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[[image:Rossi_Focardi.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (picture "La Repubblica"). A (yellow) dosimetric pump of the type "LMI J5" can be seen in the foreground (maximum flow: 7.6 l/h).|thumb]]

[[image:Rossi_Focardi.jpg|Andrea Rossi and Sergio Focardi (picture "La Repubblica"). A (yellow) dosimetric pump of the type "LMI J5" can be seen in the foreground (maximum flow: 7.6 l/h).|thumb]]

The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'' or just ''Rossi energy catalyzer'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor based on an assumed [[Cold Fusion]] technology which is planned to be brought to market in 2011. While allegedly using no more than several hundred Watts in electrical heating energy, it is said to emit a heat output capacity of more than 10&nbsp;kW. After reaching operating temperature the electrical heating is said to be turned off. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref>, cold fusion <ref>Andrea Rossi and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi in their patent application, Page 12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref> of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor, leading to the formation of copper. As a side-effect of the reaction, ionizing radiation is said to be emitted, which was disproved by independent parties.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref> So far, attempts to replicate the experiment independently failed. The latest public presentation took place in mid-January 2011. A Greek business newspaper announced in March 2011 that the concept is central to a speculative investment-deal of several hundred million Euro.

The '''Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer''' (also ''E-Cat'' or ''Rossi Energy Amplifier'' or just ''Rossi energy catalyzer'') is an alleged compact fusion reactor based on an assumed [[Cold Fusion]] technology which is planned to be brought to market in 2011. While allegedly using no more than several hundred Watts in electrical heating energy, it is said to emit a heat output capacity of more than 10&nbsp;kW. After reaching operating temperature the electrical heating is said to be turned off, the released heat should keep the process going. According to Italian inventors, alleged engineer(see below) Andrea Rossi<ref>Rossi: ''I am a doctor in the Philosophy of Science and Engineering from the Universita’ Degli Studi Di Milano''</ref>, cold fusion <ref>Andrea Rossi and Professor emeritus in physics Sergio Focardi in their patent application, Page 12: ''the reaction actually provides a true nuclear cold fusion.''</ref> of hydrogen and nickel was taking place in the reactor, leading to the formation of copper. As a side-effect of the reaction, ionizing radiation is said to be emitted, which was disproved by independent parties.<ref>http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf</ref> So far, attempts to replicate the experiment independently failed. The latest (partially public) presentations took place from mid-January to end of March 2011. A Greek business newspaper announced in March 2011 that the concept is central to a speculative investment-deal of several hundred million Euro.

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications on it in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge that: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Some aspects of the claimed functional principle are similar to descriptions in a patent of the Japanese Yoshiaki Arata from July 2005 (see below).

The actual inventor of the principle was Italian biophysicist Francesco Piantelli in 1989 who filed patent applications on it in 1995 and 2010.<ref>Piantelli, F., ''Energy Generation and Generator by Means of Anharmonic Stimulated Fusion''. Patent EP 0767962 B1, 1995. [https://data.epo.org/publication-server/pdf-document?PN=EP0767962%20EP%200767962&iDocId=4823352&iepatch=.pdf]</ref><ref>WO 2010058288 A1: METHOD FOR PRODUCING ENERGY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR. 2010-05-27. Erfinder: PIANTELLI SILVIA; PIANTELLI FRANCESCO</ref> Rossi, who also attempts to have his invention patented, does not acknowledge that: ''"My process has nothing to do with the process of Piantelli. The proof is that I am making operating reactors, he is not."'' Some aspects of the claimed functional principle are also similar to descriptions in a patent of the Japanese Yoshiaki Arata from July 2005 (see below).

 

Specialist literature about the "Energy-Catalyzer" is not available(as of April 2011), examinations which could produce proof for fusion gave negative results. Neither gamma nor neutron radiation could be measured und there is no proof for the formation of non natural isotope ratios in the reaction products.

==Purported functional principle==

==Purported functional principle==

[[image:FAE3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration january 14, 2011, Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|350px|thumb]]

[[image:FAE3.jpg|Andrea Rossi and the reactor (demonstration january 14, 2011, Source: [http://curiositybox.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/bologna-14111-cronaca-test-fusione-fredda-del-reattore-nichel-idrogeno-focardi-rossi/ Curiosity-Blog])|350px|thumb]]

All information currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors, from a patent application by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements by a few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far and an attempt of inventors to publish an article on their device in a renowned professional journal failed. Only individual physicists reacted with blog entries and comments (e.g.: [http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html]). As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known.

