Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer

Revision as of 22:56, 17 June 2011 by Heimdall (talk | contribs) (Just some quick fixes, will sync the articles on sunday...)
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)
Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (Picture: TV channel "Rainews24")
Planned book of a John Michell: Rossi's eCcat - Free Energy, Free Money, Free People. (Xecnet Verlag)

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[1] and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi, cold fusion of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor[2], which, at strong heat, led to the creation of copper. Rossi's 2011 demonstrations were criticized by various sources. Neither gamma nor neutron radiation could be measured[3], 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 May 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. 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.[4][5] 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." 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.[6] 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 can also be established.[7]

Purported functional principle

 
Power control and main switch
 
Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration dd. January 14, 2011, Source: Curiosity-Blog)
 
Heating power can be selected in 9 steps: 0...9
 
Several "E-cat" stripped of shielding and insulation. Picture: Giuseppe Levi
 
Power control
 
Outside view of reaction chamber, lead shielding and insulation removed. Below: Outer heating resistor (here: heating sleeve 300W), above: hydrogen intake, left and right: cooling water line. Image: Giuseppe Levi
 
Hydrogen pressure indicator
 
Typical heating sleeve
 
Claims of cheap nickel isotope enrichment as part of the invention (Screenshot: Blog "Journal of nuclear physics", April 11, 2011)

All data currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors and their internet blog, from a patent application submitted by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements of the few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far. 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.: [14][15][16]). The most renowned person having commented the energy catalyzer so far is English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Focardi and Rossi publish statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il Cimento". Upon 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 which rejected them: A. Carnera, S. Focardi, A. Rossi, to be published on Arxiv..

Rossi's company EON Srl and "Leonardocorp." did not provide further information so far.


According to – partly contradictory - information available 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 nickel and hydrogen gas transformed to copper in the presence of an unknown catalyst 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 through which cooling water flows. The patent application claims the stable nickel isotope 62Ni28 (which makes about 3.6% of natural nickel) reacted with hydrogen and was transformed into the stable copper isotope 62Cu29. In his blog, Rossi claims he uses nickel isotope enrichment to get the desired amount of nickel isotopes. To be more precise, he claims to use an unexplained process to achieve enrichment with isotope Ni58.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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 µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company[11] 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 + H2 --> Ni + 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.

By heating with electrical energy, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180-400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pressure was increased strongly at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated.[12] 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 might be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

Inventors also claim the mentioned "fusion" generates weak gamma and neutron radiation.[13] 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 litre and shielded by a layer of 2 cms of lead. In their patent application, inventors claim:

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.[14] Mills is said 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 have not been proven as of yet.

Further internet speculations assume this was a normal chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel ores: the Sherritt-Gordon process"[15], 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.

Looking for possible heat sources, [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

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"[16] (Full Text). According to this theory, the "cold fusion" processes discussed are not actual fusion but interactions in which 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 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.

The mysterious catalyst

Inventors claim the high thermal output of the energy catalyzers is the result of a special catalyst whose composition is kept secret. In scientific nuclear physics, contrary to classic physics, the use of a catalyst in fusion processes is unknown.

Unverifiable internet rumours speculate it might be "Raney-Nickel" since two fires in Rossi's laboratories were caused by "Raney-Nickel". Upon inquiry, Rossi stated that no Raney-Nickel was used. Focardi stated he was not aware of the composition of the catalyst himself, since only Rossi knew it. In a radio interview dated March 6, 2011, Focardi offered some speculations about the compound. He believes it was a chemical compound, not an element. It was not uranium. The obvious purpose of the substance was to catalyse the transformation of heated hydrogen gas (H2) into atomic hydrogen (a discussion of possible catalysts for this purpose can be found in a paper by Romanowski from 1999[17]). To complicate the identification of the catalyst, observers were prohibited to do a spectral analysis of possible gamma radiation, since it might allow the identification of elements of the compound.

Deactivation

In his report on the experiment dated March 29, 2011, Professor Sven Kullander wrote 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 off when operating temperature was achieved. The red wire in the picture to the right (cm 31 - 34) apparently is the heater supply. With a cable this thick it is possible to power the heater with 220 volt/10 amp from a regular wall outlet, which could provide 2,200 Watts and explain the generation of steam.

Prof. Kullander also writes the heater acts as „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." Quite apparently, a heater cannot act as a safeguard for a heat generating process.[18]

The self-destruction mechanism

According to Rossi, future commercial „energy catalyzers“ will include a self-destruction mechanism. Any attempts to inspect the secret operating mechanism and internal components of reactors thus were prevented.[19]

Claims on practical application and success

 
Input and output of the reactor according to inventors[20]

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 runs in his "Leonardo facility" in New Hampshire (USA) since 2008.

Details regarding nickel consumption and costs

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.[21] 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 chat show "Coast to Coast AM", known for propagating conspiracy theories, Rossi said in March 2011 his planned 1 MW small power station will cost 2 million Dollars, while his 10 kW E-Cat later will cost a mere 5,000 Dollars.[22] According to Greek journal "Investor's World" of March 2011, future "E-cat" devices will produce electrical energy through an "inverter". Customers were to face an annual cost of 1,300 Euros for the production of a 24/7 output of 20 kW (not specified whether thermal or electric). "Defkalion Green Technologies" plans to request inclusion into the "renewable energy" programme by RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy).[23][24][25]

History

 
First experiments with an „ECat“ predecessor by EON in Bondeno(Ferrara). See „reactor“ on the right, cooled in a bucket of water. (Picture: S. Focardi, May 2011 [12])

"Anomalies" when adding hydrogen to nickel have been reported since 1936. 1989 was marked by wide media attention to cold fusion as a result of claims regarding failed experiments by Fleischmann and Pons. In the same year, Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli (formerly University of 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 was not able to 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".[26] Various workgroups have done experiments with electrolysis and with nickel and hydrogen since then.

Piantelli founded a private organisation called I.M.O. (Centro Interuniversitario interdipartimentale per lo studio delle interazioni biofisiche e biochimiche tra molecole e organismi) after he left Siena University. He developed a method called SQME (Sequenze di Campi Magnetici ed Elettrici - Sequence of magnetic and electric fields) there which, applied to cancer patients, allegedly raised body temperature by four degrees and thus worked as a hypothermic treatment. Specialist literature on this issue does not happen to be known.

Physicist Sergio Focardi from Bologna University heard about Piantelli's observations of temperature increase with nickel-hydrogen reactions 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"), avoiding the term "cold fusion", however.[27] 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. Italian industry looked into the matter and tried to exploit the Piantelli principle commercially. However, all attempts to put it to industrial application failed. Companies involved were TESCA Syndicate (companies Bulla, Bergomi, Foglia, Italkero and Ecosystem), FIAT AVIO SpA corporation and PROVITA s.r.l.[28]

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)
 
Temperature curve, with two periods (17 minutes) during which 100°C were reached (reconstructed from video)
 
Reconstructed superposition of temperature and heating curve. The time difference between the two curves is to be noted, it is a result of a simplification which equates the start of heating with the start of the temperature rise. (an improved diagram is in progress)
 
Screenshot from a video of the experiment used to estimate its duration
 
Diagram showing the timeline of electrical heating input during the experiment
 
Comparison of the shown probe to a HP474AC probe (Image: www.physicsforums.com)
 
Specifications of pump used "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 employed at universities. Admission was restricted to invited guests. The presentation was performed in rooms rented from company "GM System" in an industrial area of Bologna[29] and not in rooms of Bologna University, as is claimed on various websites. During this press conference, the function of the reactor was demonstrated for about an hour (55 minutes) in an adjoining room. An analysis of recorded measurement data which can be seen on the screen of a notebook in a Youtube-video for a couple of seconds allow to estimate a period of 15 to 20&nbspminutes(probably 17  minutes), during which a water temperature of 100 degrees or more was achieved. (see picture). The data visible on the notebook were omitted from the report on the experiment (according to physicist Levi, they were "lost"). The report also mentions a period of 40 minutes, obviously referring to the entire period including heating up. To calculate the heat output, inadvertent or deliberately incorrect data of water throughput were included, which was in truth less than half of the said amount. The inventors reported the experiment in their blog[30], and published three Youtube videos in Italian language [17], [18], [19].

