Changes

[[image:Rossi_Focardi3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture: TV channel "Rainews24")|300px|thumb]]

[[image:Rossi_Focardi3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture: TV channel "Rainews24")|300px|thumb]]

[[image:John_Michell_Ecat.jpg|Planned book of a John Michell: Rossi's eCcat - Free Energy, Free Money, Free People. (Xecnet Verlag)|thumb]]

[[image:John_Michell_Ecat.jpg|Planned book of a John Michell: Rossi's eCcat - Free Energy, Free Money, Free People. (Xecnet Verlag)|thumb]]

The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor planned to be marketed in 2011. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref> and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi, [[Cold Fusion|cold fusion]] of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor<ref>Andrea Rossi in his patent application, page&nbsp;12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref>, which, at strong heat, led to the creation of copper. Rossi's 2011 demonstrations were criticized by various sources. No gamma nor neutron radiation typical for fusion processes could be measured<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref>, and there is no proof of the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. The respective experiments which should have shown energy production through "cold fusion", suffered from several methodic shortcomings and displayed contradicting statements. Independent tests, which might have proven a fusion process according to the said principle, failed so far. Specialist literature regarding the "energy-catalyzer" is not available (as of Juli 2011).

The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor planned to be marketed in 2011. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer (see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref> and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi, [[Cold Fusion|cold fusion]] of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor<ref>Andrea Rossi in his patent application, page&nbsp;12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref> which, at strong heat, led to the creation of copper. Rossi's 2011 demonstrations were criticized by various sources. Neither gamma nor neutron radiation typical for fusion processes could be measured<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref>, and there is no proof of the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. The respective experiments which should have shown energy production through "cold fusion" suffered from several methodic shortcomings and displayed contradicting statements. Independent tests, which might have proven a fusion process according to the said principle, failed so far. Specialist literature regarding the "energy-catalyzer" is not available (as of Juli 2011).

In March 2011, a Greek business journal titled „Investor's World“ reported the concept was central to a speculative investment deal worth several hundred million Euro. Greek startup "Defkalion is currently (July 2011) offering state licenses for commercialization of the invention at a price of 40.5 million Euros per country.<ref>July 6th, 2011<br>Dear interested party,<br>You have received this email because you have shown an initial interest for commercial involvement with our company and our products based on Andrea Rossi’s e-Cat invention (exothermic reaction between Hydrogen and Nickel). Many have signed non disclosure agreements with us and others are in the process of doing so. We offer you the possibility to meet with us prior to our public announcement that we accept international expressions of interest through our website as of September 2011.<br>

In March 2011, a Greek business journal titled „Investor's World“ reported the concept was central to a speculative investment deal worth several hundred million Euro. Greek startup "Defkalion is currently (July 2011) offering state licenses for commercialization of the invention at a price of 40.5 million Euros per country.<ref>July 6th, 2011<br>Dear interested party,<br>You have received this email because you have shown an initial interest for commercial involvement with our company and our products based on Andrea Rossi’s e-Cat invention (exothermic reaction between Hydrogen and Nickel). Many have signed non disclosure agreements with us and others are in the process of doing so. We offer you the possibility to meet with us prior to our public announcement that we accept international expressions of interest through our website as of September 2011.<br>

Inventor Rossi, having got in conflict with the law previously, had also supplied thermoelectrical elements of an alleged miraculous efficiency which, however, displayed merely average properties when tested.

Inventor Rossi, having got in conflict with the law previously, had also supplied thermoelectrical elements of an alleged miraculous efficiency which, however, displayed merely average properties when tested.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge priority and importance of  Piantellis patents: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Piantelli's patent expert commented in May 2011 that Rossi had no chance to have the functional principle patented since Piantelli already held a patent on it since 1995.<ref>Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 May 3, 2011</ref> Meanwhile, Piantelli has founded the Italian company NichEnergy S.R.L., which is developing a reactor similar to Rossi's.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge priority and importance of  Piantelli's patents: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Piantelli's patent expert commented in May 2011 that Rossi had no chance to have the functional principle patented since Piantelli already held a patent on it since 1995.<ref>Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 May 3, 2011</ref> Meanwhile, Piantelli has founded the Italian company NichEnergy S.R.L. which is developing a reactor similar to Rossi's.

Some aspects of the claimed functional principle also happen to be similar to descriptions in a patent registered by Yoshiaki Arata in Japan dated July 2005 (see below). A remote similarity to the [[CETI Patterson Power Cell]] and to the [[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]] can also be established.

Some aspects of the claimed functional principle also happen to be similar to descriptions in a patent registered by Yoshiaki Arata in Japan dated July 2005 (see below). A remote similarity to the [[CETI Patterson Power Cell]] and to the [[Zirconium fusion reactor of Bolotov]] can also be established.

