By Mats Lewan
Published May 2011 08:58
http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3166552.ece
Ny Teknik recently participated in two new tests of the Italian 'energy catalyzer', providing more accurate measurements to reduce possible error sources.
The new tests with the energy catalyzer, which seems to generate heat by an unknown nuclear reaction, took place in Bologna on 19 and 28 April, 2011. As in previous tests the objective was to measure the net energy that the device generates as accurately as possible.
The results of the two tests showed a developed net power of between 2.3 and 2.6 kilowatts - of the order of a large stove plate. Input electric power was in the order of 300 watts.
As previously, the power output was calculated from the amount of water boiled into steam, and thus depends on the water flow. At the two new tests the water flow was set at a slightly lower rate than in previous tests. The device used was the smaller version of the energy catalyzer, which was first shown at a test March 29, 2011.
The tests lasted for two and three hours respectively and the total net energy developed was calculated to be 5.6 and 6.9 kWh (see report for April 19 and April 28).
As Professor Sven Kullander and Associate Professor Hanno Ess�n noted previously, the energy released is greater than can be generated by a chemical reaction in the reactor, which has an estimated volume of 50 cubic centimeters.
At this point precise measurement is crucial if credibility in the process under study is to be established.
Hundreds of thousands of readers have now followed our reporting on the energy catalyzer, and in thousands of comments readers have discussed among other things possible sources of error in previous tests.
In the new tests, Ny Teknik aimed to reduce measurement uncertainty in three ways:
1. The ammeter used to measure the input current, from which the total p
ower consumption is calculated, were calibrated by us against other instruments.
2. Total water-flow input was measured by weighing.
3. By calibrating the temperature-sensor probe in boiling water, we have as far as possible ensured that there is only vapor at the outlet of the energy catalyzer.
The last point has been discussed intensively. To assess developed energy, it's essential that all the water flowing into the energy catalyzer evaporates, given that the phase change - evaporating water into steam - requires much more energy than mere heating.
Shortly before the test on April 28, we calibrated the probe by immersing it in a pot with boiling water, and the measured value was then 99.6 degrees centigrade.
The probe, which sits just below the outlet of the energy catalyzer, later during the test showed temperatures of about 100.5 degrees centigrade.
Therefore it cannot reasonably be in contact with water, thus there should be only water vapor (steam) at the outlet. Alternatively, the probe is subjected to other heating, but probably not electrical as the temperature curve during start-up is quite uneven.
During the April 28 test, we also checked the steam flow through the outlet hose regularly. Some steam was reasonably being condensed back into water in the three-meter-long tube that was exposed to air and was thus at a slightly lower temperature, and a small amount of water was observed coming out of the hose.
The amount of water coming out before boiling was clearly larger, and this was initially measured.
We also controlled all other equipment and checked that there were no hidden connections from the floor or walls.
To safely exclude the transfer of external wireless energy, we measured electromagnetic fields from 5 Hz to 3 GHz. No increase could be noted except for a slight increase at the power-grid frequency of 50 Hz, close to the electrical resistor positioned around the reactor.
In the first test on April 19, the national Italian television channel RAI was present and its reportage will be broadcast on the channel RAI News (link to the reportage here - version in English here) Thursday, May 5th at 20:35.
In the second test on April 28 only Ny Teknik, the inventor Andrea Rossi, and a colleague of his were present.
MORE FACTS
The energy catalyzer was demonstrated publicly for first time on the 14th January 2011. According to its inventor Andrea Rossi it has a closed reactor of steel that is loaded with nickel powder plus secret catalysts and pressurized with hydrogen.
It's 'ignited' by heating from two electrical resistances. In a copper tube around the reactor, water heated by the reactor is flowing.
The heat is generated from an unknown reaction, according to Rossi himself, and according to Professor Sven Kullander and Associate Professor Hanno Ess�n probably a nuclear reaction.
The concept of cold fusion has been mentioned and would refer to a nuclear reaction between hydrogen and nickel, producing copper. Another term is LENR - Low Energy Nuclear Reaction.
Many physicists are very skeptical. Partly because fusion of nuclei, which with their positive charges repel each other (the Coulomb barrier), requires hundreds of millions of degrees according to current knowledge, and partly because fusion should produce very high levels of gamma radiation.
The debate has gained new momentum after Professor Sven Kullander and Associate Professor Hanno Ess�n participated in a test on 29 March and found that the measured values can only be explained by a nuclear reaction, while an isotopic analysis of the used nickel powder raised questions.
Among the most critical is Peter Ekstr�m, lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Physics at Lund University in Sweden. After a thorough discussion he concludes: 'I am convinced that the whole story is one big scam, and that it will be revealed in less than one year.'
Slightly more cautious in his skepticism, Kjell Aleklett, physics professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, summarizes his discussion: 'I myself have nothing against to reveal a scam, or join in and verify something that no one could imagine. Both extremes belong to that which makes life as a researcher incredibly interesting.'
An intense debate is also being held on the Wikipedia discussion page related to the article 'Energy catalyzer', and in many other forums.
However, to date no one have been able to explain the measured values that Ny Teknik now has been able to confirm.
The inventor Andrea Rossi is planning an installation of 300 energy catalyzers at a total of one megawatt in Greece in October 2011.
On March 29, 2011, a test of a smaller Rossi device was performed. It was attended by two new observers: Hanno Ess�n, associate professor of theoretical physics and chairman of the Swedish Skeptics Society, and Sven Kullander, chairman of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' Energy Committee. They agree with other independent observers that the device must be producing a nuclear reaction. See NyTeknik: Swedish physicists on the E-cat: "It's a nuclear reaction."
This test employed a new, smaller device with a 50 cm3 cell. It produced ~4.4 kW for 6 hours, or 25 kWh (90 MJ).
Ess�n and Kullander wrote a report, also in NyTeknik, Experimental test of a mini-Rossi device at the Leonardocorp, Bologna 29 March 2011. Focardi gave a revealing radio interview. Here is an English translation.
NyTeknik has published a number of articles about Rossi. They are all listed here. The New Energy Times is keeping a close watch on news articles about Rossi. They have a list of articles here.
On April 19 and April 21, Rossi and Mats Lewan of NyTeknik performed additional tests on the reactors. The article about this is here. This includes a close-up 4 minute video of the equipment in operation. Detailed reports about the two tests are here and here.
Here is a fascinating interview with Prof. Stremmenos, who is working with Focardi and Rossi, and is a key figure in the establishment of the Defkalion factory in Greece.
In May 2011, a start-up company announced it has reached an agreement with Rossi to distribute his machines in the U.S. The start-up was founded by former U.S. Department of Energy officials who have been in contact with Rossi for many years. They independently tested his devices. They paid him a large sum of money to license the technology.
