About ECAT
The ECAT will revolutionize energy production as we know it. The energy generated by an ECAT has the following features:
•   High Energy Density Fuel (200 000 times oil)
•   Low Fuel Costs (1kg Ni has energy equivalence of 200 000kg oil)
•   Low Operation and Maintenance Costs (the modular design admits minimal maintanence)
•   Minimal Fuel Transport Cost (only 2 refuelings/year under continous run)
•   Zero Carbon Dioxide Emissions
•   Zero Noise (only noise from auxilliary products <50dB)
The process that makes this possible is called Cold Fusion or Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR). Nickel is fused with Hydrogen and transmutes into copper. This is an exothermal nuclear process that releases energy at around 10MeV per atomic reaction compared to the burning of Hydrogen which only releases 1.5eV per atomic reaction (Burning H2 in O2). Per atom, the exothermal process has an energy content of more than a million times the energy content of the most energetic (per weight) chemical process. The higher weight of Nickel and the fact one usually disregard Oxygen’s weight due to its presence in air makes the net factor around 200 000 when compared to oil.
The abundance of Nickel in the earth’s crust and the low price of Nickel make the ECAT one of the cheapest energy producers around. The ECAT does not pollute or release any carbon dioxide. Put together, there is no doubt that this is a good and safe energy source for the future.
Cold Fusion expert Jed Rothwell has written an excellent paper of possible applications where he shares his view on this groundbreaking technology:
Cold fusion has been called the ideal source of energy: it does not pollute; the fuel is inexhaustible; it is potentially thousands of times cheaper than conventional energy; and it is compact. “Compact†means both energy and power density are high. Gram for gram, energy density appears to be about a million times better than oil, coal or other chemical fuel; a single, small charge of heavy water fuel will last for decades.
Power density is at least as good as a uranium fission reactor core, but fission requires gigantic, heavily shielded, centralized reactors, whereas cold fusion engines will probably be as small and light as gasoline engines.
These advantages are so remarkable they give people a sense that cold fusion must be “too good to be true.†Yet, cold fusion has no unique virtuesâ€
Via: ECAT Technology
Video
Andrea Rossi talks about E-cat manufacturing…
Andrea Rossi Ecat Test in Bologna
Breakthroughs in the development (January 2012)
REACTOR CORE
The reactor core of the home E-Cat unit is about the size of a cigarette box, and is capable of producing ten kilowatts of power. The size of the entire unit will be about the same as a home computer (which I think indicates it is the size of a desktop.) This is a significant reduction in size from previous figures provided. This makes a home E-Cat unit very small and compact. He also claims that the weight has been reduced as well.
It was also clarified that each individual home E-Cat system will utilize one reactor core. This is different than what was stated only a couple months ago, which indicates just how rapidly progress is being made. If the reactor core is the size of a single pack of cigarettes (about 85 cubic centimeters) and can produce 10 kilowatts of power, this makes the power density 117 watts per cubic centimeter — a super high value!
SIMPLE REFUELING
It was revealed home E-Cat units would be capable of being re-fueled by individuals, and not by technicians. He claimed it would be like changing the ink in a pen. After using a cartridge for 180 service days (when the system is actively in use), the system will indicate it needs to be replaced. Once a new cartridge is obtained from his company or a member of their network, the old one will be removed, and the new one popped in. The old cartridge will then be sent to Leonardo Corporation to be recycled. Interestingly, he seemed to indicate that much of the remaining nickel could be salvaged, and it would only need to be re-processed. Each cartridge will cost only about ten dollars, although at first the price could be slightly higher.
Once again, he asserted that such small amounts of nickel are used, that there is zero possibility of a shortage due to the proliferation of the E-Cat technology. If the entire world converted all their power producing systems to run off nickel, only 1% of the annual production would be consumed.
Though the E-Cat is likely to propagate extensively, we envision many other free energy technologies also emerging, and some of those modalities don’t consume any fuel whatsoever, and may be likely to obsolete many of the potential long-term applications of the E-Cat. As cheap and abundant as Nickel is, it isn’t infinite, like some other energy sources such as Zero Point Energy.
NO HYDROGEN CANISTER
Unlike previous E-Cat systems which required the use of a hydrogen canister, the new home E-Cat utilizes a material inside of the reactor core which can release and absorb hydrogen. Due to this, no hydrogen canister is needed. I am assuming that the hydrogen release and absorption is controlled via the temperatures produced in the reactor core. Probably when the heat is high the hydrogen is released, and when the temperature goes down the hydrogen is absorbed. Although about ten grams of hydrogen will be placed in the core, only picograms will actually be consumed in the nuclear reactions.
The removal of the hydrogen canister will make the certification process simpler, because it had previously been a significant hoop to jump through. Also, I think the lack of hydrogen canister greatly contributes to the size reduction of the system. This is a major breakthrough, and is really, really big news!
DIRT CHEAP ENERGY
The cost of a home E-Cat unit was stated to be between $400 and $500 dollars. This will be accomplished through the best engineering possible of the production line, automization of all aspects of the factory, and the use of robotics. The goal is to make this technology so affordable that everyone will be able to purchase a system, and competitors will not be able to under sell him. Although his technology will obviously be reverse-engineered when the units start to sell, it does not matter because he will have a major head start.
