Solar driven portable biodiesel reactor for running agrimotor

A portable biodiesel reactor, powered with a solar panel and a rechargeable battery, has been designed. Biodiesel production provides an asset to run farm tractors and increase agricultural productivity in isolated communities, particularly in developing countries. The system is transported in a two-wheel hand truck and converted into a stable biodiesel production station. The proposed production method incorporates an optimized mixing process of the reactor compounds employing a stainless-steel tank. Appropriate amounts of methanol and sodium hydroxide are mixed in the reactor and recovered as a methoxy solution. The transesterification is achieved by pumping waste vegetable oil and adding the methoxy solution through a stirring process. The produced biodiesel is appropriate for running diesel agrimotors, eliminating the need to travel for petrodiesel purchases. This saves time and transportation costs, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and contributes to environmental sustainability. In the field, the fuel efficiency was about 2.4 l/h, measured by idling an agrimotor engine. The portable biodiesel reactor is a practical and sustainable system envisaged particularly for small and dispersed rural areas, providing complete operational autonomy through solar energy.