In the Chemical and Material Science section, Water Buffalo questioned the methodology of the U-Tube presentation of John Kanzius [www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf4gOS8aoFk] who thinks he's burning salt water to make enough heat to run an expansion engine.
In this blog, I am earnestly requesting peer review that discusses my 3-blog thoughts on the subject, perhaps more pertinent to the Communications & Electronics section, and re-posted below.
I shall be posting this same request in the Electrical Engineering and BioMech & BioMed sections.
Thanks for all feedback of any nature.
Mark
(a) In response to the question of whether Kanzius can 'burn' salt water using RF.
The separation of the hydrogen and oxygen in water (using both fresh water and hydrolysis of salt to form an electrolytic solution, and then) applying electrodes to effect electrolysis is taught in elementary schools.
I rationalized that if the salt water is being split, there must be electrodes involved somewhere. But the u tube video doesn't give that game away, except to say that the inventor used his wife's pots to make an "antenna". (Hey! Maybe there's a metal stick or two disguised/concealed/hidden in the test tube. )
So I wondered about how an antenna could be created from solution without using solid electrodes.
Why an antenna (or two)?
Electrolysis uses electricity to create a spark that charges the O atom and thus rips open the H2O bond to produce H2 and an O radical. Elsewhere, the process would be known as ionization.
In a microwave, the magnetron emits photons using high-speed radio frequencies and the induction caused by the photons caressing metal surfaces can drive an induced electrical spark off a very thin or pointed metallic object, so we don't use foil, forks or knives in the microwave overn.
Sodium hydrochloride is electrically conductive. If crystals of salt were present in the solution, radio wave pressure from a close source could in theory drive conductively sensitive electrons along their surfaces and off at the sharp (or in the case of salt crystals, ragged) corners to produce minute sparks of electrolytic consequence.
The result from such a theoretical mini-electrolysis happening throughout an RF-exposed saline solution would be the "release" of unstable and combustible gases; and by extension the possible formation of new crystalline structure as it comes out of solution to enhance the reaction. The iginition of the gases would depend upon the heat generated by the radio frequency at close quarters.
In effect, the radio frequencies might be inducing the crystalline salts in the fluid and turning them into mini electrolytic electrodes.
If the ignited gases were deemed to be an efficient way of producing motion in a heat expansion engine, the interesting question would be what to do with the leftover salt (or other electrolyte). Possibly a "mixer" could be included in the vehicle to re-use the electrolyte in creating another solution.
So here we have the basis of another form of plain water (not salt water) [http://hydrogen.ecn.purdue.edu/2007.05.01-Woodall/] motive gas source for driving an ic ("internal combustion") engine. (Whoops! No 'combusion' here, only ignition. I guess the engine would be an "ii" engine instead of an "ic" engine. )
And perhaps a water ii engine could develop a tiny bit more efficiency, since both the O and the H are ignitable.
Presumably, some super suction system could be used to evacuate the cylinder of any H2O after/caused by ignition.
(b) A second thought about piezoelectric induction.
"radio wave pressure from a close source could in theory drive conductively sensitive electrons along their surfaces and off at the sharp (or in the case of salt crystals, ragged) corners to produce minute sparks of electrolytic consequence"
We can recognize a similarity in piezoelectric response of larger crystals utilizing a property known as electromagnetoelasticity. Except that instead of giving the crystal a "boink", in this case it's more of a repetetive induction carress.
RF and EMF Periodicity studiers and crystalline structure folks might be interested in how this phenomenon as postulated on a micro level, might be employed in the nano game.
(c) The Jump to RF/EMF and cancer.
The electromagnetoelasticity response of unhydrolyzed crystals in solution could be the explanation of the various illnesses attributed to RF and EMF broadcast of hydro transmission lines.
Certainly in most saline solutions there are occasions when the crystallization forms out of solution. The human body contains several forms of saline solution. It stands to reason that occasionally crystals will hydrolyze and de-hydrolyze either deliberately or in random fashion within the body.
In areas of great tissue delicacy*, a piezoelectric spark carressed off the ragged edges of such crystals by induction could present trauma in the form of nearby-tissue burning.
*as compared to e.g. skin tissue which appears to have developed a range of defenses against continual bombardment of interstellar interferences of varying wavelengths. Skin cancer has not, as yet, in the main literature been attributed to RF/EMF proximity.
As well, there is the possibility of electrolysis causing more salts to come out of a solution in which the H2 and O bond had been decreased by an electrolytic effect of the sparks off the edges of the crystals, resulting in less fluid available locally to the cellular structures and exposing them to more damage by crystalline irritants.
Studies in variations of salinity as well as other crystalline structures in areas of traumatized tissue where RF or EMF presence is suspected as the cause of trauma may well be indicated as a yeild of greater information in this area.
Repeated exposure to inductive varieties/amounts of radiation causing minute trauma could be the cause of signifigant tissue irritation in children and adults both; although the literature points to children as being the major risk category.
It would, if these hypotheses contain any signifigance, seem more practical to manufacture high tension transmission lines in a trefoiled configuration with mu metal foil sheathing and a grounded RF cage around the insulation; and then run them underground.
These are the precautions I have taken in the proposed method of delivering electricity to end-users in my patent-pending generating station. (With apologies, if you are interested in that proposed technological innovation, a description may be found at http://www.ecofriendlypower.wetpaint.com).
Mark