| d2fusion Home |
Electric Power Research Institute Palo Alto, CA
Nuclear Products via Cavitation Induced Micro Fusion in the d2fusion Technologies (formerly E-Quest Sciences) Mark II Research Device
d2fusion Technologies Inc (formerly E-Quest Sciences), EPRI, and SRI International
EPRI members in the form of an EPRI Technical Report. Unfortunately EPRI charges non-members $10,000 USD for this report. If you are interested in more details you may contact d2fusion Technologies.
The following two image files are jpg's of the front and back of the official EPRI report summary on this project. You can use your browsers zoom feature to make these large image files easier to read or copy them and print them full page size. A d2fusion summary in html text format follows the EPRI summary image files.
front of summary
Back of summary
Report Summary d2fusion Technologies (formerly E-Quest Sciences) has developed a new energy technology using ultrasound induced cavitation in heavy water with metal target foils which results in energy (heat) production from a here to fore unknown class of nuclear reactions. Experiments using this technology have produced robust excess heat (resultant power up to 60+% greater than the input power) and nuclear products (principally but not exclusively 4He). Monitoring of similar previous experiments with various gamma and neutron spectrometers revealed no energetic emissions above ambient background levels. The evidence from this project demonstrates that substantial excess heat is highly reproducible but not with perfect predictability as to its magnitude from run to run.The evidence for 4He shows it is present as a signature of the nuclear reaction(s) generated but is unlikely the product of a single principal heat producing reaction. Several variables which may be important in helium and heat production were identified during this series of experiments. Isotopic shifts in the palladium and silver isotope ratios suggest a link to a reaction involving the hydrogen isotopes and the large palladium nucleus. The precise nuclear reactions occurring in the experiments remain difficult to define and are the subject of an intensive ongoing search. Additional research proposals are now under discussion with EPRI, SRI, and other organizations. Background Beginning in the spring of 1989 the principal scientists Russ George and Roger Stringham took an interest in new anomalous heat generation phenomena. Research focused on the use of ultrasound (20khz) induced cavitation to provide an environment where hydrogen isotopes might combine with a target lattice and produce a nuclear reaction. The first experiments conducted resulted in dramatic melting of palladium target foils (5cm x 5cm x 0.1mm) while immersed in flowing D2O and impinged upon by an acoustic field of approximately 2-3 watts per cm2. Calorimetric studies revealed production of a large amount of excess power relative to the electrical input power consumed to produce the ultrasonic energy. Later experiments included analyses of gases from the helium tight stainless steel apparatus and revealed relatively large amounts of 4He as measured by 3 independent laboratories. While the 4He observed (at LANL) was significant (550ppm 1017-1018 atoms) it was not in sufficient quantity to be commensurate with the excess heat observed using nuclear fusion reaction paths such as D+D 4He (24Mev). The helium observed was however isotopically unique in that it was not in the expected or natural ratio with to 3He or 22Ne. Reports of this work have been made public via presentation of papers at scientific conferences in 1994 and 1995. Objectives To demonstrate reproducible net (excess) energy output from Pd/heavy water micro-fusion experiments using the Mark II device and to optimize and control excess heat effects while simultaneously measuring the reactor gases for 4He as evidence of a nuclear process. ApproachThe project team (including SRI staff who ran many of the experiments with minimal assistance from
team members) used an Mark II apparatus that was similar to apparatus used in earlier experiments known to produce both heat and 4He. The team operated the apparatus at SRI International between June 1995 and January 1996 and conducted ~70 experiments. Data collection used a computer based data system that recorded reports from an array of thermocouples, pressure sensors, and digital multi-meters. Helium data was gathered by taking samples of reactor gases in vacuum tight metal sample flasks for analysis in an adjacent laboratory using high resolution mass spectroscopy. SRI was subcontracted to provide laboratory support and helium analytical services.
Menlo Park, CA 1995-96 Results Experiments in this project were designed to repeat previous experiments, as conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1993 and in company labs from 1989-present, and to search for coincident 4He. The experiments were successful in showing that reproducible large excess power (tens to hundreds of thermal watts) is generated in the device based on calorimetric measurement of total energy input and heat output. Melting and damage to the palladium targets was a frequent occurrence providing evidence of anomalous large heating events within the palladium lattice. Excess power generation was more or less continuous over the 24 hours each experiment lasted. Nearly 1/3 of the experiments did not produce large excess heat and represent good "control experiments" which are in close agreement with the Joule heater calibration. Experiments showing large excess power revealed an excess from a few tens of watts to over 100 watts measured to an accuracy of ~5-10%. The measured 4He is found to reveal a trend of increasing 4He associated with increasing excess heat, power input , and experiment duration. The 4He was found in smaller amounts (2 x 1014 - 1 x 1015 atoms vs. 1017 - 1018 atoms) than in previous experiments but is shown in context of a demonstrated low background. The first figure (fig 1) shows a summary plot of data from the experiments conducted at SRI during the course of this project. The diagonal line is drawn through points determined via the use of a Joule heater and show measurement of heat in equal to heat out. Many of the experimental points which include some experiments with inactive ingredients fall on or near the Joule heater calibration confirming the case for no excess heat. However many points fall far above the calibration line and demonstrate excess energy.
The point attached to a vertical line is used to illustrate the substantial excess power. In this case more than 300 watts of apparent heat was produced from under 200 watts input.Figure 1
The first figure (fig 2 ) shows a photograph of target foil as it is seen taken fresh from the reactor chamber. Examination of the foil even by the unaided eye reveals what appears to be melting due to extreme heating. Indeed palladium melts at approximately 1600° C. A variety of studies are possible with this material including determination of isotopic ratios in active and inactive regions of the foil. A TOF SIMS instrument was used to examine a foil like this using the predictive morphology apparent between the relatively unaffected target corners and the melted (hot) central region.
 The last figures show the isotopic ratios taken from a small spot on the corner of the target foil most distant from the hot central region, and presumably out of the active reaction zone. The bottom figure shows the isotopic ratios for a similar small spot from the hot central reactive zone. Evidence is seen of dramatic changes in the ratios of 104Pd (changing from 11% to 19%) and 107Ag (changing from 51% to 62%) which can only result from nuclear reactions. 
 Path Forward The company is proceeding to further develop a scientific understanding of the nuclear reactions evidenced in its experimental work and to engineer, for the consumer market, a number of practical technologies. In addition to continuing on-going collaborations with industrial and government research partners our research group will soon be providing (selling), under research license agreements, a research device suited to laboratory measurement and exploration of the phenomena we identify as ultrasound assisted micro nuclear reactions. The main course of action is to proceed with immediate development of commercial prototypes and applications which dovetail with existing energy technology to provide an affordable clean source of energy to power those products. Already new generations of sonofusion technology have far surpassed the performance of the Mark II technology featured in this report and are well suited to commercial development. The business group is pursuing the facilitation of collaborative research and development relationships already in place between
the company and several organizations including EPRI, SRI International, and several national laboratories. In addition we are proceeding to develop joint venture agreements covering the cooperative development of
this technology with industrial partners both in the US and internationally. For further information contactChief
Scientist - Russ George
|