During the press conference they mentioned a heat input of 600 Watts, at a calculated output of 12,000 Watts (12 kW). However, according to a report published (G. Levi), actual supplied power was 1,022 Watt on average. A further analysis of the data published showed a result of 1,073 Watt.[31] Power used was between 400 and 1,500 W. The inventors calculated their estimate of generated heat from the heated water: 292 grammes of water per minute were heated from 20 °C to 101 °C (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 for 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: 13,66 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: [20]

 
Alternative calculation explaining the reported values without cold fusion (Source: unknown author "Ascoli65" from Italian forum EnergeticAmbiente.it)

Inconsistencies: Several incomprehensible pieces of information were provided shortly after the experiment. Even weeks later, Rossi's team did not reacted with a correction. Not only was the duration of the experiment shorter than claimed before at 17 minutes (during which temperature was close to or above 100 degrees), but there is also reason to doubt further claims of inventors and operators of the experiment. The estimate of energy by evaporation of water was criticized at "www.physicsforums.com" in retrospect, as respective calculations were made assuming dry vapour without fractions of condensed water, which was not proven. The probe shown in the video can only measure the heat but not relative humidity of the steam. A combined probe of the type HP474AC (Delta Ohm) was claimed to have been used, but the video shows a different probe which looks like an SPC C45 0500 BEX - probe. An HP474AC probe is not visible in any video. The claimed water throughput of 292 ml/min. (= 17.5 liter/h) was doubted too, since the pump used had only half of this capacity according to specification. A pump of the type "LMI P18" had been used, as was confirmed in May 2011 by the Swedish reporter Mats Lewan. Several previous inquiries about the type of pump were not answered by Andrea Rossi.[32].

The manufacturer specifies a maximal flow of 12.1 l/h for the LMI P18.[33] Other models (A/B/C) of LMI pumps can be ruled out, as they definitely look different. Water throughput of these programmable peristaltic pumps can be regulated. The number of strokes per minute and the pumped volume can be regulated separately. The maximal number of strokes is 100 per minute. At 100 strokes/min, maximum throughput will be achieved. In one of the YouTube videos of the presentation on January 14, 2011, pump strokes are clearly audible for 30 seconds.[34] Counting them, 29 or 30  strokes in those thirty seconds can be established. The pump was regulated to 59 to 60 strokes/minute, which corresponds to 60% of maximal flow rate. The heat output calculated by the team is thus 240% higher than the output actually possible using the pump shown in the video, and therefore certainly wrong. These faulty specifications on the average power (1,073 W instead of 600 W) result in an additional grave error of 78%. Assuming just a few percent of condensed water in the vapour would allow to explain the steam generation just by electrical heating.

The report on the experiment states that the hydrogen cylinder employed was weighed before and after the test to establish the amount of hydrogen used with a margin of less than a gramme. Regarding the weight of the pressure cylinder, different data are given, but it is said to have been 13.66 kg. Available scales for the given range (for 20/30/60 kg) allow to read weight in steps of 0.1 gramme, but their precision is far less. Possible scales just offer a precision of 0.2 to 0.4 gram.[35]

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. Several internet sources claim the test instead happened on February 18, 2011. Sole witness was physicist Levi, head of a physics faculty research group which received financial grants for their support in the project. Levi was also responsible for the poor quality 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"[36], a hose connected the device to a water tap this time 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 (to 15-20 degrees). Obviously this test was done to counter the criticism of test conditions in January. The test was said to have run continuously for 18 hours, a water meter quantified the flow, and the test was monitored by video during the night (this video was never released). The "reactor" was allegedly heated up for ten minutes with 1,250 Watts initially and subsequently only a control unit was supplied with 80 Watts, while an alleged constant thermal performance of 15-20 Kilowatt was established. According to Levi, 0.4 grammes of hydrogen were used in those 18 hours. The same source quotes Levi with the remark he now excluded "chemical energy sources" as heat source:

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

The alleged heat output was calculated by supporters of Cold Fusion (LENR Low Energy Nuclear Reactions - CANR Chemically Assisted Nuclear Reactions) at 270-288 kWh (about one GJ), which was compared to the energy of 26 litres of heating oil.[37] 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[38] 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 estimated, interested parties in the internet (Usenet) tried to find candidates for a known chemical reaction which could be done in the given volume and produce enough heat while disregarding problems like 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 contained only electronics according to Levi. He estimated the actual reaction chamber at a volume of about 1 litre. The shielding is said to be a layer of 2 cms of lead with an overall weight of 30 kgs.

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

Experiment on March 29, 2011

 
(with claimed working conditions)
 
Comparison of different heating curves

A six-hours' presentation was performed in Bologna on March 29, 2011, attended by the invited Swedish physicists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén. Due to "stability reasons", a smaller "energy catalyzer" with lesser output was used, and is said to have yielded 25 kWh within 6 hours with a thermal output of 4.4 kW. The same pump as in January, the LMII P18, was used in this presentation, but this time the capacity was compatible with the maximum flow capacity specified by manufacturers and therefore probable. Water throughput was stated at 6.27 kg/h (104 ml/min). As in the experiment in January, water was evaporated, but without measuring relative humidity of the vapour, errors in measurement of up to 600% may occur. It is also impossible to establish in retrospect whether the water was evaporated completely, since the warm water drain was placed next to the steam port. The assembly was filled with 50 grammes of nickel powder. Initially, hydrogen gas was pumped into the device at 25 bar but without previously pumping air out. Quote: The air of atmospheric pressure remained in the container as a small impurity. (Note: If oxygen from the air stayed inside - as claimed -, water could have formed, since nickel powder acts as a catalyst). Heating was done at 300 Watt.[39][40][41] During the presentation, insulation and lead shielding were removed from some E-cats displayed, but not from the E-cat used. Attending Giuseppe Levi made photos which were published in Italian and Swedish blogs. The Swedish observers wrote a report also published in internet blogs. In their report[18], they excluded a conventional chemical reaction:

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.

Observers invited were allowed to examine two material samples in advance: the nickel powder and "spent" nickel powder from an experiment which previously had been run for 2 and a half months. Rossi delivered the samples during a visit to Sweden. According to an analysis performed at the Ångström Laboratory (Ångströmlaboratoriet) of Uppsala University, the used sample contained 10% copper and 11% iron. 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 ratios specified were: Cu-63 70%, Cu-65 30%. Professor Sven Kullander commented such a result as 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.[42]

The natural isotope ratio of 63Cu to 65Cu is 2.24 (69.17% to 30.83%). Focardi had previously claimed the copper isotope ratio would be reduced to 1.6 by "fusion".[43] While there are further copper isotopes, these are unstable and are not found in nature (69,17 + 30,83 = 100).

