Vacuum Equipment for

Biofuel Process Plants

Non-polluting dry vacuum pump technology
for the oleochemical process industry
Vacuum Equipment for Biofuel Process Plants

Many governments are increasing the use of biofuels as

they are more environmentally-friendly, renewable and
reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels or additives.

Biofuels are oleochemicals – chemicals derived from

agricultural oils and fats – and include hydrogen, methanol,
ethanol and biodiesel (methyl ester).The oleochemical
industry, like the petrochemical industry, has vacuum
applications such as deodorization, distillation, evaporation
and reactor systems. BOC Edwards has an extensive range
of process vacuum technologies.We can provide you with
all of the required vacuum equipment needed in biofuel
processes – from biodiesel and bioethanol production to
glycerin and fatty acid purification. Process scheme for biodiesel production

BIODIESEL VACUUM

Glycerin is a co-product of biodiesel production, recovered from

the transesterification reaction between the feedstock and
methanol.Vacuum is used to:
• Refine the feedstock (2 - 10 mbar, 1.5 - 8 Torr)
• Dry the biodiesel product (~1 mbar, ~0.8 Torr)
• Purify the glycerin co-product (< 0.1 mbar, <0.08 Torr)
• Recover excess methanol (20 - 70 mbar, 15 - 53 Torr)

BIOETHANOL VACUUM

• Vacuum is used to dehydrate ethanol or convert ethanol to

esters by pervaporation (typically 6 - 10 mbar, 5 - 8 Torr).
• In molecular sieve purification, where crystalline aluminosilicates
(usually zeolites, or activated carbons) absorb water selectively,
vacuum is used to regenerate the sieve in the pressure swing
absorption (PSA) process. A typical PSA system comprises two
near-identical columns, one for absorption or scrubbing and the
Distillation-pervaporation hybrid dehydration scheme other for regeneration or stripping, usually operating under
vacuum from 1000 - 50 mbar (760 - 38 Torr).
CHEMICAL DRY PUMPING SYSTEMS

BOC Edwards pioneered environmentally-friendly, chemical dry vacuum pumps,

which offer high reliability with a low cost of ownership and easy maintenance
at wide intervals.
• No effluent generation
• No oil or water in contact with the process gas
• Immediate solvent recovery at the pump exhaust
• Deeper vacuum and more flexible operation than traditional systems
• Explosion-proof
• Combine with mechanical boosters for high capacities at low pressures

DP/DPS/EDP DRYSTAR® Series Chemical Dry Vacuum Pumps

Full-range of pumps using a patented non-contacting, reverse claw technology
and offering capacities of 80 - 420 m3h-1 (50 - 250 cfm).
• Integral indirect cooling with temperature control
• Clutch mechanism to protect against liquid slugs
• Vertical mounted for self draining and small footprint
• Fully ATEX compliant DPS series
• No need for gas injection
• Low power and maintenance

CDX Series
The CDX Series offers a unique double-ended, variable pitch screw
mechanism which eliminates end compression plates. Based on unrivalled
dry vacuum pump experience and applications expertise, these innovative
pumps utilize the latest manufacturing and design philosophies.
• High capacity of 1,000 m3h-1 (590 cfm)
• Low operating pressures
• Excellent temperature control
• Integral flame arrester option
• Excellent liquid and solids handling capability
• Easy maintenance
 MECHANICAL BOOSTERS
Mechanical boosters are combined with a backing pump to increase capacity at
lower pressures.With several hundred thousand units in the field, BOC Edwards
offers system solutions to fit most requirements, including:
• Full range of reliable boosters, with a variety of drives and features
EH Booster
• All dry, non-contacting mechanisms
• No contact of gas with oil or water
• Able to tolerate large amounts of condensable vapors and dust

EH Series Mechanical Boosters

Reliable, vibration-free mechanical boosters with capacities of
300 - 4,200 m3h-1 (180 - 2500 cfm).
• Patented hydrokinetic drive
• Pump straight from atmospheric pressure without an inverter,
by-pass line or relief valve
• Reduced pump down time by up to 50%
• Simple installation SN Booster
• Long maintenance intervals

SN and HV Series Boosters

Rugged, compact blowers with long-term reliability and capacities
of 7,000 - 30,000 m3h-1 (4,100 - 17,700 cfm).
• Extended maintenance intervals
• Optional inverter allows starting at atmospheric pressure Dry pump and mechanical
• HV series with integral exhaust cooler booster pumping system
HV Booster

LIQUID RING PUMPING SYSTEMS

Liquid ring vacuum pumps are the industry standard in many chemical processes
because of their reliability, ease of maintenance, low vibration, low noise, high
condensable vapor handling capability and ability to use different seal fluids and
materials of construction. BOC Edwards liquid ring vacuum pumps include:
• Single-stage pumps – sizes up to 30,000 m3h-1 (17,660 cfm)
• Two-stage pumps – sizes up to 7,500 m3h-1 (4,500 cfm)
• Continuous operation at all suction pressures down to 33 mbar (25 Torr)
• Seal fluids compatible with pumped vapor, such as methyl ester for lower
pressures and effluent elimination
• Standard configurations – once through, partial or total recirculation
• Liquid and some particulate handling in vapor stream
• Systems with mechanical boosters and steam ejectors for low
pressure operation

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