I do not want to beat this recombination issue to death, but let me mention one other thing.
With an open cell, you ensure there is no significant recombination with a variety of methods, such as measuring the gas flow with an inverted test tube underwater, or with a gas flowmeter. The other method that every electrochemist uses is to keep track of the makeup water you add daily. If there is recombination, the electrolyte level does not fall as much as theory predicts. With most cells, at most power levels, there will be several milliliters extra. In other words, what Jones and Cude are saying is that hundreds professional scientists are incapable of measuring water in milliliters. You see why I say this is preposterous. This has been described in the literature many times. For example, McKubre wrote: "A continuous error such as unwitnessed and unexpected recombination of D2 and O2 inside intentionally open calorimeter cells has an energy capacity of the same magnitude as some heat effects observed in them, but this argument fails on two grounds: i. the FPE is measured reliably and robustly in closed cells where this effect can play no role, and is similar in form and magnitude to the effect measured in open cells, ii. accurate account is easily (and routinely) taken for the amount of water added for electrolyte makeup due to Faradaic loss; prolonged periods of energy excess due to unmeasured recombination would result in FPE cells requiring less D2O (or overfilling)." *All* of the other arguments offered by Cude and the other skeptics after 1990 have been equally preposterous. Anyone can see this is wrong because we all learn to measure water in elementary school. After you sweep away the confusion you will see that Cude's other objections are equally absurd. Cude has not said one thing -- ever -- that was not thoroughly disproved in 1990. - Jed
