Energy Catalyzer

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(November 2011)

The Energy Catalyzer (also called E-Cat) is a supposed cold fusion or Low-Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) heat source[1][2] built by inventor Andrea Rossi,[3][4] with support from physicist Sergio Focardi.
[5]

An Italian patent, which was approved on April 6, 2011, describes the E-Cat as a "process and

equipment to obtain exothermal reactions, in particular from nickel and hydrogen".[6] The device allegedly works by infusing heated hydrogen into nickel, transmuting it into copper and producing heat.
[7][8]

An international patent application[9] has received an unfavorable international preliminary report on

patentability because it seemed to "offend against the generally accepted laws of physics and established theories" and to overcome this problem the application should have contained either experimental evidence or a firm theoretical basis in current scientific theories. [10] The device was demonstrated to an invited audience several times, and has been commented on by various academics and others. On October 28, 2011, Rossi claimed that he had completed a successful 5.5 hour test of a self-sustaining heat generator that produced 470 kW, and that he had made a sale to an undisclosed customer. However, the independent observers of the test were not allowed to make their own measurements nor closely scrutinize the company's procedures. [11] Mark Gibbs of Forbes commented: "until a verifiably objective analysis is conducted by an independent third party that confirms the results match the claims theres no real news". [12]
Contents
[hide]

1 Design 2 Evaluation of the device 3 Patents 4 Demonstrations

5 Commercial plans 6 References 7 External links

Design
According to Focardi, the hydrogen nuclei (protons) combine with the nickel nuclei to form copper, releasing heat in the process.[8]

Evaluation of the device

Rossi and Focardi's joint publication was rejected by a peer-reviewed scientific journal.[13] It appears only in Rossi's self-published blog, Journal of Nuclear Physics.[14] The device has been commented on positively by University of Bologna physics professor Giuseppe Levi.[15] The University of Bologna explicitly states that they have not been involved in the demonstrations and none of the experiments were at the university. University of Bologna researchers have attended some E-Cat experiments but only as observers. The university will begin experiments on the E-Cat as soon as the contract signed with EFA Srl (Andrea Rossi's Italian company) is put into effect.[16][17][18][19][20] As Ny Teknik reports, Peter Ekstrm, lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Physics at Lund University in Sweden, concluded in May 2011, "I am convinced that the whole story is one big scam, and that it will be revealed in less than one year."[21][22] He cites the unlikelihood of a chemical reaction being strong enough to overcome the Coulomb barrier, the lack of gamma rays, the lack of explanation for the origin of the extra energy, the lack of the expected radioactivity after fusing a proton with 58Ni, the unexplained occurrence of 11% iron in the spent fuel, the 10% copper in the spent fuel strangely having the same isotopic ratios as natural copper, and the lack of any unstable copper isotope in the spent fuel as if the reactor only produced stable isotopes.[21] Kjell Aleklett, physics professor at Uppsala University, said the percentage of copper was too high for any known reaction of nickel, and the copper had the same isotopic ratio as natural copper. He also stated, "Known chemical reactions cannot explain the amount of energy measured. A nuclear reaction can explain the amount of energy, but the knowledge we have today says that this reaction cannot take place." [23][22] Dennis M. Bushnell, Chief Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, described LENR as a "promising" technology and praised the work of Rossi and Focardi.[24] According to PhysOrg, the demonstrations held from January to April 2011 had several flaws that make them lose credibility and Rossi has refused to perform several tests that could clarify dark points.
[2]

Patents
An application in 2008 to patent the device internationally had received an unfavorable preliminary report on patentability at the World Intellectual Property Organization[25] from the European Patent Office, noting that the description of the device was based on "general statements and speculations" and citing "numerous deficiencies in both the description and in the evidence provided to support its feasibility" as well as incompatibilities with current scientific theories. [26] The patent application was published on October 15, 2009.[27] However, on 6 April 2011 an application was approved by the Italian Patent and Trademark Office, which issued a patent for the invention, valid only in Italy.[28][29][30][31] International, European, and U.S. patent applications are still pending.[32][30][31]

Demonstrations
The device has not been independently verified. Several demonstrations were given to invited guests. In January and February two demonstrations were given in the presence of Levi.[33][34] In March two Swedish scientists witnessed a demonstration. [35][36] In April some representatives from the press were invited,[37] and two demonstrations followed in September and October. None of these were set up to provide scientific evidence. Of the January demonstration, Discovery Channel analyst Benjamin Radford wrote that "If this all sounds fishy to you, it should,"[38] and that "In many ways cold fusion is similar to perpetual motion machines. The principles defy the laws of physics, but that doesnt stop people from periodically claiming to have invented or discovered one."[39]

January 14, 2011: The demonstration was monitored by independent scientific

representatives of the University of Bologna, including INFN physicist Giuseppe Levi. Levi concluded that the power and energy produced was "impressive," and that the Energy Catalyzer might be working as a new type of energy source.

