@Jones
We tested the Aramco coating in our experiments at HUG in February 2015.
It was moderately effective but was found to degrade over time at 900°C.
See the image at
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxxJkjesxe4kUUJubGlNaEZ1VVU
You can also see in that image the effect of long-term heating on
alumina-based cement, probably due to non-reversible phase change in the
crystal structure. I agree that these kinds of problems make IR
temperature measurement difficult, and I use it in combination with
thermocouples as a check measurement.
Regarding the possibility of UV secondary emission, alumina appears to
be opaque at such wavelengths. See the graph from reference 4 in Bob
Higgins paper: http://tinyurl.com/ltq8kvf
So to fit your hypothesis, any UV emission from quantum dots in a
GlowStick reactor would have to occur at the outer (cooler) surface to
add to the radiated energy. Otherwise the UV would simply be thermalized
in the bulk material.
AlanG / MFMP
On 7/27/2015 3:34 PM, Jones Beene wrote:
Is the new MFMP test flawed from the start?
I wasn’t aware of“photon multiplication”as apotential
hindrancetoIRtesting(in the context ofthermometry)until recently,
butit is a hot topic inOptics journals these days. Was it even
mentioned wrt Lugano? Doubtit.For instance - with quantum dotsas
thereceptor, 7newvisiblephotons can be emitted from
everyUVphotonentering the dot.This would change the blackbody curve of
thethermalemittershould it also be a UV emitter.Does the glow stick
contain quantum dotsand doesthe gain involveUV?The would greatly alter
assumptions.
Much was made of thealumina emissivityproblem,but that is a different
subject than photon multiplication(whichrelates to anotherunderlying
assumption–that the thermal emitter is not anintrinsic lightsource).
Thus, emissivityisdifferentfrommultiplication-and both can cause
errors.Bob Higgins revised thesuspected
Luganotemperaturedownto1100C,from the original1410C-based
onanemissivitycorrection, but if photon multiplicationwashappeningat
the same time,andtheE-Catisan intrinsicUVemitter -there could beeven
lessenergygainthan the thermal calculation indicates.
The sad thing is that in both cases, the simple expedient of
aspecialtyblack coatingcouldsolve the problem.Surely MFMP are now
aware of the necessity ofsucha coating.Here is one of
manycompanieswhich provides them.
_http://www.aremco.com/high-emissivity-coatings/_
According to E-Cat World, a newglow-sticktest is underway.The plan is
to use a non-contactthermometry again, including anIR thermometer
rather than the thermocouple that was used with the Padua test.Boththe
IR thermometer and theOptris Pi 160will give incorrect
readingsifIRphotons aremultipliedin the range in which they
operate…unlesscoated.
Personally, I do not believe thatK-type thermocouples will be
accurateeither,so the black coating is a must.Type K may be used up to
1260C in non-oxidizing or inert atmospheres.According toexperts,
inmarginally oxidizing atmosphere,such as coated withaceramiccementand
operating in air,the situation is different. As low as800Cthe chromel
wireof the pairwill start tocorrode in a phenomenon known as "green rot".
Anyway, if it’s not too late – please paint the reactor with high
emissivity paint and use aplatinum thermocouple. Otherwise – expect to
hear the same complaints from skeptics as before.
