Batsil

Overview

The project aims to convert organic materials, such as wood, into bio-crude oil that can be refined and used as a fuel source. This process mimics industrial methods but is scaled down for a DIY or small-scale operation.

Equipment and Setup

Reactor

• The reactor is made from two 5-gallon steel cans. One can has its top cut off, and the other has its bottom cut off. These cans are slid over each other to create a long, sealed reactor.
• A one-inch pipe is welded into the back of the reactor with an elbow, allowing for the input of materials and the output of gases.

Gasification Process

• Wood or other organic materials are burned inside the reactor to produce syngas (synthesis gas), which is a mixture of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Cooling and Condensation System

• The syngas produced is directed through a series of pipes designed to cool and condense the gases.
• The system includes a downhill pipe that goes against the natural thermodynamic flow direction, which helps to condense out oils at a faster rate.

Collection Containers

• There are multiple collection containers:
  • The first container collects the heaviest and thickest grade of bio-crude oil. This is the primary collection point and contains the most refined stage of crude oil captured in the first stage.
  • The second container collects a lighter grade of bio-crude oil. This stage involves the gas being cooled further and condensed, allowing heavier hydrocarbons to precipitate out.
  • A third stage, if implemented, would involve further refinement using radiators and a condenser to produce an even more refined state of crude oil.

Condenser

• A condenser is set up using a can filled with cold water, which cools the gases further, causing more condensation of the bio-crude oil. This condenser is crucial for capturing the lighter fractions of the oil.

Process Steps

Gasification

• Organic materials are burned in the reactor to produce syngas.

Cooling and Condensation

• The syngas is directed through a downhill pipe, which helps to cool the gases and condense out the heavier fractions of bio-crude oil.
• The cooled gases then rise through an uphill pipe, where lighter gases continue to flow while heavier hydrocarbons precipitate out and are collected in the second container.

Collection

• The bio-crude oil is collected in multiple stages, with each stage capturing a different grade of oil based on its density and condensation point.

Refinement

• The collected bio-crude oil can be further refined to make it suitable for use in engines. This involves additional steps such as filtering and possibly chemical treatment, which are planned to be shown in future videos.

Key Principles

Thermodynamics

• The system exploits thermodynamic principles to force the gases to cool and condense in a controlled manner. By using downhill and uphill pipes, the system maximizes the condensation of bio-crude oil.

Heat Management

• Heat management is crucial; the system is designed to lose heat through the pipes and condensers, which helps in the efficient collection of bio-crude oil.

Applications

• The bio-crude oil produced can be refined and used as a fuel source for engines, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

In summary, the Batsil oil project is a DIY approach to producing bio-crude oil through gasification and condensation, utilizing basic materials and leveraging thermodynamic principles to achieve efficient oil collection and refinement.