March 29, 2011: Two Swedish physicists, Hanno Essn and Sven Kullander participated as

observers in a test of a smaller version of the Energy Catalyzer. [35] The test ran for six hours, with claimed results of net power output of 4.4 kW, and total energy output of about 25 kWh.[36][40] They were given samples of nickel powder, some unused and some that Rossi reported as used for 2.5 months. An analysis showed the unused powder was pure nickel while the used powder contained 10 percent copper and 11 percent iron,[36] Kullander said that the presence of copper is "a proof that nuclear reactions took place in the process. Iron production is not mentioned anywhere in the patent.[27] In their test report, Essen and Kullander cautioned, "Since we do not have access to the

internal design of the central fuel container... we can only make very general comments."[40] In a later conversation Essn stated "I am still very uncertain about this."[41]

April 19 and 28, 2011:[42][43] Two more demonstrations were held. The first of them[22] was also

covered by the Italian 24-hour all-news State-owned television channel Rai News.[37][22]

September 7, 2011: Reporter Mats Lewan from Ny Teknik witnessed a further demonstration

in which the Energy Catalyzer was first operated for 90 minutes with input power claimed to be around 2.6 kW after which it ran for 35 minutes with 25W input. The Energy Catalyzer was a larger version that will be used in the scheduled 1 MW plant.[44]

October 6, 2011: An E-cat was demonstrated, which reportedly lasted for about eight hours.[45] Roland Pettersson, retired Associate Professor from the University of Uppsala, who

[46][47]

witnessed it said "I'm convinced that this works, but there is still room for more measurements". [48]

October 28, 2011: A 1 MW plant based on the Energy Catalyzer was reported to have been

tested by Domenico Fioravanti for an undisclosed customer. According to Fioravanti, the plant released 2,635 kWh during five and a half hours of self sustained mode, an average power of 479 kilowatts just under half the promised power of one megawatt. The customer reportedly acquired the plant after the test. Independent observers were not allowed to watch the measurements or make their own, and the plant remained connected to a power supply during the test allegedly to supply power to the fans and the water pumps.[49][50][51]

Commercial plans
Originally a new Greek company, Defkalion, was to deliver a heating plant based on the Energy Catalyzer, but this deal was terminated. [52][53] In May 2011[54] Rossi reached an agreement with AmpEnergo, [55] an Ohio company,[56] to receive royalties on sales of licenses and products built on the Energy Catalyzer in the Americas.[57] In early October, Rossi stated that, due to contractual difficulties, the container had not been shipped to the U.S.[48]. Rossi claims to have orders from customers in the US and Europe for thirteen more 1 MW units in addition to the undisclosed customer from the October 28 test. He offers these for sale at a rate of $2000/kilowatt, making the price for a 1 MW unit $2 million.[58]

References

1. 2. 3.

^ (WO2009125444) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND

HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS, World Intellectual Property Organization. ^ a b Controversial energy-generating system lacking credibility (w/ video), physorg.com,

Lisa Zyga, 11 August 2011 ^ Mark Gibbs (October 17, 2011). "Hello Cheap Energy, Hello Brave New World". Forbes.

"the E-Cat is a cold fusion (CF) device (the inventor, Andrea Rossi, prefers to term the technology 'Low Energy Nuclear Reaction' which appears to be the same thing as CF but a less contentious phrasing)."

4. 5. 6.

^ Lewan, Mats. Cold Fusion: You have to embrace this. Ny Teknik, February 23, 2011. ^ df.unibo.it, Dipartimento di Fisica, Universit degli Studi di Bologna, Professori emeriti ^ Italian Office for Patents and Trademarks "processo ed apparecchiatura per ottenere

reazioni esotermiche, in particolare da nickel ed idrogeno." [process and equipment to obtain exothermal reactions, in particular from nickel and hydrogen], Patent Number 0001387256, Deposited 9 April 2008, Issued 6 April 2011, Inventor: Andrea Rossi.

