Open Drum Dewatering
August 22, 2008 - 7:12pm
The reason my 55 gallon drum lid gasket is falling apart is because it can not tolerate the heat. I thought if I don't cover it, the moister in the air would climb into the oil. F2F said I should take the cover off to heat. I'd rather not and just buy another lid every 2 years. Setup is in a garage.
What do you do with your cover while dewatering w/ band heater on a metal 55 gallon drum?
August 25, 2008 - 8:21pm
#2
Hmmm.... I'm picturing 70 cut pieces of 2" long garden hose size circumference plastic pipe to cover most of a 55 gallon drum and 130 strips of cellophane stretched across the top that will have to be replaced next time your ready to make more grease. Idonno ?
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Hiking out on the weather rail of environmental partnerships.
August 26, 2008 - 1:50pm
#3
FossilFool, Get some plastic wrap & cover the edge of the barrel all the way around. Then get some silicone caulk or silicone based automotive gasket sealer and squeeze it into the groove in the barrel lid. Place the lid on the barrel. When the silicone cures there will be a gasket adhered to the barrel lid. The plastic wrap acts as a release agent so the lid won't stick to the barrel while the silicone is curing. You don't need to keep the plastic wrap on the barrel after the silicone is cured. Silicone is pretty heat resistant & should tolerate the heat from your grease barrel.
Blaise
August 26, 2008 - 5:03pm
#4
I have always thought that the water settled to the bottom when heated, not evaporated off the top. I have a sealed 55 gallon drum with a really small hole drilled in the bung so that there is a pressure relief, but basically no circulation. Are you guys telling me that there is moisture collecting on the bottom side of the lid?
If so, I could give it more capacity to breath.
September 4, 2008 - 9:27pm
#5
I have seen condensation under my sealed lid (55 Gallon steal) on one occasion. Fryer 2 Fuel said heat with cover off after I complained their gasket turned into marshmallow and fell off. lid off may work inside some factory but in my garage I'd think moister would find its way into the oil.
September 5, 2008 - 10:04am
#6
Slow, low heat will drop the water to the bottom. Anything over 212 F will cause the water to vaporize and circulate to the surface. Leaving the lid on during this phase will result in condensation on the underside of the lid. Once cooled the water will form droplets and drop back into your oil.
I cook mine to 200 to 300 F with the lid off. Once the convection currents stop (after turning of the heater) you can cover and allow the oil to cool. IF any significant water is left in the oil it will then drop out. I frequently leave oil uncovered and have not found it to be as hydrophilic as diesel.
forbey
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It ain't easy, bein GREEZY!
September 8, 2008 - 1:27am
#7
Quote:
Originally posted by: FosilFool
Hmmm.... I'm picturing 70 cut pieces of 2" long garden hose size circumference plastic pipe to cover most of a 55 gallon drum and 130 strips of cellophane stretched across the top that will have to be replaced next time your ready to make more grease. Idonno ?
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Hiking out on the weather rail of environmental partnerships.
No, that's not what I mean. lol I've got like 4 or 5 strips cut that go all the way around the top lip of the drum. I couldn't use one long one as it wouldn't want to stay in place as easily. And it's about the same number of glad cling wrap strip across the top.
I'm still not doing a good job describing this. I'll see if I can get a few pictures together.
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Just my 2 cents...
Holyoak
"With 8 kids even the suburban can be to small!"
September 9, 2008 - 3:39pm
#8
I've got a ~1sq foot opening in the lid of both my drums, and don't have water issues...
Murph
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When mine is heated it's also run through a centrifuge. Because of the vibration and some splashing I've slit several short pieces of plastic tubing and squezed them over the edge of a metal 55 gallon drum. Then I just use plastic cling wrap and stretch it over the top of the drum at various angles to cover all but a few places that let the moisture from the heated oil escape.
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Just my 2 cents...
Holyoak
"With 8 kids even the suburban can be to small!"