A New Type of Glow Stick: Holmlid Alternatives Update

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Jack Cole
Light Stick Reactor

Glow Stick FL Reactor (Jones Beene’s design)

Jones Beene and I have continued working on alternatives for new experiments.  Jones has been running several experiments that have shown interesting results, but he is trying to rule out mundane explanations.  Our latest idea is to fix the “fuel” to a lighted surface with epoxy.  Jones’ latest idea was a clever adaptation of MFMP’s glow stick.  He painted the fuel on half of a florescent light and is comparing the performance to the unpainted side.

Jones notes the following early results:

For the “glow-stick fl” there are a few early results, which need to be repeated at increased power levels. With wall P-in of 3 watts (2 watts HV  to the 12” tube), the null side temperature levels off at 1.10 C over ambient, while the active side (with hydride) maintains a range of 2.3-2.6 C with a differential of 1.2-1.5 C.  The light-activated “paint” consists of approximately 40% hematite, 40% TiH2, 20% LiNiCoMnO2 in clear Varathane. LiNiCoMnO2 is a cathode material used in Li-ion batteries. It was a replacement spillover catalyst for KCO3 (long story).

One mundane explanation for small apparent thermal gain, not yet ruled out is that the TiH2 reacts slowly with the resin (polyurethane)… or that another light triggered chemical reaction is possible, but care has been taken to completely seal the paint so that air is not available as an oxidant. Longer term testing at higher input can rule out chemistry and determine scalability to useful levels.

I have been working on building a new conduction calorimeter, but hope to run an epoxy fuel experiment with a light box this weekend.  The fuel will be affixed to nickel foil, and we’ll compare the fuel with and without TiH2.  The only difference for the comparison will be the exclusion of the component that would be theoretically expected to be necessary for the formation of UDH (the hydrogen supply).

 

Posted in Hobbyist LENR, Holmlid Effect, Jones Beene | 7 Comments

Holmlid Effect – Jones Beene – Experiment Series 1

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Jack Cole

Jones Beene has been conducting a series of exploratory experiments attempting to find an alternative and simpler method of producing the Holmlid effect.  I wanted to start a separate post here where the current experimental series can be discussed and logged as it progresses.  For those who have not already read it, please see our page on replicating the Holmlid effect.  It is also linked at the top of this site for convenience.  Jones is currently exploring interesting effects seen with the addition of a high voltage source.

Tanning Booth Reactor for the Holmlid Effect

Tanning Booth Reactor for the Holmlid Effect

Posted in Hobbyist LENR, Holmlid Effect, Jones Beene | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Video: Scintillator vs. Geiger Counter

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Jack Cole

Thanks to “redacted” for passing along this useful video on different methods of radiation measurement.  The video compares different types of Geiger counters to a gamma scintillator.  Mentioned, but not shown, is an alpha scintillator (which are expensive).  This video is definitely worth watching for LENR replicators.  Of note, the scintillator does not work well for alpha particles, which may be important for the Holmlid effect.  A Geiger counter may detect alpha particles, but there are a lot of complications given alpha particles do not penetrate through material very well.

Posted in Particle Detection | Leave a comment

Rossi Sues and IH Says Unable to Substantiate Claims

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Jack Cole

This post is a short update to the whole Rossi E-cat saga.  The short version is that Rossi is suing Industrial Heat, LLC (IH) over multiple claimed wrongs against him, but basically because they refused to pay him $89M after receiving the report from Fabio Penon.  Penon turns out to be the ERV (expert responsible for verification).  Some experts point out serious flaws in his past verification studies of devices built by Rossi.  The report by Penon claimed an average energy output of 50 times input.  IH responds that for 3 years, they have tried to verify Rossi’s claims, but have failed.  IH plans to continue their investment and work in the LENR field and is committed to a scientifically valid approach.  This is good news for the field, and hopefully they be able to develop systems to a commercial level.

As for me, and some others, we will be turning our attention in other directions.  One possibility is the work of Leif Holmlid et. al. on the purported Ultra-Dense Deuterium (UDD) fusion effect (we refer to it as the Holmlid Effect).  Please see our working page here for progress reports and an introduction.

