WO1991001037A1

WO1991001037A1 - Chemo-nuclear fusion methods

Info

Publication number: WO1991001037A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/003862
Authority: WO
Inventors: George E. Shaffer
Original assignee: Shaffer George E
Priority date: 1989-07-13
Filing date: 1990-07-10
Publication date: 1991-01-24
Also published as: AU6524290A

Abstract

A method for achieving the controlled release of energy in connection with causing deuterium molecules to combine to become helium atoms in the presence of a palladium catalyst (22), said method comprising providing a reactor chamber (20) containing deuterium oxide (21) and a palladium catalyst (22), introducing controlled amounts of deuterium molecules into said chamber so as to come in contact with said deuterium oxide (21) and said palladium catalyst (22) such that the deuterium molecules are adsorbed by said palladium catalyst (22) whereby the palladium catalyst (22) executes a simultaneous shift of two electrons, leaving two stripped deuterium nuclei trapped in single palladium clathrate cages, the juxtaposed deuterium nuclei in a single cage and having the effect of the adsorption energy exerting tremendous compressive forces to achieve the collapse of the deuterium nuclei upon each other whereby each pair of such deuterium nuclei collapse to form an alpha particle and release relativistic energy as a gamma ray or kinetically as heat, further and finally the heat transfer of the evolved heat to perform useful work.

Description

CHEMO-NUCLEAR FUSION METHODS Field of Invention This invention relates to chemo-nuclear fusion methods and more particularly, to fusion methods which can be carried out at dramatically reduced temperatures which are believed to be as low as 30°C or even subfreezing temperatures, as compared with temperatures in the millions of degrees at which temperature prior nuclear fusion methods have been carried out.

Background of the Invention and Prior Art

Researchers Fritz Paneth and Kurt Peters, in the 1920's at the Chemical Institute of the University of Berlin, reported the creation of helium from hydrogen using a palladium catalyst. However, the results were retracted eight months later, after new sources of error were identified.

Little was understood of fusion technology in 1926, although Paneth and Peters do mention in their introduction to their paper the hypothesis that helium is produced from hydrogen in stars. But neutrons were discovered only in 1932, and physicist Hans Bethe demonstrated in 1933 that fusion was the likely source of stellar energy.

Panth and Peters published their results first in the journal Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (59, 2039; 1926). The results were then reprinted in Die Naturwissenschaften (14, 956; 1926). This paper and its 1927 retraction (Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft 60, 808; 1927), reprinted in Die Naturwissenschaften (16, 379; 1927) are models of clarity. A letter of retraction was also sent to Nature (119, 706; 1927).

In February 1927, John Tandberg of the Electrolux Research Laboratory filed for a Swedish patent on a device which produced "helium and useful energy". This invention was an electrolytic cell, using ordinary water, based on the work of Paneth and Peters but with a "significant increase in efficiency". The patent was never granted. It has been reported that there was also some work by Tandberg in the 1930's using deuterium when deuterium became available, and this work apparently continued for years with limited success. So-called cold fusion has long been sought after since cold fusion methods would cause little or no nuclear waste.

Ever since F. Panth & K. Peters described a method for producing helium in 1926 using the process akin to the stars, and J. Tandberg followed in 1927, cold fusion has been a gleam in the efe of energy developers. In 1947 and 1948 in a series of papers, F.C. Frank, A.D. Sakharov, and L. . Alvarez defined cold fusion via the use of negative muons. Interest in muon fusion has been continuous since 1947. Most recently there was a discussion of muon fusion in 1988 in separate papers by V.P. Dzhelepov and B.V. Balin.

Recently, Pons and Fleischmann reported the achievement of nuclear fusion in a bottle. However, once the euphoria of this report had passed, considerable skepticism set in about whether "cold fusion" actually had been achieved.

Others tried to duplicate the Pons and Fleischmann experiment by immersing bars of palladium cathodes in heavy water. In the^* same chamber a platinum anode circled the palladium -cathodes followed by the passing of an electrical current to release the deuterium to the palladium where it was hoped it would be adsorbed and the oxygen released at the anode escaping above the cell. Kuzmin of Moscow University noted up to 5 times more -neutrons than are normally present which seemed to indicate that deuterium nuclei were fusing conventionally. In this ejφeriment, there was the observation of water being boiled.

