*“How confident are you about the tungsten vs nichrome question for element material? is SiC another reasonable possibility? Or is it too dangerous to have any C around?”*
* * I have no confidence at all. The construction of the internal heater/cathode is the most intricate and problematic part of the Rossi Cat-E design. It is true that tungsten has been used in designs similar to the Rossi reactor, but the engineering priority is long service life of the internal heater. Very high hydrogen gas pressure complicates the question. The material heating element will deteriorate through erosion in a gas atmosphere so clever design of the internal heater is required to maximize service life. Nichrome serves very well operating in the open air as heating elements in our toasters and ovens, so in an amateur operation like Rossi’s reactor development he may well use Nichrome. An expert cathode developer might well use tungsten, since it is usually found in commercial gas filled tube products. It is my opinion, the six month service life replacement period is not caused by the need to replace the catalyst. It is needed to renew the internal heater. This heater will suffer a high level of erosion because of the high pressure hydrogen atmosphere. In addition, strain placed on the cathode imposed by power on/off cycling will take a toll on the internal heater. A SiC heating element is a possibility. There are a large number of possible heating element materials that can be used. To make reactor control easy, the key design point is to come up with a cathode design that has a linear production characteristic of electron emissions as the driving current is increased. *“Can you further explain the potential benefit of Thorium?”* * * It is critical to keep the surface of the nickel powder scrupulously clean. If the cold fusion reactions are caused by nanometer sized holes in the catalyst, it is important to keep those holes as free of gaseous poisons as possible so that few are clogged up by garbage floating around in the hydrogen atmosphere. When Thorium oxide is coated with a thin layer of carbon, its evaporation rate is low which will help keep the Cold Fusion reaction efficient over the service life of the catalyst. The lack of “secret catalyst” elements found in the Cat-E ash initially confused me. This lack of contamination leads me now to the conclusion that the “secret element” acts at a distance from the surface of the nickel powder and is not found within it or not even very near this surface. This is why Rossi feels safe in giving the ash to outsiders for spectroscopic analysis. The place where the secret catalyst lives is in the heating element of the internal heater. *“Finally, I have a question about the radiation shielding layers... if the reactor is operating between 400 and 600C optimally, how can the lead shielding remain solid? or if the borated water solution is used, won't that vaporize?”* * * The lead shielding must be insolated from the water loop by a layer of air or fiberglass. Doing a lack of coolant accident where the water coolant boils off, when the copper pipes get hot, the lead shielding will be protected from melting by this insulation layer.** To stay operational through an overheat excursion, the copper pipes can get no hotter than the melting point of the solder that fills their connections. * * * * * * * * On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 6:57 AM, .:.gotjosh <ene...@begreen.nu> wrote: > Thanks for this post Axil, i have some comments and questions below... > > On Sun, Apr 24, 2011 at 05:25, Axil Axil <janap...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> * >> * >> >> *“With temperature above the set the reactor is automatically stopped”* >> >> * >> * >> >> *It the temperature continues to rise above another set point, the >> control box releases the hydrogen gas into the water loop piping though the >> controlled opening of an electrically controlled valve. This action vents >> excess heat to the outside environment and serves to depress the reaction. >> * >> >> ** >> > > in my design i will prefer bimetal valves for solid state non-electronic > control if possible. > eg: http://www.emsclad.com/examples/thermal-controls.html > >> * * >> >> *“How much would the temperature of the metal rise?”* >> >> * * >> >> *The nickel oxide powder will have a substantial amount of hydrogen >> stored in the lattice interstices at the surface of the nickel oxide powder >> where the oxygen has been depleted by the erosive action of hydrogen >> impingement at the surface or into the surface to some depth of the powder. >> * >> > What do you say the previous question(s) about H2O production between H2 > and the O from NiO ? > >> * * >> >> * * >> >> *When the heat sink of the water coolant is removed, this nuclear >> reaction in the lattice interstices will continue until the temperature of >> at the surface of the powder reaches the melting point of nickel. The >> lattice interstices will begin to close as nickel migrate to these lattice >> interstices sites displacing the absorbed hydrogen gas. * >> >> * * >> >> *“Will the nuclear reaction stop due to high temperatures or will it be >> enhanced?”*** >> >> * * >> >> *With some number of these heat producing sites disabled, the temperature >> at the surface of the reaction vessel will stabilize and slowly begin to >> fall.* >> > So you think it is totally self regulating in a melt down situation? and > the electronically controlled valves are only to prevent the meltdown? > >> * * >> >> *This leaves open the possibility for the use of thorium in the internal >> heater. Thorium has been used in vacuum tubes for many years with no >> radiation danger.* >> > > How confident are you about the tungsten vs nichrome question for element > material? is SiC another reasonable possibility? Or is it too dangerous to > have any C around? > > Can you further explain the potential benefit of Thorium? > > > Finally, I have a question about the radiation shielding layers... if the > reactor is operating between 400 and 600C optimally, how can the lead > shielding remain solid? or if the borated water solution is used, won't that > vaporize? > > thanks to you all for your insightful contributions and engagement. > >> * * >> > >