I would love to see the attention of many others turn their focus in more fruitful directions (away from Rossi) and continue using some of the great skills and methods acquired through studying Rossi’s failed system.  It would be a shame to waste those skills when we may yet discover an alternative method of energy production.  It is truly remarkable what hobbyist and lay-scientists have achieved, and they contributed greatly to the unraveling of the Rossi mystery.

Posted in Andrea Rossi, Leif Holmlid, LLC | 4 Comments

Rossi: 1MW plant test is finished

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Jack Cole

The test of Andrea Rossi’s 1MW E-Cat plant ended two days ago with no warning.  We knew it was near the end of the test based on when it started.  Rossi had just recently made more statements about loss of efficiency and substituting in new fuel charges.  Rossi has subsequently stated that he will be working with a new team with Leonardo Corp exclusively focusing on the development of the E-Cat X, whereas the existing team will continue developing the older generation E-Cats.

Andrea Rossi
February 18, 2016 at 8:06 PM

Janne:
1- The people working on the E-Cat X is different from the people that worked on the 1 MW E-Cat. I made a new Team specific for this, because the approach is different, even if treasures the experience made with the former E-Cats. I needed an epochè, a revolution of points of view. The Great Team that worked on the 1 MW E-Cat will continue the work on this kind of technology. F9 for both technologies
2- Premature, even if I dream it
3- Premature
4- Hopefully
Warm Regards,
A.R.
4-

There is no reference to Industrial Heat, so it makes one wonder if the IH team will continue development of the older E-Cat whereas a new team will include only people working for Leonardo Corp.  Rossi states that a report will be delivered within a month on the 1MW plant test by an ERV (expert responsible for validation).  In what form this will be delivered to the public is unknown, but hopefully it is delivered with enough detail to evaluate the scientific merit of the test.

Andrea Rossi
February 18, 2016 at 4:31 AM

Gerard Mc Ek:
The charge size has beene refined with the experience in thousands of experiments and, obviously, also on the base of theoretical considerations.
Yes, the test of 350 days is finished, yesterday the ERV has completed his tests.
Now it will take about a month to know the results from his report.
No more information about the 1 MW E-Cat that made the tests from now until the publication of the results will be allowed.
Warm Regards,
A.R.

Mats Lewan seems to have some inside knowledge and notes that he was informed by multiple sources that the test was “positive.”  The previous rumor on the plant performance was 20 to 80 COP, which would be incredible if true.

Posted in Andrea Rossi, E-Cat | 3 Comments

MFMP starts new glowstick 5.2 test (Update: Live Test Started)

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Jack Cole

The Martin Fleischmann Memorial Project has started work to examine and dismantle some effects related to fuel preparation.  They give the following rationale for the work:

Rossi / Parkhomov say that the powder needs to be heated rapidly to around 200ºC to drive off adsorbed/absorbed water and to cause micro-explosions producing smaller particles of Nickel.

Both Piantelli and Brillouin state that it is necessary to remove all O2.

The work to replicate Rossi / Parkhomov has so far been very difficult, and the current effort by the MFMP will help examine some reasons for the previous failures.  A lack of pre-baking of the nickel has been hypothesized as one of the reasons for these failures.

UPDATE 1/30/16: The active test has started.  Find the live feed here.

Posted in Alexander Parkhomov, Andrea Rossi, Martin Fleischmann Memorial Project | 3 Comments

Budko & Korshunov – Another Negative Replication Set

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Jack Cole

Two Russian scientists, Budko and Korshunov, have published a paper detailing a series of 17 experiments attempting to replicate the “Rossi effect.”  Sadly, they have contributed to the growing list of negative replication attempts.  Unfortunately, they only ran the temp up to 800C.  They note that they plan on attaining higher temperatures.  They utilized different mixtures of nickel powder, Al2O3 power (alumina), and LiAlH4 (lithium aluminum hydride).  They utilized a variety of power input schemes (DC, DC pulsed, AC).

