Oil Boiler on WVO?? Crazy thoughts

[billman]

Has anyone converted an oil boiler to run on wvo? Do you need to start with a waste oil boiler?? Is there any information that you know of that will show how to convert an oil boiler??? any links or feedback appreciated.

I will be building a garage and looking to heat it and am thinking if I can convert an oil boiler I can also run a zone to heat my wvo for processing.

If it all worked out and is reliable, maybe I could convince the wife that i'm not as crazy as she thought.

I can't be the only one thinking that if you can run a vehicle on this stuff than why not heat the house??? Why not convert a diesel generator to run the power while you're at it???

HEATING OIL $2,500/YR
ELECTRIC $ 3,000/YR

Could it work???

[greasyX]

WVO boiler

I have a Ag Soluytions B-150 that runs on WVO,great set-up,but hard to get anyone to work on it(EPA doesn't see WVO as a viable fuel).I would suggest a heated tank and fuel line,also beaware of "chicken Skin" issues.If this is something you need to have someone else work on,plumb two tanks,when service guy comes over switch to #2 or HHO.Also start with a UL approved Boiler or noone will touch it.I use the forced hot water lines as a pre-heater,and then coil fuel line under boiler(free heat)a few times to heat it more before going to burner unit.............Good luck..greasy

[powerstroke73L]

Has anyone converted an oil boiler to run on wvo? Do you need to start with a waste oil boiler?? Is there any information that you know of that will show how to convert an oil boiler??? any links or feedback appreciated.

I will be building a garage and looking to heat it and am thinking if I can convert an oil boiler I can also run a zone to heat my wvo for processing.

If it all worked out and is reliable, maybe I could convince the wife that i'm not as crazy as she thought.

I can't be the only one thinking that if you can run a vehicle on this stuff than why not heat the house??? Why not convert a diesel generator to run the power while you're at it???

HEATING OIL $2,500/YR
ELECTRIC $ 3,000/YR

Could it work???

There are plans out there for a great (and cheap) waste oil burner but it's a forced air design. I suppose if you were really good you could adapt it to a boiler, but I'm guessing that the $$$ would go up quite a bit at that point. I think your best bet honestly is to pick up a waste oil burner-you might even be able to get one used. Simply heating the oil with a burner doesn't work well-you need compressed air to atomize it as well which gets complicated. Also, with a waste oil burner you're only limited by the amount of ATF/motor oil you can find. I get just enough WVO to keep me going week to week so I wouldn't have any to spare for heating.

A genset is a little easier to run on various waste oils, but requires a lot of upfront investment. This guy has a great one:

http://www.f1-rocketboy.com/lister.html

Lister diesels are dirt simple and easy to operate. They're made to run in third world countries where good fuel, replacement parts, and experienced mechanics are hard to find. As a result they will run on anything short of mashed bananas, and a three year old with a crescent wrench could rebuild one. The page above links to a 16 HP Lister that drives a 12 KW generator. I plan to basically builld the same thing one of these days with a 275 gallon heating oil tank as the fuel tank. I'd fill the tank with maybe 25 gallons of clean # 2 fuel oil and then just add filtered motor oils, ATF, WVO, etc...as I could find them. Add a small diesel tank for cold startup and wa'la, instant home powerplant running on free fuel!

[muns53]

Some Lister Diesel Links

I've been researching this topic myself and thought I'd post some links to some interesting sites fer y'all:

http://utterpower.com/

http://www.centralmainediesel.com/order/Vegetable-Oil-Lister-Generator-6600-Watt.asp?page=L09989

http://www.poweranand.com/

There is also an excellent Yahoo! Group that focus on this topic of converting home heaters to veg burners: altfuelfurnace

I also recently found a Yahoo! Group dedicated to Lister engine/generator setups & Q&A: Lister_CSOG

Enjoy,
Eric

[Bitterroot Diesel]

Here's a photo of my oil furnace running on WMO and WVO. The furnace is temporary until I get the boiler all setup.

[Bitterroot Diesel]

Primary control before paint.

[MtnOilRig]

I know you have a way bigger shop than me so space isnt as much an issue, but what are the dimensions of your burner unit?

You've seen my garage, its jammed with shit. I'd love to burn some of my oil surplus for heat but I'm worried about the space I'd need to carve out.

If you are building a compact, automated oil burner... I'm a buyer.

[Bitterroot Diesel]

Here's a better shot of testing. I'm going to be using a tote for the fuel tank so that will take up the most room.

[MtnOilRig]

Sheeeee-it yeah!

[randyo156]

I have always wanted to set up a 2 zone system, 1 for pool and 1 to heat the house

[Bitterroot Diesel]

Finished the wiring today.

[Bitterroot Diesel]

In the photos you can see the air valve on the left. The primary control is on top. The PID on the bottom controls the temp of the nozzle heater block. I have a 1.5 GPH nozzle that is capable of 150,000 BTU.

Heater block comes from ckBurners.

[Memphis10]

That's really slick bro! It looks like you've retrofitted a traditional furnace?

[Bitterroot Diesel]

It's a lenox oil furnace.