Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer

Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (picture "La Repubblica"). A (yellow) dosimetric pump of the type "LMI P18" can be seen in the foreground (maximum flow: 12.1 l/h) switched at 60% flow rate.

Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (picture: "Rainews24")

The Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer (also E-Cat or Rossi Energy Amplifier or just Rossi energy catalyzer) is an alleged compact fusion reactor planned to be brought to market in 2011. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi, cold fusion of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor, leading under emission of strong heat to the formation of copper. The demonstrations of Rossi in 2011 were criticized by various sources, for example neither gamma nor neutron radiation could be measured and there is no proof for the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. The respective experiments show several methodological weaknesses. Independent tests, which might prove a fusion process according to the said principle, failed so far. Specialist literature about the "Energy-Catalyzer" is not available(as of April 2011)

A Greek business newspaper announced in March 2011 that the concept is central to a speculative investment-deal of several hundred million Euro. Rossi had been in conflict with the law previously and also offered thermoelectrical elements with wondrous efficiency before, which showed in tests just average properties.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications on it in 1995 and 2010. Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge that: "My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not." Some aspects of the claimed functional principle are also similar to descriptions in a patent of the Japanese Yoshiaki Arata from July 2005 (see below).

Purported functional principle

power control and main switch

Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration January 14, 2011, Source: Curiosity-Blog)

heating power can be choosen in 9 steps: 0...9

several "Ecat" without shielding and isolation. Picture: Giuseppe Levi

power control

Reaction chamber from outside, lead shielding and isolation removed. Below: Outer heating resistor (here: heating sleeve 300W), above: hydrogen intake, left and right: cooling water line. Picture: Giuseppe Levi

hydrogen pressure

typical heating sleeve

Claims of cheap nickel isotope enrichment as part of the invention (Screenshot from the blog "journal of nuclear physics" on April 11, 2011)

All information currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors and their Internet blog, from a patent application by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements by a few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far and an attempt of inventors to publish an article on their device in a renowned professional journal failed. Only individual physicists reacted with public blog entries and comments (e.g.: [11][12][13]). The most renowned person that commented the energy catalyzer so far is the English Nobel prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson is known for years as a supporter of so called "cold fusion". As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Focardi and Rossi spread their statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il Cimento". The involved company EON Srl has not provided any information so far. On inquiry, physicist Focardi advised the "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was founded by Rossi since publication in accredited journals failed. Focardi stated that "arXiv.org" was the journal, that declined to publish them: A. Carnera, S. Focardi, A. Rossi, to be published on Arxiv..

The company of Rossi EON Srl and the "Leonardocorp." did not give further information.

According to available and in part contradictory information from inventors Focardi and Rossi, the small reactor allegedly enables exothermal fusion. They claim they managed to "produce" 130 kW thermal energy in an extreme case, and needed just 80 to 1,250 Watts to "pre-heat" respectively to operate the electronic control system.

The process - disclosed only partially, although a patent application was filed (not approved as of April 2011) - involves that nickel and hydrogen are transformed to copper in the presence of hydrogen gas and an unknown catalyzer under emission of heat and ionizing radiation. The fusion process is said to happen in a stainless steel reactor vessel which is placed inside of a copper pipe. Cooling water flows between the copper pipe and the steel reactor vessel. The patent application claims the stable nickel isotope 62Ni28 (which makes about 3.6% of usual nickel) reacted with hydrogen and was transformed into the stable copper isotope 62Cu29. Rossi claims in his blog that he uses nickel isotope enrichment to enrich it with the desired nickel isotopes. 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. 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 a strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.

While initially using nickel rods, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10 µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company from Milan as their supplier. Further 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 + H2 --> Ni + H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application a inner water circuit(with a boric acid solution) is designed to be in the reactor and heat is transferred using a heat exchanger to an external water circuit.

By adding electric heating capacity, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180 to 400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pulsed pressure was increased at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated. The nickel rod is said to show tiny surface craters after a reaction. According to the patent application, the electrical pre-heating will be turned off automatically by a thermostat when a certain operating temperature is achieved. Further electrical energy (20 to 80 W) was only necessary to supply control electronics. Internet rumours which cannot be verified claim that high voltage or a magnetic field of 360 kV to overcome the Coulomb barrier may be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

Inventors claim the "fusion" mentioned also generated weak gamma and neutron radiation. Radiation is said to be β+ corpuscular radiation with positrons (known from potassium 40-decay). They also claim they do not know the exact functional principle. The actual reaction chamber is estimated at a volume of about one liter and shielded by a layer of 2 cms of lead. The inventors claim in the patent application:

The above mentioned coatings are so designed as to restrain all radiation emitted by the exothermal reaction and transform said radiation into thermal energy.

A contribution in their blog speculatively connects the Focardi Rossi Energy Amplifier to the hydrino theory of American physician and electrical engineer Randell Mills who claims to work with hydrogen and nickel, too. Supporters of "cold fusion" theories often claim so-called Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) were taking place. The term LENR is not known to professional journals and such fusion processes were not proven as of yet.

Further internet speculations assume this was a chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel ores: the Sherritt-Gordon process", which is accompanied by a heat release, but is a conventional chemical reaction. The evidence of copper thus may be explained by the fact that available nickel often contains copper contaminations.