This is more useful science showing what does not work.  Unfortunately, the ratio of negative replications to positive replications has grown quite large raising the strong possibility that the few positive replications are in error.  If this is not the case, then it may mean the effect is very difficult to reproduce.

 

 

Posted in Andrea Rossi, Budko and Korshunov, E-Cat | 1 Comment

Brillouin Energy – Advancing Milestones

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Jack Cole

A recent visit to the Brillouin Energy Corporation website revealed a new site design and information.  Browsing the Milestones section revealed some additional information.  Significant information included occasional excess heat seen in January, 2014 at SRI from the Hydrogen Hot Tube system (HHT).  In September, 2014, a COP of 2.25 was recorded with the electrolytic system.  In January, 2015, a COP of 4.13 was seen with the HHT system.  From this timeline, it appears that a lot of work was done over the course of 1 year to achieve a stable reaction from the HHT system.  I have yet, no reason to disbelieve the results.  At the same time, the details are scant and the information is coming out only in drips rather than publicly available reports.  It would seem that the tests were not directly conducted by SRI, but rather they reviewed the results.  It does not seem that there has been a test conducted by a third party at this point, but that third parties have reviewed BEC’s results.

Posted in Brillouin Energy - Robert Godes, SRI | 1 Comment

Russ Gries – LENR Research Apparatus

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Jack Cole

Russ Gries of RWG Research and Quantum Gravity Research, has released an excellent video of his work in developing a highly sensitive calorimetry system for studying LENR.  Russ’ calibrations show the system to be accurate to within 2mw.  The system is setup to run either deuterium or hydrogen and will also include the ability to detect alpha particle emissions.  The instrumentation and control is handled by National Instruments Labview software.

This apparatus is not for Rossi style work, but rather near room temperature work.  Russ is doing important work, and I look forward to seeing how his experiments progress.

Russ is seeking feedback here.

Posted in Russ Gries | 4 Comments

Two Units of Rossi’s 1MW Plant Losing Efficiency=Good News

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Jack Cole

That may be an odd headline, but let me explain.  If Rossi and the group evaluating the measurements of Rossi’s 1MW E-Cat plant have not conducted a calibration run, then it’s hard to trust the instrumentation used.  By losing efficiency, it is suggestive that there truly is excess heat being generated by the plant.  Two reactor sub-units have now demonstrated this loss in efficiency at different times.  To my mind, the best outcome would be that the other 2 would also lose efficiency.  Even better, all four lose efficiency completely so that the COP becomes 1.

As I have watched this test unfold, the report of declining efficiency has provided the best reason for optimism about the outcome to my mind. It’s also an indication of honesty on the part of Andrea Rossi.  He has been willing to report problems and progress, which I find encouraging.

Andrea Rossi
December 21st, 2015 at 8:27 AM
Ugo Pezzotti:
The 1 MW E-Cat is stable, but we are noticing a decrease of the efficiency in one reactor, probably due to the charge: this is very interesting and we are monitoring this fact very carefully.

Azzurra:
Time: 08.05 a.m. of Wed Dec 30st :
E-Cat 1 MW: another reactor shows a decrease of efficiency, but still has enough COP. The charges are starting to give evidence of consumption. Very interesting to study the phenomenon from now on.
E-Cat X: works, makes heat and electricity, is very promising.
Warm Regards,
A.R.

Posted in Andrea Rossi, E-Cat | Leave a comment

Jeff Morris – Another Negative Replication Set

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Jack Cole

Experimenter, Jeff Morris, has released a presentation on a series of replication experiments conducted with an air flow calorimeter.  Mr. Morris has attempted to replication the results of Rossi and Parkhomov, but unfortunately did not demonstrate excess heat in his small series of 3 experiments.  Mr. Morris understands the importance of proper calibration, and has developed what appears to be an effective research apparatus for studying excess heating (should we ever discover a method that can produce this effect).

http://www.lenr-forum.com/forum/index.php/Attachment/470-E-cat-cell-to-post-pdf/

 

Posted in Alexander Parkhomov, Andrea Rossi, E-Cat, Jeff Morris | 3 Comments

The Central Importance of Calibration

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Jack Cole

The third party reports examining Rossi’s E-Cat technology both produced apparently positive results.  Unfortunately, they both suffered the same problem:  they lacked an adequate calibration.  TPR1 used a separate dummy device and ran only at a lower temperature level.  TPR2 used the same device without fuel, but did not run to the same temperature or input power levels used in the active run.  MFMP was able to demonstrate why this very likely led to invalid results for TPR2.

