What kind of solution does a biodiesel process require when product behaviour directly affects filtration?
SACOME was contacted by one of the largest biodiesel production plants in Colombia, where biodiesel is produced from palm oil and soybean oil. In recent years, biodiesel has become a strategic sector in the country, with a mandatory minimum biodiesel content established for all diesel consumed, both in transport and in energy production.
One of the challenges associated with biodiesel produced from palm and soybean oil is that, at low temperature, precipitates can form and clog the filters of the systems in which it is used, such as diesel vehicles.
To address this issue, the client implemented a technology aimed at improving biodiesel filtration and required a tubular heat exchanger to heat the product with steam as part of the production process.
For this application, SACOME’s technical team designed an I-TFMP-I exchanger, a multi-pass unit in TEMA Type AEM configuration, allowing quick and easy access to the tube side through a blind flange on the biodiesel connection side.
Designed to support process improvement where product behaviour makes the difference.