The mysterious catalyzer

The inventors claim that the high thermal output of the energy catalyzers is the result of a special catalyzer, whose composition is kept secret. In scientific nuclear physics, contrary to classic physics, the usage of catalyzers for fusion processes is unknown.

Internet rumours not verifiable claim this may be "Raney-Nickel", since two fires in Rossi's laboratories were caused by "Raney-Nickel". Rossi stated on inquiry that no Raney-Nickel was used. Foardi states that he does not know the composition of the catalyzer himself, only Rossi knows it. Focardi gave some speculations about the compound in a radio inverview on March 6, 2011. He believes that it is a chemical compound, not an element. It is not uranium. The obvious purpose of the substance is to catalyse the transformation of heated hydrogen gas (H2) in atomic hydrogen. (a discussion of possible catalysts for this purpose can be found in a paper of Romanowski from 1999). To complicate the identification of the catalyzer, observers were forbidden to do a spectral analysis of possible gamma radiation, since it might allow to identify elements of the compound.

Deactivation

Professor Sven Kullander writes in his report about the experiment on March 29, 2011 that the reaction was stopped by switching off the heater and increasing the cooling water flow to a maximum of 30 litres per hour. This contradicts previous claims that the heater would be turned of when operating temperature has been reached. The red wire in the picture to the right(cm 31 - 34) is obviously the heater supply. With a cable this thick it is possible to power the heater from a regular wall outlet with 220 volt/10 amp, which in turn could yield 2200 Watt and explain the steam generation.

Prof. Kullader writes also that the heater acts as a safety: "At the end of the horizontal section there is an auxiliary electric heater to initialize the burning and also to act as a safety if the heat evolution should get out of control." Obviously a heater cannot act as a safeguard for a heat generating process.

Application and success claims

Input and output of the reactor according to the inventors

According to Focardi and Rossi, they achieved increasing heat quantities with their device over the years. They claim one nickel rod was sufficient for six months of operations. Rossi, in his patent specification, anecdotally reports he was heating his company's bureaus with this reactor which resulted in some 90% savings regarding electricity bills over a period of six months:

A practical embodiment of the inventive apparatus, installed on October 16, 2007, is at present perfectly operating 24 hours per day, and provides an amount of heat sufficient to heat the factory of the Company EON of via Carlo Ragazzi 18, at Bondeno (Province of Ferrara)."

A "kW-module" allegedly is also operated in his "Leonardo facility" in New Hampshire (USA) since 2008.

Details regarding Nickel Consumption and Cost

According to Rossi, 100 grammes of nickel powder were consumed over a period of six months at 10 kW (therm.) output. The cost for the "fuel" thus amounted to 2 Euro. An E-cat will cost about 2,000 Euro per kW output (a 10 kW-model thus will amount to 20,000 Euro). In the North-American radio talk show "Coast to Coast AM", which is known for propagating conspiracy theories, Rossi said in March 2011 that his planned 1 MW small power station will cost 2 million dollar and later that his 10 kW E-Cat will cost just 5,000 dollar. According to the Greek newspaper "Investors World" from march 2011 future "E-cat" devices will produce electrical power through an "inverter". Yearly cost for the production of 20 kW output round the clock(unclear if thermal or electric) will amount to 1,300 Euros. "Defkalion green technologies" plans to request from RAE (regulatory authority for energy) to be included in the "renewable energy" program.

History

first experiments in Bondeno (EON srl, province of Ferrara). (picture: S. Focardi / paperblog, may 2011 [10])

"Anomalies" when adding hydrogen to nickel are reported since 1936. 1989 was marked by wide media attention to cold fusion as a result of the claims regarding failed experiments by Fleischmann and Pons. In the same year, Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli (University Siena) believed to have incidentally observed a strong heat emission with temperatures above 1,450° C during an experiment with organic material which came into contact with nickel and hydrogen(nickel is used in industry as a catalyst for fat hardening with hydrogen), which he could not explain. The incident was reported by several Italian daily papers. In 1995, Piantelli received a "Truffle Prize" for his observations during a "Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals". Various workgroups have made experiments with electrolysis and also with nickel and hydrogen since then.

Physicist Sergio Focardi from Bologna University heard about the Piantelli's observations and teamed up with him to research the phenomenon. After several years they had built a nickel hydrogen rector and, in a press conference in February 1994, announced their reactor as a principle for "Reazioni Nucleari a Bassa Energia" (LENR, "Low Energy Nuclear Reactions"), however avoiding the term "cold fusion". Once more articles were published in the daily press and as before in 1989, there were no academic publications. An output of 40-50 thermal Watts was claimed. A nickel rod with a pre-treated surface which had been "degassed" for several hours was said to be enclosed in the reactor surrounded by hydrogen. Italien industry looked into the matter and tried exploit the Piantelli-principle commercially. Alas, all industrial application attempts failed. Involved companies were TESCA Konsortium (companies Bulla, Bergomi, Foglia, Italkero and Ecosystem), FIAT AVIO SpA corporation and PROVITA s.r.l.

In 2007 Andrea Rossi is said to have offered Sergio Focardi a contract as a consultant, which led to cooperation.

