KFA experiments on metal hydrogen systems analyzing the claim of "cold nuclear fusion" events
KFA experiments on metal hydrogen systems analyzing the claim of "cold nuclear fusion" events
The electrolysis of heavy water (D$_{2}$O) was carried out in 0.1 M of LiOD as the electrolyte, both in a divided and also undivided electrolytic cell. The design used ensured isothermal operation. The following quantities were observed as the electrolysis parameters: energy balance of the electroly...
Saved in:
Personal Name(s): | Wenzl, Helmut (Editor) |
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Treusch, J. (Editor) | |
Contributing Institute: |
Publikationen vor 2000; PRE-2000; Retrocat |
Imprint: |
Jülich
Kernforschungsanlage Jülich, Verlag
1989
|
Physical Description: |
IV, 116 p. |
Document Type: |
Report Book |
Research Program: |
Addenda |
Series Title: |
Berichte der Kernforschungsanlage Jülich
2294 |
Link: |
OpenAccess OpenAccess |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
The electrolysis of heavy water (D$_{2}$O) was carried out in 0.1 M of LiOD as the electrolyte, both in a divided and also undivided electrolytic cell. The design used ensured isothermal operation. The following quantities were observed as the electrolysis parameters: energy balance of the electrolysis in the form of resulting excess heat, coulomb gas yield, cathodic formation of the deuteride PdD$_{n}$, individual gas production rates and also, in the case of the divided cell, the gas purities. These quantities were observed integrally in order to eliminate any possible time irregularities. For the purpose of achieving the most precise possible determination of energy balances, a derivation of the thermoneutral voltage E$_{tn}$ of the D$_{2}$O electrolysis was implemented as the reference value and its temperature dependence determined. It was demonstrated that the value of E$_{tn}$ depends on the actual formation of the deuteride PdDn and the coulomb gas yield of oxygen, $\chi_{O_2}$, and deuterium, $\chi_{D_2}$, and that this must be taken into consideration at the start of the electrolysis. Within the experimental accuracy of 0.5 % no excess heat was determined during the electrolysis, even if the Pd cathode had previously been degased and the, $\beta$-PdD$_{n}$ phasehad been formed while attaining the stationary state. In this respect, D$_{2}$O electrolysis behaves just like normal H$_{2}$O electrolysis. In the stationary state of electrolysis in the cell with diaphragm, practically 100 % current efficiencies of gaseous oxygen on the anode and gaseous deuterium on the cathode have been found. In the cell without diaphragm, during the initial non-stationary course of electrolysis, part of the primary discharged deuterium is absorbed in the palladium cathode with PdD$_{n}$ formation, another part is recombined with anodically formed oxygen back to D$_{2}$O(liq). The share of D$_{2}$ + O$_{2}$ mixture undergoing the recombination reaction D$_{2}$ + 0.5 O$_{2} \rightarrow$ D$_{2}$O diminished markedly with increasing deuterium content in the PdD$_{n}$ cathode. In the stationary state, when no further deuterium absorption takes place, the stationary extent of the recombination reaction dropped to nearly zero. After 270 hours of electrolysis, platinum deposit was determined on the surface of the Pd cathode, apparently originating from the partially corroded Pt anode. It was therefore examined whether this could function as the recombination catalyst in the case of the undivided cell. These tests provided positive results, i. e. there is a genuine possibility that with calorimetric measurements in an undivided electrolytic cell excesses of heat may be measured after a certain period of electrolysis resulting from the recombination reaction catalysed by Pt deposit on the PdD$_{n}$ cathode. |