Posted on 10/17/2011 8:31:03 PM PDT by Kevmo
Over on Network World where I’ve had a gig as a columnist for about 18 years, my Backspin column I wrote this week about a power generation system called E-Cat that is to be tested on October 28th .
If you’ve missed the recent brouhaha over the E-Cat (which stands for Energy Catalyzer), you’re missing out on a three ring circus over a technology that will either change everything or change nothing because what is promised is, in theory, power too cheap to be worth metering .
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
HEAT AND PRESSURE are applied to the nickel-hydrogen-"catalyst" portion of the reactor. A high current is imposed to raise the "core" to a high enough temperature to start the reaction (whatever it is). Once started, the current is decreased to a "maintenance level" or shut off . The electricity is simply a very convenient and precisely controllable way to get that heat. There is "some" evidence that there is also an applied electric or magnetic "pulse"/frequency applied (very small amount of current, less than 100 watts.
This is directly comparable to your car's engine. You apply a large electric current to "start" the engine (starter motor and spark). Once "started" the electricity used drops to the "maintenance" level (spark alone).
The "E-cat" can operate in two modes:
One of the modes uses a much lower power of applied heat than that appplied at "startup", which helps to stabilize the reaction (if power/temperature drops, more heat is applied, if the reaction starts to "run away", less heat is applied). The "maintenace heat" in this case is like your cars spark plugs and throttle.
The other mode is more analogous to a Diesel engine. Once the reaction is started, all heater power is removed, and the reaction runs on its own self-generated heat, with that heat "balanced" only by the circulation of coolant. And like a Diesel, the "self-sustaining" E-cat is more "cantankerous" and difficult to keep stable.
The precise function and performance of the "frequency" applied to the E-cat is currently unknown, but the amount of power applied is so small as to be negligible.
Look up the "Stanley Steamer" to see what an size-efficient steam cycle looks like. "Garage-sized powerplant" NOT needed.
I take it you've never been inside an engineering research laboratory?? Particularly one that does catalyst research?? Rossi's rigs look just like those. It's an engineering prototype, not a finished commercial product.
And of course Rossi uses rather simplistic language. Some of the people in the audience of his demos are NOT scientists (i.e. journalists), and he knows that the videos are going to be seen by a non-professional audience.
"1. Why has Rossi abandoned the use of "cold fusion" for a description less specific? If his tests fail, has he left himself an out...."Well, it wasn't really cold fusion it was...whatever...""
For the same reason that "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" used the term MRI rather than "Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging"....the term has "negative connotations" with either the public or journalists.
"2. Nickle can be turned into "copper", actually more like copper by-products than good quality copper... It's either for industrial use, or the result of processing nickle. It's not a one-step, two-step process. It does not require cold fusion to accomplish..."Cheap Energy."
And I don't think anybody has ever said any differently. We simply don't know exactly what is happening.
"You didn't create the E-cat. Your reputation is not on the line, and peoples comments are not meant to mock you."
I'm opposed to efforts to censor a topic by "thread-spamming".
"The fun of Free Republic is putting an idea out there, and then taking the bitter with the sweet it the responses.
Sorry, but the level of abuse from the "seagulls" rises far above that.
The 'real smart guys' get that reputation by NOT faking things. It's been shown that real smart guys are easier to fool by sleight of hand because they tend to focus too much and miss what the other hand is doing.
Somebody who practices the art of sleight of hand is going to be better at faking it than someone who occasionally finds a fraud is good at finding frauds. Just look at how long it took to find the fraud at IPCC, and they weren't really good at hiding it.
I hate to say this of a freeper, but you really sound like Al Gore. The science on the E-Cat is definitely not settled. The Ni to Cu conversion will produce heat, but whether they found a cheap way to do it is certainly open to question.
Hardly. But believe what you wish.
Nope. "Want to believe" has nothing to do with it. There is no question that his primary education and degree was from an Italian university. The Kensington "diploma mill" degree is a separate issue.
"So, the fact that Rossi ran the PetrolDragon scam means nothing to you, and you completely dismiss the possibility that this is another scam?"
Petroldragon was NOT "a scam". The "criminal action" was a violation of Italian environmental regulations. And if you'll look back at my postings, I have never (and do not) "dismiss the possibility that this is another scam".
And I've said as much. I think the probability that it "is" a scam is a lot lower than most here.
But I'll repeat myself for about the fiftieth time. I base my opinion ON THE DATA that has come and is coming from the tests. Period. Nothing else matters. Arguing Rossi's "criminal record" gets you precisely nowhere with me. And that DATA is being sold short/misrepresented/lied about, both here and elsewhere.
Have you considered starting a technical or E-cat Caucus so you only discuss your interests with like-minded Freepers?
The only words worth reading in his entire column.
Are you saying you've fallen for Cold Fusion before - and before and before - going back decades? Here's some comfort: You're not alone. 'If this works as claimed' is written on our battle flag...
LOL. Do you "honestly" think that Moonman62 would honor a "Caucus Call"?? He's on a crusade to "stop fraud", don't-ya-know.
There are FR Caucus rules that have to be abided. I know this because I invaded a Caucus before I knew the rules.
Has there been a status update on the October 28 test? Is there work left to be done on the site? Is there a ramp up schedule, or are they going to just turn it all on for the first time on the 28th?
Rossi clearly wants to go into business with the ecat so his fraudulent background is relevant.
And besides, Kevmo is always thanking me for bumping his threads.
Why do you set aside Rossi’s fraudulent degree as “a separate issue?” its not a separate issue at all—his claimed credentials for his current project are fraudulent. As for your discrimination between scientific fraud and financial fraud, keep in mind that Rossi has taken money from investors and has already tried to franchise his product. His goal, IMHO, is to defraud a bunch of people with his E-Cat story.
What was his major? And what was the major of the fake degree?
He says he has a Philosophy degree from U. of Milan. The Kensington “diploma” was in Chemical Engineering.
You’re over thinking it. A hydrogen atom is one proton and one electron. Add a proton and an electron to nickel, and you OBVIOUSLY get copper. The question is how much useable heat is released, if any...and how much energy is consumed to instigate the process, and how much energy input is required to maintain the process...and how accurate the measurements of this guys super secret experiment.
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