Presentation on January 14, 2011

Video of an experiment taking several minutes during a public presentation on January 14, 2011 (Source: Curiosity-Blog)

Screenshot from a video of the experiment used to estimate its duration

temperature curve showing two periods in which the temperature is around 100 degrees C or above

heating power

Comparison of the shown probe to a HP474AC probe (Image: www.physicsforums.com)

Specifications of the used pump "LMI P18" (Image: www.physicsforums.com)

Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi gave a press conference on January 14, 2011 which was not only attended by Italian public television station RAI (RAI 3) and numerous journalists, but also by several physicists from universities. The presentation was done in rooms rented from the company "GM System" in an industrial area of Bologna and not in rooms of the Bologna University as claimed on various places in the internet.

During the press conference the function of the reactor was demonstrated for only a few minutes in an adjoining room. Varying durations for the experiment between 15 and 40 minutes are available. As far as can be seen from the graph of the heating power, the reactor was heated for 55 minutes (sse image). A close look at the measured data on the screen of a laptop allow to conclude that for a duration of 15 to 20 minutes the water temperature was close to or higher than 100 degrees (see image). In the report about the experiment the data, which are seen on the notebook are omitted. It also speaks of a duration of 40 minutes, obviously the whole duration including heating up is meant. The values given about the water throughput which were used for calculating the heat output were inadvertent or deliberately incorrect and in truth less than half of the said amount. The same is true regarding the heating power.

The inventors reported about their experiment in their blog, and published three Youtube videos in Italian language [14], [15], [16].

During the press conference they stated the heat input was 600 Watts, at an estimated output of 12,000 Watts (12 kW). In reality, the mean average power was around 1073 W. Power used was between 400 and 1550 W. The inventors calculated their estimation of generated heat from the heated water: 292 grammes of water per minute were heated from 20 degrees to 101 degrees (dry vapour) and evaporated. The attending physicists were allowed to take some measurements. They were disappointed, however, as a spectral analysis of the gamma radiation was denied due to secrecy reasons. A detailed report submitted by independent physicists from Bologna University stated that no gamma radiation was detected, although the device was supplied with two openings for measurement purposes. Excerpt from the report:

[...] no gamma radiation above the background level in the energy region Eγ > 200 keV has been observed, neither in single counting, not in coincidence;
regardless of the internal details of the reaction chamber, shieldings and other industrial secrets, the γ rates measured with the NaI counters seem not compatible with the rates deduced or expected assuming that the energy production was due to nuclear fusion or decay reactions, as suggested in [1].

Observers were allowed to weigh the hydrogen gas container before and after the experiment (weight: 18.6 kgs or according to other sources more than 13 kgs). Even considering possible errors in measurement (duct tape still attached), hydrogen usage was estimated at less than one gramme, not enough to make conventional hydrogen combustion plausible. Link to the report: [17]

Inconsistencies: Several incomprehensible informations were given after the experiment. Even weeks later the Rossi-Team has not reacted with a correction of said informations. Not only was the duration of the experiment with 20 minutes (in which the temperature was above 100 degrees) shorter than claimed, but there are also reasons to doubt the other claims of the inventor and operator of the experiment. The estimation of energy by evaporation of water was criticized in "www.physicsforums.com" in retrospect, as respective calculations were made based on dry vapour without fractions of condensed water which was not proven. The probe shown in the video can only measure the heat but not the dry condition of the steam. It was claimed that a combined probe of the type HP474AC (Delta Ohm) was used but in the video a different probe, which looks like a SPC C45 0500 BEX - probe, can be seen. A HP474AC probe is not visible on any video. The throughput of water claimed at 292 ml/min. (= 17.5 liter/h) was doubted, too, as the pump used had only half of this capacity according to specification. A pump of the type "LMI P18" was used, this was declared later, in april 2011. The manufacturer gives a maximal flow of 12.1 l/h. Other models (A/B/C) of LMI pumps can be ruled out, as they they look different. The pump strokes are audible in a Youtube video. The pump was switched to 60 strokes/minute, which corresponds to 60% of maximal flow rate (60% of 12.1 or 7,6 l/h). Rossi was asked in January 2011 which type of pump was used, but could not or was not willing to tell the pump model.. The calculated heat output given by the team is far higher than actually possible with the pump visible in the video and therefore certainly wrong. Also, the graph showing the heating power disproves the indication, that the heating power was 600 or 700 W. Assuming just a couple of percent condensed water in the vapour would explain the steam generation just through the electrical heating.

The report about the experiment states that the used hydrogen cylinder has been weighted before and after the test to establish the amount of used hydrogen with less than a gram margin. For the weight of the pressure cylinder different values are given, but it is said to have been between 13 kg and 16 kg. Available scales for the given range (for 20/30/60 kg) allow to read weight in 0.1 gram steps but there precision is far less. Possible scales offer just a precision of 0.2 to 0.4 gram.

