that all about??talk about dumb and dumber!! Either read the website, or learn to read..walks away in disgust

[decoy]

to make it harder for you you will never get the qty you need from normal reflux stills..

keep going with the one you have and do your learning and enjoy a few drinks in the process.

in the mean time look for info on a plate still..
a 4" plate still will deliver 3.5 galons per hour.. not for drinking tho..

im in the process of making one if it works ill post details on this site..

there are 1 or 2 guys on here that have made a plate still for fuell that might be able to give you more details..