Going Green

[Four Saps]

Just joined and was wondering if any one out there has tried UVO?
We are just getting started and hope to use 80-90% UVO. We do about 100 gallons per year with 1000 taps. Would like to talk to anyone who has tired or is in the process of using UVO.

Four Saps

[mfchef54]

what is "UVO"?
where abouts in NY?

[Haynes Forest Products]

Used Veggy Oil We had quite the discussion about it back when No2 diesel was at $3.76. Then the bottom dropped out and we all orderd it at $1.89
I assum E that you burn oil and are thinking of converting to WASTE OIL. Have you found any burners that you have in mind?

[Four Saps]

We started last year and used a small water heater to preheat the UVO. we could only raise the temperature of the oil to 140 F. using our shut off valves as an indicator we were using 75% OIL and 25% UVO. The flask point of the UVO is 200 F. Didnt have to adjust the gun. we would check the color of the fire ball from time to time to make sure it was white in color.

[Haynes Forest Products]

How do you meter the oil into the gun to keep the 25/75%? Do you feel you get the same results with the mix? Do you filter and with what?

[Four Saps]

Our metering is done basically by eye and the position of the ball value handle. We filter the UVO before with cheese cloth before we add it to our storage tanks. Pre heating the oil has presented the biggest challenge.
We have about 500 taps in so far. Looking forward to this week to get all 1000 taps in this week. Purchased a new Vermont grading system. The color in the new grader is darker then our old grader. Based on this discovery we will be making medium syrup later this season.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Four saps: Do you let it settle first and then filter and do you still run it thru a cartrage filter like on the diesel tank. How is the BTU output?

[Four Saps]

We collect the oil, filter it before putting into a 250 gallon container. Over time the sediment will settle to the bottom of the tank. Our out flow line is 1 foot above the bottom of the tank. BTU is a good question. The only reference that we have is the photo eye in the gun. As long as the fire ball is the correct color the gun continues to fire. we still evaporate 85 gallons per hour. This is the same as the fuel oil.

[Fred Henderson]

I have a friend that uses UVO in his diesel truck. He filters by gravity thru a 2 micron filter. It then goes into a special tank in his truck that has a heater type coil in it that has fluid from the radiator piped thru it to warm the VO. I don't know all the in's and out's of his system. Just get bits and pieces from him now and again.

[Four Saps]

Well we fired up the evaporator with the UVO. Preheated the UVO to 224 with a tank heater and everything worked well. Drew off 5 gallons of product before running out of sap. Looks like today will not run, so were hoping for a long run starting on Tuesday.

Four Saps