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Author Topic: New Changfa arrival  (Read 14827 times)

Doug

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2008, 03:34:27 AM »
So you imported them yourself ( if so good on you )?

Tell us about the biodiesel end of things please

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VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #16 on: February 13, 2008, 03:38:12 AM »
Stan,

Yes, the radiator is mounted directly to the cylinder water jacket.
The fan is driven from a pulley behind the flywheel.
Some people claim to have had some trouble with this design.
Cracks in the Rad.
The vibration is minial at 1800 rpm, so I'm not expecting any trouble.

As far as cooling ability, I ran the engine for 1/2 hour last night at 1800 rpm and I could touch the radiator. Luke warm.
The fan really pulls a lot of air through the radiator. I'm sure it would be a lot warmer if I put the unit under heavy load.

Stan

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2008, 03:42:41 AM »
Does it have a thermostat?
Stan

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2008, 03:45:44 AM »
Stan,

The rad is mounted directly to the cylinder jacket.
The same way other mount their external rad's.
Cools very well.
Ran it at 1800 rpm for 1/2 hour and the rad was cool to touch.
The fan, which is driven by a pulley behind the flywheel, really pulls a lot of air.
I'm sure it would get much hotter if put under load.

Some claim the radiator to style give problems due to cracks and leaks.
the engine is quite smooth at 1800, so I'm not expecting any problems.

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #19 on: February 13, 2008, 03:48:52 AM »
Stan,

The rad does not appear to have a thermostat.
It does have a 14 pound radiator cap and overflow tube, so the system does run under pressure.
Probably works on a thermosyphon principle for circulation.
I had a choice of getting the hopper system or the radiator.
I like the compact all-in-one style of the rad.

Stan

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #20 on: February 13, 2008, 03:57:38 AM »
Well, at least with a 14 lb thermostat if it cracks you'll know it pretty quickly!  ???
Stan

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #21 on: February 13, 2008, 03:59:24 AM »
Hi Doug,

The biodiesel plant is a project to convert used veggie oil and newly pressed canola oils in to biodiesel.
I realize the Changfa's can run on waste veggie oil, but my studies show that waste oils contain many things which engines don't like. For example, fatty acids and glycerines which coke up the valves and rings.
I think the Lister(oids) can handle used oils much better.
In any case, I want ASTM certified Biodiesel. I am building a used oil processing system which removes moisture, particles, and acids from the oil prior to processing. This stage utilizes a centrifuge spinning at 6000 rpm. The the oil then goes through a 4 stage process of chemical cracking, polishing, filtration, and final filtering before use.
I have designed and built the pre-processor and I am now building the Reactor for the chemical cracking process.
The process removes glycerines and impurities, and the chemical process adds carbon molecules creating a diesel fuel.

Veggie

Doug

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #22 on: February 14, 2008, 10:10:10 PM »
Quote Veg:

"4 stage process of chemical cracking, polishing, filtration, and final filtering before use."
Can you explain that in a little more detail?

A good guy to ask about VEG oil in the Changfa would be John. He's been running Veg in his Listeroids and Hopper Chinese diesels for a while.

I believe he may even be running some tests on the big bore DI listeroids.
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2008, 01:29:45 AM »
Hi Doug,

The process is basicaly the standard practice for making biodiesel from WVO.
Whole books are written on this process, so it's a bit hard to cover in a short message.
The guys over in the Biodiesel section probably know as much or more than I do.
Here is a typical method for bioDiesel production...

1] Dehyrate and filter the WVO
2] Transfer to the reactor tank
3] Heat to 131 deg f (important) - optimum chemical reaction temp.
4] Add measured amounts of sodium hydroxide and methanol (methoxide mixture). Amounts are critical and are determined by a "titration" method of gauging the acidity of the WVO.
5] Circulate for 1+ hours allowing the chemical reaction to crack glycerine molecules from the WVO and replace them with methanol (carbon) molecules.
6] Settle, and drain off the heavier waste glycerin, then transfer the lighter fatty methy-esters (raw biodiesel) to a wash tank.
7] Bubble and or water wash the methy esters
8] Dry and filter.
9] You now have biodiesel
Heaters, pumps, filters, wiring, piping, and vessels are all required.