SELF SUSTAIN
The home E-Cat units will be made to self sustain. For the first hour after being turned on, a unit will draw approximately 2.7 to 2.9 kilowatts of power to heat up the reactor core. After that time, the system will self sustain, in that the only power consumed will be used to power the electronics and control systems.
The ability of the system to self sustain will not be controlled by the user, but will be totally automated by the control electronics. He compared it to a hybrid electric car in which the computer decides whether the engine runs or if the vehicle runs off the battery, or if the brakes are applied or if the regenerative system is used to slow the vehicle.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND STABILITY
National Instruments (NI) is working with Rossi to design new control systems for the one megawatt and home E-Cat. With these new control systems, the stability of E-Cat units has been improved. The key issue needed to be resolved by the control systems is the ability to keep the reactor stable when steam temperatures above 120C are being produced. During the interview he stated that great progress is being made. On his blog he has indicated that they have been able to achieve stable steam production of 400C. This will be important for the efficient production of electricity.
He went on to say that in a meeting with NI’s engineers and scientists, they explained to him that they did not want to just design a control system for him, but wanted to teach him how to design one. Their philosophy is not just to give a man a fish, but to teach the man to fish.
MILITARY CUSTOMER
In addition to the help of NI, the Colonel Engineer who controlled the test of the one megawatt plant on Oct. 28th is working with Rossi to improve the control systems of the plant. Currently, the customer and NI are working to improve the control system, and are changing the gaskets in the system to stop leaks from taking place. He mentioned that the military representative he is working with is an expert into thermodynamic systems.
The fact that a new control system is being installed is not a bad thing. It is a very good thing. If the customer was not satisfied the E-Cat worked, he would not be helping with the development of a new control system. The fact that the military, NI, other partners that remain undisclosed, and Rossi are all working together on this project shows the significance of the technology — and its reality!
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES
Rossi said that they have sent prototypes to UL, and they are working with them to get the home unit certified for “UL approval”.
This was a major announcement. If they are at this state of development, it means they are very far along. This alone would be worthy of a feature story. As far as we know, this is the first exotic free energy technology that has been submitted for UL approval.
You don’t submit something to UL until you have a final version. What is submitted to UL is what is taken to market. If any changes are made, they have to once again pass through the UL certification process, which takes several months.
CATALYSTS
In regards to a question about the importance of the catalysts, Rossi stated that the system will not work without them. According to him, no one has been able to make a practical nickel hydrogen system because they did not have the proper catalysts. He did not refute the statement that they are actual physical elements added to the reactor core, in addition to nickel and hydrogen. It needs to be remembered that he has stated over and over again that the catalysts are physical elements, and not a type of process.
RADIO FREQUENCY GENERATORS
In addition to the catalysts, a question was asked about the radio frequency generator that somehow interacts with the reactions inside of the core. Rossi stated this information is very proprietary, but gave a few clues. First, he compared the use of the radio frequencies to martial arts. He claims that the radio frequency generator allows the forces that would normally prevent the fusion process from taking place (Coulomb forces) to work for you, and not against you. The full theory of how the system works will be revealed, “soon,” he said.
RESPONSE TIME
Rossi explained that the E-Cat technology does not have the response time of a gas powered heater that can be instantly turned on and off. However, it is perfectly suitable for home heating. Also, I think it should be pointed out that with the E-Cat technology it does not matter a great deal if energy is wasted. For example, the energy is so cheap, there will be no financial reason not to keep it turned on at all times — even if it can be slow to throttle up and down. If all of the energy did not need to be used, some of the heat could be vented into the atmosphere.
It was also discussed that a great application of the E-Cat technology will be to preheat water for power plants. However, there is a lot of legal red-tape here, even if the technology is ready. It can take years for a power plant to obtain the certifications to change their system in any way.
SAFETY
It was once again confirmed the device is totally and completely safe. No radioactive substances are used, and no radioactive waste is produced. Also, no pollution of any kind is emitted from the device. Importantly, it cannot “melt down” like a traditional nuclear reactor. In an E-Cat, if the reactions grow too intense the nickel powder will simply melt (destroying all of the reaction sites) and the nuclear reactions will cease.
GAMMA RADIATION AND ANTI-MATTER
The E-Cat technology produces low energy gamma radiation that is converted into heat inside of the reactor. The signature of the gamma radiation that has been detected is said to be 511 keV at 180 degrees. These gamma rays are thought to be produced when electrons impact positrons and annihilate each other. So, if we understand correctly, Rossi theorizes that inside of the E-Cat there are anti-matter/matter annihilation taking place, releasing energy. However, he stated this is just a side effect of what really takes place, which he has previously indicated is nuclear fusion.
INVESTMENT
Rossi is open to investment by businesses and organizations that want to invest relatively small sums of money. However, he is not interested in families and individuals investing in the technology, because there are too many risks at this time. Although the technology works, they have to get the E-Cat on the market successfully. They have certifications to obtain, a factory to setup, and other issues to deal with. Once the home units are on the market, they will at some point “go public” and individuals will be capable of investing.
Via: Momentous Breakthroughs Announced During Anniversary E-Cat Interview