Yes  

Yes  

Warm regards,  

Warm regards,  

A.R.</ref> The costs are said to be just 10% of the overall costs for nickel powder. Actual isotope enrichment is a very expensive process. Rossi, on the other hand, specified the costs for six months of operation as only a few Euros(see below). The copper thus generated is said to contain two stable copper isotopes, with an isotope proportion different from the one in natural copper.<ref>According to S.&nbsp;Focardi in an E-Mail: ''[...] mostra l'esistenza di Cu (non presente inizialmente) i cui due isotopi stabili sono in un rapporto diverso da quello naturale [...]''</ref> An independent analysis in Sweden did not find an isotope ratio different from the natural one. Such a fusion would require very high temperatures and should result in the emission of strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.<ref>According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", in answering an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/]</ref><br><br>

A.R.</ref> The costs are said to be just 10% of the overall costs for nickel powder. Actual isotope enrichment is a very expensive process. Rossi, on the other hand, specified the costs for six months of operation as only a few Euros (see below). The copper thus generated is said to contain two stable copper isotopes, with an isotope proportion different from the one in natural copper.<ref>According to S.&nbsp;Focardi in an E-Mail: ''[...] mostra l'esistenza di Cu (non presente inizialmente) i cui due isotopi stabili sono in un rapporto diverso da quello naturale [...]''</ref> An independent analysis in Sweden did not find an isotope ratio different from the natural one. Such a fusion would require very high temperatures and should result in the emission of strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.<ref>According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", in answering an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/]</ref><br><br>

While nickel rods were used initially, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10&nbsp;µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company<ref>Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan</ref> from Milan as their supplier. Furthermore, unknown catalysts, not specified even in the patent application, are said to be employed. Nickel oxide - which reacts with hydrogen creating water and heat (NiO2&nbsp;+&nbsp;H2 -->&nbsp;Ni&nbsp;+&nbsp;H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application, an inner water circuit (with a boric acid solution) is placed inside of the reactor, heat is transferred to an external water circuit by a heat exchanger.

While nickel rods were used initially, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10&nbsp;µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company<ref>Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan</ref> from Milan as their supplier. Furthermore, unknown catalysts, not specified even in the patent application, are said to be employed. Nickel oxide - which reacts with hydrogen creating water and heat (NiO2&nbsp;+&nbsp;H2 -->&nbsp;Ni&nbsp;+&nbsp;H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application, an inner water circuit (with a boric acid solution) is placed inside of the reactor, heat is transferred to an external water circuit by a heat exchanger.

Looking for possible heat sources, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_%28chemistry%29 absorption]] of hydrogen in nickel in a chemical reaction comes to mind. Hydrogen gas can enter into nickel (and other metals). Extraction on the other hand leads to cooling.

Looking for possible heat sources, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_%28chemistry%29 absorption]] of hydrogen in nickel in a chemical reaction comes to mind. Hydrogen gas can enter into nickel (and other metals). Extraction on the other hand leads to cooling.

====The energy catalyzer and the Widom Larson theory====

====The energy catalyzer and the Widom Larson theory====

In 2011, cold fusion supporters repeatedly voiced speculations that the functional principle of Rossi's energy catalyzer was connected to a theory which is not recognized by scientific physics, the [[Widom Larson theory]], in which the Coulomb barrier played no role. On inquiry, Andrea Rossi explained this theory was not necessary to explain the functional principle. The theory was formulated in 2005 by Allan Widom and Lewis Larsen and published in "Eur. Phys. J. C"<ref>"Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces," Eur. Phys. J. C, 46: 107–111. (2006)</ref> ([http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0505026 Full Text]). According to this theory, the "cold fusion" processes discussed are not actual fusion but interactions in which  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction weak nuclear force] plays a role. This theory claims electrons and protons were able to tansform to „ultra low momentum“ neutrons and one neutrino (e- + p ->n + neutrino). The Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons are said to bond to adjacent nuclei after a short time. The Widom Larson theory should avoid the problem of the ''"Three Miracles of Cold Fusion"'' of Huizenga - 1993 (the lack of measurable neutron radiation, avoidance of the Coulomb barrier, and the lack of high-energy gamma rays) due to purported compliance with established physical laws. Reactions involving the weak interaction are mediated by [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-Boson W bosons] which could be demonstrated experimentally in 1983 with the particle accelerator (CERN). W-bosons have roughly 80 times the mass of protons and a very short range.<br><br>

In 2011, cold fusion supporters repeatedly voiced speculations that the functional principle of Rossi's energy catalyzer was connected to a theory which is not recognized by scientific physics, the [[Widom Larson theory]], in which the Coulomb barrier played no role. On inquiry, Andrea Rossi explained this theory was not necessary to explain the functional principle. The theory was formulated in 2005 by Allan Widom and Lewis Larsen and published in "Eur. Phys. J. C"<ref>"Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces," Eur. Phys. J. C, 46: 107–111. (2006)</ref> ([http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0505026 Full Text]). According to this theory, the "cold fusion" processes discussed are not actual fusion but interactions in which  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction weak nuclear force] plays a role. This theory claims electrons and protons were able to transform to „ultra low momentum“ neutrons and one neutrino (e- + p ->n + neutrino). The Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons are said to bond to adjacent nuclei after a short time. The Widom Larson theory should avoid the problem of the ''"Three Miracles of Cold Fusion"'' of Huizenga - 1993 (the lack of measurable neutron radiation, avoidance of the Coulomb barrier, and the lack of high-energy gamma rays) due to purported compliance with established physical laws. Reactions involving the weak interaction are mediated by [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W-Boson W bosons] which could be demonstrated experimentally in 1983 with the particle accelerator (CERN). W-bosons have roughly 80 times the mass of protons and a very short range.<br><br>

==The mysterious catalyst==

==The mysterious catalyst==