It is not possible to make scientific conclusions about a study of excess heating that does not include an adequate calibration run of the device without fuel (even if you use calorimetry).  My primary concern with Rossi’s work is the possibility that he has never adequately used null run comparisons.  The null run allows you to take into account potential systematic sources of error.  It must be performed across the full temperature and power ranges under which the device operates.

Followers of my past experiments will note that I have been excited about potential excess heat in the past, only to discover that calibration error accounted for the apparent excess heat.  Perhaps someone can correct me, but I do not recall a single demonstration by Rossi which included any type of calibration.  This is the most likely route that his results will turn out to be negative, assuming the results are not positive.

Posted in Andrea Rossi, E-Cat | Leave a comment

We should believe Rossi about potentially negative results

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Jack Cole

Compared to some of his confidence evidenced in previous years, Andrea Rossi has been very cautious about making any positive statements about his E-Cat technology over the past year or so.  It seems that followers of the progress view these cautionary statements as expressing a hidden meaning something akin to “what he really means is that things have been going great, with evidence of copious excess heating, and he wants to be cautious about anything going wrong between now and the end of the test.”

Conversely, I am trying to take Rossi at face value when he responds to the following comment:

  1. Maryana
    December 3rd, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    Dear Andrea Rossi
    Please take care of yourself: if something happens to you this we’ll lose the sole man able to make real the LENR technology. 18 hours per day of work are not human, you must make a more sustainable workshift.
    God bless you,
    Maryana

  2. Andrea Rossi
    December 3rd, 2015 at 9:25 AM

    Maryana:
    I am well, thanks God I can sustain the work I am doing. Besides, it is not true I am the sole man able to make real LENR: as a matter of fact, it is soon to say if I am able at all… the tests on course are not finished, yet.
    Thank you for your kind care, though!
    Warm Regards,
    A.R.
    p.s.: your comment is the # 26 000 of this blog.

     

It is hard me and others to believe that he could get this far, and be wrong about having working technology, but we should try to believe him when he says that it is too soon to say if he is able to make real LENR at all.  At times, conventional means (e.g., electrical heating), can create impressive displays of intense light.  It may be tempting to interpret this as something beyond electrical heating, but we must wait for the final outcome rather than impressions.  We are all capable of self-deception, and it is good to remember this.  And if the past could predict the future (it can’t), we might be tempted to predict that the results will, yet again, be inconclusive.

I hope that the results are positive, but they may not be (no kidding or hidden meaning implied).

Posted in Andrea Rossi, E-Cat | 5 Comments

Brillouin Energy Press Release on 3rd-Party-Involved Test

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Jack Cole

Brillouin Energy has a new press release posted on their website announcing the availability of a 3rd party report on a test of their “Hydrogen Hot Tube™ (HHT™) Boiler System reactor core modules.”  The 35-page report is described as being limited in availability.  Specifically, the report “is available upon request to qualified interested parties under a customary non-disclosure agreement.”  It looks like they plan to carefully control the dissemination of this report.

The study was reportedly directed by Michael Halem, who is listed as a VP/Senior Partner with the group LENR Invest.

