Robin van Spaandonk wrote:
BTW I find the whole idea of using the volume of the cathode to compare energy
densities "proving" some form of fusion to be silly. Clearly the volume of
electrolyte is of far more consequence, given that it is this which
contains the
putative fuel anyway.
I disagree. Assuming it is fusion, the potential energy of the
electrolyte is so huge it is almost irrelevant. Only a tiny fraction
of the deuterium is consumed, which is why it is so hard to measure
the helium.
The comparison to the volume of the cathode -- or if you like, the
volume of the entire cell -- is only done to rule out chemistry.
Heck, you can throw in the volume of the table and all the books in
the room in a few cases. Cells that produce 50 to 300 MJ far exceed
all of these limits. Strictly speaking however, this it cannot "rule
in" a nuclear effect. It is a figure of merit. It is the absolute
minimum limit of the energy release because there is no way a
significant fraction of the fuel could be used in the time allotted
to an experiment.
As far as I know the energy release has never gone so high that it
exceeds the limits of the Mill's hydrino theory (superchemistry). So,
if you believe that the Mills effect is real, so far the only way you
can "rule in" a nuclear effect is to confirm the helium, and not
mistake it for shrunken hydrinos.
- Jed
