LENR Presentation by Joseph Zawodny, NASA Langley Research Center

ECat Planet by way of Freedom of Information Act Request ^ | December 5 2011 | Admin

[Kevmo]

LENR Presentation by Joseph Zawodny, NASA Langley Research Center
by
admin
Published on 12-05-2011 12:35 AM
On September of 2011, NASA Glen Research Center held a LENR Workshop at GRC on LENR. The notes are not currently available on NASA's site, but ecatplanet obtained the presentation notes from Dr. Dennis Bushnell and Dr. Joseph Zawodny via FOIA request.
Zawodny's presentation includes 35 pages of slides and includes a historical overview, theory, and implications for aerospace and beyond.
The powerpoint slides is available as a download at ZawodnyLENR for GRC.ppt or slightly modified with some NASA acronyms defined here.
Theory
Zawodny suggests that WLT may be correct, or at least on the right track. He thinks engineering specially designed nanostructures to create an ideal LENR reaction will be the way to avoid the randomness of micro-grained nickel powder.
LENR experiments employing electrochemical cells are basically uncontrolled experiments
IF the right pattern of dendrites/textures occurs, it is a random occurrence - almost pure luck
This is why replication is so sporadic, why some experiments take so long before they become active, and why some never do
Need to design, fabricate, and maintain the surface texture and/or grains - not rely on chance
MeV/He not a unique, let alone important, metric
What is LENR?
LENR is a form of nuclear power
However, LENR is NOT cold fusion
Transmutation products most consistent with neutron absorption process
Decay products readily thermalized
Gamma rays are screened out
Very likely linked to the resonance of the hydrogen in/on the metal lattice
Despite claims to the contrary, devices that can be turned ON/OFF not yet demonstrated
Ramifications
Scalable: Nuclear energy densities from µW to GW
Portable: Little or no need for radiation shielding
Adaptable to the full range of transportation systems
Does not have the weight, safety, and costs of fission
Revolutionizes Aviation and Access to Space
Decouples energetics from reaction mass
Fuel mass essentially goes away for air-breathing applications, reduces total mass
No GHG (CO2, H2O, aerosols, …) concerns
Fuel is very cheap (Nickel abundant, electrolysis of H2O)
Total replacement of fossil fuels for everything but synthetic organic chemistry
Aircraft and Space
Dr. Zawodny talks about the future of aviation when fuel is nearly zero. Military applications could include long range hypersonic or suborbital vehicles. Unmanned drones would be able to fly indefinitely. Spacecraft could be built in a fully reusable Single Stage To Orbit (SSTO) vehicle using an engine similar to the Space Shuttle's main engine.
Summary
A cheap, abundant, clean, scalable, portable source of energy will impact EVERYONE
Singular solution to peak oil, climate change, fresh water, and associated geopolitical instabilities
Drop-in replacement for traditional utility heat sources. Minimal impact to existing infrastructure
Enables widely distributed generation. Homes and businesses generate what they need - on site
Enables whole new approaches to all of NASA’s missions - we can affordably get off this rock!

[_Jim]

And -

Here is Joe Zawodny’s website with his statement:

http://joe.zawodny.com/

It begins thusly:

First the disclaimers: While I do work for NASA, I do not speak for them. They employ me for my professional capabilities and on occasion my professional opinion. Nothing I say should ever be construed as anything other than my personal opinion. As a NASA employee I am allowed and often times encouraged to say what I think. This and the exceptional people I get to work with every day are what make NASA great and a great place to work.

I wish to respond to a number of things that have popped up on the web in the past few days and weeks. I do this here because I can control the message. Every issue has at least two sides but, only the writer gets to decide how to present them. I do not plan to make discussion of my work on this site a habit and I do not plan to allow any comments to this post. It is unlikely that any email on this topic sent to me will generate a reply. Undoubtedly, bits and pieces of this will be taken out of context and used to support claims and opinions which I myself do not hold. Such is the nature of the Wild West Web (WWW). All I can ever hope to do is to maintain the original content and context. In my opinion, reputable sites will link back to this original content and others will not.

MORE: see link above