george h. miley - american nuclear...
TRANSCRIPT
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George H. Miley Kyu-Jung Kim, Tapan Patel, Bert Stunkard, Erik Ziehm
Champaign IL, 61821 USA
ANS NETS 2015, ABQ NM 2_2015
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Clusters and Nano-particles In LENR the reacting species react at such
energies that the compound nucleus formed
has little excess energy, eliminating high energy
emissions and reducing waste radioactivity.
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Pd thin film = 12 µm Loading and unloading of
D/H done by cyclically cathodizing and anodizing of Pd film dislocation loop and cluster
formation Pd
PdO PdO
PdO PdO
SEL Leads to Our Recent Dislocation-Loop-Cluster Studies with Thin Films.
Clusters of D or H Form the Reactive Site for LENR.
Cluster formation in Thin Films
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2 12 1
2 1
ln( / ) 0.65( )H B
T Tk P P eVT T
ε = =−
Binding Energy calculation – close to the binding energy between hydrogen and dislocations
The magnetic moment of H2- cycled PdHx samples in the temperature range of 2 ≤ T < 70 K is significantly lower than M(T) for the original Pd/PdO.
H:Pd = 10-4
Understanding Clusters and Demonstrating their almost Metallic Density Hydrogen Characteristic
Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) and SQUID Measurements
Cluster Measurements
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Avoids constraint of being limited by the boiling
temperature of the fluid.
The work is designed to extend the thin-film technique to gas loaded nano-particles
Larger surface area particles
Lower input power needed
Larger “Excess Power”.
Allows use of other materials, e.g. H2 and Ni.
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Clusters mainly form in pores close to the surface. Nano-Materials have more surface area, thus have good ability to form
abundant clusters.
Cluster Formation in Nano-Materials
Nano-particles Thin film
Almost no clusters
Pd
vs.
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
7 Vacuum pump
Outer Chamber D2 or H2 Gas
Heating coil
Sample chamber
Valve
Sample
Valve
Valve
Turbo- molecular pump
Gas Loading System for Nanoparticle
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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2.2 cm inner diameter 25 cm3 total volume
D2 Gas
To Vacuum
Cold Trap
Vacuum pump
Insulation around
chamber
H2 Gas
Gas Loading System for Nanoparticle
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Particle Type Particle Composition
Type A Pd-Zr
Type B Pd-Zr-Ni (High Ni, Pd)
Type C Pd-Zr-Ni (High Ni, Low Pd)
Particle composition
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Two types of experiments
Kinetic and
Adiabatic
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Kinetic measurement using our Gas Loading System to illustrate key features
❖ High purity (99.999%) D2 gas at 4 atm, Room Temp, 23g nano-particles Type A
❖ Absorption: Exothermic chemical
reaction
❖ Desorption: Endothermic chemical
reaction
Note; dominate “input power” due to chemical reaction contributions when loading and de-loading.
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Energy analysis of this 300 second Kinetic Measurement Shows “Excess Energy” production attributed to LENR.
Absorption Exothermic energy from chemical reaction --- 690J Actual measured energy : 1479J – roughly double the possible chemical contribution. Added energy is attributed to LENR reactions.
LENR (Nuclear) Power Density : ca. 1kW/kg at 4 atm., over short run 300 sec. time
Desorption Endothermic chemical Reaction – should show rapid temperature drop, but instead an increase is observed – attributed to continuing LENRs produced by increased ion flow out of particles during desorption = “life after death”
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Extended kinetic experiment The Chemical contribution only occurs once : during initial pressurization.
Thus longer Run demonstrates larger LENR energy vs. chemical: Here about 7X.