Undocumented experiment on February 10/11, 2011

On February 10 or 11, 2011 a further "internal test" of the „E-Cat“ was carried out in Bologna, attended by allegedly "independent" physics lecturer Guiseppe Levi from Bologna University. Sole witness was physicist Levi, leader of a physics faculty research group that got financial support for their aid in the project. Levi was also responsible for the poor report regarding the test in January. According to Guiseppe Levi's description, published in a Swedish online article titled "Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion", a hose connected the device to a water tap in order to cool the "reactor". Tap water was said to have flown through the device at about 1 liter per second and was warmed by 5 degrees. Obviously this test should counter the criticism of the the testconditions in January. The test was said to have run continuously for 18 hours, a water meter quantified the flow and was checked by video during the night. The "reactor" was allegedly heated up for 10 minutes with 1,250 Watts initially and subsequently, only a control unit continued to be supplied with 80 Watts, while an alleged constant thermal performance of 15 to 20 kW was established. The same source quotes Levi with the remark he excluded "chemical energy sources" as heat source now:

...Now that I have seen the device work for so many hours, in my view all chemical energy sources are excluded...

Supporters of so-called "Cold Fusion" (LENR Low Energy Nuclear Reactions - CANR Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reactions) calculated an alleged accumulated output of thermal energy at 270-288 kWh (about one GJ) which was compared to the energy of 26 litres of heating oil. Assuming an average output of 17 kW (the input of electrical energy for pre-heating and control may be neglected) over 18 hours actually renders about 300 kWh arithmetically speaking. The fuel value of 1 litre of oil is at about 10 kWh so that in terms of figures, an amount of 30 litres may be calculated to produce the same heat quantity.

Since the volume of the visible devices can be estimatet, interested parties in the Internet(Usenet) tried to find candidates for a known chemical reaction which could be done in the given volume and produces enough heat while having no problems with smoke emission, toxicity, costs and controllability. While a normal chemical reaction can indeed not be ruled out for the first demonstration in January, a replacement candidate for the alleged 18 hour experiment in February could not be found. The volume of the external control unit is said to be about 60 litres, but according to Levi contained only electronics. He estimated the actual reaction chamber at a volume of about 1 liter; the shielding is said to be a layer of 2 cms of lead with an overall weight of 30 kgs.

Criticized was also the placement of the probe, which was supposed to measure the heat of the water during the test. The probe was inserted from outside the "reactor" and might have come into contact with an inner heating resistor which would have made an assessment of the heat output impossible. Further criticism was targeted at the start temperature which might even have been below the (unknown) room temperature, which complicates the interpretation of the data even more.

Experiment on March 29, 2011

A six-hours presentation was made on March 29, 2011 in Bologna attended by invited Swedish physicists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén. For "stability reasons" a smaller "energy catalyzer" with lesser output was used, which is said to have yielded 25 kWh in 6 hours with a thermal output of 4.4 kW. The same pump LMI P18 was used in this presentation as in January, but this time the capacity was compatible with the maximum flow capacity given by the manufacturer and plausible. As in the experiment in January water was evaporated, but without measurement the dryness of the vapour errors of up to 600% a possible. It is also impossible to find out in retrospect if all the water was evaporated, since a tube for warm water was near the steam port. The unit was filled with 50 gramm nickel powder. At startup hydrogen gas was pumped into the device with 25 bar but without previously pumping air out. To quote: The air of atmospheric pressure was remaining in the container as a small impurity. (Remark: If oxygen from the air would have stayed in - as claimed - water could have been formed since the nickel powder would have acted as a catalyst). Heating was done with 300 Watt. During the presentation isolation and lead shielding were removed from some shown Ecats but not from the used Ecat itself. The attending Giuseppe Levi made pictures which were published in Italian and Swedish blogs. The Swedish observers wrote a report, which was published in Internet blogs. They write in their report that a normal chemical reaction can be ruled out:

Any chemical process should be ruled out for producing 25 kWh from whatever is in a 50 cubic centimeter container. The only alternative explanation is that there is some kind of a nuclear process that gives rise to the measured energy production.

The observers were allowed to examine two material samples in advance: the nickel powder and "used" nickel power from an experiment which had previously been run for 2 and a half months. Rossi delivered the samples during a visit in Sweden. The used sample contained 10% copper and 11% iron according to an analysis done at the Ångström Laboratory (Ångströmlaboratoriet) of Uppsala university. Surprisingly, the isotope ratio of nickel and copper (isotope 63 and isotope 65) was equal to the natural isotopic composition.

Both measurements show that the pure nickel powder contains mainly nickel, and the used powder is different in that several elements are present, mainly 10 percent copper and 11 percent iron. The isotopic analysis through ICP-MS doesn’t show any deviation from the natural isotopic composition of nickel and copper.

The stated ratios were: Cu-63 70%, Cu-65 30%. Professor Sven Kullander commented that such a result was extremely unlikely:

If this reaction chain would be true even though none of the responses that I mention can be made with the knowledge we have today, then isotopic distribution Cu-63/Cu-65 be greater than 80/20, probably closer to 99/01.

The natural isotope ratio of 63Cu to 65Cu is 2,24 (69,17% to 30,83%). Focardi had previously claimed that the copper isotope ratio would be reduced to 1.6 through the "fusion". While there are further copper isotopes they are unstable and are not found in nature (69,17 + 30,83 = 100).

