Controlled Microwave to Boost Biodiesel Transesterification in Continuous Reactor

摘要

Producing biodiesel is a long chemical conversion process that is not very efficient in term of economy. This is due to high immiscibility of the methanol/alcohol with the vegetable oil. At least a catalyst should be utilized to overcome it. The non linear dynamic of conversion process is not thoroughly understood, an intelligent system is expected to be a suitable tool to help the acceleration of reaction rate. A microwave irradiation assists the mixing process by means of thermal and more significantly non thermal properties. The optimum conversion took as fast as 15 -20 minute instead of 50 - 60 minute using simple batch process. A continuous process using plug flow reactor can be properly implemented ever since. The control of microwave generator power or magnetron will try to supply the least needed irradiation power of e lectromagnetic wave with constant frequency and amplitudes to exert activation energy required for reaction to occur in little possible time as well as non thermal effect properties. The power applied by PID and NeuroFuzzy controllers varies from 100 to 400 watt. The previously mixed feeds flow to the 15 liters continuous reactor was maintained at approximately lL/min. A set of calibrated ultrasonic transducer was used to measure the concentration of biodiesel produced in order to supply online and real time data as controlled variable.