Actual measured energy -- 4769J
Indicating ca. 4100J from LENR over run time of several hours
23 gram Nano-particle #1
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Very short run time experiments with small particle weight loading provide
adiabatic conditions for comparison of nano-particle performance
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Adiabatic Experiments: Positive regeneration effects. Pt Black baseline reference data
* Outer chamber used
#1: Initial pressurization
#2: Pressurization w/out regeneration of particles
#3: Pressurization with regeneration
Pt black reference nanoparticles
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Adiabatic experiments for comparison of nano-particles
Measured output energy for the initial temperature increase compared to exothermic energy from chemical reactions
Run #
Nano Particle Type
Mass (grams)
Delta T (Celsius)
Total Energy (Pe
ak) Total Energy density (J/g)
Initial Temp. to Peak Temp. (se
c)
Peak Power Density (W/g
) Chemical Energy (J)
Measured Peak Energy minus Chemical Ener
gy (J) Gain 1 Type A 2.2 31.55 972.05 441.84 14.00 31.56 74.85 897.21 12.0
2 Type A (same particles fr
om run 1) 1.9 4.95 151.96 79.98 16.00 5.00 64.64 87.32 1.3
3 Type A 1.8 25.05 768.01 426.67 10.00 42.67 61.24 706.77 11.5
4 Type B 11.1 90.90 3588.88 323.32 95.00 3.40 271.29 3317.59 12.2
5 Type C 6.4 84.90 2754.00 430.31 98.00 4.39 170.76 2583.24 15.1
6 Type C (same particles fr
om run 5) 6.4 6.80 220.58 34.47 76.00 0.45 170.76 49.82 0.3
7 Type C 3.2 27.10 846.04 264.39 78.00 3.39 85.38 760.66 9.3
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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SEM image of the nano-particles A before (left) and after (right) deuterium gas loading experiment
Illustration of nano-particle run time issue: coagulation can occur
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Increase surface oxide layer thickness
Changes in composition
Embed particles in substrate
Control reactor temperature profile to avoid hot spots
Use plasma activated nano-particles on mesh or foils
Proposed methods to prevent sintering of nano-particles and allow higher control point temperatures
Applications Plasma Treatment Nano-particle
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Plasma Treatment
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Applications Nano-particle Plasma Treatment
Plasma treatment of metal foils to create surface nano-particles
❖ Allows easy in situ nano-particle formation with less contaminants ❖ Currently using helicon plasma with biased thin foil
❖ Aluminum foil used for calibration before using Ni/Pd
❖ H2, Ar, Air plasmas have been used
Figure 7. Helicon Plasma Apparatus Figure 8. Foil Holder
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Applications Nano-particle Plasma Treatment
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SEM images of aluminum foil before (left) and after (right) hydrogen plasma treatment
Grain boundaries and particles are formed
Possible melting – 660 oC Al melting point
Surface Nano-particle Formations Figure 9. Untreated Aluminum Foil Figure 10. Treated Aluminum Foil
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Applications Nano-particle Plasma Treatment
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Electrodes to HV Power Supply
Pirani Pressure Gauge
6” Diameter Viewport
Thermocouples
Mass Flow Controller
Ion Pressure Gauge
Residual Gas Analyzer
Turbo-Molecular Pump
❖ Electrodes connected to two thin films for plasma generation ❖ Ni or Pd Foils to surround inner chamber to limit wall contaminants ❖ CR-39 for Radiation Detection inside of the chamber ❖ Neutron Dosimeters on outside of chamber
New Apparatus for Plasma Treatment Figure 13. New Apparatus Diagram
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Applications Nano-particle Plasma Treatment
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New Apparatus Above View
Pirani Gauge Plasma Chamber
Mass Flow Controller
Thermocouple connected to linear feed- through
Eventual scintillation detector
Turbo-Molecular Pump
Residual Gas Analyzer
Ion Pressure Gauge
Figure 14. New Assembled Apparatus
HV Electrodes
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Applications Nano-particle Plasma Treatment
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New Apparatus Summary ❖ Creation of Nanoparticles on thin foils utilizing DC Glow Plasma
Nanoparticles are created under vacuum – less contaminants than current ball milling procedures
Utilize Argon to produce quicker and deeper etchant surface profiles
❖ Direct contact of foils with temperature probes
❖ Residual Gas Analyzer for mass spectroscopy of plasma constituents and reaction products
❖ Heating Tape allows for operation up to 500°C
❖ Possible Implementation of high precision radiation detection inside vacuum
❖ Neutron Dosimeters on the outside of the plasma chamber
❖ Can use various types of alloys as thin foils
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Applications
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Nano-particle Plasma Treatment Applications
238Pu: 540 W/kg
3 kW = 5.6 kg; 280 cc
LENR: 1 ~ 5 kW/kg at 4 atm and room temperature
3 kW = 0.6 ~ 3 kg; 86 ~ 428 cc (when 7 g/cc of particle density)
Thus on a weight basis LENR units offer double power minimum, but uses possibly somewhat larger volume.
