A Barrel of a Hundred High Temperature E-Cats
Andrea Rossi, the inventor of the E-Cat (Energy Catalyzer), has
revealed that the upcoming high temperature plant will be very compact
in size. In fact, if the plant performs as he expects, a megawatt of
power -- in the form of heat -- will be produced from a barrel sized
container!
By Hank
Mills
Pure Energy Systems News
The high temperature E-Cat technology, as described in a series of
online "leaks" by the consultant of Rossi's military customer, seems to
be very promising. According to the information provided by the
consultant and Rossi himself, a single, small "hot cat" (weighing about
ten pounds or 4.5 kilograms) can produce high temperatures up to 1,200
degrees Celsius or higher. At the same time, Rossi asserts that a single
module can produce approximately ten kilowatts of power. Most
importantly, it is alleged these temperatures and power output levels
can be achieved with total stability -- along with kilowatts more output
than input.
If the claims made about the high temperature "hot cat" prove to be
accurate, this radically evolved version of the original E-Cat could
provide a near total solution to the world's energy crisis. Hopefully,
we won't have too long to wait for confirmation (yea or nay) of these
claims, because in early September at the Zurich conference, a test
report is to be released. Then, only several weeks later, in October,
scientists affiliated with the University of Bologna will release a more
comprehensive review of the tests they have performed.
Although days can seem like weeks and months can seem like years, when
waiting for confirmation of Rossi's claims about the hot cat, some of
his recent comments about first high temperature, one megawatt plant
provide us with some information to think about while we try to remain
patient. Moreover, the assertions he has provided about the first high
temperature E-Cat plant are truly fascinating and make me more hopeful
than ever.
The most shocking tidbit that Rossi has revealed is that the actual "hot
cat" portion (or heat producing part) of the one megawatt plant will be
very small. It will consist of a "barrel" shaped container, 1.2 meters
in diameter and .4 meters thick. This container will be filled with 100
(one hundred) individual "hot cat" modules. Each of these individual
modules will weight approximately 4.5 kilograms and have a surface area
of 1,200 centimeters squared. Water will pass over the inner and outer
surfaces of each module and be converted to high temperature steam. To
try and prevent heat from being lost to the environment, the "drum"
containing the modules will be covered in thermal insulation.
Due to the small size of the "drum", I do not think it is unrealistic to
think that it may be possible to fit both the heat producing components
and the turbine generator in the same container. There will probably be
engineering issues with this, of course. I do think that they will be
able to be overcome in time.
According to Rossi, experts have indicated to him that with the very
high temperature steam, he is capable of producing heat-to-electric
conversion efficiencies -- utilizing high tech, modern steam turbine
generators -- of around 50%. I think this is probably a best case
scenerio, and it is likely the average efficiency (with a less costly
turbine) might be around 40%. However, I think if his claims about the
hot cat are verified by the University of Bologna scientists and others,
there will be a global race to produce higher efficiency turbines.
Actually, I think there will be a large financial incentive for
companies to develop a variety of high efficiency conversion
technologies.
Interestingly, Rossi claims that the first one megawatt hot cat plant,
for internal testing, is currently being constructed. If the turbine
generator portion of the plant can achieve a 40% efficient conversion of
heat to electricity, an output of 400 kilowatts of electricity should be
produced. It is stated that at peak the "drive" (which is needed for
stability) consumes 250 kilowatts of electricity. This would only leave
150 kilowatts of left over power. But if the plant self sustains half of
the time (one hour with the drive active and the next hour without it),
the average power consumption would only be 125 kilowatts. If the one
megawatt of heat produced by the plant is divided by 125 kilowatts, the
result is a COP of 8. If you subtract 2 units out of the 8 total units
to account for various other losses, the result is a COP of 6 -- just
like Rossi has talked about all along.
To make the plant even more economical for certain customers that have
specific needs, the one megawatt plant is being designed to utilize
either natural gas or electricity for the "drive." Personally, I do not
like the idea of natural gas being used. We need to get away from fossil
fuels all together. But to be reasonable, I must admit that using
natural gas could make financial sense in many situations. It may cost
less to produce a unit of heat, for the "drive", with natural gas than
it would using electricity.
Maybe in the not too distant future, I hope that the "drive" will be
eliminated all together (except for the radio frequency stimulation that
consumes only a tiny amount of power) and neither electricity from the
grid or natural gas will need to be used. In such a situation, only a
tiny portion of the output would need to be re-routed to the input for
the plant to be closed looped. However, this brings us to another point.
It has been stated that those in charge of the certification process
will not, at least for now, allow an E-Cat to produce the power needed
to sustain its own drive. Basically, they are forbidding the use of
closed loop mode. In simple terms, when the "drive" is turned on they
claim it must be powered from an external source of power -- like the
power grid or a tank of natural gas.
I think that those in charge of the certification are trying to be extra
careful, because from their view point, they are in the process of
approving the world's first practical cold fusion technology. They want
to be overly conservative, because the decisions they make now could
have an impact on future certifications for years or decades to come.
I'm not too concerned about their decision, however. If Rossi's
technology turns out to be everything he claims it to be, there will be
a huge demand for closed looped systems. Personally, I want a way to be
disconnected from the power grid all together, and I think the E-Cat may
provide such an opportunity in the future. I'm sure others will feel the
same way. The demand will accelerate the evolution of the technology,
and closed looped systems will be produced and certified.
There is a lot of controversy about the E-Cat technology, and with the
stunning claims being made, I understand why many people, including
myself, want solid evidence. However, I think if we are all patient, the
evidence, hopefully, will be forthcoming.
Rossi kept his word about the one megawatt, low temperature plant in
2011 by successfully constructing and testing it. It turned out his
claims about it were honest. I think he is also being honest about the
high temperature E-Cat, and that we will eventually see evidence -- from
third parties -- of his claims. Of course only time will tell. While you
wait, keep checking back to PESN for the latest news.
PS: To read many of Rossi's posts about the one megawatt, high
temperature E-Cat plant, you can read the comments he has made on his
blog,
here.
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