It is not only statistically (almost) impossible that, after an alleged fusion reaction with copper as a fusion product, a "used" sample will show the same isotope ratio as found in nature. Further considerations on 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 having analysed the samples, the unused nickel sample only contained 4.5% in sum of these stable nickel isotopes. Assuming all nickel 62 and nickel 64 atoms had been fused (which is unlikely) with a proton (hydrogen nucleus), the amount of copper would not amount to even 10% of the resulting mass. Even 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 a starting isotope which would become copper 59 and decay to nickel 59 which in turn would become copper 60 and decay to nickel 60 which would fuse to copper 61, decay to nickel 61 and fuse to copper 62 and decay to nickel 62. In the end 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

 
Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 19
 
Two heating resistors switched on (9/3)
 
Temperature graph and alleged working conditions of the test on April 28
 
Possible concealed adjustment of heating by Rossi during the experiment

On April 19 and April 28, the E-Cat was presented to Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik journal). To measure the energy produced, water was heated and, at an input of just 300 Watts, allegedly several litres of water evaporated. Rossi estimated the heating output at more than 2 kW. A regular publication of the results did not happen. Lewan, thrilled by the invention, published details only on a few websites ([21] [22]). A short video of the experiment on April 28, 2011 is available.[44] The dosimetric pump LMI P18 was used once more. Water throughput was specified with 63-69 ml/min this time, a value which is possible according to manufacturers' specifications. Stroke frequency was 32/min. With a stroke-volume of 2 ml (maximum), the throughput is 64 ml/min, a value which corresponds exactly to the values established by other measurements during the experiment. The weight of the pumped water was measured several times as it flowed through the device within a determinated period of time. Since the supplied electrical heating power of 315 Watt was just measured once in the beginning with a clip-on ammeter, it remains unclear whether the heating input was constant. When journalist Lewan went into an adjoining room and did a pan shot with his video camera, Rossi was seen tampering with the heating regulation. It is therefore unclear whether the input remained constant during the experiment.

A further experiment allegedly planned for April 21, 2011[45], allowing Swedish scientists Sven Kullander and Hanno Essén of Uppsala University to test the E-Cat, was later denied by Rossi.[46]

Demonstration on June 14, 2011

 
demonstration on june 14 (picture: Daniele Passerini blog)
 
current @230 V AC: 3,5 A (805 W). (picture: Daniele Passerini Blog)
 
Steven B. Krivit (left) and Andrea Rossi (picture: Daniele Passerini Blog)

On June 14, 2011 four Ecat were shown to visitors in Bologna. One of the attendants was the U.S. journalist Steven B. Krivit from "New Energy Times". Krivit and other visitors were allowed to take pictures and observe a functioning Ecat reactor. Krivid also made video interviews with Andrea Rossi, Sergio Focardi and physicist Giuseppe Levi.

According to an Italian blog ("22 passi" / Daniele Passerini), the working reactor was connected to the control box by two cables. Heating energy could be calculated by multiplying the measured current of 3.5 A with the Italian mains voltage 230 V giving a power of 805 W.

Three days after the demonstration, Steven Krivit published in his blog a short but revealing "preliminary report" on his observations in Bologna.[47] According to this report, Krivit could not directly see steam coming out of the outlet. Only after lifting a black hose he could see some "white steam":

..I could see some white steam slowly exiting from the hose. ..

However, completely dry steam is invisible. "White steam" is a sign of condensed water in the steam. According to Krivit, former indications of the "Ecat trio" were deficicient:

..Thus far, the scientific details provided by the E-Cat trio have been highly deficient and have not enabled the public to make an objective evaluation.

And this were also true in the case of the Essen/Kullander travel report:

..significant weakness in its presentation of data and calculations and is highly constrained by the methodology dictated and instrumentation provided by the E-Cat trio.

According to him, physicist Levi was not aware of the importance of verfication the presence of completely dry steam. He advised him to correct his january 21 report and asked for a copy of Galantini’s "steam humidity report".

After the departure of Krivit and the publication of his preliminary report, irritated inventor Rossi reacted in an angry way. According to Rossi, Mr Krivit has understood nothing of what he saw and published a ridiculous report. He accused him to be sent by somone to dwarf our work. Also, he "blackmailed" physicist Levi, who had to call for a lawyer.

..Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information..[48]

Attempts to replicate the experiments

  • In 1996, a group led by Antonino Zichichi in vain attempted to repeat the pre-Rossi Piantelli-experiment (identical 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."[49]
  • 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 could be established over the course of several months.[50]
  • In May 2011, US physicist Brian Ahern reported tests with a finely ground zirconium-nickel-copper alloy to which he added hydrogen gas after heating it to 500 degrees. A small rise in heat in addition to the supplied electrical heating power was observed and estimated at about 5-10 watts. A publication of the experiment is not known. Ahern's claims were only published in various blogs. Ahern has been known for a long-standing supporter of "cold fusion" which he attempts to use with a company he founded, Vibronic Energy Technologies Corp. [51][52][53]

Inventor Andrea Rossi

 
Andrea Rossi at Petroldragon lawsuit (Source: newspaper L'Unita")
 
Reimbursement offer of diploma mill "Kensington University Inc." to its customers
 
Rossi CV on his website (March 4, 2011)
 
View of a Petroldragon compound (Source: newspaper L'Unita")
 
Andrea Rossi in front of Petroldragon reactor (Source: newspaper L'Unita")
 
Petrol Dragon premises at Airuno with tanks for used oil (Image: merate online [13])

Italian inventor Andrea Rossi was born on June 3, 1950 in Milano. In a curriculum vitae presenting his occupational history on his website[54] (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[55] and was a wellknown diploma mill until it was shut down on court orders.[56][57][58]. The company was sentenced to restitute all former customers (see picture to the left) after it had been reported to the law by a consumer protection organisation.[59]

In March 2011, Andrea Rossi was confronted by a journalist who accused him of holding an engineering title from a diploma mill. Rossi replied this was an honorary title awarded to him for an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claimed he did not know anything about the company "Kensington University Inc.". He explained he had a regular title, Dottore Magistrale in Filosofia, of Università degli Studi di Milano from December 10, 1975[60]

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 named "Petroldragon". Italian Wikipedia has an article on the affair: Petroldragon. Rossi was convicted because he did not dispose of large amounts (58,000 tons) of toxic waste in accordance with regulations, and for trafficking waste materials. According to an article in Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" of April 6, 1995, Rossi and one Michele Pizzato were arrested twice.[61] As a member of a "gang" and "criminal organisation" he is said to have smuggled two tons of gold in a money laundering operation. Newspaper articles from that time (in Italian): [62][63][64][65][66][67]

Rossi, however, perceived this as a repression of his allegedly ecological conversion technology. He migrated to USA after a series of criminal proceedings. Current business interests (EON srl and EFA srl) are handled by his wife Maddalena Pascucci.



EON Srl and Leonardo Corporation

 
Apartment house at the address of "Leonardo Corp." (1331, Lincoln rd Miami Beach, App. 505). Image: Google street view
 
Registration of "Leonardo Corp." in Miami Beach
 
Registration page 2

The company EON Srl (apparently owned by Rossi), which is often mentioned in connection with the subject, is registered both in Bondeno[68] and in Rome[69] . The Bodeno location is said to have been heated by an "E-cat" device virtually for free for a long time. Rossi further claims he is also producing hot water in his home with an E-cat. There is no independent evidence for both claims.

In the course of 2011, inventors and undisclosed non-Italian investors (allegedly Greek) 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 bio diesel, producing electric power up to 1 megawatt in the town of Bondero. Inventors also claim to currently work on a small power plant which combines 120 interconnected energy-amplifier reactors of equal electric power of 1,000 kWs either in Greece or in USA, which is supposed to be finished by October 2011 and will cost 2 million dollar. Greek company „Defkalion Green Technologies S.A.“ is mentioned as manufacterers.