LENR heat source compares favorably with Radioisotope sources such as 238Pu
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Reactor housing Thermoelectric generator
Fin Nano-particle
Filter Mesh
D2
Nano-particle Plasma Treatment Applications
LENR-Gen Module
50 cc,
350 g nano-particle
0.35~1.75 kW power
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Nano-particle Plasma Treatment Applications
Time (hrs.)
Temp Reactor A
Reactor B
Pressurizing of Reactor A =
De-pressurizing of Reactor B
A pair of LENR-Gen Module operation
D2 D2
D2 D2
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Nano-particle Plasma Treatment Applications
Department of Defense Applications Co-generation uses for both fixed bases and forward operation bases (FOBs)
Excess heat can be used for space heating / absorption chillers / heat pumps
Particularly beneficial for FOBs where electricity is generated from
diesel ($20-$400/gal) depending on location.
Work with Corps of Engineers Research Lab (CERL) to develop agreement
for further independent testing and/or demonstration at bases
NASA and LENR Comments From a Talk at GRC
by Dennis M. Bushnell
Chief Scientist NASA Langley Research Center
NASA Interest in LENR
• Between Chemical and strong force Nuclear Energy Densities with minimal radiation safety/ protection requirements/ issues, probably
“inexpensive”
• Direct and potentially massively/ truly “game- changing” applications across the board to NASA Mission Areas:
- Science
- Exploration
- Aeronautics
NASA Science LENR Applications
• Superb light weight power/ energy sources for space • probes/ instruments and hoppers/ rovers, far less
expensive than solar and better than radioisotopes for beyond Mars where solar does not “work”
• Reduced LEO and in space propulsion weights/ costs • Solves EDL for large payloads to Mars via ingestion,
heating and retro injection of atmospheric CO2
NASA Exploration LENR Applications
• Preliminary systems studies indicate LEO access rockets with Nuc Thermal Isp [ ~ 800 Seconds] sans the Nuc radiation protection weights/ safety issues
• On Planet Nuc power/ Energy without usual Nuc Radiation protection/ safety issues
• Potentially obviates order of 80% of the 1000 metric ton LEO up-mass for Humans Mars which is in-space fuel, Propulsive mass from far outer region atmosphere or regolith
• Source for energy beaming, energy to terraform Mars, Enables Active Space Radiation Protection
Aeronautical LENR Applications
• Allows direct control of wake vortices to obviate wake vortex hazard
• Super STOL performance via circulation/ flow control to increase runway productivity by a factor of 3
• Overall, For Aero – far lower gross weights, higher speeds, lower noise, greater range, emissions solved, envelope-less/all weather superb ride quality flight, lower costs, greater safety
“In short, LENR , depending on the TBD performance, appears to be capable of revolutionizing Aerospace across the board. No other single technology even comes close to the potential impact of LENR on agency missions”
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Conclusion
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Conclusion
•EXPERIMENTAL REULTS WITH CLUSTER LOADED MATERIALS VERY ENCOURAGING
•WORK CONCENTRATRATING ON RUN TIME AND CONTROL ISSUES NEEDED TO DEVELOP A COMMERCIAL UNIT.
• LENUCO LLC ESTABLISHED TO DO THAT
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Back row: Kyungshin Lee, Mikhail Finko, Brenden Yung Front row: Bert Stunkard, Joseph Bottini, Adi Patel Not pictured: Tapan Patel, Kyu-Jung Kim, George Miley
LENR Team
• For further information, discussion, contact
• George H Miley • U of Illinois
• 217-3333772 • [email protected]
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Thanks for your attention