March of 2012 has proven to be a special month for LENR advocates with the release of a number of presentations, research, and products. As such, the technology has seen a bit of a shake up and new leaders are emerging. This piece focuses on recent contributions of major players in the LENR field and just how important March 2012 has been for LENR.
Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) technologies holds the promise of eliminating the need for fossil fuels and even reducing the cost of electricity to as low as $10/MegaWatt (compared to $75/MegaWatt for gas). The technology is still in its early stages and several key individuals and organizations have made major contributions over the last two decades in advancing the credibility of LENR.
As of today’s date, there are four major players – and dozens of others – who have produced what they claim to be commercially viable versions of LENR. Each seems to have their own version and “secret ingredient” to making LENR work. For those new to the LENR scene, most technologies focus on combining Hydrogen with Nickel or another element. The elements are combined using an unknown catalyst – the “secret ingredient”. The result of combining the elements is a new element, generally Copper. The production process puts off excess heat which can be used to boil water or even produce electricity.
The current major players are all in various stages of getting their version of LENR into production. I couldn’t find a single place where each of these individuals or groups were highlighted in a simple manner, so here’s a quick recap and some resources for further reading on the LENR major players and their contributions.
Andrea Rossi
(Image Credit: FreeEnergyTruth)
Hands down, Rossi is the most well-known modern proponent of LENR. Last year he launched a major publicity campaign and demonstration of his techniques. After sharp criticism, Rossi admits that he came out with his invention a bit too soon and should have waited for further testing.
As of today, Rossi is more reserved but still incredibly optimistic about his technology, referred to as the E-Cat (Energy Catalyzer). In an interview released on March 29th, 2012, Rossi answers a lengthy set of questions and provides some insight into where the technology stands as of today.
In short, Rossi is focusing on improving the heat output of his E-Cat and is working with Siemens to create a version that produces electricity. He plans on releasing a 1kW and a 1MW version in the next 12-18 months. His technology uses Hydrogen + Nickel + Catalyst to produce energy.
For more information on Andrea Rossi, you can visit his websites:
Defkalion
(Image Credit: ECat3)
Early in the development of LENR by Rossi, he had a parting of ways with a group that went on to establish their own company – Defkalion. The Defkalion group has produced their own version of the E-Cat called the Hyperion. One major difference in how Defkalion is handling the media is that they are releasing product specs and publishing 3rd party testing results.
In a press release from January 23rd, 2012, Defkalion announced they are allowing any qualified (probably academic or large corporate) 3rd party interested in independently testing their Hyperion to go for it. Defkalion claims they are able to use Hydrogen + Nickel + Catalyst to produce energy in excess of 20 times what is put into the system. The Hyperion is apparently able to produce temperatures in excess of 650 degrees Celsius (1200 degrees Fahrenheit).
For more information on Defkalion, check out their website and January 23rd press release:
Dr. George Miley
(Image Credit: FreeEnergyTruth)
Although lesser known, Dr. Miley, affiliate professor at the University of Illinois, has provided significantly to the LENR technologies by engaging NASA and proposing they use his LENR system in satellites and other space vehicles. Currently NASA uses Plutonium-based nuclear energy systems, but it wants to phase these expensive and potentially dangerous technologies out of its designs. His presentation was on March 23rd, 2012.
Dr. Miley has been able to demonstrate consistent results and goes out of his way to publish his findings and get peer-review of his theories. One major drawback to his device is that it is only able to produce around 350 Watts at this point – far less than the E-Cat or Hyperion models. But the mere fact that he has been able to create a stable device and is going through the academic rigors of proving the functionality of his theories makes Dr. Miley a major player.
For more info on Dr. Miley:
Brillouin Energy
(Image Credit: ColdFusion3)
Another big entrant into the LENR field is Robert Godes’ Brillouin Energy. Dr. Godes has been working in the LENR field since around 1992 and developed a working LENR device as early as 2005. Due to a lack of funding and his own desire to fully test his product, he waited until March 29th, 2012 to release an interview regarding his fully functional device.
Instead of full production plans like Rossi and Defkalion, Godes only wants to license his technology to major corporations. He has two systems – one capable of heat at 140 degress Celsius (280 degrees Fahrenheit) and the other can produce heat between 400-450 degrees Celsius (750-840 degrees Fahrenheit). Godes’ claim to fame is a revolutionary technique for controlling the heat reactions, which is a major leap for LENR technology. Dr. Godes calls it a Controlled Electric Capture Reaction (CENC).
For the complete story on Brillouin Energy and Dr. Godes:
- Brillouin Energy Website
- Summary of March 29th Interview
- Full Audio Interview (58 minuets) (Skip the first full minute)
What Next for LENR?
Across the board, all the major players express deep frustration with the U.S. Patent Office for rejecting any patents relating to LENR. This is the primary reason behind the lack of funding and general release of the LENR technology. Without patent protection, investors are at risk of having a 3rd party come in and legally take their research.
The U.S. Patent Office has a legitimate claim for witholding a patent: the science around LENR is unproven. Well, not unproven so much as it’s unexplained. There is no formally accepted theory to explain how LENR can work. Multiple legitimate theories are being discussed and examined, but nothing has been cemented. So the U.S. Patent Office struggles to approve a technology that can’t be explained.
So the field needs to continue to pursue academic endorsements and peer-reviewed acceptance. It’s going to take awhile. But with the efforts of Dr. Miley and Dr. Godes, to name a few, this process is occurring and getting traction.
The next few months should continue to be interesting for LENR as new leaders introduce their technologies to the world and the academic community continues to produce and discuss viable explanations for LENR reactions.