It is not only statistically (nearly) impossible that after an alleged fusion reaction with copper as fusion product an "used" sample will show the same isotope ratio as found in nature. Further considerations about the sample analysis expose insurmountable obstacles to the possibility of fusion:
In theory, the stable copper isotopes 63Cu and 65Cu might be a result of fusion of hydrogen and nickel isotopes 62Ni and 64Ni (add one proton each). But according to the Swedish Institute that analysed the samples the unused nickel sample just contained 4.5% of these stable nickel isotopes in sum. Assuming the unlikely case all nickel 62 and nickel 64 atoms were fused with a proton (hydrogen nucleus), the amount of copper would not amount to even 10% of the resulting mass. An alternative reaction chain with unstable isotopes is impossible based on the measured isotope ratios and the absence of radiation: It would be possible to assume nickel 58 as starting isotope which would become copper 59 and decay to nickel 59. Which in turn would become copper 60 and decay to nickel 60 and so on. In the end, the stable copper 63 would be formed. But this would necessitate a completely different copper isotope ratio then found in the analysis.

Experiments in april 2011

2 heating resistors are switched on (9/3)

possibly, Rossi modified the heating power, when journalist Mats Lewan was returning from another room (picture: sreenshot from a video of Mats Lewan)

The days 19 and 28 of april, two further tests were performed in presence of swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik). The apparatus was heating water and seemed to produce some steam on some occasion. According to Lewan, heating power was only 315 W. Rossi claimed, that heat produced would amount to more than 2 kW. There is no published report so far. Lewan released two pdf file relating to the tests.([18] [19]). He made also a video of the test of 28th of april..

Again, the yellow metering pump "LMI P18" was used. This time however, the flow rate was claimed to be between 63 and 68 ml/min (according to the experiment). These values are compatible with the data sheet of the pump. The stroke frequency was 32 strokes/min. Using a stroke volume of 2 ml (maximum possible), the pump would reach the same value (64 ml/min), confirming the value claimed by observing Lewan. Lewan checked the water flow by measuring water weight differences in particular periods of time.

It remains unclear, whether the heating power was constant 315 Watt. Lewan checked the total power once at the beginning of the experiment with a clamp amperemeter (1.6 A). When the journalist was in another romm filming a black outlet hose, and was turning the camera, it could be seen, that Rossi was touching the blue power control box. He could have modified the heating power.

A further experiment, allegedly planned for April 21, 2011, where the E-Cat would have been given to the Swedish scientists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén of University Uppsala for testing, was denied in afterwards by Rossi.

Attempts to replicate the experiments

In 1996, a group led by Antonino Zichichi tried in vain to repeat the pre-Rossi Piantelli-experiment(equal in principle, except for the secret catalyst) at CERN in Geneva for one year. Authors mention established increases in temperature which, however, did not correspond to an increase in energy release:

The authors state, "We have found the [Piantelli-Focardi group’s] results to be consistent with our observations; namely we measured higher temperatures for the same input power when hydrogen is absorbed during a heating cycle. Nevertheless this temperature rise does not appear to correspond to an increase in heat production. We have added a temperature sensor to the container of the experiment. The temperature of the container follows the same temperature with input power curve irrespective of whether there is an anomalous absorption of hydrogen or not; therefore we have no evidence that this temperature increase corresponds to another source of heat. In conclusion, we have observed all the effects discovered by Focardi et al., but our results imply that there is no production of power associated with the absorption of hydrogen by nickel."

In 1998/1999, a further attempt to replicate the tests of the principle was carried out by scientists Luigi Nosenzo and Luigi Cattaneo in Pavia (Italy). Again, no fusion reaction or release of energy was established over the course of several months.

Inventor Andrea Rossi

Andrea Rossi at the Petroldragon-trial (Source: newspaper L'Unita")

Reimbursement offer of diploma mill "Kensington University Inc." to its customers

Rossi CV on his website (March 4, 2011)

The Petroldragon-area (Source: newspaper L'Unita")

Andrea Rossi before a reactor of Petroldragon (Source: newspaper L'Unita")

The "Rossi Energy Amplifier" is not the first invention made by Andrea Rossi. During the 1970ies and 1980ies, he tried to produce hydrocarbons from waste to no avail. This resulted in several law suits and criminal cases with prison sentences against the "Sheik of Brianza" (Sceicco della Brianza, sheik because he claimed to produce oil from industrial waste; Brianza is a region north of Milan). The law suits were also known as "Petroldragon affair", since Rossi's company was called "Petroldragon". Italian Wikipedia has an article about the affair: Petroldragon. Rossi was convicted because he did not dispose of large amounts(58,000 tons) of toxic wastes in accordance with regulations, and for trafficking waste materials. According to an article in the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" for April 6, 1995 Rossi and a Michele Pizzato were arrested twice. As a member of a "gang" and "criminal organisation" he is said to have smuggled two tons of gold in a money laundering operation.

Rossi, however, perceived this as a repression of his allegedly ecological conversion technology. He was also accused of fiscal offences and illegal gold trading. He migrated to USA after a series of criminal proceedings. Currently, investments (EON Srl) are operated by his wife Maddalena Pascucci.

In a curriculum vitae presenting his occupational history available on his website (see picture on the right dated March 4, 2011), Rossi specifies he graduated in philosophy at the University of Milan and mentions a second "Laurea" title (common term for a final degree at an Italian University with an obligatory doctorate) in "Ingegneria Chimica" (chemical engineering) at a Californian "Kensington University Inc.". This company was officially registered in Hawaii, but operated from Glendale in California and was a wellknown diploma mill until it was shut down on court orders. The company was sentenced to restitute all former customers (see picture to the left) after it had been reported by a consumer protection organisation.