That's  the quick and dirty explaination. However each of those steps can have variations based on the type of equipment each user has available. But in general, that's how it's done.

Whew! Now you know why some people prefer straight WVO :-)




BACKROAD

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2008, 02:32:26 AM »
QUOTE:  "The rad does not appear to have a thermostat.
It does have a 14 pound radiator cap and overflow tube, so the system does run under pressure.
Probably works on a thermosyphon principle for circulation.
I had a choice of getting the hopper system or the radiator.
I like the compact all-in-one style of the rad."


Both of my 195's have the radiator and fan.  Both of them were manufactured in 1980 and neither of them are cracked or leak.  Also, Me thinks that if you ran yours for 30 minutes and the radiator is still cold, you might want to check into it a little further.  Like did you actually get enough water in it, or do you have a giant air pocket.  Just a question, as I reallly don't know anything.:)
Dung-fong #1 - Mfg. Date 1980/8kw Winco gen...In pieces
Dung-fong #2 - Mfg. Date also 1980/8kw Winco gen...runs
      totally awesome after 10+ years of sitting.
1987 Ford F350, crewcab, dually 4X4.....Cummins Powered...
1956 Willy's all-a-round great four wheeler, VERY CUSTOM....

Doug

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #25 on: February 18, 2008, 03:16:57 AM »
Diesel engines don't warm up quickly unless loaded what little heat they produce blows out the exhaust.

Its also not a good idea to run a new engine unloaded since your not going to be able to get up to temperature and load the rings for proper seating..

I've seen many Duetz engines with glazing problems because they were idled on start up when they should have been put to work. They smoked a lot, but if you worked them ( gently of course ) and brought them up to temperature the rings seated quickly. Some of the smokers never cleared up and had oil and fuel consumption problems as long as they were in service.
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #26 on: February 18, 2008, 10:30:10 PM »
Doug,

Thanks for the advise on ring seating.
This is my first diesel. I would not have known that. I am in love with slow speed diesels but don't yet know the do's and don'ts.
Being the engine geek that I am, I would have watched it run (unloaded) for many enjoyable hours, not knowing that
I may be damaging it.
You just ruined my Saturday moring ritual of starting the Changfa and sitting in a chair while I eat my cereal. I am devastated. :-)

On the bright side, it will encourage me to press on with the generator project and put the engine to work.
Thanks Doug.

Cheers,
Veggie

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #27 on: February 19, 2008, 12:22:51 AM »
Backroad,

I filled the rad with 25% glycol & water.
Have ran it 6 times since filling and no sign of an air lock.
I even tilted the engine 45 degrees each way to make sure.
I think it's just that I'm not loading it enough. The cylinder heats up, but not much.
It's just a good cooling system.

This thing about the thermostat has me thinking. If there is a thermostat, then it makes sense that I'm not getting
the engine hot enough the open it, hense the rad stays cool. Have you ever removed your radiator for any reason?
It would be interesting to find out if they have a thermostat or not.
If they do, we could change the thermostat and run them a bit hotter for burning waste vegetable oils.

Veggie

Stan

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #28 on: February 19, 2008, 04:52:11 AM »
Veg...Weve discussed the problem with a cooling system that depends on thermosyphon having a thermostat that gets air trapped below the thermostat and allows the head to build up heat without activating the thermostat.  The answer is to drill a small 1/8" (?) hole in the thermostat to allow the air to escape.

Don't know if this applies to the changfa, the only one I've seen is a guy here in Kimberley that has a 1115 and has it sitting outside in his back yard under some plastic for a couple of years now never ran.
Stan

VeggieDiesel

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Re: New Changfa arrival
« Reply #29 on: February 19, 2008, 05:04:22 AM »
Stan,

Thanks for the idea.
Regarding the dormant Changfa...
Why don't you make the guy an offer and rescue it ?
Bring another one mighty Changfa into the group :-)

Veggie