NUCLEAR
FUSION AT AMBIENT
TEMPERATURE NOW A REALITY
Experiments
conducted by Particle Physics Research Company (PPRC), a
Though arduous
developments lie ahead, the ultimate goals for low temperature fusion energy
are to
· Reduce the dependence
on diminishing oil reserves, particularly during rising energy demands.
· Diminish the need
for internal combustion engines of all types, including auto, aircraft and
space.
· Reduce atmospheric
pollution and enhance the balance of global greenhouse effects.
PPRC feels these
can be accomplished by year-end 2007
In 1996, while conducting research in an entirely independent
area of theoretical physics, Frank Keeney became aware of what appeared a
heretofore overlooked electromagnetic field attribute of sub-atomic particles. Further study showed promise of potential energy
innovations. By 1997, having been advised the findings might relate to fusion energy,
he began experiments in a rudimentary laboratory in
|
|
|
|
Fig. 1a. Jones and Keeney at tunnel lab located in |
Fig. 1b. Keeney and Jones with
first experiment in tunnel lab. |
The tunnel lab had a heavy rock overburden to shield background
radiations. (Keeney is shown pointing to his first cell in the picture at the right.) The first two experiments, using the same
cell, comprised three deuterated copper wires in parallel and the application
of a dc current. Since new theory was
being tested at this point, yields were as expected, a few neutron counts/hour
above background. However, both
experiments were successful, uniquely achieving repeatability on the first
runs. Other professionals were brought in,
allowing innovative metal processing introduced by Consulting Engineer Charles
Johnson and computer technology innovations provided by Consulting Engineer
David Buehler. Continued results were
sufficiently compelling that PPRC solicited investors and raised nearly a
million dollars to sustain the research and develop further innovative processes.
After seven years
of intensive experiments, PPRC became the first to conclusively demonstrate
fusion energy is producible, repeatable, and sustainable over many hours at low
(ambient) temperatures and low input energies. Patent applications were applied
for in the
The company made its
first public disclosure of its fusion yields during three presentations at an
American Physical Society's Conference held in
NeutronYields. During neutron emission experiments, advantage
was taken of a highly sensitive detector designed by Dr. Howard Menlove at the
Los Alamos National Laboratory, later granted to BYU. The detector and electronics are shown in Figures
2a and 2b.
These experiments involved the hydrogen isotope deuterium, the
gas embedded in titanium foils. Neutron yields were evidenced over many hours. Background
readings were subtracted from recorded data to ensure accurate yields and
correct analysis of statistical significances. These first energetic particle experiments successfully detected
neutrons using pre-processed and partially-deuterided metals (both copper and
titanium) subjected to the innovative non-equilibrium conditions. Control experiments were performed to
ensure no emissions were evidenced under the same conditions when using
non-deuterided foils. The specific physics of the fusion reactions are
(d
deuteron, n neutron, 1 MeV = one million electron volts.)
To
obtain the detailed paper Neutron
Emissions from Deuterated Metals, see end of document.
Charged Particle Yields. The second experiments
are considered important because they produced the highest yields. They also involved condensed matter in the
form of small titanium foils under the same conditions, but using a photo-multiplier
tube (PMT) detector and associated electronics to record charged-particle
(proton) emissions in the 3 MeV range. The physical setup is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Foil
Array and Charged Particle Spectrometer System
This charged-particle spectrometer incorporated a
0.0078 gm/cm2 (76-:m) thick
plastic scintillator adhered onto a thicker glass scintillator (0.375 gm/cm2)
which was glued onto the face of a 12.7-cm diameter PMT. The detector was housed in a light-tight box
equipped with electrical feed-throughs.
PMT pulses were digitized at 100 MHz over a 160 :s window.
Pulse-shape analysis allowed us to distinguish narrow plastic pulses
from glass pulses which are broader in time.
When a particle passed through the plastic into the glass, the resulting
combined pulse was broad and therefore interpreted as a glass pulse. The integrated area under the pulse reflects
the light output of the scintillator(s) which corresponds to the energy of the
incident charged particle. T he plastic scintillator has a non-linear response
in that the light output depends on particle energy and identity.
The
composite spectrometer is also an effective cosmic-ray veto counter. Nearly all cosmic rays entering the plastic
scintillator must also pass through the glass scintillator, producing a characteristic
broad (glass-like) pulse seen by the PMT.
Cosmic ray pulses were therefore identified and efficiently
eliminated. This dual-scintillator
counter is a novel detector having the advantage of achieving large-area
charged-particle detection conveniently.
Background readings were subtracted from recorded data as described for
the neutron experiments. Highest proton yield was 2170 counts/hour, but could
be much higher by connecting more PMTs in series. Control experiments were also performed as
noted above. The titanium foils were of small area, about 1x5 inches each and
.025 mm thick, assembled in five-foil arrays.
