Energy Catalyzer

{{pseudosciencenav}}
The '''Energy Catalyzer''' ('''e-Cat''') is a purported [[cold fusion]] reactor that is claimed to work by adding [[hydrogen]] to nickel to make copper, a reaction so ridiculously unfeasible it doesn't even happen in supernova explosions.<ref name=siegel>[http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/05/21/the-e-cat-is-back-and-people-are-still-falling-for-it/ Starts With a Bang! The E-Cat is back, and people are still falling for it!] by Ethan Siegel (May 21, 2013) ScienceBlogs</ref>

It was created by two [[Italian]]s, Andrea Rossi and {{wpl|Sergio Focardi}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110120015329/http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Andrea_A._Rossi_Cold_Fusion_Generator Directory:Andrea A. Rossi Cold Fusion Generator] at [[PESWiki]]</ref> They claim that their 400W input creates 12,400W of output heat.<ref>[http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2745 More Cold Fusion], [[Steven Novella]], NeuroLogica Blog, 21 January 2011</ref> In other words, a 31:1 ratio. Subsequent experiments which took Internet criticism into account produced less and less output.

Their claims raise a number of red flags, starting with the fact that they chose to announce their discovery at a press conference without publishing anything in [[peer review]]ed journals. They tried to get published but were rejected by serious journals. Their initial [[patent]] application was rejected.<ref>[http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2009125444 International patent application PCT/IT2008/000532]</ref>

Rossi's 2011 demonstrations<ref>[http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-italian-scientists-cold-fusion-video.html Physorg]</ref> showed neither measurable gamma nor neutron [[radiation]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130514040439/http://www.psiram.com/doc/Levi%2C_Giuseppe_-_Report_on_heat_production_during_preliminary_tests_on_the_Rossi_Ni-H_reactor_%282010-2011%29.004810.pdf Report on heat production during preliminary tests on the Rossi "Ni-H" reactor] by Giuseppe Levi</ref> and there is no proof for the creation of non-natural isotope ratios in the alleged fusion products. Independent tests which might have proven a fusion process have so far failed. 

Rossi claimed a 1 MW plant would be in operation by October 2011. His October 28<sup>th</sup> test put out 470kW! … though the "starter" generator attached to the device (throughout the test) looked to observers &mdash; even supporters &mdash; rather like it could generate about 500kW.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/markgibbs/2011/10/30/believing-in-cold-fusion-and-the-e-cat/ Believing in Cold Fusion and the E-Cat] by Mark Gibbs (Oct 30, 2011 @ 03:18 PM) ''Forbes''.</ref>

In May 2013, a study was uploaded to [[arXiv]]<ref>http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.3913</ref> which seemed to show evidence that the E-Cat works. However, the study is riddled with terrible science and uncritical analysis of the claims made by Rossi.<ref name=siegel/> The most glaring of which is how the latest study has done nothing to explain away the evidence of fraud from the prior test. In 2011, the reaction products produced by the E-Cat were examined and it was found that the ratios were beyond the scope of possibility.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/12/05/the-nuclear-physics-of-why-we/ Starts With a Bang! The Physics of why the e-Cat’s Cold Fusion Claims Collapse] by Ethan Siegel (December 5, 2011) ScienceBlogs </ref>

A February 2015 attempt to replicate the e-Cat heated to 1000°C and went bang,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150207130937/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-02/06/cold-fusion-reactor Cold fusion E-Cat experiment ends explosively] by David Hambling (06 Feb 2015) ''Wired''.</ref> though likely due to the gaseous hydrogen and (pyrophoric) lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH<sub>4</sub>) present.

==Rossi's credentials==
Rossi holds a laurea (a final degree at an Italian University with an obligatory doctorate) in [[philosophy]] from the University of Milan.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031450/http://www.nyteknik.se/incoming/article3197200.ece/BINARY/Rossi_degree_University_Milan.pdf Confirmation of degree letter from Università degli Studi di Milano, 14 Feb 2011] Archived copy from March 4, 2014.</ref> Rossi claims a second laurea title in "Ingegneria Chimica" (chemical engineering) at Kensington University in California, a known [[diploma mill]] which was shut down by court order in 2003.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721043023/http://hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/udgi/lawsuits/kensington/kensington_u_dj.pdf Court order by the State of Hawaii against Kensington University Inc.]</ref>

Rossi has previously been convicted of illegal trafficking of waste materials and was arrested for [[gold]] smuggling and money laundering.<ref>[http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-10/andrea-rossis-black-box?nopaging=1 Can Andrea Rossi's Infinite-Energy Black Box Power The World&mdash;Or Just Scam It? Rossi&mdash;a lone Italian inventor with no real credentials and a history as a convicted scam artist&mdash;has convinced a small army of researchers that his box can harness a new type of nuclear reaction. What if they're right?] by Steve Featherstone (October 23, 2012) ''Popular Science''.</ref>

==External links==
*[http://psiram.com/en/index.php?title=Focardi-Rossi_Energy-Catalyzer Focardi-Rossi Energy-Catalyzer] a very extensive article at Psiram
*{{wpa|Energy_Catalyzer}}
*[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/289 Episode #289 of the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110421025020/http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=198040 Cold Fusion Claims], thread at the [[JREF]] Forum

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Free energy]]

Categories: Pseudoscience, Free energy