Robust Performance Validation of
LENR Energy Generators
K.S. Grabowski, D.L. Knies
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC
M.E. Melich
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA
A.E. Moser
Nova Research Inc., Alexandria, VA
D.J. Nagel
The George Washington University, Washington, DC
ICCF16, Chennai, India
6-11 Feb 2011
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Motivation
Develop a robust test for a “Black Box” device, to show that
more energy is produced than can be explained by
conventional physics and chemistry.
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Control Volume Description
electrochemical power,
internal heater
hydrogen,
coolant
water, air, photons,
microwaves, etc.
Heatin
DUT
Heatout
water, gases,
radiation
Estored
capacitor, batteries, chemical
reactant with air as oxidizer
Energyout = ∫[ Heatout - Heatin - Fuelin - (I*V)in ] dt - Estored
DUT: Device Under Test
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Main Features of LENR Calorimeters
Single Wall
Heat
Conductivity
Isoperibolic
Double Wall
Heat
Conductivity
Seebeck
Heat
Conductivity
Mass
Flow
Heat
Flow
Ice
Heat
Capacity
Heat
Conductivity
Heat
Capacity
Source
electrolyte
Source
jacket
Inside of
Barrier
Source
jacket
Metal Plate
Source
Source
jacket
Outer
bath
Outside of
barrier
Flowing
fluid
Source and
jacket
Icewater
Power
Power
Power
Power
Energy
Sensors
Temperature
Temperature
Temperature
Temperature
Weight
Signals
Voltage
Voltage
Voltage
Power
Temperature
& flow
Voltage
Voltage
Voltage
Principle
Mechanism
Hotter
Region
Colder
Region
Measured
Many types of calorimeters are applied to LENR research, but
for testing of “black box” devices of variable size and shape, the
mass flow type is more simple and flexible.
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Mass Flow Calorimeter Concept for
Gas Loading Cell
DUT
Water in
(Tin, Jin)
Water out
(Tout, Jout)
Estored
Electrical
Power in
(I*V)
Gas in
(m/t)
Energyout = ∫[(Tout - Tin)·Cp·J - m/t·H - (I*V)in] dt - Estored
(heat capacity of water)
(gas burned)
(conservative estimate,
e.g., gasoline)
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Potential Energy Storage
(Important for “Black Box” Validation)
H2 @2200 psi
Gasoline
Li
Thermite (Fe 2O3 + 2Al)
gravimetric energy density (MJ/kg)
1000
NiH
Li ion battery
1 L (~800 g) 35 MJ
(~10 h @ 1 kW)
100
10
1 L (~15 g) 2.1 MJ
(~30 min @ 1 kW)
1
0.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
volumetric energy density (MJ/L)
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How to Overcome Estored?
• If possible, ascertain contents of “Black Box” before and after
test to limit quantity of stored energy available
• Otherwise, must consider worst case scenario, requiring:
–
–
–
–
Knowledge of mass and volume of “Black Box”
High power output device (i.e., > kW), compared to inputs
Long time measurements (days?) if at lower power
Limited mass and volume available for fuel
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Flow and T Requirements for Water
Power = Flow··Cp·T; ·Cp = 4.2 kJ·L-1·K-1
T(K) = 0.24 Power(kW) / Flow(L/s)
Flow (gpm)
1
1000
10
30 kW
T (K)
100
10
3
10
1
0.3
1
0.1
0.03
0.1
0.01
0.1
Flow (L/s)
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1
Flow and T Requirements for Water
Power = Flow··Cp·T; ·Cp = 4.2 kJ·L-1·K-1
T(K) = 0.24 Power(kW) / Flow(L/s)
Flow (gpm)
1
1000
10
30 kW
T (K)
100
10
3
10
To overcome Estored
in practical time
- 5 hrs
- 1L gasoline
- 2 kW ave. P
1
0.3
1
0.1
0.03
0.1
0.01
0.1
Flow (L/s)
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1
Flow and T Requirements for Water
Power = Flow··Cp·T; ·Cp = 4.2 kJ·L-1·K-1
T(K) = 0.24 Power(kW) / Flow(L/s)
Flow (gpm)
1
1000
10
30 kW
T (K)
100
To overcome TC
precision (± 1K),
flow must be limited
for given Power
output
10
3
10
1
0.3
1
0.1
0.03
0.1
0.01
0.1
Flow (L/s)
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1
Flow and T Requirements for Water
Power = Flow··Cp·T; ·Cp = 4.2 kJ·L-1·K-1
T(K) = 0.24 Power(kW) / Flow(L/s)
Flow (gpm)
1
1000
10
30 kW
T (K)
100
10
3
10
1
Added range with
precision RTD
(±0.2K)
0.3
1
0.1
0.03
0.1
0.01
0.1
Flow (L/s)
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1
Calibration of all Sensors Required
•
Repeated measurements to document precision of each sensor
•
Reasonable standards to document accuracy, such as weighing known
volume of water on a mass balance, or using multiple pressure gauges
•
Digital mass flow sensor calibrated with stop watch and mass balance
or graduated cylinder, and/or against analog flow meter
•
T sensors measured collectively in stirred ice and boiling water baths
•
I*V power meter should measure known power source and load, and its
bandwidth verified. High frequency capability must be demonstrated.
•
Volume and T of hydrogen storage bottle must be known, and pressure
measured with suitable precision. Pressure response to T changes
should be documented. If gas employed becomes liquefied at storage
pressure, then mass of gas in tank must be measured instead.
