Early Excess Power Using Naval Research Laboratory Pd-B Cathodes

College of Science and Technology, Dixie State University St. George, Utah 84770 (USA) Email: mhmiles1937@gmail.com

The excess power in cold fusion experiments appears unusually early for Pd-B cathodes prepared by NRL (U.S. Naval Research Laboratory). This early excess power may exceed 100 mW and can be measurable within minutes of the start of the D2O + LiOD electrolysis.

This effect readily exceeds the maximum possible excess power for deuterium loading into the palladium. This unusual early excess power effect was first noted by Martin Fleischmann in his analysis of the Pd-0.5B (0.5 weight % B) data obtained in 1997 at the New Hydrogen Energy Laboratory in Japan [1].

A new experiment in Ridgecrest, California in 2017 using this same Pd-0.5B electrode showed similar early excess power effects. The re-examination of two previous experiments conducted at NRL in 1995 and using two different NRL Pd-B cathodes in a Hart Seebeck Calorimeter also showed early excess power effects.

Therefore, this early excess power has been measured using three different types of calorimeters at three different laboratories and using three different NRL Pd-B cathodes.

Possible explanations of this early excess power other than LENR (Cold Fusion) have been eliminated such as the change of the thermoneutral potential (EH) during deuterium loading or errors in any experimental measurements. In fact, a simple equation has been obtained that gives the maximum power for the loading of deuterium into the palladium, P(max) = (EH - EH’)I, where EH = 1.5267 V, EH’ = 1.3448 V, and I is the cell current in amps. For example, P(max) = 0.0273 W for a cell current of I = 0.1500 A when all of the cell current is used for deuterium loading.

Boron added to the palladium may be an essential element for excess heat effects or it may create the special reaction zones such as vacancies, cracks, defects or grain boundaries needed for LENR. Assuming that boron is essential for the excess heat effects, then the long electrolysis times (weeks, months) reported by Fleischmann and Pons could be due to the leaching of boron from Pyrex glass (mostly SiO2 + B2O3) and gradually depositing at the palladium cathode.

This may also explain why experiments at the Navy China Lake laboratory often gave larger excess heat effects for repeated experiments that used the same palladium cathode. There is some experimental evidence reported that boron-10 may be the heat source fuel in palladium cathodes [2].

A previous study of a NRL PdB cathode has identified helium-4 as the major fusion product [3]. The Fleischmann-Pons differential calorimetric equations were used for determining the early excess power for the isoperibolic calorimetric cells.

The largest calorimetric term for these initial measurements is the CpMdT/dt term which was carefully considered for possible errors. The cell heat capacity (CpM in J/K) was evaluated by several different methods. Possible errors in dT/dt (K/s) were minimized by numerical integration methods which agreed with results obtained by using CpMdT/dt directly.

[1]. M.H. Miles, M. Fleischmann and M.A. Imam, “Calorimetric analysis of a heavy water electrolysis experiment using a Pd-B alloy cathode”, Naval Research Laboratory Report /NRL/MR/6320-01-8526, March 26, 2001, pp. 25, 51, 52, 81. (See http://lenr-canr.org/acrobat/MilesMcalorimetrd.pdf).

[2]. T.O. Passell, “Search for nuclear reaction products in heat-producing Pd”, ICCF-7 Proceedings, 1998, pp. 309-313.

[3]. M.H. Miles in Cold Fusion: Advances in Condensed Matter Nuclear Science, Jean-Paul Biberian, Editor, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 10-11, 2020.

  