There is a Leonardo Corporation[70] located in Bedford, New Hampshire, USA owned by Rossi which is listed as contact address for EON. Their e-mail address is identical with that of EON Srl in Italy. The phone number is a collective number applying to several companies located at the same address which is a so called "business park". This company and Greek Defkalion are supposed to build the future "reactors". It currently offers electric generators fuelled by bio diesel (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.

Leonardo Corp. is registered in Miami (Florida), too, in an appartment in a block situated in a residential area. The telephone number (603) 4875192, however, belongs to an extension in New Hampshire. It is somewhat hard to imagine that production of a Rossi Energy Catalyzer was possible at any of these addresses, let alone building a 1 MW power plant.

In June 2011, U.S. attorney David Niebauer from San Francisco added an entry to his blog, reporting he had met with Rossi. Rossi explained he was still looking for a partner to realize a 1 MW small power plant in the United States. He claimed to have offered a demonstration to NASA, but only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtained the expected efficiency.[71]

EFA srl

Italian company EFA srl, based in Bologna[72], is a company of limited liability and run by Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci who holds 70% of its shares. A minority stake is held by a business consultant by the name of Giuliano Guandalini who had previous business connections to Rossi. EFA also owns distribution rights for Europe and is a contractual partner both for Bologna University (as of June 2011, the contract was not signed) and Defkalion.

The same premises housing EFA – Via Marsili 4, Bologna – are also residence of a company Systems GM 2000th (Giuliano Guandalini) owning the rooms in which Rossi happens to conduct his experiments.

Leonardo Technologies Inc.

 
Thermoelectric miracle device of LTI

Leonardo Technologies Inc. (LTI) is another company registered in USA co-founded by Rossi[73]. However, he sold it at the end of the 1990s. LTI in Manchester (NH/USA) tried to develop thermoelectric modules with miraculous degrees of efficiency. Such elements work due to thermoelectric effects (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 ranges between 2 and 4 percent and useful applications are limited to special needs ("plutonium cells", satellite supply without sun collectors). Such converters would be of commercial interest only if efficiencies beyond 15% were achieved. LIT claimed it was able to realize thermoelectric modules (TE-devices) with a 20% efficiency. They further claimed they were able to build big converters with a capacity of several kilowatts. A collaboration with the university of New Hampshire was agreed upon. A device with 1 A and 100 volt (100 watt) was presented. Rossi later continued his research in Italy. The American Department of Defense showed some interest, had the company CTC (in Johnstown, PA) test several devices of LIT and released a test protocolCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag[74] (Website: [23]), signed a contract with inventor Andrea Rossi in March 2011. While "Leonardo Corp." is to build the energy catalyzers, marketing is planned to be done through AmpEnergo. According to Swedish journal Nyteknik, Rossi received a fincancial grant from this company.[75] According to information from the press, AmpEnergo is currently looking for inventors. The address of AmpEnergo is "Coldstream Park Office Park" owned by real estate company NAI Norwood[76]. According to owners, the building is heated with an electrically operated heat pump. The address is identical with that of real estate company NAI Norwood Group and of Norwood Management Karl Norwood Inc., owned by real estate agent Karl Norwood[77][78], and also of Leonardo Corp. and Leonardo Technologies Inc.[79] owned by Andrea Rossi. The phone numbers of all those companies are identical, too ( (603) 668 7000). Despite having been founded in 2009 already, no phone number is known for AmpEnergo Inc. The company is not registered in any phone book or yellow pages in the USA. (as of May 2011)

Defkalion Green Technologies

 
Defkalion Management
 
Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents the Cypriot PRAXEN L.T.D.
 
David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel also is a CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro

There is a small startup company in Athens named "Defkalion Energy" resp. "Defkalion Green Technologies S.A."[80][81] (named after Deucalion, son of Prometheus in Greek mythology), owned by various investors who, according to Rossi, will produce some of the energy catalyzers.. The owners of Defkalion are unknown, but are mostly from Greece and Middle Eastern countries according to Defkalion. Defkalion's major shareholder is a PRAXEN Ltd. based in Limassol (Cyprus).

President of Defkalion is George Sortikos, one of the vice presidents is Christos Stremmenos (born 1932, former professor at Bologna University and former Greek ambassador in Italy).[82]

Cyprus-based PRAXEN Ltd., connected to Defkalion vice-president Alexandros Xanthoulis, is in a position to keep its shareholders anonymous according to Cypriot law. Andrea Rossi's wife Maddalena Pascucci seems to focus on controlling the commercial aspects of the business in energy catalyzers. She is a director of Italian EFA srl which has business connections to PRAXEN Ltd.

While the website of EON Srl has been "under construction" for months now, the page of Defkalion meanwhile offers a contact address in Athens.[83] Domain registrant is one Andreas Meintanis from GR-19200 Elefsina.

While Rossi's "Leonardo Corp." will handle business in USA, Greek company Defkalion is said to hold the license for sales in Greece and the Balkans and will probably also be in charge of the intended European business. According to Greek journal "Investor's World", premises of a former factory in the town of Xanthi have been bought, on which a 1 MW-small power station equipped with Rossi's energy catalyzers is supposed to be built; these premises will manufacture energy catalyzers in future. The same source claims that Defkalion must be regarded a "200 million Euro investment". Half of the investment money (about 100 millions) is said to go to inventor Rossi later.[23][24][25] According to Rossi, he will start with the production of his E-cat devices, even if the filed patent won't be granted. He also wants to continue production even if competitors understand his invention through reverse-engeneering.[84] According to press information, Defkalion intends to begin producing E-cats in 2012, at an annual production of 300,000 devices. During the first year, however, only 40,000 units were to be produced. Between 125 and 200 new jobs were to be created in Xanthi.

The business model of Defkalion allows long-time leasing of "E-Cat" devices to private clients. A 10 kW or 20 kW facility (information is ambiguous) is said to cost 1,300 Euro per year, including operational costs and "fuel replacement", handled by manufacturers through replacing the 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. In an interview in Italian television on April 18, 2011, Rossi declared he had not received any pre-delivery payments or payments at all from customers. Rossi only meant to earn revenue or license fees when sales commenced. In contrast to that, it became known in May 2011 Rossi had already concluded a contract with the company AmpEnergo and payments had been made.

Rossi allegedly agreed a cooperation with Bologna University which, however, has not been signed as of yet (June 2011). Rumours claim that its Faculty of Physics received Euro 500,000 from Rossi in order to support development. According to other sources the faculty received as much as 1 million Euro. The research unit is said to consist of the following persons: Ennio Bonetti, Enrico Campari, Loris Ferrari, Giuseppe Levi, and Mauro Villa. Physicist Giuseppe Levi is said to be heading these activities.[85] 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 [...][86]

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". From its subtitle „Nuclear experiments blog“, however, it is obvious this is no professional journal.

"Journal of Nuclear Physics" used to be the title of a Russian professional journal, which was discontinued. An Article article in Wikipedia lists all journals of this name.

The website of the blog lists a "Board of Advisers" which currently (April 2011) lists 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).[87] It is peculiar that several of the persons come from the circle of inventors. With some of these persons, it is not evident what may qualify them for questions of physics. George Kelly is apparently not working for the University of New Hampshire; it is unclear whether he exists in the first place. An American psychologist of the same name has already died. Michael Melich, who allegedly works for the "DOD" (U.S. Defense Department), received some attention due to weird statements. He claims to be working as kind of an undercover agent for a US secret service to whom he claims to report activities of the cold fusion scene. Guiseppe Levi, who was listed originally as an advisor, was deleted from the list at the end of January 2011 (see screenshots).

The blog also allows adding comments. But various person reported in the internet that only comments or questions not criticizing or doubting the "E-cat" will be published.