In March 2011 Andrea Rossi was confronted by a journalist with accusations of holding an engineering title from a diploma mill. Rossi replied that the title was a honorary title which was given to him for an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claims that he doesn't know anything about the company "Kensington University Inc.". He also said that he has a regular title Dottore Magistrale in Filosofia of Università degli Studi di Milano from 10. Dezember 1975

In his blog "journal of nuclear physics" catholic Rossi questions the theory of evolution of Charles Darwin as explanation for the origin of mankind and attempted to portrait the nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific Ocean in the 60s of the last century as a plausible cause for the quakes in Japan:

I can’t read the mind of God. But I have a doubt, about what happened in Japan: are we sure that all the atomic bombs explosions tested in the Pacific Ocean did not change the configuration of the bottom of the sea in that area? I read that few inches of displacement of the bottom sea has caused that disaster…

EON Srl, Leonardo Corporation and Defkalion Green Technologies

Defkalion-employee at a press conference in January 2011

The company EON Srl (apparently owned by Rossi), often mentioned in connection with the subject, is registered both in Bondeno and in Rome. At the location of Bodeno, an "E-cat" device is said to have provided heating for premises virtually for free. Rossi also claims he is also producing hot water in his home with an E-cat. For both claims no independent evidence exists.

In the course of 2011, inventors and undisclosed non-Italian investors(allegedly Greeks) plan to offer ready-made reactors for industrial application under the marketing name "Hyperion" (not to confuse with a concept for small fission reactors of the same name in the USA). There is an official permission dating from 2006 which enables Italian EON Srl to operate a small power plant, fuelled by biodiesel, of an electric power of up to 1 megawatt in the town of Bondero. Inventors claim they currently also work at a small power plant which combines 120 interconnected energy-amplifier reactors of the same electric power of 1,000 kws either in Greece or in the USA which is supposed to be finished by October 2011 and cost 2 million dollar. Its manufacturer is a Greek company by the name of „Defkalion Green Technologies S.A.“.

There is a Leonardo Corporation located in Bedford, New Hampshire, allegedly Rossi's employer. Their e-mail address is identical with the one of EON Srl in Italy. This company and Greek Defkalion are supposed to build the future "reactors". Currently, Leonardo Corporation offers electric generators fueled by biodiesel (with turbo chargers and intercooling). The company claims a high degree of efficiency due to its patented "EON" technology which was able to recover incurred thermal losses.

There is a small company in Athens named "Defkalion Energy" resp. "Defkalion Green Technologies S.A.", owned by several investors, which according to Rossi will produce some of the energy catalysators. The owners of Defkalion are unknown. Known are just the vice president Christos Stremmenos (previous professor at the university of Bologna and previous Greek ambassador in Italy) the spokesman Symeon Tsalikoglou. While the website of EON Srl has been "under construction" for months now, the page of Defkalion meanwhile offers a contact address in Athens. Domain registrant is Andreas Meintanis from GR-19200 Elefsina.

While Rossi's "Leonardo Corp." will cover business in USA, it is apparently planned to pass sales rights for the rest of the world, but at least for Europe, to Defkalion. According to the Greek newspaper "Investors World" an old factory in Xanthi has already been bought for testing of the 1MW plant with energy catalyzers of Rossi. The same source claims a collaboration with a "Prof. Christos Stremmenos" and that Defkalion is a 200 million investment. Half of it will go as royalties to the inventor.According to Rossi, production of E-cat will commence even if the patent finally will not be granted. He was also prepared to continue production if competitors see through his invention by reverse engineering.

Leonardo Technologies Inc.

Thermoelectric wonder device of LTI

Leonardo Technologies Inc. (LTI) is another US-American company of Andrea Rossi. The LTI in Manchester(NH/USA) tried to develop thermoelectric modules with wondrous degrees of efficiency. Such elements work due to the thermoelectric effect (see also Thermoelectric cooling enabling them to convert temperature differences to electrical voltage. Voltage is very low but through serial circuits higher voltage can be achieved. Efficiency is known to be very low. It lies between 2 and 4 percent and useful applications are limited to special needs ("Plutonium cells", satellite supply without sun collectors). Such converters would be only of commercial interest if efficiencies beyond 15% were achieved. The LIT claimed to have realized thermoelectric modules (TE-device) with 20% efficiency. It was also claimed that they could build big converters with a capacity of several kilowatts. Collaboration with the university of New Hampshire was agreed upon. A device with 1 A and 100 volt (100 watt) was shown. Rossi continued the research later in Italy. The American Department of Defence showed interest and had the company CTC (in Johnstown, PA) test several devices of LIT and released a test protocoll. The devices proved not very reliable. Out of 27 devices just 8 worked at all and instead of the claimed 800 to 1000 watt they had just produced 1 Watt of power. Further problems were thermal expansion and contact issues. Other later sent devices could not produce more power than a normal commercially available device.