Researchers at Georgia Tech tried to duplicate the foregoing and measured 15 times more neutrons than normal, but did not try to measure the heat. However, they concluded that the impressive reading could have been due to a problem with their neutron recorder. At Texas A & M University, the scientists did measure heat, but did not try to detect neutrons. For this reason, they could not rule out simple chemical reaction instead of fusion.

Objects of the Invention

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, it is a prime object of the.present invention to provide chemo-nuclear fusion methods not heretofore described which are believed to achieve so-called cold fusion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide chemo-nuclear fusion methods which are believed to be capable of achieving the practical end of controlled useful energy.

Summary of the Invention

The foregoing, as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a reactor chamber that contains a heat transfer medium, namely, heavy water (deuterium oxide) , and a palladium catalyst. Gaseous deuterium (deuterium molecules) , is introduced into the chamber by bottle or using sequestered electrolysis where a bridge to the anode chamber is created to prevent mixing of oxygen and deuterium in the chamber above the palladium. Because of the^' special adsorptive properties of palladium, the palladium will adsorb large quantities of the deuterium molecules. The partial pressure of deuterium is maintained at a controlled amount (1 to 20mm) at about room temperature such that the clathrate cages of the palladium lattice strongly sequester one deuterium molecule per cage (unit cube) . It is believed that the adsorption process, which is a steric phenomenon, has the effect of exerting a tremendous squeezing action upon the adsorbed materials (deuterium molecules) . As a catalyst the palladium then will strip two S;L electrons from the deuterium molecule, leaving two compressed juxtaposed deuterium nuclei (deuterium ions) each pair trapped in a single clathrate cage. This is believed to result in the collapse of the juxtaposed deuterium ions upon each other to form an alpha particle. With the immediate return of the electrons now to s-_ and S2 orbitals, stable helium^ is formed. The accompanying release of relativistic energy is theorized to occasionally appear in the form of a gamma ray or more usually released kinetically directly to the palladium lattice as heat.

Brief Description of Drawing

Figure 1 is a view of the reactor set-up for carrying out the chemo-nuclear fusion methods of the present invention. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

With reference to Figure 1, the first step of the present invention involves introducing the heat transfer medium, heavy water (deuterium oxide) , into the reactor chamber of Figure 1 which is already fitted with the palladium catalyst and the other instrumentation of Figure 1. Gaseous deuterium

(deuterium molecules) is introduced into the chamber by bottle or electrolysis, but only in a sequestered chamber and only if the heavy water is doped. Because of the special adsorptive properties of palladium, the palladium will adsorb large quantities of the deuterium molecules. Here, it is believed that the clathrate cage of the palladium lattice strongly sequester one deuterium molecule per cage (unit cube) . It is believed that the foregoing has the effect of exerting a tremendous squeezing action (equivalent to hundreds or thousands of bars) upon the deuterium molecule. The catalytic properties of the palladium now enter, effectively stripping two s^ electrons from the deuterium molecule and leaving two juxtaposed deuterium nuclei trapped in the same clathrate cage.

This is believed to result in the collapse of the deuterium nuclei upon each other to form an alpha particle. With the almost immediate return of the two electrons into s^ and S₂

4 orbitals, stable helium is formed, with the accompanying release of relativistic energy that is theorized to appear occasionally in. the form of a gamma ray or more usually distributed kinetically to the cage walls as heat.

It should be understood while operating at room temperature (30°C) , that the partial pressure of deuterium is maintained at a, controlled level between 1 to 20mm. There will be correspondingly higher pressures at higher temperatures. The precise control of the partial pressure of deuterium will in turn determine the quantity of deuterium adsorbed and consequently the amount of heat to be removed from the reaction vessel. The higher the partial pressure of deuterium, the greater the heat that will be produced in the reaction. Thus, the effective yield from the reaction in the form of heat can be controlled by the control of the partial pressure of deuterium. The invention operates upon several important physical facts, including the property of palladium to adsorb gaseous deuterium more intensely than gaseous hydrogen which itself is adsorbed by the palladium to a higher degree than helium.

Moreover, the clathrate cages of the palladium are believed capable of enhancing the compressive forces of the super state (adsorbed state) possibly being the equivalent of hundreds or thousands of atmospheres.