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.[88][89] The European Patent Office, as one of the International Searching Authorities of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), negatively assessed the patent specification. It criticized the invention was not presented comprehensively, and particularly that it was not evident 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.[90]

The Italian patent of the same content was granted in April 2011 with the number IT MI20080629 (processo ed apparecchiatura per ottenere reazioni esotermiche, in particolare da nickel ed idrogeno.).[91] The wording of the patent is not publically accessible and, due to reasons of secrecy, will be published at a later date.

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. Rossi, however, keeps the nature of his "catalyzers" secret.

The WIPO website lists an answer of Rossi's patent attorney Cicogna dated December 17, 2010 in which he addressed the issues mentioned.[92] In his answer to the Munich European patent agency, he drops 6 of formerly 15 claims. The correspondence also addresses a patent from 2005 (Yoshiaki Arata: (Juli 2005) Hydrogen condensate and method of generating heat therewith., EP1551032 [24]) held by Japanese professor emeritus Yoshiaki Arata who has been studying "cold fusion" since 1989. In his patent, Arata described methods to generate an "Arata Energy" with hydrogen isotopes which permeate finely ground metals (metal nano-ultrafine particle ; Arata mentions several metals, among them nickel) or alloys under energy consumption. This process is said to create a "condensate" with a decreased interatomic distance between hydrogen isotopes, explaining the emission of heat. A byproduct of the reaction was helium. According to Arata, there are several ways to apply energy: pressure, ultrasound, high electricity, laser light, magnetism, etc. Arata introduced his reactor, equipped with a Stirling engine, to the public in May 2008[93], but explained that the principle could not be applied since helium generation "poisoned" the fusion process, so the fusion chamber had to be vented periodically, rendering any utilization uneconomical.

Patents held by 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.
  • DE69510056T2 Energieerzeugung Und Erzeuger Durch Oberwellenfreie Stimulierte Fusion, 03/02/2000


Further patents held by Andrea Rossi:

  • US 2002/0046762 A1 "Thermoelectric generators", Inventor: Andrea Rossi. Filing date: Oct 4,2001[94]
  • WO0229908 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS (patent withdrawn). published on 03.03.2004. Applicant(s) Leonardo Technologies, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110 / US. Inventor(s) ROSSI, Andrea, c/o Leonardi Technologies, Inc.[95][96]
  • US 6051110 Thermolytic distillation of carbonaceous material

Reception, media coverage and criticism

 
Swedish journalist Mats Lewan (Nyteknik)

A noteworthy reception by respective associations or universities never happened, an attempt by inventors to publish their principle in a professional magazine failed.. As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known. Only a few physicists reacted with blog entries or comments to the topic.

Italian daily press covered the invention in a mere four articles (some of these in local sections). Additionally, a small private radio station made an interview. A Greek business journal and a private TV station covered it. „Nyeteknik“ reported in Sweden, some positive coverage was published in US "Washington Times", which belongs to the Moon-Cult, in an article by Frank Perley.[97]

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

The most renowned person to comment favourably on the energy catalyzer so far has been English Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson has been known for a supporter of so called "cold fusion" for years and is the editor of the corresponding article in English Wikipedia.[98]

The most committed critic is probably 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 by Randell Mills for the last twenty years (BlackLightPower - see Hydrino). In his criticism, Ekström refers to the conditions necessary for fusion and nuclear transformations as well as the radiation emitted. A summary of his criticism can be found here: Peter Ekström: Kall Fusion på italienska (Avdelningen för Kärnfysik, Lunds universitet. 12.4.2011, Swedish/English). 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

Literature

  • Giuseppe Levi: "Report on heat production during preliminary tests on the Rossi “Ni-H” reactor", Univ. Bologna, Jan. 2011 (auch: [25])
  • 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)
  • 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
  • Peter Ekström Kall fusion åter i hetluften, fysikaktuellt nr 2, May 2011, page 24. Full Text (Swedish)

News articles

Weblinks

Video

References

  1. Rossi: I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano
  2. Andrea Rossi in his patent application, page 12: the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.
  3. 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
  4. Piantelli, F., Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [1]
  5. WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO
  6. Angelo Saso: La magia del signor Rossi, Rainews24 May 3, 2011
  7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CETI_Patterson_Power_Cell
  8. Citation from JONP Blog: Daniel de França MTd2 April 29th, 2011 at 2:09 PM Dr Mr. Rossi, Concerning the Nickel input in the experiment, do you deplete it of Ni58? Best, Daniel. Andrea Rossi April 29th, 2011 at 2:47 PM Dear Mr Daniel De Francia: Yes Warm regards, A.R.
  9. According to S. 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 [...]
  10. According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", in answering an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [2]
  11. Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan
  12. 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
  13. Battaglia, L. Daddi, S. Focardi, V. Gabbani, V. Montalbano, F. Piantelli, P.G. Sona, S. Veronesi. "Neutron emission in Ni-H Systems". Nuovo Cimento 112A, pp. 921, 1999.
  14. E. Stremmenos: Hydrogen/Nickel cold fusion probable mechanism. Journal of nuclear physics, 12.12.2010
  15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_extraction_techniques#Recovery_from_nickel-cobalt_sulfide_concentrates_.28Sherritt_process.29
  16. "Ultra Low Momentum Neutron Catalyzed Nuclear Reactions on Metallic Hydride Surfaces," Eur. Phys. J. C, 46: 107–111. (2006)
  17. S. Romanowski, W. M. Bartczak, R. Wesołkowski: Density Functional Calculations of the Hydrogen Adsorption on Transition Metals and Their Alloys. An Application to Catalysis, (3.8.1999), Langmuir, 1999, 15 (18), Seiten 5773–5780 - DOI: 10.1021/la981339q [3]
  18. 18.0 18.1 http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3144960.ece/BINARY/Download+the+report+by+Kullander+and+Ess%C3%A9n+%28pdf%29.
  19. Andrea Rossi
    June 6th, 2011 at 2:38 PM
    Dear Greg:
    Good point. This is why we are very conservative regarding the sale of single modules. We are engineering a system that will destroy automatically the confidential parts if the reactor is open. The reactors will be open only in our factory to replace the charge. This is why we want not to replace the charges on site.
    Warm regards,
    A.R.

    Andrea Rossi
    June 2nd, 2011 at 8:01 AM
    Dear Mr Riccardo:
    I think that the household targeted items will arrive later. We have to resolve the problem to make them self-destructive in case of opening the reactors. Otherwise, with few thousands of dollars anybody has access to the confidential aspects of the technology. In industrial plants this issue is more easy to afford and has been resolved. Warm Regards,
    A.R.

