While I agree with Cude about the need for ideas to be challenged and
claims to be questioned, his style is not helpful in clarifying the
issues about CF. Consequently, I for one will not continue the
discussion. I suggest other people consider what happened last time
Vortex was subjected to his style of discussion and take the required
precaution.
Ed
On May 4, 2013, at 4:51 PM, Jed Rothwell wrote:
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