It was found
that the emissions were nearly 80% reproducible, sufficient to be verified by
other physicists or laboratories having available to them a similar PMT detector
and using PPRC's technology delineated in the referenced paper. The company is continually focusing on
updating these processes to increase fusion output yields, repeatability, and maintaining input energy at
low levels for enhancing efficiency.
Dual-Coincidence
Emissions. The third experiments we consider perhaps the more significant
for it was not their purpose to produce higher yields, but to identify the
emitted particles and their energies during fusion. These experiments were recommended by
physicists visiting our laboratory who suggested we verify emissions were
exhibiting specific particles (protons and tritons), and simultaneously
emitting such that their actual energies could be recorded. It was felt this would be more acceptable to
the scientific community than emissions of light using the PMT. The physical setup
is shown in Figure 4.
ative
processes to increase fusion output yields while maintaining input energy at
low levels.
Figure 4.
Coincident Proton/Triton Fusion Evidenced Using Two Ion-implanted
Surface Barrier Detectors. Not shown, foil placed on O-ring of lower
detector.
In this reaction the low-temperature fusion process may include nucleon transfer reactions as
(p proton, t triton) where a neutron is
transferred from one deuteron to the other, but without necessarily forming an
intermediate excited helium-4 nucleus. The fusion processes in this invention
begin and end at low temperatures. By this is meant that the reactants
initially have kinetic energies less than 500 eV. These can be illustrated schematically as
Two deuteron particles, each having one proton and one neutron, fuse to produce
a charged proton and a charged triton (the latter having one proton and two
neutrons).
These experiments involved silicon ion-implanted
detectors (I-ID). In this arrangement, actual particle energies were recorded,
e.g., protons near 3-MeV where one electron volt is energy equivalent to only
1.6 x 10^-19 Joule. Also recorded were tritons near 1-MeV energy levels, the
levels according to their depths in the foil. The experiments were successful
on the first attempt and are highly repeatable, close to 80%.
Since
the above are so easily repeated (reproduced), we continue to analyze the reaction
and the data to enhance understanding of this new technology. At this date the results are also being
published in World Scientific and
have also been submitted to a physics journal. This fusion trigger is now sufficiently reproducible
and of statistical significance to be considered successful. The d + d reaction noted above is not the only
effective fusion reaction, for example there are
and numerous other interactions which are well documented, their
reaction equations and descriptions too numerous to include here.
To
obtain the detailed paper Charged
Particle Emissions from Deuterated Metals, see end of document.
In August of 2000, prominent physicists, Dr. Graham Hubler from
the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Dr. Peter Hagelstein from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, were invited to review the experiments
and results in our two underground laboratories. These physicists were chosen
because of their considerable expertise in theoretical and experimental fusion
research. They expressed confidence that
fusion at ambient temperature had indeed been achieved. Because the
charged-particle emissions using photo-multiplier tubes did not directly identify
or record specific particle energies, it was they who recommended the
experiment illustrated in Fig. 4.
In order to ensure validation, the company has published the
procedures for the purpose of allowing the scientific community to read
firsthand – and to read first, prior to media announcements. It is anticipated
that the procedures will be subjected to strict review by referees, peers
knowledgeable in the field, giving the papers rigorous but fair appraisal. This
will provide a welcomed opportunity for national laboratories, private
laboratories, universities and corporations interested in alternate energy to validate
the results and contribute to enhancing energy yields. The review of this work, at the International
Conference on Cold Fusion (ICCF-10), held in October 2003, was published in the
conference proceedings, followed by a peer-review conducted by the Department
of Energy in August 2004. Both reviews
greatly enhanced the credibility of the work.
A published review by the Department of Energy is also anticipated.
Many scientists justifiably hold the view that only when atomic
particle outputs are confidently replicable can the devices producing fusion energy
outputs be successfully engineered for commercial uses. It is therefore among
the chief objectives of these inventions to reveal and exploit the nature of
the atomic, nuclear, and metallurgical phenomena developed as described above. Consistent replicable and efficient results
at varied power input levels are required to ensure returns-on-investments. Chief
among these is to produce a non-fossil fueled prototype engine by year-end
2007.
As noted, deuterium is
plentiful in seawater, fresh water, ice, even snow. The deuterium form of hydrogen
is available in a ratio one out of every 7000 hydrogen atoms, and is easy to
separate from saltwater. Thus it is a renewable alternate energy source. Of great
significance, fusion of atomic particles and/or light nuclei produce more energy
for a given amount of material than virtually any other known energy source.
It has been reported that one cubic mile
of seawater, utilized efficiently, could produce as much energy from deuterium
as all the world's oil reserves combined.
Development is underway to produce useful engines of all types.