    Andrea Rossi
    June 6th, 2011 at 4:50 PM
    Dear Greg:
    Defkalion, I suppose, will not sell modules until the protection issue will not be resolved.
    Warm regards,
    A.R.
  20. S. Focardi, A. Rossi: A new energy source from nuclear fusion., Journal of Nuclear Physics. [4]
  21. Nyteknik-Chat 12.03.2011, [5]
  22. Interview with Andrea Rossi, Talk Radio "Coast to Coast AM", on March 23, 2011 [6]
  23. 23.0 23.1 Blog about the "Investors World" article
  24. 24.0 24.1 Coverage and scan of the article in "Investors World" (Greek)
  25. 25.0 25.1 Article in Greek journal "Investors World" of March 12, 2011, pages 20-21
  26. "Truffle Prize", second Asti Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen / Deuterium Loaded Metals, 1995
  27. Press conference on 20. February 1994, Aula magna, University Siena
  28. http://www.enea.it/produzione_scientifica/pdf_volumi/V2008_16Cold_Fusion_Italy.pdf
  29. Company GM System, Via dell'Elettricista 16, Bologna
  30. http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=360
  31. http://www.e-catalyzer.se/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7
  32. From JONP-Blog, Question to Rossi: January 28th, 2011 at 10:57 AM
    Excuse, Dr. Levi, my insistence, but on the lack of an answer to my previous question, let me temporarily assume that the model of the pump used in the January 14th test belongs actually to the Milton Roy LMI Series P1.
    In such a case, the capacity per stroke could be at maximum 2 ml (model P18 in the Series P1). Now, considering the pump has been operated at about 57 strokes per minute (hear sound at the beginning of movie 2/3), it makes a maximum water flow rate of 114 ml per minute, that would be 39% only of the value indicated in your preliminary report.
    Probably, I have got a bad impression and the pump was another one. So I think it would be of great importance, if you could gather and kindly specify, here and/or on the final version of your report, the real specific model and the relevant operating data of the water pump used in your verification test.
    Thank you and best regards
    (Name)

    A. Rossi:
    Andrea Rossi
    January 28th, 2011 at 10:32 PM
    Dear (Name):
    I do not know which kind of pump it was, because it has been chosen by the testers, but what I can say, regarding your comment, is:
    1- the amount of the flow of water has been tested many times during the test, filling a reservoir with a well known volume and taking the time to fill it up.
    2- I thank you very much for validating our test by redundance: in fact, if only the 39% of the measured flow should have been passed, the reactor would have produced 4.8 kWh, consuming 400 Wh. I am sure that you, being an engineer of a great energy provider, know the first and also the second thermodynamic principle, therefore I am sure you made your comment to congratulate us.
    For this reason I thank you infinitely.
    Warm Regards, Andrea Rossi
  33. http://www.lmipumps.com/Files/lmi/Global/US-en/site_files/seriesj5.pdf
  34. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ru1eAymvE
  35. Sartorius (CPA34001S) 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr.[7]
    Precisa 490K 34000D, 34 kg d=0,1 gr e 0,2 gr [8]
    Kern CDS 15K0.05 15 kg d=0,05 g, e 0,25 g
    Adam Equipment PGL-20001 Precision Balance 20 kg d 0.1g, linearity (±): 0.4g
  36. Mats Lewan: Cold Fusion: 18 hour test excludes combustion, "nyteknik.se", article from February 23, 2011. Text
  37. Zitat:
    News
    Rossi 18-hour demonstration

    February 2011

    On February 10 and 11, 2011, Levi et al. (U. Bologna) performed another test of the Rossi device. Compared to the January 14 test, they used a much higher flow rate to keep the cooling water from vaporizing. This is partly to recover more heat, and partly because Celani and others criticized phase-change calorimetry as too complicated. There were concerns about the enthalpy of wet steam versus dry steam, and the use of a relative humidity meter to determine how dry the steam was. A source close to the test gave Jed Rothwell the following figures. These are approximations:

    Duration of test: 18 hours
    Flow rate: 3,000 L/h = ~833 ml/s.
    Cooling water input temperature: 15°C
    Cooling water output temperature: ~20°C
    Input power from control electronics: variable, average 80 W, closer to 20 W for 6 hours

    The temperature difference of 5°C * 833 ml = 4,165 calories/second = 17,493 W. Observers estimated average power as 16 kW. A 5°C temperature difference can easily be measured with confidence.

    3,000 L/h is 793 gallons/h, which is the output of a medium-sized $120 ornamental pond pump.

    The control electronics input of ~80 W is in line with what was reported for tests before Jan. 14. Input power was high on that day because there was a problem with cracked welding, according to the Levi report.

    18 hours * 16 kWh = 288 kWh = 1,037 MJ. That is the amount of energy in 26 kg of gasoline (7.9 gallons). Given the size and weight of the device, this rules out a chemical source of energy.

    Levi et al. are expected to write another paper about this test. We will upload it when it becomes available. NyTeknik published a fascinating description of the latest experiment (in English). This includes new details, such as the fact that the power briefly peaked at 130 kW. NyTeknik also published an interview with two outside experts about the demonstration: Prof. Emeritus at Uppsala University Sven Kullander, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Energy Committee, and Hanno Essén, associate professor of theoretical physics, Swedish Royal Institute of Technology. Two versions are available, in English and Swedish.
    LENR-CANR Org. News from February 2011. [9]
  38. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heating_oil
  39. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144827.ece
  40. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3144772.ece
  41. http://22passi.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-fisici-svedesi-sulle-cat-e-una.html
  42. Sven Kullander's additional comments on Rossi's Energy Catalyzer im Mailarchive
  43. S. Focardi, A. Rossi, A new energy source from nuclear fusion, Journal of Nuclear Physics, http://www.journal-of-nuclearphysics.com/?p=66, Februar 2010
  44. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3166451.ece
  45. http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/rossi-brings-e-cat-to-stockholm-royal.html
  46. http://energycatalyzer.blogspot.com/2011/04/andrea-rossi-no-e-cat-test-at-uppsala.html
  47. Krivit S.B.: Preliminary Report of Interviews with E-Cat Trio Rossi, Focardi and Levi. 16. Juni 2011. New Energy Times Blog. [10]
  48. Dear Craig:
    Mr Krivit has understood nothing of what he saw, from what I have read in his ridiculous report… This guy has seen for half an hour an E-Cat in the factory where we make many tests, made some questions to Prof. Levi, Prof. Focardi and me. Evidently has understood nothing, perhaps for the short time we gave him, also because we have to work. Prof. Levi has explained very well to him how the measures have been made and the importance of the issue. He has explained very well that the percentage of uncondensed water in the steam has been measured in weight (in volume is impossible, for various reasons), and he also got confirmation of this from a specialist from whom he has taken indipendent counsel. Nevertheless, he has understood nothing, or wanted not to understand, for reasons he better knows. Our tests have been performed by Physics Professors, who know how to make measures , and I am measuring the performance every day on 300 reactors.
    In any case we will start our 1 MW plant in october and we will see how it works. Of course I assure his considerations are invalid, but I want to say more: our products on the market will confirm this. Probably this journalist has been sent by someone that wants to dwarf our work. He also tried to blackmail prof. Levi, and Levi already has given to his attorney due. information .
    Warm Regards,
    A.R.
    17 giugno 2011 11:48
  49. 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).
  50. Adalberto Piazzoli. "Fusione Fredda? Una ricerca italiana". CICAP - Scienza & Paranormale N. 78 (Mai 2008)
  51. http://www.neny.org/download.cfm/Vibronic_Energy_Technologies_Corp.pdf?AssetID=1169
  52. http://www.scribd.com/doc/39076066/Vibronic-Energy-Technologies
  53. From: Brian Ahern, Boxborough MA Re: Zr-Ni-Cu alloy performance Ames National Laboratory processed metal alloy foils via arc melting followed by melt spinning. This is the Yamaura process employed by Arata and others. The foils were baked in ordinary air at 445C for 28 hours. The brittle, oxidized foils were placed in a tumble mill for 24 hours. This resulted in 30 grams of black powder with a median grain size of about 40 microns.Presumably, each grain has about one million nanoscale islands of NiCu inside. The 30 grams occupies about 7 ml inside the 50 ml dewar. The system was vacuum baked at 220C for 24 hours and cooled to room temperature. H2 gas was added at 200psi. The pressure dropped only to about 185 psi over twenty minutes. In these replication experiments the exothermic reactions have had peak temperatures above 220C with substantial loading above 3.0 H/M ratios. This time the temperature only rose by 2 degrees C. The system was heated with a band heater to high temperature. There was no controller. A rheostat was set at an arbitrary position and the system comes to a an arbitrary temperature.The average power input was 90 watts. After several hours the hydrated system was evacuated overnight at a constant high temperature at 530C. The next day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 40C to 570C and came back down to 530C after two hours. At the end of the day the dewar was again evacuated while still at 530C overnight. The third day repeated the same procedure. H2 gas was added at 100psi and the temperature rose by 44C to 574C. However, this time it did not come back to the initial temperature. It remained at the elevated temperature overnight. On the fourth day H2 gas was again added at 100psi and the system rose by 50C to 580C and again stayed at the elevated temperature indefinitely. A rough calibration suggests that the 30 grams of hydrated nanopowder is putting out 5 watts of excess power. Yesterday Peter Gluck suggested that the relationship between loading and excess power may be a myth. This seemed to be true for electrolysis with Pd and heavy water where loading levels exceeding 0.9 D/M were a prerequisite for observing excess power. My loading level with this nanopowder sample as less than 0.1 H/M. This 5 watt excess is very much less than Rossi, but it is a real and repeatable experiment There was no radiation above the background level. Other alloys from Ames NL are expected within ten days.
  54. http://ingandrearossi.com/gli-inizi/
  55. Kensington University, 520 E Broadway Suite 400, Glendale, CA 91205
  56. Article in "LA-Times": Kensington University Faces Closure Hearing. April 23, 1996 | JOHN CHANDLER, TIMES STAFF WRITER.
    Kensington University has no classrooms, laboratories or dorms. Its students don't play football, join fraternities or linger dreamily on a quadrangle. In fact, the entire campus is housed in a small Glendale office building. Recruiting from across the nation, the school runs a program in which students studying entirely at home can earn anything from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate--all without ever attending a single class or even meeting their instructors face to face.
  57. http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx
  58. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_education
  59. http://hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/udgi/lawsuits/kensington/kensington_u_dj.pdf
  60. Contribution of user Matslewan on March 23, 2011 in English Wikipedia: As a journalist I have interviewed Rossi and he says that the title from Kensington University is an honorary title he gained because of an earlier patent regarding bio fuel. He claims he knows no more about this university.
  61. FASANO GIUSI, "Corriere della Sera" vom 6. April 1995:

    Manette bis per Andrea Rossi
    La Procura di Ariano Irpino accusa l’ inventore del ” refluo petrolio ” di riciclaggio di denaro sporco. Ricercato il corriere della banda che avrebbe trasferito con furgoni blindati oltre 2 tonnellate d’ oro
    MONZA. Se finora ha creduto di essere nei guai si e’ sbagliato. Andrea Rossi, inventore del chiacchierato procedimento per trasformare in petrolio la spazzatura e i rifiuti industriali, e’ molto piu’ che in semplici guai. Di tutte le “tegole” che gli sono piovute addosso finora, la piu’ pesante e’ arrivata ieri dalla Procura di Ariano Irpino, in provincia di Avellino. Il giudice delle indagini preliminari Vincenzo Caputo ha emesso, su richiesta del sostituto Rosario Baglioni, un’ ordinanza di custodia cautelare contro di lui per associazione a delinquere finalizzata al riciclaggio di capitali di illecita provenienza e alla frode fiscale. La presunta organizzazione a delinquere sarebbe formata, oltre che dall’ ideatore del “refluo petrolio” e da una persona per ora irreperibile, anche da Michele Pizzato, italiano con residenza in Svizzera, uomo di fiducia di Andrea Rossi e, negli ultimi tempi, suo compagno di “sventura”. Una sventura cominciata un paio di settimane fa con le conclusioni di una inchiesta condotta dal sostituto procuratore monzese Salvatore Bellomo. Alla fine delle sue indagini, il pm monzese aveva chiesto e ottenuto l’ arresto sia di Rossi che di Pizzato per associazione a delinquere finalizzata alla falsa fatturazione e alla frode fiscale. L’ accusa riguardava la documentazione fittizia che i due avrebbero compilato per attestare la compravendita e l’ esportazione di decine di chili d’ oro, merce di cui Rossi si occupa da quasi due anni come titolare dell’ oreficeria “St. Andre’ ” di Milano (societa’ che lavora l’ oro a Luogosano, in provincia di Avellino). I due erano percio’ finiti in carcere, sperando che il castello di accuse crollasse dopo gli interrogatori. Errore. Perche’ i fatti contestati dal pm monzese hanno trovato conferma nell’ inchiesta del collega di Ariano Irpino, che da oltre un anno stava seguendo praticamente lo stesso filone d’ indagine e che adesso, nelle sue ipotesi d’ accusa, si spinge fino all’ associazione finalizzata al riciclaggio di denaro sporco. In un comunicato stampa diffuso ieri dal comando di gruppo della Guardia di Finanza di Avellino si parla in dettaglio della nuova ordinanza di custodia notificata in carcere a Rossi e Pizzato. Risulterebbe, com’ era gia’ noto dall’ inchiesta monzese, che 46 miliardi di lingotti d’ oro (ben 2.323 chili) avrebbero passato il confine italiano solo sulla carta e, inoltre, che l’ associazione a cui farebbe capo Rossi avrebbe evaso tributi per 120 miliardi con false esportazioni di congegni ad alta tecnologia. Il terzo uomo ricercato e’ il trasportatore dei lingotti, un personaggio abituato a muoversi su furgoni blindati. Sul trasferimento di fondi verso paradisi fiscali come il Liechtenstein, i finanzieri sostengono che “l’ articolazione dell’ organizzazione” era tale da far intuire che l’ obiettivo fosse anche anche il riciclaggio di denaro sporco.
    E da Milano nuova incriminazione. Smaltimento clandestino di veleni
    MILANO. Petrolio dai rifiuti tossici? Macche’ , le 58 mila tonnellate di liquami industriali accumulate dalla Petrol Dragon nelle cisterne dell’ ex raffineria Omar di Lacchiarella erano e restano un cocktail di veleni assolutamente non riciclabile. Andrea Rossi, rappresentante legale dell’ azienda, e il liquidatore Alessandro Reale sono stati incriminati dalla Procura circondariale di Milano per stoccaggio e smaltimento abusivo di rifiuti tossico nocivi. La Regione ha gia’ deciso di costituirsi parte civile, anche per ottenere i 50 60 miliardi necessari alla bonifica. L’ inchiesta era stata avviata il 14 dicembre ‘ 93 dopo il sequestro, da parte del Corpo forestale dello Stato, di un’ autocisterna proveniente dal deposito Petrol Dragon di Piossasco (Torino), sorpresa a scaricare nei serbatoi di Lacchiarella 10 tonnellate di liquami con altissime percentuali di Pcb (policlorobifenile), una sostanza tossica e sospetta cancerogena.
    Fasano Giusi. [11]
  62. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/giugno/01/cella_mago_del_petrolio__co_2_000601164.shtml
  63. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/marzo/09/petrolio_dai_rifiuti_inservibile_tossico_co_0_94030910061.shtml
  64. http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1989/07/26/storia-di-rifiuti-tossici-miliardi-supertruffe.html
  65. http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/09/11/cosi-arricchiscono-pirati-dei-rifiuti.html
  66. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2000/ottobre/20/Condannato_otto_anni_mago_del_co_2_0010202627.shtml
  67. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2004/novembre/27/Riciclaggio_rifiuti_tossici_Assolto_Andrea_co_7_041127020.shtml
  68. Eon S.r.l., V. C.ragazzi 18, I-44012 Bondeno
  69. EON Srl, Via Ottaviano 66, Roma
  70. Leonardo Corporation, 116 South River Road, Bedford, N.H. 03110 - USA. Website: http://leonardocorp1996.com
  71. Rossi Energy Catalyzer, "The New Fire"?
    Posted on June 10, 2011 by David Niebauer
    by David Niebauer