Next, in the step of stripping the two s electrons from the deuterium molecule, the catalytic character of the adsorbent is believed to come into play. Here, the palladium catalyst is believed capable of executing a simultaneous shift or stripping of two s^ electrons leaving two juxtaposed deuterium nuclei in the same cage at the same time. This starts the so-called squeezing step. Here, the smaller sphere of influence of the ions causes the initiation of the collapse of the deuterium nuclei upon each other. Thus, with no electron shield to resist the extreme compressive forces, the two deuterium nuclei are subject to compressive forces equivalent to hundreds or thousands of atmospheres. Indeed, in a Tokomak a similar closeness at 2 megabars and 60 million degrees K is achieved in the palladium lattice at room temperature (300° K) at only 10 bars of effective pressure. It is believed that the effective adsorbed state pressure equivalent of over 2000 bars at room temperature is more than adequate to overcome the repulsive coulombic forces. Even at 650° K, a commercially feasible temperature, the effective adsorbed state pressure equivalent would still be far more than necessary to overcome coulombic repulsion equivalent to Tokomak conditions of 120,000,000°K and 50 megabars pressure.

In the next step, there is a period of resonation or vibration, followed by the final collapse of the two deuterium nuclei most probably into an alpha particle releasing a gamma ray or heat. Since the palladium cage so tightly wraps the nascent alpha particle, it is felt that the energy release kinetically as heat is more probable than as a gamma ray. The foregoing step is followed by catalysis, having the effect of adding two electrons to the alpha particle to create helium (atomic weight 4) , which is one of the most stable molecules extant.

Finally, the byproducts are removed. Helium is preferentially desorbed since it is less tenaciously held by the palladium catalyst than the deuterium molecules. It is believed that any gamma rays along with the kinetically released heat arising from the reaction are mostly absorbed in the reaction mass to create heat to boil the D₂0 which can then be removed by known heat transfer techniques and used to perform useful work.

It is further believed that the entire foregoing reaction will be carried out at a temperature in the neighborhood of 30°C-100°C initially and commercially at 350°C to 500^βC or more. Deuterium pressure within the reactor chamber can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the total deuterium level within the reactor chamber through external means in a well known manner by introducing or removing gases and/or liquids as will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Thus, if a higher deuterium (D2) pressure is desired, external bottled D₂ gas may be added, or for finer control, electrolysis .may be used for small increments fed to the reactor chamber most probably under computer control. It is believed ώiat an internal deuterium partial pressure of 500 atmospheres or less (depending upon operating temperature) will be satisfactory for carrying out of the process of the present invention at 450°C or less. At higher output temperatures of 500°C or more, total pressure up to 1000 atmospheres may be necessary.' ^ .

The temperature within the reactor will be held at desired levels by methods well known to one skilled in the art, such as through heat transfer whereby useful energy is removed at the same rate that it is produced (exemplified in Figure 1 by the condenser) .

It will be understood as generally indicated in the attached drawing (Figure 1) , that the reactor chamber and various inlet and outlet lines will be fitted with process measurement or indication instrumentation, such as a helium detector, temperature and pressure recorders, hydrogen and deuterium analyzers, water vapor and deuterium oxide vapor analyzers, neutron detectors and gamma ray detectors. As shown in Figure 1, the reactor vessel will also be fitted with an overhead steam line (12) and condenser (14) and measuring vessel to determine how much deuterium oxide has been evaporated and returned to the system. There will also be a vacuum line (16) to lower internal pressure, when desired, and also to maintain the system clear of air and other contaminants. A supply of deuterium gas (18) is fed to reaction vessel (20) holding the heat transfer fluid (21) and the catalyst (22) . There is also stirrer (23) , temperature measurement device (24) , pressure gauge (26) , sampler (28) and other necessary instrumentation as will occur to those skilled in the art.

The palladium catalyst itself can be presented in rod (wire) or pellet or granular or plate (foil) form in a well known manner.

While palladium is preferred as the catalyst, it is believed that other elements will perform satisfactorily, although not as well as palladium. Such other elements as catalysts would most likely have a close packed structure and a primary valence of +2. With the foregoing in mind, alternative catalysts include titanium, nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum, rhodium, rhenium, vanadium and tantalum or palladiumized molecular sieves or palladiumized alumina. Other catalysts may be used to activate the adsorbents (molecular sieves) .

Acceptable variations in temperature and partial pressure of deuterium include ranges of temperature from 30°C to 100°C. Such temperature ranges will dictate the pressure in the reaction vessel which will be from 1mm to 300mm, or from 300°C to 550°C at a pressure in the reaction vessel of 0.2 atmospheres to 120 atmospheres. In either case, the preferred range of pressure is 0.1 to 0.3 times the maximum indicated pressure at the desired indicated temperature.

