Home projects for chemical engineering?

[member 392791]

Hello,

I just finished my lower division chemistry/physics sequence, and next semester I am transferring and will start taking my upper division chemical engineering classes. I was wondering what sort of projects I can do at home with my knowledge, or if someone can share ideas for DIY type stuff at home. I want to kickstart my way into chem engineering, so I will be more confident when I begin taking engineering courses this fall.

I know people in EE that make cars and stuff like that, is there something feasible like that for chem engineering? Obviously I can't make an oil distillation type of stuff in my house, but something small?

Thanks

 

[Danger]

I believe that fuel cells fall under the category of chemical engineering. How about messing around with building some?

 

[member 392791]

How do I go about starting to make a fuel cell? Are the parts relatively cheap to buy and then I can just learn how to assemble it?

 

[Danger]

I'm afraid that I don't know; I was just throwing out an idea. Someone else should be along to help you before too long.

 

[OmCheeto]

I'm afraid that I don't know; I was just throwing out an idea. Someone else should be along to help you before too long.

My nephew-in-law has a PhD in Chemistry, and his last project was fuel cells. Should I invite him to the forum?

 

[Danger]

Of course. Why haven't you already?

 

[OmCheeto]

Of course. Why haven't you already?

He's quite busy with a daughter and new son.

-------------------------
real reason? He and his family are from Texas. Think Harper, only with brains. Dangerous combo. Actually, I like the kid a lot.

 

[nitsuj]

How do I go about starting to make a fuel cell? Are the parts relatively cheap to buy and then I can just learn how to assemble it?

Have you tried making one of these yet? FUEL CELL

lol seriously though if you have chemistry smarts maybe you can play with 3D printing trying to find an input material that is mass consumer friendly and super strong/durable & only requires a mass consumer (Read cheap) 3D printer. Basically make 3D printing cheap for me

Maybe start with buying a lemon/

 

[Graniar]

If you can afford to spend dozen of thousands for this, try to reproduce some extraordinary material, ie aerogel, nanotubes, diamond, high-temperature superconductors, etc.
Those technologies are quite documented, but not yet in the mass production stage.
Thus, it will give you the real research experience and you will not loose yourself in looking for "philosophical stone".
And, of course having such a samples is very cool for bragging :-)

 

[chemisttree]

Build a stand alone biodiesel reactor. Load the unit with used oil, sulfuric acid, methanol and sodium methoxide. Press play and collect biodiesel. Extra credit if waste is captured and minimized. Sell them to pay for your education and pay off any student loans.

http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts...display.abstractDetail/abstract/8855/report/F

 

[musk]

Have you tried this http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/search.shtml?v=ia&ia=MatlSci
All of the projects seem to be for high school/college students but nevertheless there are some quite advanced too. You can give it a try.