    I have just finished listening to an astounding podcast of an interview with Dennis Bushnell, Chief Scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, talking about low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) and devices that are apparently generating significant energy in the form of heat, with very little input of raw material and no radioactive waste.
    Bushnell makes reference to Andrea Rossi, an Italian inventor who claims to have discovered a previously unknown source of energy by combining pressurized nickel powder with hydrogen and a catalyst. Rossi has filed for international patent protection, but he is guarding the precise mechanism as a trade secret until the patent issues.
    I first heard of Andrea Rossi in January of this year on the site Next Big Future where it was reported that Rossi had demonstrated his Energy Catalyzer (or E-Cat, for short) in Bologna, monitored by independent scientific representatives of Bologna University. Ny Teknik, a Swedish technology magazine, reported that, “For about an hour it produced approximately 10 kilowatts of net power, loaded with one gram of nickel powder pressurized with hydrogen. See Wikipedia entry for background.
    Since that time Rossi has repeatedly demonstrated the device and it has received validation from the Swedish Skeptics Society, among others. Demonstration devices have now also been delivered to the University of Bologna, the University of Uppsala and the University of Stockholm for extended testing.
    According to Bushnell, what is occurring in the Rossi device is a nuclear reaction, but it’s not a cold fusion. He claims it is a reaction of the Weak Nuclear Force. Bushnell believes that heat is generated from beta decay of subatomic particles and that, applying quantum theory, physicists will soon be able to explain the mechanism. The physics is not well understood, which is fueling a certain amount of skepticism.
    I recently met with Andrea Rossi and find him to be genuine and credible. Rossi told me that he would like to have a 1MW plant operating in the US by October of this year. He is looking for the right partners to help him enter the market in the United States.
    According to Rossi, Bushnell is on the wrong track, at least from a theoretical perspective. “If beta decay explained the reactions in my device, I would have been killed already [by the radiation] and we would have found different isotopes,” Rossi told me. He claims that he has a good handle on the theory, but he won’t disclose it until his patent is granted.
    Bushnell states that NASA is just now finishing a testing lab designed for the specific purpose of investigating LENR. With Rossi making news since early this year that he has built an operating LENR, I hear Bushnell making a pitch to have it tested and validated by NASA.
    According to Rossi, he will do a demonstration for NASA only if they agree to purchase an operating plant once his device obtains the expected efficiency. Rossi is intent on moving his Energy Catalyzer from the testing lab into the field.
    I don’t pretend to understand the physics, or to be in a position to know for certain whether the Rossi Energy Catalyzer is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. I will therefore let Dennis Bushnell have the final word for now: “I think we are almost over the “we do not understand it” problem. I think we are almost over the “this does not produce anything useful” problem. I think this will go forward fairly rapidly now. If it does, this is capable of, by itself, completely changing geo-economics, geo-politics, and solving climate issues.”
    David Niebauer is a corporate and transaction attorney, located in San Francisco, whose practice is focused on financing transactions, M&A and cleantech. www.davidniebauer.com
  72. EFA srl, Via Marsili 4, I-40100 Bologna
  73. LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734
  74. President: Karl Norwood, founders and main shareholders: Karl Norwood (NAI Norwood Group, Inc.), Richard Noceti (LTI-global.com), Robert Gentile and Craig Cassarino. Minority shareholder: Ronald Engleman
  75. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3179019.ece
  76. http://www.nainorwoodgroup.com/propdocs/116%20South%20River%20Road%20Building%20A.pdf
  77. NORWOOD MANAGEMENT KARL NORWOOD INC, 116 S RIVER RD UNIT A, Bedford, New Hampshire 03110
  78. NAI Norwood Group, Inc., 116 South River Road, Bedford NH 03110
  79. LEONARDO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 116 S River RD, BEDFORD, NH 031106734
  80. http://www.defkalion-energy.com/
  81. http://newenergytimes.com/v2/sr/RossiECat/docs/DefkalionBoardRegistration.pdf
  82. The following persons from the management of Green Technologies are known:
    • Sortikos George (born 1942) president. (Architect, previous president of "Ω Βank", and owner of Oxymachon company)
    • Alexandros Xanthoulis (born 1954), vice president. Xanthoulis also represents Cypriot PRAXEN L.T.D.
    • Christos Stremmenos (born 1932), vice president (former professor at Bologna University and former Greek ambassador in Italy)
    • George Xanthoulis (born 1987), son of Alexandros Xanthoulis
    • David Christian Aurel (born 1969), Managing Director. Aurel also is a CEO of Invest Bank Montenegro.
    • John Chadjichristos (born 1958), corporate consultant
    • Andreas Meidanis (born 1953), industrialist
    • Muafak Sauachni (born 1961), medical doctor from Israel
    • Andreas Drugas (born 1945), corporate consultant
    • Symeon Tsalikoglou, press spokesman
  83. Defkalion Green Technologies S.A., Temporary Head Quarters - Mesogeion Avenue 2-4, Athens Tower, 18th Floor, GR-11527 Athens, Tel: +30 210 7770602, Fax: +30 210 7770608. Email: info@defkalion-energy.com
  84. From a chat conversation at Nyeteknik on March 12, 2011
  85. [...] Rossi is now paying the remaining 500,000 Euros to the Physics Department of Bologna University, following a new agreement under which the university will help Rossi with the continued development of the reactor and studies of its physical phenomena.
    According to the agreement, the work is led by the physicist Giuseppe Levi who was the main observer when the "energy catalyzer" was demonstrated to invited scientists and media in Bologna in January 2011. Giuseppe Levi also carried out a longer test of the reactor in February, lasting 18 hours.
  86. http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/energi/article3122915.ece
  87. http://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?page_id=2
  88. WO 2009/125444 A1: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. Date: 15.10.2009
  89. EP 02259998 A1: VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUR DURCHFÜHRUNG VON EXOTHERMEN REAKTIONEN ZWISCHEN NICKEL UND WASSERSTOFF. Applicant: Pascucci, Maddalena. Inventor: Rossi, Andrea. EP-Date: 15.12.2010
  90. http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wads.jsp?IA=IT2008000532&LANGUAGE=EN&ID=id00000011868762&VOL=100&DOC=075642&WO=09/125444&WEEK=NA&TYPE=NA&DOC_TYPE=WOSA&TOK=Q309-A-eI6srxLYw7s9qWfbp73Y&PAGE=1
  91. IT MI20080629 (A1), METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT NICKEL AND HYDROGEN EXOTHERMAL REACTIONS. Publication date: 2009-10-10. Inventor(s): ROSSI ANDREA, Applicant(s): PASCUCCI MADDALENA. Also published as: WO 2009125444 (A1), US 2011005506 (A1), EP 2259998 (A1)
  92. http://www.psiram.com/doc/application_rossi.004908.pdf
  93. http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/28/28011/1.html
  94. http://www.google.com/patents?id=h9SMAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false A thermoelectric module including a couple formed between two bismuth telluride thermoelectrodes. The first thermoelectrode is doped with palladium, selenium, or a combination of the two. The second thermoelectrode is doped with antimony, gold, or a combination of the two. Multiple thermoelectric... Inventor: Andrea Rossi
  95. https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP01986372
  96. http://www.google.com/patents?id=AJSSAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
  97. Frank Perley: PERLEY: Nuclear future beyond Japan - Purported cold fusion advance aimed at energy woes, "The Washington Times", March 3, 2011.
  98. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Catalyzer