Dr. Melvin H. Miles
Visiting Professor
Dixie State University
St. George, Utah 84770, U.S.A.
email: mhmiles1937@gmail.com
ICCF – 23 in Xiamen, China (Virtual)
June 9-11, 2021
Presentation Outline
I. Show Experimental Results For Early Excess Power Using NRL Pd-B Cathode.
A. NHE Laboratory (Japan) Using F-P Dewar Calorimetry (1997).
B. Ridgecrest, California (U.S.A.) Using Copper Heat Conduction Calorimeter (2016).
C. Naval Research Laboratory Results Using a Seebeck Calorimeter (1995).
(Importance Not Realized Until 2018)
II. Discuss Possible Calorimetric Error Sources.
A. Thermoneutral Potential (EH).
B. Cell Heat Capacity (CpM).
C. Rate of Cell Temperature Change (dT/dt).
III: Discuss Possible Boron Effects For Cold Fusion.
A. Direct B+D Reactions Have Been Proposed.
B. Essential Element For Fusion Process.
C. Provides Nuclear Reaction Zones.
(Vacancies, Cracks, Grain Boundaries, Electrical Double Layers).
D. Boron May Act as “Trigger” For Cold Fusion Reactions.
EARLY EXCESS POWER EVENTS FOR Pd-B CATHODES
1. NHE Laboratory (Japan) Using F-P Dewar Calorimeter
(December 5, 1997)
❖ First Noted by Martin Fleischmann
-- Mean Excess Power of 57 mW at 55 minutes
-- Mean Excess Power of 38 mW for First 24 hours
“It is obviously very important to establish whether this early establishment
of positive feedback is a property of Pd-B alloys ---”.
(M. Fleischmann, NRL Report (2001), p. 25)
2. Ridgecrest, California Laboratory Using a Heat Conduction Calorimeter
(July 3, 2016)
❖ Measured Excess Power was 118 mW at 8 minutes
3. Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.A.) Using a Hart Seebeck Calorimeter
(January, 1995)
❖Continuous Excess Power During and Following Loading
(5 to 15 mW)
(Not Recognized Until 2018)
Pd – 0.5 B At NHE (Japan)
(Fleischmann’s Analysis For First Two Days)
Early Excess Power
(PX
)
(13.9 h) (27.8 h) (41.7 h) (56.8 h)
0.050 W
0.040 W
0.010 W
0
M.H. Miles, M. Fleischmann and M.A. Imam, “Calorimetric Analysis of a Heavy Water Electrolysis
Experiment Using a Pd-B Alloy Cathode.” NRL/MR/6320-01-8526, March 26, 2001, P. 81. Each point is a 55
minute average.
(Other Experimental Points Show the “Lower Bound” heat transfer coefficient).
Early Excess Power
(PX
)
Fleischmann Analysis
Mean Excess Power per Day for the NHE (Japan) Pd-0.5 B Experiment
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
P
x (mW)
Time(Day)
(See NRL Report, pp. 79, 88-91)
(kR = 0.85065x10-9 W/K4
, CpM = 450 J/K)
20 40 60
Days Days Days
(400 mW)
(0 mW)
Miles Analysis
Study of NRL Pd-B Rod In Japan (NHE)
(0.50 wt. % B, 0.471 x 2.01 cm, V=0.35 cm3
,
December 1997 – February 1998)
-0.15
-0.10
-0.05
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0 1000000 2000000 3000000 4000000 5000000 6000000 Excess Power (W)
Time (seconds)
F / P Cells - Pd - 0.5B
December 5, 1997 - February 2, 1998
Excess Power
PX-2
(kR = 0.81120x10-9 W/K4
, CpM = 490 J/K)
24 Days 58 Days
* The kR Value Used Was Too Small
Early Excess Power For Ridgecrest California Experiment
(Pd-0.5 B Cathode Using My Copper Calorimeter)
March 18, 2017
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
140.0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Excess Power (mW)
Time (minutes)
(kC = 0.1205 W/K , CpM = 450 J/K)
Figure 3. Early excess power for a Pd-0.5 B rod (0.47 x 2.01 cm). The dashed line shows the
maximum excess power expected for 100% deuterium loading at the cell current of
I = 0.150 A. PL = (1.5267 – 1.3448)(0.150 A) = 0.0273 W.
Early Excess Power For Pd – 0.75 B At NRL
Miles/Dominguez / January 1995
New Seebeck Calorimeter (Hart)
Time/Hours Time/Hours
Cell C
Time/Hours
40 60 80 100 120 140 1 
Possible Calorimetric Error Sources
A. The Thermoneutral Potential (EH)
❑ Assume 100% Deuterium Loading
ΔH˚ = 77.85 kJ/mol Pd
EH
˚ = - ΔH˚ / 0.6 F = - 1.3448 V
❑ Only Explains Excess Power Due To Loading
For I = 0.1500A , PX
(Loading) = 0.0273 W (27.3 mW)
(Note: Previous Calculation Error for ΔH˚ Led To Incorrect Conclusion)
✓ EH is NOT An Error Source
✓ Decreases In EH Explained By Deuterium Loading.
Pd + 0.3 D2O PdD0.6 + 0.15 O2
PX = (1.5267 – 1.3448) I = 0.1819 I
Possible Calorimetric Error Sources
B. The Cell Heat Capacity (CpM)
• Where PX
’ = PX + PG + PW and f(T) = T – Tb
(Heat Conduction)
f(T) = T4 – Tb
4 (Heat Radiation)
Note: Initially CpMdT/dt is Large
F-P Dewar Cell CHECK CpM = 450 J/K
90 mL D2O = 419 J/K
20 cm3 Pyrex Glass = 30 J/K
Pd + Pt Metals = 2 J/K
EXPERIMENTAL CHECK TOTAL = 451 J/K
CpM Is NOT An Error Source