Michael has 29 years of experience in financial markets as a manager for Salomon Brothers, Nomura Securities, Rocket Partners and Millennium Partners. Previously, Mr. Halem worked at Cape Canaveral where he designed the Space Shuttle Radar Intercept Control Console and the Range Safety Real-Time Telemetry Display System. Mr. Halem earned his BA in Physics from Harvard and his MBA in Finance and Management from Columbia.  …

The experiment itself appears to have been conducted by staff at SRI and Brillouin Energy staff.  In a sense, this can be considered to be less independent than the TPR’s 1 & 2 on Rossi’s E-Cat technology.  We have no reason to believe that these staff members would intentionally try to fool the test.  We also have no numbers about the amount of excess heat energy or COP achieved during the experiment.  It was noted that,

In all cases, the results were consistent: the data demonstrate with very high confidence that the Brillouin Energy HHT™ prototype repeatedly produced lab-scale excess heat from LENR. “I was given full access to the experiments,” said Mr. Halem. “I was able to confirm, with a high degree of confidence, excess energy output above chemical and likely due to a nuclear reaction.”

The use of the phrase “lab-scale excess heat,” would tend to suggest that they did not see the level of heat needed for an industrial system.  However, scalability is also asserted,

The Technical Validation Report affirms that Brillouin Energy’s HHT™ technology “is scalable by assembling multiple HHT™ tubes” in a reactor system.

It is certainly an interesting development, and makes one wonder whether this is the source of Michael McKubre’s statement that the system has demonstrated a COP of 4.

Posted in Brillouin Energy - Robert Godes, SRI, Validation Reports | Leave a comment

Positive Anecdotes and Negative Replications

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Jack Cole

Mats Lewan has conducted an excellent interview with Andrea Rossi’s “right hand man:” Fulvio Fabiani.  Fabiani seems completely convinced that both the 1MW plant and E-Cat X are working well (i.e., producing copious excess heat).  This is a nice positive anecdote for the reality of a functioning E-Cat.  If true, it is a truly remarkable technology.

“Until now the test is in line with the result that we expected. We encountered the biggest problems during the design and installation phase of the test plant. The most difficult thing was the choice of materials needed to withstand this new kind of energy release and this type of operation for such a long time. And we have found many little flaws—teething problems. For example, also the choice of bolts has led to a revision because some bolts were not sufficiently treated with anti-corrosive, and so they rusted. But if you don’t test you cannot say that you have a product to sell.”

….

“I have really seen… Did you see Blade Runner? The quote at the end, ‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe’. It’s true. I assure you that I have seen things that only I, Rossi and a few other people saw. We really saw things… I really saw the new frontier of energy. There is nothing in comparison. You cannot imagine. I speak of the E-CatX* and many others of Rossi’s experiments. We have tried lots of things, and we have made some twenty and more different reactors. And I can assure you that with some of them we have truly seen a new world. Energy density, reaction capacity, in the sense of things never seen. The new frontier of energy.”

Conversely, we find reason for pessimism coming from reports of more negative replication attempts.  In a discussion with Peter Gluck on his blog Ego Out, respected CF researcher, Edmund Storms states that despite having conducted dozens of attempts to replicate the E-Cat, he has had not one success.  Any other positive replication attempts achieved so far could easily be considered by scientists to be either in error or rumor/anecdotal (i.e., not scientific).  The hard data are not pointing in a positive direction, but rumor and anecdote are giving some reasons for optimism.  Sadly, there does not seem to be any significant success in applying the concepts from Rossi’s patent, or Parkhomov’s methods, to achieve an repeatedly replicable effect.

Ed: Here you focus on the lack of reproducibility. Yes, this is a problem both for the PdD and NiH systems.  In fact, LENR using PdD has been replicated far more often than energy production using NiH.  In my case, I have made dozens of attempts to replicate Rossi with no success. In contrast, I can often replicate LENR using PdD.   Replication requires knowing the important variables required to form the NAE. We do not have this knowledge, which I trying to get. Knowing were to look is the first requirement.  I see very little interest being focused on where I think the knowledge can be found. 

Recently, I attempted another replication.  While it seemed initially promising, follow-up experiments raised doubt.  On the positive side, I developed some very good algorithms for testing self-sustained operation.  Should excess heating be achieved, the method would provide another method of demonstrating excess heat.

 

Posted in Alexander Parkhomov, Andrea Rossi, E-Cat, Edmund Storms, Mats Lewan | Leave a comment