7.
Teknik.

^ S. Focardi; A. Rossi (2010-03-22). "A new energy source from nuclear fusion". Ny

8.
Wired.

^ a b Fabio Deotto. "Fusione fredda realizzata a Bologna. Sar vero?" (in Italian). Daily

9. 10. 11.

^ Rossi, Andrea. "Method and apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen exothermal

reactions". World Intellectual Propety Organisation. Retrieved 9 May 2011. ^ Lisa Zyga (2011-01-20), "Italian Scientists claim to have demonstrated cold

fusion",Physorg.com ^ Half a megawatt E-cat in Bologna and 1 MW E-Cat Cold Fusion Device Test

Successful andtest to proof the leonardo 1 MW reactor working by means of low energy nuclear reactions - protocol prepared by the parties

12. 13.
2011.

^ Mark Gibbs (October 30, 2011). "Believing in Cold Fusion and the E-Cat". Forbes. ^ Clarke, Peter. "Italian scientists claim cold fusion success". EE Times. January 24,

14. 15.

^ Journal of Nuclear Physics, (blog) ^ Low Energy Nuclear Revolution (Promotional video). Directed by Manuel Zani.

Beginning at 15 minutes and 17 seconds, Dr. Levi states, "At the present time, on the basis of the current experiments, I'm sufficiently certain about what we witnessed, and I can say that both in December and January energy was produced with power on the order of around 10 kilowatts. We also ran another test, a 'technical' and 'private' one these technical tests are necessary to enable us to understand how to set up the final test and this was a long test, lasting about 18 hours, in

which the minimum power produced was on the order of 15kW this is extremely conservative data".

16. 17.

^ "E-cat: l'Universit di Bologna non coinvolta" (Italian). UNIBO Magazine. University of

Bologna, 5 November 2011. ^ http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/11/09/fusione-fredda-fatta-casa-bufala-

rivoluzione/169534/Il Fatto Quotidiano, LUniversit recita la nota precisa di non essere coinvolta negli esperimenti sullE-Cat condotti dalla societ Leonardo Corp. di propriet di Andrea Rossi. Nessun esperimento si svolto presso lUniversit di Bologna n stato condotto da ricercatori dellUniversit. Il Dipartimento di Fisica pronto a svolgere esperimenti sullapparato ECat non appena il contratto siglato con la EFA SrL (la societ italiana di Andrea Rossi) sar reso attivo: a questo scopo erano presenti agli esperimenti, in qualit di osservatori, i ricercatori dellUniversit. LAteneo continua a seguire con grande attenzione levolversi della situazione. TRANSLATION: The University of Bologna - the notice states - is not involved on E-Cat experiments conducted by Leonardo Corp., the company owned by Andrea Rossi. The University of Bologna states also that: 1) none of the experiments made with E-Cat (including that of 28th October 2011) has been carried out at the University of Bologna or by any of its scientists; 2) the University of Bologna (Department of Physics) is ready to carry out direct experiments on the ECat as soon as the contract signed with EFA Srl (Andrea Rossi's Italian company) will be put in effect: this is the only reason why the University of Bologna researchers attended as observers to E-Cat experiments. The University of Bologna is carefully following the situation development.

18. 19.
Avviso

^ http://www.df.unibo.it/bacheca/bacheca.htm ^ http://www.df.unibo.it/bacheca/Avviso%20EFA%20S.r.l.2.pdf

Bologna 29 Giugno, 2011 Il Dipartimento di Fisica dellAlma Mater Studiorum Universit di Bologna desidera comunicare che:

stato firmato un contratto di Ricerca con la Ditta EFA srl del valore di 500.000

(+IVA), della durata di 24 mesi, per effettuare ricerche nel campo della efficienza di produzione di energia degli impianti della Ditta;

il contratto di Ricerca diverr attivo nel momento in cui il Dipartimento ricever il

pagamento della prima rata prevista;

il programma di ricerca (parte integrante del Contratto) prevede sia la

misurazione delle prestazioni degli impianti che leventuale miglioramento della prestazioni. Informazioni ufficiali riguardo alla attivit di ricerca in oggetto saranno fornite solo ed esclusivamente dal Dipartimento di Fisica o dallAlma Mater Studiorum a cui il Dipartimento appartiene. Il Direttore del Dipartimento di Fisica Alma Mater Studiorum Universit di Bologna TRANSLATION: Notice Bologna, 29 June 2011 The Department of Physics at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is pleased to communicate that:

a research contract, worth 500,000.00 (+VAT) and lasting 24 months, has been

signed with the EFA srl company, in order to carry out research concerning the energy production efficiency of the apparatuses built by the company;

the contract will become operational when the Department will receive the

payment regarding the first planned instalment;

the planned research programme (included in the contract) involves both

measurements of the performances of the apparatuses and eventual improvements of their performances. Official information on the planned research activity will be given exclusively by the Department of Physics or by the Alma Mater Studiorum (to which the Department belongs). The Director of the Department of Physics Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna

20.

