What ever happened to "Cold Fusion"?

beepbeep · 01-10-2008, 01:39 AM

Not tons. One was debunked as hoax. The other (done by Indian researcher) was also found not to work. Search for "sonoluminescence" on Google. There was documentary on this issue and independent tests found out that none of this stuff works. Unfortunately,"when all you got is a hammer, everything looks as a nail"-effect took hold of researchers who claimed they "invented cold fussion" and they kept on their tin hats and claimed it works despite being proven wrong. Of course, this is great opportunity for conspiracy goons who will claim that "oil companies" keep patents in their lockers. In reality, cold fussion doesn't work.

"Hot Fusion" works though. ITER is being build in France as we speak. It is "proof of concept" and should produce more energy than it's being fed. I believe this and hydrogen economy is silver bullet to get rid of fossile fuels.

SLO-BOB · 01-10-2008, 04:47 AM

I actually saw this the other day at the University of Wisconsin.

It's very cool and does work - for about 5 seconds. They are doing a lot of research on this subject with the goal, of course, to have sustainable power. If they are successful, that little unit pictured (about 25 feet in diameter) could generate enough to power the state of californis. Harvard has one too.

Link-

http://plasma.physics.wisc.edu/mst/html/mst.htm

legion · 01-10-2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beepbeep

I believe this and hydrogen economy is silver bullet to get rid of fossile fuels.

Where does hydrogen come from?

lendaddy · 01-10-2008, 04:57 AM

The researchers sold the cold fusion patents to Chevron/Texaco, who formed the company "Cobasys". Cobasys buried the patents to keep us dependent on oil.

john70t · 01-10-2008, 06:01 AM

Pick up a $60 NiMH replacement battery at Sears then

Transportation is ricepaper on the usage piechart.

Nothing has changed, even my sig.

IROC · IROC's Garage

I'm about to go to work at a facility that is working on fusion energy (not cold fusion). There are large technical hurdles to jump (unfortunately the same hurdles exist now as existed 30 or 40 years ago). Hopefully this will come to fruition.

legion · 01-10-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IROC

I'm about to go to work at a facility that is working on fusion energy (not cold fusion). There are large technical hurdles to jump (unfortunately the same hurdles exist now as existed 30 or 40 years ago). Hopefully this will come to fruition.

Isn't the big one keeping the facility from melting down? Containing a fusion reaction seems like a tall order to me.

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Isn't the big one keeping the facility from melting down? Containing a fusion reaction seems like a tall order to me.

That's it. If we can find a way to contain and support a sustained reaction, we'll be in good shape.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-10-2008, 07:07 AM

look up Luis Alvarez

M.D. Holloway · 01-10-2008, 07:24 AM

what do we need cold fusion for when we have the gererator?

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Fenton

look up Luis Alvarez

What was his contribution to fusion research?

rammstein · 01-10-2008, 07:32 AM

My fingers are crossed on this. If we got functioning fusion reactors, it opens up the universe. It would be mankinds greatest acheivement, so I don't expect it to come easily. But man, can you imagine all that energy?

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

It won't happen anytime soon. I suspect the oil companies and the politicians they own will quash any successful research long before it can be announced or ever implemented on a commercial scale.

Too many people make too much money off of U.S. dependence on oil.

Yes, I think we'll eventually "get it", but only after the powers-that-be have had time to get their fingers into it and ensure it won't bankrupt them.

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

It won't happen anytime soon. I suspect the oil companies and the politicians they own will quash any successful research long before it can be announced or ever implemented on a commercial scale.

Too many people make too much money off of U.S. dependence on oil.

Yes, I think we'll eventually "get it", but only after the powers-that-be have had time to get their fingers into it and ensure it won't bankrupt them.

Well, like I said, I'm about to go to work at one of these research facilities. I'll try and keep abreast of what's going on relative to fusion research (I'll be in a different area).

cmccuist · 01-10-2008, 07:58 AM

We already have fission. All those hippies and Jane Fonda who went bezerk over nuclear power (China syndrome, mushroom clouds etc.) were proven wrong.

(btw no radiation was released at 3 mile island and Chernobly was weapons reactor which didn't have a containment)

There's still the problem of high level nuclear waste, but that is easier to solve than containing a fusion reaction.

beepbeep · 01-10-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Where does hydrogen come from?

Electrolysis of water powered by fussion-created electrical energy, why?

beepbeep · 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

I actually saw this the other day at the University of Wisconsin.

It's very cool and does work - for about 5 seconds. They are doing a lot of research on this subject with the goal, of course, to have sustainable power. If they are successful, that little unit pictured (about 25 feet in diameter) could generate enough to power the state of californis. Harvard has one too.

Link-

http://plasma.physics.wisc.edu/mst/html/mst.htm

That looks like basic TOKAMAK. Hot fusion, for sure. There are other designs as well. Spherical design looks promising. Problem is wall degradation by neutron bombardment. Can be solved by using Helium isotope found in moon regolith.

Esentially small version of coming ITER.

http://www.iter.org/

here is old JET reactor:

beepbeep · 01-10-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

The researchers sold the cold fusion patents to Chevron/Texaco, who formed the company "Cobasys". Cobasys buried the patents to keep us dependent on oil.

And then black helicopters appeared...

sammyg2 · 01-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

It won't happen anytime soon. I suspect the oil companies and the politicians they own will quash any successful research long before it can be announced or ever implemented on a commercial scale.

Too many people make too much money off of U.S. dependence on oil.

Yes, I think we'll eventually "get it", but only after the powers-that-be have had time to get their fingers into it and ensure it won't bankrupt them.

And I suspect your tin foil hat is too tight

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

More like I'm a realist.

You honestly think the oil companies and powers-that-be would let this emerge and potentially destroy them?

I don't. I suspect there'd be a few researchers that would "disappear" or have mysterious boating accidents or plane crashes.