Focardi and Rossi spread their statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il&nbsp;Cimento". The involved company EON&nbsp;srl has not provided any information so far. On inquiry, physicist Focardi advised the "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was founded since publication in accredited journals failed.

[[image:Rossi_Ecat.jpg|Reaction chamber from outside, lead shielding and isolation removed. Below: Outer  heating resistor (here: 300W), above: hydrogen intake, left and right: cooling water line. Picture: Giuseppe Levi|350px|thumb]]

All information currently available regarding the "Focardi-Rossi Energy Catalyzer" come from inventors and their Internet blog, from a patent application by Rossi, from YouTube videos, and from statements by a few physicists who tried to replicate the principle. There has been no noteworthy reception on the part of the international physics community so far and an attempt of inventors to publish an article on their device in a renowned professional journal failed. Only individual physicists reacted with blog entries and comments (e.g.: [http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/388amplifier.html]). The most renowned person that commented the energy catalyzer so far is the English Nobel prize winner Brian Josephson. Josephson is known for years as a supporter of so called "cold fusion". As of January 2011, no proper scientific publication is known.

Focardi and Rossi spread their statements in their own "online periodical" titled "Journal of Nuclear Physics", basically an internet blog, and in Italian journal "Il&nbsp;Cimento". The involved company EON&nbsp;srl has not provided any information so far. On inquiry, physicist Focardi advised the "Journal of Nuclear Physics" was founded by Rossi since publication in accredited journals failed. Focardi stated that [http://arxiv.org "arXiv.org"] was the journal, that declined to publish them.

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

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

The process - disclosed only in part, although a patent application was filed (not approved as of yet) - involves that nickel and hydrogen are transformed to copper in the presence of hydrogen gas and on emission of heat and ionized radiation. The patent application claims  the stable nickel isotope 62Ni28 (which makes about 3.6% of usual nickel) reacted with hydrogen and was transformed into the stable copper isotope 62Cu29. The copper thus generated is said to contain two stable copper isotopes, with an isotope proportion different from the one in natural copper.<ref>According to S.&nbsp;Focardi in an E-Mail: ''[...] mostra l'esistenza di Cu (non presente inizialmente) i cui due isotopi stabili sono in un rapporto diverso da quello naturale [...]''</ref> Such a fusion would require very high temperatures and should result in a strong gamma radiation from the destruction of positrons and electrons.<ref>According to Prof. Jonghwa Chang, Chief Research Advisor of the "Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute", answer to an inquiry by an Italian chemist. see: [http://www.queryonline.it/2011/01/31/il-ritorno-della-fusione-fredda-2/]</ref>

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

While initially using nickel rods, recent experiments used nickel powder (particle size is said to be in the nm-range, the patent application mentions 10 µm). Rossi mentions "Gerli Metalli" company<ref>Powder nickel: Gerli Metalli--Milan</ref> from Milan as their supplier. Further unknown catalysts even not specified in the patent application are said to be employed. Internet rumours not verifiable claim this may be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raney_nickel "Raney-Nickel"], since two fires in Rossi's laboratories were caused by "Raney-Nickel". Nickel oxide - which reacts with hydrogen creating water and heat (NiO2&nbsp;+&nbsp;H2 -->&nbsp;Ni&nbsp;+&nbsp;H20) – allegedly was not used. According to the patent application a inner water circuit(with a boric acid solution) is designed to be in the reactor and heat is transferred using a heat exchanger to an external water circuit.

 

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

By adding electric heating capacity, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180 to 400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pulsed pressure was increased at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated.<ref>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</ref> 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&nbsp;kV to overcome the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb_barrier Coulomb barrier] may be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

By adding electric heating capacity, protons from hydrogen gas are said to enter the nickel atoms at 180 to 400 degrees Celsius and lead to a nuclear reaction if pulsed pressure was increased at regular intervals. Altogether, hydrogen is said to be consumed and some helium is generated.<ref>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</ref> 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&nbsp;kV to overcome the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb_barrier Coulomb barrier] may be applied. The application of so high a voltage is not possible within such a small device due to spark generation.

Further internet speculations assume this was a chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel  ores: the Sherritt-Gordon process"<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_extraction_techniques#Recovery_from_nickel-cobalt_sulfide_concentrates_.28Sherritt_process.29</ref>, 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.

Further internet speculations assume this was a chemical reaction which apparently remained unknown to inventors and which was usually applied in the purification of nickel  ores: the Sherritt-Gordon process"<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_extraction_techniques#Recovery_from_nickel-cobalt_sulfide_concentrates_.28Sherritt_process.29</ref>, 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.

==Application and success claims==

==Application and success claims==