No Discontinuities Across Cell Heating Pulses (Large CpMdT/dt)
(See NRL Report, pp. 72,73)
PX
’ = CpMdT/dt + k f(T) - (E – EH
) I
Possible Calorimetric Error Sources
C. Rate of Cell Temperature Change (dT/dt)
Accurate Methods Exist For Determining dT/dt
➢Graphical (T vs. time Graph)
➢Polynomial Fitting (T = a + bt + ct2 +dt3 + ----)
dT/dt = b + 2 ct + 3 dt2 + ---
➢Numerical Integration (Avoids dT/dt use)
(Simpson or Trapezoidal Rule)
CpMdT/dt ≈> CpM (T2 – T1
)
(W) (J)
Any Error Due to dT/dt Can Be Minimized or Avoided
Lower Bound Cell Constant (k’)
(Sensitive To Early Excess Power)
oCalculation of k’ Assumes Zero Excess Power
Rearranged ≈>
▪ k’ Often Negative For Real PX
and Small ΔT
(Early in Experiment)
Pd-0.5 B Data Point At t = 8.0 Minutes
ΔT = 0.55 K, E = 4.440 V, I = 0.150 A, dT/dt = 1.083x10-3 K/s (0.065 K/m)
PX = (0.1205 + 0.09155)(0.55K) = 0.1166 W
(Omitting PG
and P W)
(See M. Fleischmann and S. Pons, Physics Letters A, 176, 118-129, 1993)
k’ = k - PX
/ΔT
PX = (k – k’) ΔT
k’ = -0.09155 W/K
k = 0.1205 W/K
(117 mW)
Possible Boron Effects For LENR
1. Boron As An Essential Element For LENR.
✓ Boron In Pyrex May Explain Weeks/Months of Electrolysis Before LENR Appears.
✓ Explains Why Repeated Experiments With The Same Cathode Often Produce Larger Effects.
2. Boron May Participate in Fusion Reactions.
✓ D + B-10 → 3 He-4 + 17.6 MeV
✓ Active Electrodes Show B-10 Depletion
(See T.O. Passell, ICCF-6 and ICCF-11 Proceedings)
3. Boron May Aid Creation of Nuclear Reaction Zones.
✓ Vacancies, Cracks, Grain Boundaries, Double Layers.
4. Boron May Act as “Trigger” For LENR
5. Boron Greatly Slows Deuterium Deloading Rate.
6. Boron Is An Unusual Element.
✓ B Atom Has Three Unpaired Electrons.
(Unpaired electrons affect NMR Spectra, see DNP).
✓ Calcium Boride Often Used in Palladium Preparation.
(Oxygen Getter)
Mathematical Modeling Of Early Cell Behavior
(Theoretical Increase of T - Tb With Time For PX
’ = 0)
➢CpMdΔT/dt = (E - EH)I – k(T - Tb
) + P’X Where ΔT = T – Tb
✓Assume P’X = PX + PG + PW = 0 (Tb = T0
)
dΔT/dt = α - γΔT
Where α = (E - EH)I / CpM (K/s), γ = k/CpM (s-1
)
➢Integration Yields
ΔT = T – T0 = (α/γ)[1 – exp (-γt)]
For Small – γt then exp ( - γt) ≈ 1 – γt Thus ΔT ≈ αt
❑ Cell Temperature Initially Increases Linearly With Time
Initial Experimental And Calculated ΔT Values
t (minutes) T – To
(K) T – To (K) E (V) P’X (mW)
(Experimental) Calculated)
0.0 0 0 -- --
2.0 0.120 0.111 4.345 87
4.0 0.270 0.222 4.389 98
6.0 0.420 0.331 4.419 112
8.0 0.550 0.437 4.440 118
10.0 0.675 0.540 4.451 93
12.0 0.800 0.633 4.425 84
14.0 0.910 0.730 4.440 76
16.0 1.010 0.824 4.446 59
18.0 1.110 0.916 4.458 60
20.0 1.190 1.005 4.465 50
Table 2. Initial Cell Temperatures: Experimental and Calculated.
For First 10 Minutes: ΔH = CpM [(T – T0
) - (T’ – T0
)]
= 450 J/K [0.135 K] = 61 J
Mean Excess Power:  = 61 J/(10)(60)s = 0.102 W
PX [87, 98, 112, 118, 93 mW]  Excess Power Measurements Are Correct.
(Early Excess Power Mainly Used To Heat Cell)
SUMMARY For Pd-B CATHODES
1. Very Early Excess Power Measured In Different Experiments.
▪ Excess Power Detected Within Minutes Of Electrolysis.
▪ Three Different Laboratories Using Three Different Calorimeters.
2. No Error Source Explains This Early Excess Power.
▪ EH
, CpM, dT/dt Are Not Error Sources.
3. Possible Boron Effects For Cold Fusion (LENR).
▪ Direct B + D Reactions.
▪ Boron Is An Essential Element For LENR.
▪ Boron May Aid In Creating Nuclear Reaction Zones.
▪ Boron May Serve as “Trigger” For Start of LENR.
Note: Boron Loads Normally But De-Loads Very Slowly.
(Boron Atoms In Grain Boundaries May Block Deuterium Escape).
Acknowledgements
1. Masao Sumi
✓ Helped At NHE In Setting Up F-P Type Experiments.
✓ Sent Me Complete Computer Data For My NHE Experiments.
(I was denied this data when leaving NHE).
2. Dr. Martin Fleischmann
✓ Provided Detailed Analysis For My NHE Pd-0.5 B Experiment.
✓ First To Show Early Excess Power For NRL Pd-0.5 B Cathode.
3. Dr. M.A. Imam
✓ Prepared Pd-B Cathodes At Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).
(U.S. Patent 6764561B1, July 20, 2004)
4. Dr. Fred Saalfeld, Head of NRL In 2001
✓ Allowed Publication of Fleischmann’s Analysis As a NRL Report.
(Despite Considerable Cold Fusion Controversy Within U.S. Navy).
5. M Fleischmann and S. Pons For Accurate Calorimetric Equations.
6. Financial Support From Anonymous Fund At The Denver Foundation Through The Dixie
Foundation at Dixie State University.