Funding and Cooperation with Bologna University

Rossi declares to have spent 500,000 Euro on experiments with more than 1,000 E-cat reactors, financed e.g. with earnings from his previous company Petroldragon which supplied him with revenues of as much as one million Euro. According to Rossi, no customer made any advance payments, Rossi only means to earn revenue or license fees when sales commenced. Rossi allegedly agreed a cooperation with Bologna University. It is said that its Faculty of Physics received Euro 500,000 from Rossi in order to support development. Physicist Giuseppe Levi is said to be heading these activities. According to other sources it receives even 1 million Euro.

Rossi means to donate part of the revenue for children suffering from cancer:

The 500,000 Euros I am paying to the University of Bologna is my last money, but when I deliver the one-megawatt plant to Defkalion I get cash back. From then on, 50% will be used for expansion and 50% to treat children with cancer. I will personally look for the children whose families cannot afford their care.

Journal of Nuclear Physics

Rossi spreads claims about his inventions through his own Internet blog called "Journal of Nuclear Physics", which is claimed to be "peer-reviewed". That it is no professional journal is obvious due to the title extension "Nuclear experiments blog". "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was the name of a russian professional journal, which was discontinued. An Article article in Wikipedia lists all journals of that name.

The website of the blog lists a "Board of Advisers" of 8 persons. Currently (April 2011) listed are 8 names: Prof. Sergio Focardi (INFN – University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Michael Melich (DOD – USA), Prof. Alberto Carnera (INFM – University of Padova – Italy), Prof. Pierluca Rossi (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. Luciana Malferrari (University of Bologna – Italy), Prof. George Kelly (University of New Hampshire – USA), Prof. Stremmenos Christos (Bologna University – Italy) und Richard Noceti, Ph.D. (LTI-global.com). It is peculiar that several of the persons are from the circle of the inventors. It is unclear for some persons, what qualifies them for questions of physics. George Kelly is apparently not working for the University of New Hampshire, it is unclear if he exists at all. An American psychologist with the same name has already died. Michael Melich, who allegedly works for the "DOD" (U.S. Defense Department) got attention for strange statements. He claims to work as kind of an undercover agent for a secret service and reports to it about activities of the cold fusion scene. Guiseppe Levi, who was listed originally as an advisor was crossed of the list end of January 2011 (see screenshots).

The blog can also be used to add comments, but various people in the Internet reported, that only comments or questions which do not criticize or doubt the "E-cat" are publicised.

Patents and patent applications

Drawing from patent application WO 2009/125444 von Rossi

Rossi has applied for a patent(WO 2009/125444 A1 EP 02259998 A1) for the method. The European Patent Office as one of the International Searching Authorities of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) assessed the patent specification negatively. It criticized the invention was not presented comprehensively and particularly that it was not evident that the described reaction of nickel and hydrogen did in fact generate energy. To quote the report:

As the invention seems, at least at first, to offend against the generally accepted laws of physics and established theories, the disclosure should be detailed enough to prove to a skilled person conversant with mainstream science and technology that the invention is indeed feasible. [...] In the present case, the invention does not provide experimental evidence (nor any firm theoretical basis) which would enable the skilled person to assess the viability of the invention. The description is essentially based on general statement and speculations which are not apt to provide a clear and exhaustive technical teaching.

Patent applications are required to allow experts to rebuild the described invention. Furthermore the "best method" to achieve the presented effect has to be described in the application. But Rossi kept the nature of his "catalyzers" secret.

The WIPO website lists an answer of Rossi's patent attorney Cicogna from December 17, 2010 in which he addresses the mentioned points. He drops 6 of 15 claims in his answer to the Munich European patent agency. The correspondence responds also to a patent from 2005 (Yoshiaki Arata: (Juli 2005) Hydrogen condensate and method of generating heat therewith., EP1551032 [20]) of the Japanese emeritus professor Yoshiaki Arata, who studies "cold fusion" since 1989. Arata describes in his patent methods to generate an "Arata Energy" through an hydrogen isotope that permeates under energy input finely grounded metals (metal nano-ultrafine particle , Arata mentions several metals, among them nickel) or alloys. This process creates a "condensate" with decreased interatomic distance between the hydrogen isotopes, which explains the emission of heat. A byproduct of the reaction is helium. According to Arata there are several ways to apply the energy: pressure, ultrasound, high electricity, laserlight, magnetism, ... Arate showed his reactor with Stirling engine to the public in May 2008 but explained that the principle cannot be used economically since the helium generation "poisons" the fusion process and the fusion chamber had to be vented periodically.

Patents von Francesco Piantelli:

• WO 95 20816 A1, Francesco Piantelli: Energy generation and Generator by means of anharmonic stimulated fusion
• EP 0767962 B1 (1995), Piantelli, F., Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion. Patent
• WO 2010058288 A1: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO, METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27.

Reception, media coverag and criticism

Noteworthy reception from respective associations or universities never happened, tries by the inventors to publish their principle in a professional magazine failed. Acceptable scientific publications are not known so far(January 2011). Only single physicists reacted with blog entries or comments to the topic.

The invention was covered in 4 articles in Italian daily newspapers (sometimes only in local section). A small private radio station made an interview. A Greek business paper and a private tv station covered it. „Nyeteknik“reported in Sweden and in USA some positive coverage was done by the "Washington Times", which belongs to the Moon-Cult, in an article of Frank Perley.

