Cold Fusion Gets Cold Shoulder (and $200,000 Challenge)

If it was true they would have proven it already. It looks more like a way to generate money out of thin air.

What's really puzzling, is that the University of Bologna isn't pushing them to provide the proof. Perhaps they do not fear being referred to as the University of Baloney.

Good one Kram....

Would that be a fried Baloney sandwich slathered with mustard?

Why do I keep picturing this guy as the lead scientist here...?

The article says "surely it would only take a couple of hours and have an independent person actually measure the current in each of the wires in the three-wire power cord."

But the E-CAT does not output any current. So no one can run an electrical power-out over power-in test. Measuring power-in is essential, but when the E_CAT is in self-sustaining mode the only electrical input is for microcontrollers, sensors, and switches, and maybe an oscillator. This is small power compared to the thermal output of the steam that is created.

I would like to see an E_CAT test with a steam generator connected to the output. Then a very simple electrical power-in vs. electrical power-out would be possible. This would lose some efficiency over a thermal gain, but would still be a big positive number (in my opinion), and very easy to measure.

His entire site looks like a scam. He shows a video of the e cat in action, and then has a reporter, (not a fellow scientist), explain that it works because it was still hot after 3-4 hours.

You can be one of the lucky people to send him money and pre order one now.

http://ecat.com/

I'm not going to be surprised to see this guy disappear after he's amassed enough pre order money to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

From the site:

There is a cold water inlet into the steel box and a warm water outlet. As the cold water flows past the reactor, the cooling elements will heat it up and the flux of the water (e.g. liters/h) dictates the difference between in and out temperature. In this way hot water or steam can be produced.

Something tells me that it won't create enough steam to spin a turbine. Maybe a nice conversation piece to heat water for tea.

Rossi is not accepting money right now. He is only collecting a list of people who wish to order one after the production has started.

His E-CAT can generate steam at 450 degrees C. That will run a steam turbine.

As usual, I could be completely off base and jumping to conclusions.

I don't understand the shroud of mystery.

If the device works, he will up there with Einstein or beyond.

Thanks for correcting my off the cuff remarks. They were based in perception from a quick look. I want the device to work.

I would guess the man is not a scam artist, but insane... We see this happen from time to time, this is mentally demanding work and sometimes people just become disconnected from reality, the stress finally takes its toll....

Got the T shirt......................define reality.

Maybe someone can explain to me... complete the circle... How would one be able to use cold fusion in a practical sense, even if it was demonstrated? I take it that it isn't6 necessarily applicable to energy production. What else? Gold out of lead?

Pretty much only energy production.

If the reaction produces heat as a bybroduct, and the heat energy is used to produce steam to turn turbines..........................

The Holy Grail is to produce more heat energy than was put in to create the reaction. I don't think it's happened yet.

Sorry. I didn't flesh the question out enough. I should have added, as a further elucidation, "Just how much cold fusion would it take to really create any practical energy source, given current demands -- especially appliances like air-conditioners. I guess if it is over-unity it doesn't really matter. But there would have to be some way to collect and store the energy produced, I think, to make it practical. And in the same vein, could the production keep up with demand? That is what I was questioning.