Excess Power Measurements For Palladium-Boron Cathodes

#Melvin H. Miles
Dixie State University, St. George, Utah 84770, U.S.A.
email: melmiles1937@yahoo.com
One of the major goals of the U.S. Navy cold fusion program (1992-1995) was to produce our own
palladium cathode materials at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). However, none of these Navy
palladium metals and alloys were successful in producing the Fleischmann-Pons (F-P) excess power effect
during the first two years. This all changed with the NRL preparation of palladium-boron (Pd-B) alloy
cathodes in 1994. Seven out of eight experiments using these NRL Pd-B cathodes produced significant
excess power in calorimetric studies at the Navy laboratory at China Lake, California (C/L). The one failure
was related to a folded over metal region which acted as a long crack on the electrode surface. This success
with Pd-B alloys made by NRL came too late to prevent the closure of the U.S. Navy cold fusion program
in 1995, but these results are documented in a Navy report [1].
The author had the opportunity once again to work on cold fusion in 1997-1998 at the New Hydrogen
Energy laboratory (NHE) in Sapporo, Japan. Three F-P Dewar calorimeters were available for this work,
and a new Pd-B cathode from NRL was included in these experiments. Significant excess power for Pd-B
was again observed [2]. The computer data from this experiment was also later carefully processed by
Martin Fleischmann and published in a detailed NRL report [3]. The excess power was verified throughout
most of this experiment and increased to nearly 10 watts during the boil-off of the cell contents. A
significant new observation for this Pd-B cathode was the very early appearance of the excess power effect
within the first two days of this experiment [3].
Last year (2017), this same Pd-B cathode was tested again using a different calorimeter at Ridgecrest,
California (R/C). Excess power was observed, although the effect was considerably smaller than found at
the NHE laboratory in 1998. Nevertheless, the excess power of 70 mW was clearly above the experimental
calorimetric error of ±3 mW.
In summary, 9 out of 10 of my experiments using NRL Pd-B cathodes have produced excess power in six
different calorimeters. Selected examples are shown in Table 1. The calorimetric results for all ten Pd-B
experiments will be presented, and possible important properties of these Pd-B materials will be discussed.
The effects of boron added to the palladium include a much greater hardness of the metal, a much slower
rate of deuterium escaping from the cathode, the fact that boron acts as an oxygen getter, and that the Pd-B
is a two-phase material. Two important unreported Pd-B experiments at NRL in 1995 will also be
discussed.
Table1. Selected Examples of Pd-B Experiments.
Date Location Calorimeter % B Excess power (mW)
May, 1994 C/L C/L-B 0.75 150
October, 1994 C/L C/L-C 0.75 300
March, 1995 C/L C/L-A 0.50 100
March, 1995 C/L C/L-D 0.25 80
December, 1998 NHE F-P 0.50 450
March, 2017 R/C Copper-B 0.50 70
1. M.H. Miles, B.F. Bush, K.B. Johnson, “Anomalous Effects in Deuterated System”, NAWCPNS
TP 8302, September, 1996.
2. M.H. Miles, “Calorimetric Studies of Palladium Alloy Cathodes Using Fleischmann-Pons Dewar
Type Cells” in ICCF-8 Conference Proceedings, pp. 97-104, 2000.
3. M.H. Miles, M. Fleischmann, M.A. Imam, “Calorimetric Analysis of a Heavy Water Electrolysis
Experiment Using a Pd-B Alloy Cathode”, NRL/MR/6320-01-8526, March 26, 2001.

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