Abstract: A pump moves fluid by a piston reciprocating inside a cylinder. Fluid enters the cylinder through an inlet valve that passes through the cylinder head, and has an enlarged surface inside the cylinder, which seals against the cylinder head. This valve is normally held closed by a spring. As the piston advances, fluid is forced out of the cylinder through a passage in the cylinder head and a check valve. A rod is affixed to the piston and passes through the inlet valve. As the piston retracts, the rod slides through the inlet valve, until a stop, affixed to the rod, encounters the stem of the inlet valve. The spring holding the valve closed is overcome and the valve opens as the piston and rod move farther, until the piston is in its fully retracted position. Fluid enters the cylinder until the piston again begins to advance. The stop ceases to push the inlet valve open, and the spring again holds it closed.

Abstract: Glycerolipids and fatty acids are purified in a continuous flow by removal of particulates and moisture. Following this, they are esterified and transesterified in batches, after which the fatty acid alkyl esters produced are separated from the glycerin phase byproduct and are purified through a continuous flow removal of soaps, trace glycerin, salts, and free alcohol. Excess alcohol is recovered from the glycerin phase and esters, after which it is purified and reused. Waste soaps are acidulated and recovered as fatty acids, and waste glycerin is refined and separated from trapped oils, which are recovered. A plurality of individual modules, each specialized for specific tasks, and fluidly coupled by plumbing, perform these processes. The throughput capacity is expandable in small increments through addition and integration of additional modules into the system and/or adjustments to the number of shifts worked by operators.

Abstract: A pump moves fluid by means of a piston reciprocating inside a cylinder. Fluid enters the cylinder through an inlet valve that passes through the cylinder head, and has an enlarged surface inside the cylinder, which seals against the cylinder head. This valve is normally held closed by a spring. As the piston advances, fluid is forced out of the cylinder through a passage in the cylinder head and a check valve. A rod is affixed to the piston and passes through the inlet valve. As the piston retracts, the rod slides through the inlet valve, until a stop, affixed to the rod, encounters the stem of the inlet valve. The spring holding the valve closed is overcome and the valve opens as the piston and rod move farther, until the piston is in its fully retracted position. Fluid enters the cylinder until the piston again begins to advance. The stop ceases to push the inlet valve open, and the spring again holds it closed.

Abstract: An integrated biodiesel processor is disclosed. The integrated biodiesel processor includes a main reaction tank for storing feedstock to be processed and within which the reactions take place to form a biodiesel product from the feedstock. The integrated biodiesel processor also includes one or more secondary tanks integrated with and disposed within the main reaction tank. The secondary tanks are configured to store reactionary ingredients to be released into the main reaction tank in order to generate reactions.