problemdefinition.html

Problem Definition

French Fry Fuel
Deliverables and Project Summary

Part 1: Project Overview

Background:

The J.R. Simplot Company, a food and agribusiness company based in Boise, Idaho, is one of the world’s largest frozen potato processors,
generating 3 billion pounds of French fries and potato products annually. Nearly 2 million pounds of oil each year are rendered in the production
of these products. Although this waste stream is currently being sold as cattle feed, Simplot would like to condition the oil and convert it to
bio-diesel. The bio-diesel would then be returned to Simplot to offset diesel in the transportation fleet.

Problem Definition:

The J.R. Simplot Company would like to condition waste oil from french fry manufacturing for use in bio-diesel production. This oil, which is high
in free fatty acids, water, and particulates, must be purified to specifications determined by the bio-diesel plant.

SET Factors:

Social	Economic	Technological
Lower emissions of biodiesel help the environment.	Converting the waste stream to biodiesel is more cost effective for Simplot.	Establishing a system for reuse of frying oil will reduce waste.

Product Opportunity Statement:

The product opportunity is to: design a process to refine used frying oil for later use in biodiesel production.

Needs-list:

Remove particulates from oil

Remove free fatty acids from oil

Remove water from oil

Design a bench top system to present at the Engineering Expo

Design a process for full-scale operation

Goals:

Our project goal is to condition the waste oil from a potato manufacturer for use in bio-diesel production. The team will design a system to remove
free fatty acids, water, particulates, and other carbon impurities from the used oil to a specification defined by the bio-diesel manufacturer. The team
will build a “bench-top” model as well as design a process for full scale use.

Draft Specs:

User Needs	Source	Specs	Target Value	Unit
Remove impurities	Don Sturtevant
	Scott Burn	1.) max free fatty acid content	<4	% by weight
	Scott Burn	2.) max water content	<.1	% by weight
	J. Thompson	3.) max particulate size	<50-100	μm
Bench scale system- must fit on table at Expo	Don Sturtevant
		1.) max storage tank size	5	gallons
		2.) max pump size	1	gpm
Full Scale Design	Don Sturtevant	1.) min production capacity	3.8	Lbs/min
	P. Mann	2.) Min production capacity*	.507	Gal/min

* This is based on annual, continual flow production. Simplot changes their oil in batches. Need verification from Don Sturtevant on batch sizes.

Constraints:

Scenario:

The J.R. Simplot Company is one of the largest privately held firms in the country, employing approximately 10,000 people worldwide. As a large
agribusiness firm, Simplot has significant fuel costs associated with their transportation fleet. As a means to reduce this cost, Simplot would like to
use the waste oil generated in the Simplot French Fry Plant, located in Caldwell, Idaho, to manufacture bio-diesel. Currently Simplot sells this waste
oil as cattle feedstock; however, the rising price of gas makes converting the oil to bio-diesel a financially favorable option for Simplot.

Stakeholders, Experts and Advisers:

Person	Role	E-mail	Phone
Don Sturtevant	Client	Don.Sturtevant@simplot.com
Paul Mann	Expert	ptmann@mindspring.com
Joe Thompson	Expert	joet@uidaho.edu
Jon van Gerpen	Expert	jonvg@uidaho.edu
Tom Hess	Advisor	thess@uidaho.edu	208-885-7461

Deliverables:

In May 2008, French Fry Fuel will present a bench-top model at Engineering Expo. The team will also deliver a recommended design process for
full scale use at the Simplot Plant.

Part 2: Project Exploration

Questions:

What is the batch size of oil to be processed? Does this vary? Which biodiesel plant would Simplot like to use?

Budget:

Item	Cost	Quantity	Total

Timeline:

See Marie's copy of the schedule in Microsoft Project in the documents section.

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