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Testing of Measurement Apparatus
• A known heat source should substitute for DUT to
document performance of measurement apparatus
• Parallel configuration is preferred, since flow
requirements may be incompatible with serial flow
DUT
Water in
Water out
Electric
Water Heater
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Redundancy
• Redundancy needed for sensors, as they sometimes fail or are
impacted by environmental factors
• Orthogonal methodology should be used to overcome common
mode failures, for example:
– Thermocouples are sensitive to ground loop problems, so an IR pyrometer
which can be decoupled from apparatus is useful
– Pulses from digital flow meters may not be properly counted by computer,
so analog meter (while less precise) can be indicator of error
• Such redundancy is needed for all critical parameters: T, water
flow, V, I, gas flow
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Structure of Measurement Apparatus
IR pyrometer spot
for Tin
Water to drain
TC out (2)
TC in (1)
Flow of
Water out
TC in (2)
Pressure of
Water in
conventional
water heater,
or DUT
Flow of
Water in
Pressure of
Water out
Water
in
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TC out (1)
IR pyrometer spot
for Tout
Apparatus in Preparation for Test
Analog flow meter
Water outlet
16 ch TC interface
(0-10 V DC output)
12 kW water heater
Sensor manifolds
Water inlet
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Flow Calibration
GPM In
GPM Out
Digin: 3.478 ± 0.008 (n=8)
Digout: 3.484 ± 0.013 (n=8)
Bucket: 3.456
Analog: 3.5
Average = 3.48 ± 0.02
4
3.5
Flow (gpm)
3
2.5
Digin: 1.810 ± 0.008 (n=6)
Digout: 1.823 ± 0.010 (n=6)
Bucket: 1.761
Analog: 1.8
Average = 1.80 ± 0.03
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1.2 103
1.4 103
1.6 103
1.8 103
2 103
t (s)
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average T (°C)
TC calibration
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
average T (°C)
101
Ice bath, 14 TCs, 19 measurements each
Ave stdev each TC = 0.033
Ave T = -0.1 ± 0.3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
TC Channel
Boiling water, 14 TCs, 23 measurements each
100.5
100
Ave stdev each TC = 0.099
Ave T = 99.6 ± 0.4
99.5
99
98.5
98
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
TC Channel
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Calibrated Thermocouple Stability
TC_4
TC_5
TC_6
TC_7
TC_8
TC_13
31
Calibrated T (°C)
30
29
28
27
26
Bath-3
Bath-1
Bath-2
Use-2 Baseline Use-1
TC Condition
Even after calibration, TCs in like environment show variability of ~1K during use.
Use of matched pairsDistribution
can help.
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Mass Flow Measurement of Water Heater Power
42
Pin (kW)
GPM In
GPM Out
TC_5 cal
TC_4 cal
IR-T
8
7
500 s
40
38
T (°C)
5
36
4
T: 10.5 ± 0.1°C
3
32
2
30
1
28
1.8 104 1.85 104 1.9 104 1.95 104
time (s)
2 104
0
2.05 104
P in (kW), Flow (gpm)
6
34
Pin undersampled with power meter, as
heater operates in “switching” mode,
causing scatter in data.
Average Pin =5.07 ± 0.40 kW (± 8%)
Average flow while Pin ~5 kW:
input = 1.780±0.006 gpm
output = 1.958±0.006 (10%
high?)
analog meter = 1.77
T = 10.5 ± 0.1°C, based on averages of
calibrated TC_4out and TC_5in. Output IR
sensor also has T = 10.5 °C, after ~200
s.
Since output flow seems discrepant, use
estimate of 1.775 gpm from input flow and
analog meter. This provides a conservative
measure of power.
Therefore, Pout = 4.91 ±0.05 kW, and
Efficiency = 97 ± 8%
(Limited precision from high quality power
meter)
5 kW easily measured
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Challenge of Calorimetry with Steam:
Must Measure Steam Quality Accurately and Precisely
Extra care must be taken during phase changes
Apparent Excess Heat vs. Dryness of Steam
7
Apparent Excess Heat (x)
6
5
Only 5.8% of the volume fraction being condensed water will cause one to
BELIEVE that you have a 6x gain in power!
4
3
2
Heatout = Heatin
1
0
0
5
10
15
"% Water in Steam (Volume Fraction)"
20
25
Summary
• NRL’s existing water input and output manifolds can
measure a large heat input with high efficiency (97%)
• Requires care in use of sensors, including use of redundant,
calibrated, and tested devices.
• Digital data collection provides means to rigorously validate
performance of claimed LENR energy generators.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official
policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government."
This is in accordance with DoDI 5230.29, January 8, 2009
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Recommendations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Design, conduct and analyze tests thoroughly, to withstand all
anticipated questions and criticisms.
Persons experienced in the types of measurements and
instrumentation employed should participate in all phases of the tests.
Redundant calibrated sensors and systems should be employed to
measure all streams of energy and matter entering and departing the
device under test.
Signal-to-noise ratios of ten or more are required for all measurements
to exclude the possibility of cumulative errors leading to a wrong
conclusion.
The test should be conducted for a sufficient continuous period to
strongly exclude the possibility of stored chemicals generating the
observed energy output.
A thorough statistical data analysis should be conducted to determine
the error associated with each measurement, and to compute an
overall uncertainty in the energy gain.
A separate “red team” of persons experienced in related laboratory
measurements should critique the design and execution of the test, and
the analysis of the results.
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