george h. miley - american nuclear...

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George H. Miley Kyu-Jung Kim, Tapan Patel, Bert Stunkard, Erik Ziehm

Champaign IL, 61821 USA

[email protected]

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.


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


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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


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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


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Two types of experiments

Kinetic and

Adiabatic


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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.


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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”


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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


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Very short run time experiments with small particle weight loading provide

adiabatic conditions for comparison of nano-particle performance


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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


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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


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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


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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


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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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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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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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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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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


LENR-Gen Module

50 cc,

350 g nano-particle

0.35~1.75 kW power

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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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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

george h. miley - american nuclear...

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