When hydrogen, the main element of water, is introduced to a small piece of the metal nickel or palladium, a reaction releases more energy (in the form of heat and light) than was introduced. The law of conservation of energy would imply the "excess heat" involved is released from the nucleus, however this nuclear energy is purportedly non-radioactive. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the economic efficiency could be 10 to 30 times that of conventional fuels (Energy Return on Energy Invested) by some predictions.
Graphic: Post-Carbon Institute
Recently, the media is reporting that often-derided cold fusion (also known as low-energy nuclear reaction - LENR) is being taken more seriously than ever and a breakthrough, though largely considered unlikely, could take the energy industry and the entire world by surprise. It would easily rank among the most disruptive technologies in history.
US News reports "LENR demonstration projects recently initiated at respected places like MIT, the University of Missouri, and the University of Bologna; public presentations by executives at one of the world's largest instrument companies, National Instruments, apparently designed to attract the top LENR researchers into a project to test and quantify observed LENR effects; and a July report from the European Commission's research and development center that LENR at least has sustainable future energy technology potential. But near the top of the cold fusion research community's hit parade are musings from NASA, like the fact that the agency apparently filed two LENR-related patents last year and that a leading NASA scientist has indicated that LENR is real enough to pay attention to and study."
CBS News' 60 Minutes reported on renewed interest in the technology, featuring a some-what vindicated Fleischmann. The Financial Times also comments that "a new report by Boeing for Nasa, includes LENR among the options for powering a future generation of "ultra green aircraft'" in a piece recalling the recently-deceased Martin Fleischmann who, with Stanley Pons, first caused a stir about cold fusion in 1989.
60 Minutes piece on LENR (CBS News on YouTube)
So while few highly-reputable entities are quite ready to announce that LENR is on the renewables map, many see some hope for plentiful, clean energy for our world as important agencies and companies have rekindled interest. We maintain an open mind, but chances are our efforts to modernize the utility industry will remain inexorable.
After 20 years, and near the end of his life, Dr. Fleischmann finally had the pleasure to hear that other respected scientists and institutions have also measured the excess heat. Though we still do not understand it and most scientists remain skeptical, there is an excitement in the air that surely must have soothe his wounds of rejection from the scientific establishment.
ReplyDelete