^ Mannella, Lorenzo (14 October 2011). "Fusione fredda a Bologna. I dubbi

continuano". Daily Wired (Italian edition). Retrieved on 2011-11-10. "c anche un contratto di collaborazione da 500mila euro in sospeso tra lEfa e il Dipartimento di Fisica dellateneo bolognese. A quanto pare, fino a quando la ditta di Rossi non pagher la prima rata, lE-Cat non varcher mai le soglie dei laboratori accademici." TRANSLATION: "there is a contract of collaboration, worth 500000 euros, between the EFA and the Department of Physics of the University of Bologna, which is still not operational. It seems that,

until the company of Rossi will not pay the first instalment, the E-Cat will never cross the gates of the laboratiories of the University."

21. 22. 23. 24.

^ a b Ekstrm, Peter (20110506). Kall Fusion p italienska (Cold fusion Italian style)

(Swedish and English). ^ a b c d Lewan, Mats. "Ny Teknik tested the energy catalyzer". Ny Teknik. ^ Aleklett, Kjell (11 April 2011). "Rossi energy catalyst a big hoax or new

physics?". Aleklett's Energy Mix (a WordPress blog). Retrieved on 2011-07-10. ^ The Future of Energy: Part 1 Podcast approved Transcript. At 4 minutes and 34

seconds, Bushnell described several emerging energy technologies, but he identified LENR as "the most interesting and promising at this point". At 10 minutes and 35 seconds, Bushnell continued: "... in January of this year Rossi, backed by Focardi, who had been working on this for many years, and in fact doing some of the best work worldwide, came out and did a demonstration first in January, they re-did it in February, they re-did it in March, where for days they had one of these cells, a small cell, producing in the 10 to 15 kilowatts range, which is far more than enough heat to boil water for tea."

25. 26. 27. 28.

^ International Preliminary Report on Patentability. World Intellectual Property

Organization. Retrieved on 2011-11-07. ^ Alasdair Wilkins (January 26, 2011), No, Italian Scientists Have Not Discovered Cold

Fusion,Gizmodo. ^ a b WO 2009125444, "Method and apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen

exothermal reactions" ^ Mannella, Lorenzo (14 October 2011). "Fusione fredda a Bologna. I dubbi

continuano". Daily Wired (Italian edition). Retrieved on 2011-11-10. "il 6 aprile 2011 stato rilasciato un brevetto in Italia a nome della Efa srl, la societ di Maddalena Pascucci, moglie di Andrea Rossi. La dicitura recita processo ed apparecchiatura per ottenere reazioni esotermiche, in particolare da nickel ed idrogeno." TRANSLATION: On 6 April 2011 a patent was issued in Italy under tha name of of Efa srl, the company of Maddalena Pascucci, wife of Andrea Rossi. The heading is: method and apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen exothermal reactions.

29. 30. 31.

^ The patent granted 6 April, 2011, by the Ufficio Italiano Brevetti e Marchi. Retrieved on

2011-07-10. ^ a b Rossi, Andrea. "Method and apparatus for carrying out nickel and hydrogen

exothermal reactions" WO 2009125444 2009-10-15 ^ a b Lewan, Mats. "Patent granted for the energy catalyzer". Ny Teknik, 9 May 2011.

Retrieved on 2011-07-10.

32.

^ Mannella, Lorenzo (14 October 2011). "Fusione fredda a Bologna. I dubbi

continuano". Daily Wired (Italian edition). Retrieved on 2011-11-10. "lE-Cat di Rossi non ha ancora ottenuto n un brevetto europeo, n uno statunitense." TRANSLATION: "up to now neither a European patent nor a US one have been granted to Rossi's E-Cat."

33. 34.
Teknik.

^ Mats Lewan (February 2, 2011). "Cold fusion: Observing researcher wants more tests".

Ny Teknik. Retrieved May 21, 2011. ^ Lewan, Mats (February 23, 2011). "Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion". Ny

35. 36. 37.

