(567g) Lab Enablement through 3D Printing - Nitrogen Inertion Funnel

Hydrogenation reactions pose a significant fire hazard due to the use of a mix of metal catalysts, reagents and solvents. Solvent flames are especially dangerous as they are barely visible and as such a present danger for burn injuries. Most metal catalysts supported on finely divided carbon powder are highly flammable and can ignite solvents and hydrogen. The catalyst material is especially dangerous after it has been used in a hydrogenation reaction leaving the catalyst metal soaked with adsorbed hydrogen. An inertion device has been developed that reduces fire risks associated with the filtering of metal catalysts. The inertion setup is composed of a 3D printed inertion ring that clips onto commercially available filter funnels. This has been tested at two different sized filter applications to determine how much inert gas, nitrogen in this case, was required to reduce the atmospheric oxygen below 12vol% ignition level and has also been tested to see at what flow rates actual ignition is suppressed when methanol is the solvent.

3D printing was a significant factor in not only the design and prototyping of the device but also in the manufacturing of the end use devices. The final product is topologically complex. Most methods of traditional manufacturing would have added significantly to the cost and complexity. This device required non linear internal passage ways and guide vanes to direct and smooth the flow of air. To produce these devices using more traditional means would have necessitated either manufacturing in multiple parts and heat welding or combining many methods, such as sheet metal forming, machining and welding which would have significantly increased cost and limited the design in ways that could have effected the efficacy of the function.