The design decided upon by the group is a machine that incorporates smaller acting components that aims to convert livestock waste to biodiesel. The process starts when livestock waste is composted inside a bin. The bin is then emptied into a centrifuge/blender machine, which is rapidly rotated with a driveshaft. This finely pulverizes the livestock waste, and after this is completed, pipes lead the liquid compost sludge into a tank with an algae culture. The sludge and the algae are given time to interact with each other, which gives the algae the minerals and nutrients necessary to convert to biodiesel. The algae is then extracted from the tank and dried for a period of time. This dried algae is then placed inside a transesterification machine to undergo the transesterification process. Once the process is complete, the newly-produced biodiesel is drained into a storage tank.
The following is a diagram that represents the group’s final design of the process. This process details all inputs, outputs, and actions involved within the system.
Transesterification is a chemical process used in the final design that most have not heard of. It involves the reaction between triglyceride and ether, converting the two into glycerin and biodiesel. This process is detailed in the following diagram:
This design meets end user needs for the project. The design aimed to be reliable so that necessary repairs and replacement would be scarce. This has the benefit of not only saving the farmers money, but also gives them a higher opinion of the product and makes them more likely to recommend/implement it elsewhere. Another end user need met with this process is a net positive effect for the environment. The environment is benefitted by the newly-implemented utility of biowaste, which would otherwise pollute water supplies and produce carbon emissions. Another end user need met by the process is profitability for farmers. The process proves to be profitable for farmers, as it allows them to convert a byproduct, that they would otherwise have to spend time and money on to dispose of, into a sellable product. The final end user need the process meets is convenience for farmers. In order to prevent farmers’ skepticism related to cost of convenience, this process will be located near a farmer nexus, which would allow for farmers to deposit their livestock waste along with their crops as they ship the crops to the nexus.