The energy catalyzer was also covered in several blogs. The most lively interest could be observed in Italy and Sweden.

The most renowned person that commented the energy catalyzer so far is the English Nobel prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson is known for years as a supporter of so called "cold fusion" and is editor of the corresponding article in English Wikipedia.

The most committed critic is the Italian habilitated nuclear chemist Camillo Franchini. Another critic is the habilitated Swedish nuclear physicist Peter Ekström of Lund University. Ekström calls Rossi's invention a "hoax" and pseudoscience. He also compares it to claims made for the last twenty years by a Randell Mills (BlackLightPower - see Hydrino). Ekström refers in his critique to the conditions for fusion and nuclear transformations and the emitted radiation. A summary of his critique can be found here: Peter Ekström: Kall Fusion på italienska (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English). The Swedish professor for physics Kjell Aleklett from Uppsala University also criticized in his blog: Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?"

Versions of this article in other languages

• Deutsch: Focardi-Rossi-Energiekatalysator
• Italiano: Catalizzatore di energia secondo Rossi e Focardi

Literature

• Giuseppe Levi: "Report on heat production during preliminary tests on the Rossi “Ni-H” reactor", Univ. Bologna, Jan. 2011 (auch: [21])
• E. CAMPARI, S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Overview of H_Ni systems: old experiments and new setup" 5TH ASTI WORKSHOP ON ANOMALIES IN HYDROGEN-DEUTERIUM LOADED METALS, ASTI, ITALY, 2004, XP002517911
• S. FOCARDI, V. GABBANI, V. MONTALBANO, F. PIANTELLI, S. VERONESI: "Evidence of Electromagnetic radiation from Ni-H Systems" 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONDENSED MATTER NUCLEAR SCIENCE 2004, MARSEILLE, FRANCE, 2004, XP002517912
• Focardi S., Habel R., and Piantelli F., "Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 107A, p. 163-167, (1994)
• Notoya, R. et al., "Tritium Generation and Large Excess Heat Evolution by Electrolysis in Light and Heavy Water-Potassium Carbonate Solutions With Nickel Electrodes," Fusion Technology, Vol. 26, p. 179, (Sept. 1994)
• Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zibichi, A., "Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996)
• Mengoli, G., Bernardini, M., Manducchi, C., and Zannoni, G., "Anomalous Heat Effects Correlated With Electrochemical Hydriding of Nickel," Il Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 20 D, p. 331-352, (1998)
• Battaglia, A., Daddi, L., Focardi, S., Gabbani, V., Montalbano, V., Piantelli, F., Sona, P.G., and nesi, S., "Neutron Emission in Ni-H Systems," Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 112 A p. 921-931, (Sept. 1999)
• S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, S. Veronesi. "Large excess heat production in Ni-H systems". Il Nuovo Cimento Vol. 111 A, N.11 pp. 1233, novembre 1998
• Cerron-Zeballos, E., Crotty, I., Hatzifotiadou, D., Lamas Valverde, J., Williams, M.C.S., and Zichichi, A., "Investigation of Anomalous Heat Production in Ni-H Systems". Nuovo Cimento, Vol. 109A, p. 1645-1654, (1996).
• Adalberto Piazzoli. "Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)
• "Il ritorno della fusione fredda", Article in the journal "Query", 31.1.2011
• "Il ritorno della fusione fredda: ci risponde Levi", Article in the journal "Query", 2.2.2011

News

• Franco, Foresta Martin, "Siena scopre l' energia pulita Fusione fredda all' italiana?," Corriere Della Sera, 19. Februar 1994
• Ilaria Venturi: Fusione nucleare a freddo - "A Bologna ci siamo riusciti", Artikel in "La Repubblica" (Bologna-Lokalausgabe) vom 14.1.2011. [22]
• MARCO PIVATO: "Ho realizzato la fusione fredda" - Annuncio choc del fisico Focardi. Article in "Il Resto del Carlino" (Lokal edition Bologna) January 1, 2011
• Lisa Zyga: Italian scientists claim to have demonstrated cold fusion, physorg, 20.1.2011
• Clay Dillow: Italian Scientists Claim (Dubious) Cold Fusion Breakthrough, Fox News, 24.1.2011
• Frank Perley: Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes, "The Washington Times", 17.3.2011.

Weblinks

• Website of Andrea Rossi
• "Journal of Nuclear Physics". The title suggests a physics journal but it is actually a website similar to a blog run by Focardi and Rossi, articles are allegedly peer-reviewed by "at least one" physics professor.
• http://www.eonsrl.com (no content as of March 15, 2011)
• http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html
• http://www.newenergytimes.com/v2/news/2008/NET29-8dd54geg.shtml
• Peter Ekström: Kall Fusion på italienska (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English)
• Kjell Aleklett "Rossi energy catalyst – a big hoax or new physics?"
• http://www.fysik.org/WebSite/fragelada/index.asp?id=17662 (Swedish)

Video

• Report in Greek television (greek/englisch)
• [23] (Demonstration Bologna January 1, 2011)
• [24] (Demonstration Bologna January 2, 2011)
• [25] (Demonstration Bologna January 3, 2011)