In loading the reactor vessel, it is believed desirable to use a standby neutral gas, such as helium or 8 hydrogen which can also be relied upon to limit adsorption pressure. The partial pressure of deuterium can be used as a control with or without the neutral gas, but the neutral gas partial pressure is important to the extent that it is absorbed or adsorbed. If heavily adsorbed (such as hydrogen) , the neutral gas can quench the reaction. Thus, it can be used as a safety measure to snuff a runaway reaction. Note, that exchange between H and D₂ will produce HD which can undergo fusion to produce He_ and some energy, much less than D_? fusion. The net effect will be to subdue the reaction. Finally, to the extent that deuterium is used during the reaction, it will have to be replaced.

While the invention has been disclosed in terms of using deuterium oxide as the heat transfer medium within the reactor, it should be kept in mind that other non-hydrogenated heat transfer media may be used. Such heat transfer media can be any deuterated hydrocarbon or silicone fluid so as not to allow D- to H» transfer. Examples of such media include liquid potassium or a liquid sodium-potassium mixture and deuterated Dowtherm. Indeed, even steel bars may be present to conduct away the generated heat.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

Claims

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A method for achieving the controlled release of energy in connection with causing deuterium molecules to combine to become helium atoms in the presence of a palladium catalyst, said method comprising the providing of a reactor chamber containing a heat transfer medium and a palladium catalyst, and introducing controlled amounts of deuterium molecules into said chamber and maintaining a controlled partial pressure of said deuterium about said palladium catalyst so that said gaseous deuterium comes in contact with said medium and said palladium catalyst such that the deuterium molecules are adsorbed by said palladium catalyst whereby the palladium catalyst executes a simultaneous shift of two electrons, leaving two stripped and juxtaposed deuterium nuclei trapped in a single palladium clathrate cage, the juxtaposed deuterium nuclei being in a single clathrate cage which has the effect of exerting tremendous compressive forces to achieve the collapse of the deuterium nuclei upon each other whereby said two deuterium nuclei collapse to form an alpha particle and release relativistic energy as a gamma ray or kinetically as heat, and conducting away the evolved heat to perform useful work.

2. A method for achieving the controlled release of energy in connection with causing deuterium molecules to combine to become helium atoms in the presence of an active catalyst, said method comprising the providing of a reactor chamber containing a heat transfer medium and the catalyst, and introducing controlled amounts of deuterium molecules into said chamber so as to come in contact with said medium and said catalyst and maintaining a controlled partial pressure of said deuterium about said catalyst so that said gaseous deuterium such that the :deuterium molecules are adsorbed by said the catalyst whereby the catalyst executes a simultaneous shift of two electrons and has the effect of exerting tremendous compressive forces to achieve the collapse of the deuterium nuclei upon each other whereby said deuterium nuclei collapse to form an alpha particle and release relativistic energy as a gamma ray or kinetically as heat, further and finally conducting away the evolved heat to perform useful work.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is palladium_*

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is nickel.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is iron.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is cobalt.

7. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is platinum.

8. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is rhodium.

9. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is rhenium.

10. The method of Claim 1 wherein said catalyst is titanium.

11. The method of Claim 1 wherein the adsorption step induces the step of exerting tremendous compressive forces.

12. The method of Claim 1 wherein the two deuterium nuclei are subject to compressive forces of hundreds or thousands of atmospheres.

13. The method of Claim 1, including a step following subjecting the two deuterium nuclei to said compressive forces, said step involving a period of resonation or vibration, followed by the final collapse of the two deuterium nuclei into an alpha particle and the release of relativistic energy.

14. The method of Claim 1 wherein said step is followed by catalysis, having the effect of adding two electrons to the alpha particle to create helium.

15. The method of Claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature near the range of 30°C to 100°C.

16. The invention of Claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of between 350°C and 600°C or more.

17. The method of Claim 1 wherein the pressure is adjusted upwardly or downwardly to change temperature upwardly or downwardly.

18. The method of Claim 1 wherein there is an internal deuterium partial pressure of 100 atmospheres or less.

19. The method of Claim 1 wherein the pressure in the reactor vessels held at some level minimally above the critical pressure of the heat transfer medium.

20. The method of Claim 1 wherein the heat transfer medium is deuterium oxide.

21. The method of Claim 1 wherein the catalyst is palladiumized alumina or palladiumized molecular sieves.

22. The method of Claim 1 wherein the total pressure within the reactor chamber is less than 1,000 atmospheres.