I need to heat about 3500 gallons of biodeisel from 20°C to 45°C, i was thinking in using a Fired Heater and a Heat Exchanger, this is only for femonstrational purposes, but can anyone tell me an alternative mean to heat Biodiesel, less complicated and for god sake cheaper!!
A fired heater will probably be the cheapest way. You could try electric heaters (you can buy the elements from water heaters at appliance repair shops - they use 240V), but the electricity cost will probably be more than for the fuel (if you were thinking gas/petrol, maybe propane or natural gas will be cheaper). I also don't know if I'd be comfortable putting electric elements in 3500 gallons of biodiesel - I've seen a few kitchen fires, and burning oil is never pleasant. You could also consider solar heating - it would be cheaper in the long run, but any efficient installation would have to involve heating panels, piping, pumps, and a lot of water. You could try painting your tank black, but that probably won't work very well unless you live in the desert or high plains.
