19) A Reference for Electrochemists


Ludwik Kowalski
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ, 07043.

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I am not a chemist and I cannot fully appreciate the article of G. Lonchampt et al. presented at the sixth International Conference on Cold Fusion in 1996. The three French authors were from “CEA - Centre d’Etudes Nucleaires” and “Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Electrochimie et d’Electrometallurgie” These institutions impress me; they are “impeccable.” The title of the paper was: “Reproduction of Fleischmann and Pons experiments.” It can be downloaded (in the pdf format) from:

http://lenr-canr.org/Features.htm

Here is the abstract: “The objective of this work is to check the reliability of the initial Fleischmann and Pons calorimeter for studying cold fusion from ambient to boiling temperature. After describing our experimental set up, the assessment of excess heat from the enthalpy balance is discussed. We have observed deposits on the electrodes after electrolysis, which, in our opinion, have a determining role in the excess heat generation. We show raw data from three runs. It is concluded that this calorimeter is well adapted for such cold fusion investigation. “

This paper is significant for two reasons. First, the original report of F&P, was often criticized for being incomplete. The calorimeter they used was considered inappropriate by some critics. And second, F&P were working in France at that time. In fact their assistance is recognized at the end of the article. It appears that what was missing in the original publication can be found in the French article together with many additional comments. I hope this information will be useful to electrochemists interested in methodology through which the original discovery was made. Let me finish this short item by quoting the conclusions.

“Our experience during this last three years, leads us to conclude that the Fleischmann and Pons calorimeter is very accurate and well adapted to study cold fusion phenomenon. It is simple and precise. However precautionary measures must be taken:
a) the Dewar must be of excellent quality, i.e. good vacuum, in order to
eliminate heat losses by conduction . . ..
b) temperature calibration of the thermistors must be done very precisely.
c) all electrical feedthroughs must be sealed off in order to eliminate
spilling off of electrolyte by capillarity.

Our results concerning the relative excess heat (percentage of excess heat to enthalpy input) can be summarized as follows:

a) below 70°C, between 0 and 5%
b) between 70°C and 99°C, about 10%
c) at boiling, up to 150% especially in the final phase which appears
as the best condition to get a large amount of excess heat.

As already done by S. Pons, with ICARUS 9, it is necessary to operate at boiling on a permanent basis to obtain the most significant results.

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