It has been estimated that because of its potential efficiency, the content in one liter of deuterium could
provide 500 liters of petrol. In addition,
(over a longer time period), multi-watt power supplies and plants of mega-megawatt
outputs of great efficiency could be constructed so that non-radioactive commercial
power can be generated more cheaply and in more localized areas, diminishing the requirements for vast power
grids. For example, it is estimated that a power plant producing1500 megawatts
would use only about 400 grams of deuterium and about 600 grams of tritium per
day. Once achieved, this would obviate
the great concern for diminishing oil reserves worldwide, of particular
significance to countries having little or no oil resources of their own, the
major importers being the U.S., China and Japan in that order. There is also
the issue of promoting clean atmospheric conditions and the serious need of improving
the balance of earth’s greenhouse effects. In addition to the aforementioned
applications, certain fusion energy devices will permit an extraordinary list
of other practical applications. It is difficult to ascertain the incredible
commercial, aerospace, military, social, economic and political effects that
production of fusion energy will have from such readily available and inexpensive
deuterium resources.
Urgency for Fusion as
an Alternate Energy Source
It is well established that most of mankind’s energy
resources, oil, coal, natural gas, hydro-electric, even nuclear resources,
exist in limited supply. Further, most produce a relatively small quantity of
energy per unit of given source and raise serious environmental concerns.
Because earth’s population and energy demands continue to
climb dramatically, and oil reserves are rapidly diminishing,
researchers have been vigorously seeking more plentiful, efficient, and environmentally
friendly energy sources. Solar power,
wind tunnels and other innovations will provide interim power in segmented
areas but lack sufficient energy outputs for national and worldwide use.
This has led researchers to consider thermonuclear fusion,
the process occurring in the sun, termed "hot fusion", using
plasma-type approaches striving to reach extraordinary temperatures within highly
confined volumes. However, it has
understandably proven discouraging for many highly-competent scientists that producing,
controlling, and sustaining fusion reactions in this manner have proven highly
elusive. Although billions of dollars have been invested over many decades of
research, to date these efforts have not been sufficiently successful in
output/input efficiency to render confidence. Though some intermediate successes
have been achieved, some at the international level, the extreme conditions
present enormous technological challenges and large energy inputs, demanding in
turn extraordinary financial investments. Lack of success and financing have
forced many skilled scientists and engineers to reduce or abandon hot fusion
research. However, it is anticipated that the experimental results evidenced
from fusing of deuterium nuclei at low temperatures as described herein will
renew optimism and help to direct attention to the physical phenomena involved.
So great is the need for an efficient
and inexpensive alternative energy source to replace the world's rapidly diminishing
oil reserves that every major laboratory in the U.S., including our government,
military, and those in foreign countries, are spending vast sums to develop
nuclear fusion energy to replace fossil fuels. PPRC
plans, and has designs in place, to take advantage of its present fusion
technology to develop a hydrogen-isotope engine prototype for production by
manufacturers near year-end 2007. The
company therefore considers a most serious and paramount responsibility is to
publish and exploit with other laboratories and corporations the innovative
processes developed by its inventors.
Because vast supplies of deuterium are
available from seawater, and since expensive shipping among nations will be
greatly lessened, it is anticipated with confidence these two factors alone
will help reduce the great concerns for diminishing oil reserves. There is little doubt on the need to replace
fossil-fueled internal combustion engines. The vast potential
return-on-investment becomes readily apparent considering the annual market
value of fusion-generated engines alone will be many billions of dollars. For
example, the present
Joint development and Licensing
The
company feels that joint development should be on a basis allowing free
ingenuity and collaboration in research and development among participating
laboratories and other companies seeking renewable alternate energy resources. PPRC is willing to negotiate its new
technology and cooperate in developing all types of commercial and industrial
applications, both in the
We have many respected physicists
acting in experimental, consulting and advisory capacities, most of which are
mentioned above. Dr. Ed Cecil of the
Colorado School of Mines, a pioneer in fusion research, has also given helpful
advice. Dr. Thomas Taylor and Dr. Malcolm
Fowler, both associated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, have witnessed
a successful I-ID experiment at our laboratory and will soon be initiating
validation of our results. All those mentioned have many years experience in energy
research, and have contributed greatly to our progress. In addition, they have added considerable credibility
to our work and increased the likelihood of our results being accepted and
validated by other professionals among the scientific community. To them we express great appreciation.
For Copies of Technical
Papers
The
latest updated versions of the two technical papers can be obtained by contacting
Frank Keeney at fwk@pprc.net. The titles
of these two papers are
Neutron Emissions from Deuterated Metals
Charged Particle Emissions from
Deuterated Metals
For inquiries contact us as follows:
Franklin W. Keeney, CEO
Particle Physics Research Co., LLC
Email preferred:
fwk @ pprc.net
Tel: (310) 472-1004
Fax: (310) 472-4183