10.)

^ a b Interview with Sven Kullander and Hanno Essn (Swedish w. English subtitles).

Youtube.com (2001-05-09). Retrieved on 2011-07-10. ^ a b c Lewan, Mats, Swedish physicists on the E-cat Its a nuclear reaction, Ny Teknik ^ a b La magia del signor Rossi, Angelo Saso, Rai News (Italian) (2011-05-03 20:35).

Retrieved on 2011-07-10. (Youtube version in Rai News official channel. Retrieved on 2011-07-

38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.

Teknik.

^ Lisa Zyga (Jan 20, 2011). "Italian scientists claim to have demonstrated cold fusion (w/

Video)". physorg.com. Retrieved May 21, 2011. ^ Benjamin Radford (Jan 21, 2011). "Cold fusion: Cold Fusion Claims Resurface".

Discovery.com. Retrieved May 21, 2011. ^ a b Hanno Essn, Sven Kullander (April 3, 2011), Experimental test of a mini-Rossi

device at the Leonardocorp, Bologna, 29 March 2011, Ny Teknik ^ Krivit, Steven (July 30, 2011). "Report #3: Scientific Analysis of Rossi, Focardi and Levi

Claims". New Energy Times Magazine. New Energy Times. ^ Lewan, Mats (April 19, 2011). "Test of Energy Catalyzer (April 19)". Ny Teknik. ^ Lewan, Mats (April 28, 2011). "Test of Energy Catalyzer (April 28)". Ny Teknik. ^ Lewan, Mats (September 14, 2011). "See the E-cat run in self-sustained mode". Ny

45.

^ Melis, Maurizio (8 October 2011). "Fusione fredda: nuovo esperimento". Radio 24.

"Questa incertezza si pu considerare superata con lesperimento di ieri." TRANSLATION: "This uncertainty can be considered overcome by means of the experiment of yesterday."

46.

^ Lewan, Mats (7 October 2011). "New test of the E-cat enhances proof of heat". Ny

Teknik. "The important new element in the test was that it was possible to bypass the controversial energy calculation, based on vaporization, by injecting the steam from the energy catalyzer into a heat exchanger, where a flow of water was heated."

47.
11-13.

^ Lewan, Mats (6 October 2011). Test of Energy Catalyzer, Ny Teknik. Retrieved on 2011-

48.
Teknik.

^ a b Mats Lewan (7 October 2011). "New test of the E-cat enhances proof of heat". Ny

49. 50. 51.

^ Brandon, John. "Cold Fusion Experiment: Major Success or Complex Hoax?". Fox

News, November 2, 2011. ^ Lewan, Mats. "Half a megawatt E-cat in Bologna". NyTeknik, 29 October 2011. "Neither

Ny Teknik nor any other of the guests had any possibility to check the measurements made." ^ Hambling, David. "Success for Andrea Rossi's E-Cat cold fusion system, but mysteries

remain". Wired, 29 October 2011. "In other words, a group of unknown, unverifiable people carried out tests which cannot be checked. (...) as a demonstration it would have been more impressive for the reactor in its shipping container to be visibly disconnected while operating."

52. 53.

^ "Defkalion Green Technologies". ^ "Andrea Rossi and EFA srl. announce that they have terminated the agreement with

Praxen/Defkalion Green Technologies for the production of e-cats, Bologna-Roma (Italy)". August 4, 2011., Rossi's press release

54. 55. 56. 57. 58.

^ Mats Lewan (16 May 2011). "Energy catalyzer gets U.S. partner". Ny Teknik. ^ AmpEnergo. AmpEnergo. Retrieved on 2011-07-10. ^ Ampenergo Certificate of Organization Secretary of State of Ohio, 20 April 2009, (via

nyteknik.se) ^ E-Cat Commercialization in the Americas (Press Release) 27 June 2011. AmpEnergo.

Retrieved on 2011-07-10. ^ Hambling, David. "What to make of Andrea Rossi's apparent cold fusion

success". Wired UK,November 6, 2011.

External links

Josephson, Brian and Driscoll, Judith. "Andrea Rossi's 'E-cat' nuclear reactor: a video

FAQ". University of Cambridge, June 28, 2011.

Wolchover, Natalie. "Cold fusion debate heats up after latest demo". CBSnews.com,

November 4, 2011.

Wolchover, Natalie. "Italian cold fusion machine passes another test". msnbc.com, November

3, 2011. View page ratings

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