The Return of Cold Fusion?

[Mongo]

Tests find Rossi's E-Cat has an energy density at least 10 times higher than any conventional energy source

Several scientists have performed supposedly independent tests of two E-Cat prototypes under controlled conditions and using high-precision instrumentation. In a paper posted at arXiv.org, the researchers write that, even by the most conservative of measurements, the E-Cat produces excess heat with a resulting energy density that is at least 1 order of magnitude—and possibly several—higher than any other conventional energy source, including gasoline.

The paper presents the results of two separate tests on two different prototypes, called E-Cat HT and E-Cat HT2. The first test was carried out by Levi and Foschi in December 2012, while the second was carried out by all seven authors in March 2013. Although the E-Cat HT2 had several improvements over the E-Cat HT, both tests revealed the same important result: more heat was produced by the device than would be expected from any known chemical source of energy.

According to the researcher's conservative measurements and calculations, the E-Cat HT and E-Cat HT2 have energy densities of 680,000 Wh/kg and 61,000,000 Wh/kg, respectively. Even with a "blind" evaluation that probably underestimates the energy production significantly, the researchers still get a value that is an order of magnitude higher than all other conventional energy sources. Considering that gasoline has an energy density of 12,000 Wh/kg, these values are extraordinary and would blow all other energy technologies out of the water.

With that being said, exactly what kind of reaction is producing the large amount of heat energy remains unknown. While the reaction was originally touted as cold fusion when Rossi first unveiled the device a few years ago, most analysts now suspect that the mechanism is more likely a low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR) that is not fusion. If the reaction involves the conversion of nickel into copper, as it seems, then it would be considered a transmutation.

The basic design of the E-Cat (both versions) consists of three cylinders: an outer ceramic cylinder (33 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, or roughly the dimensions of a bowling pin), a smaller ceramic cylinder located within the outer one and containing wire coils, and finally the steel cylinder that contains the fuel. At just 3 mm thick and 33 mm in diameter, the steel cylinder is not much bigger than a quarter. By comparing the weights of the steel cylinder when containing fuel and when empty, the researchers estimated the weight of the fuel in the March test to be about 0.3 grams.

When power (here, no more than 360 W) is fed to the wire coils inside the middle cylinder, the coils heat up and cause the steel cylinder and its powder to heat up as well. The scientists used a thermal camera to measure the E-Cat's surface temperature for the entire duration of the two tests, which were 96 hours and 116 hours, respectively. They also continuously monitored the electrical power input that was supplied to the coils. In the first test, the power input was constant, while in the second test, the scientists experimented with turning the power on and off to test the self-sustaining mode. In the self-sustaining mode, they observed a periodic heating and cooling cycle that warrants further study.

To investigate whether there really is something special about the powder fuel in the small cylinder, the researchers performed a "dummy" test with an empty cylinder. They ran the test in March on the E-Cat HT2 for about 6 hours, taking measurements exactly as they did when the cylinder was loaded. They found that no extra heat was generated beyond that expected from the electric input. Whatever kind of catalyst is in the fuel seems to be indispensable for generating the excess energy.

The arXiv paper:

Indication of anomalous heat energy production in a reactor device

An experimental investigation of possible anomalous heat production in a special type of reactor tube named E-Cat HT is carried out. The reactor tube is charged with a small amount of hydrogen loaded nickel powder plus some additives. The reaction is primarily initiated by heat from resistor coils inside the reactor tube. Measurement of the produced heat was performed with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras, recording data every second from the hot reactor tube. The measurements of electrical power input were performed with a large bandwidth three-phase power analyzer. Data were collected in two experimental runs lasting 96 and 116 hours, respectively. An anomalous heat production was indicated in both experiments. The 116-hour experiment also included a calibration of the experimental set-up without the active charge present in the E-Cat HT. In this case, no extra heat was generated beyond the expected heat from the electric input. Computed volumetric and gravimetric energy densities were found to be far above those of any known chemical source. Even by the most conservative assumptions as to the errors in the measurements, the result is still one order of magnitude greater than conventional energy sources.

For the sake of our technological future, I really REALLY hope that this pans out as being real physics. We need something like this to put an end to rising atmospheric CO2 levels.

 

[Hank]

The article is both hopeful and troubling. If this is true, why all the secrecy? Obviously we all want a power source that isn't dead-dinosaur based. Is this it? If it is, why the secrecy? It seems that whatever he puts in the steel cylinder does the magic, but assuming it can be patented (and I don't see why it can't be), why not just patent it and release the exact information to the world? Also, what about Defkalion? I wish I could invest $100 in each of these companies just for the potential upside, but as it is I'm remaining skeptical.

 

[Mongo]

If I were Rossi I would patent the composition of whatever is in the steel cylinder, but it's far from unknown for inventors to go the "trade secret" route instead of patents. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, has refused to patent several vital aspects of his rocket launcher designs, because he says "if I patent my inventions, the day the applications are published China would start manufacturing knock-off copies of my designs". Instead he keeps them as trade secrets.

Having said that, Rossi's history of dubious (many say outright fraudulent) energy-related claims is disturbing. And of course there are plenty of people who claim that the current E-Cat invention is fraudulent as well. However, almost all the people and organizations that have been allowed close access to it, including those with a lot to lose if they are wrong, state that it is real and very promising technology.

My own opinion is that the E-Cat might be fraudulent, but the potential benefits are so great that it needs to be taken seriously for now and thoroughly investigated. Whether Rossi will allow this is another matter.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Well, it's science - if it is replicable, then we can talk. If not, well, we all know how the last episode went.

AoD