>From Akira >> From Steven V Johnson: >> >> The exterior copper pipe lining/jacket which encases >> the external reactor "torus" wall might assist in the >> transfer of reactor heat to the adjacent flowing water. >> If the reactor "torus" had been built entirely outside of >> the copper tubing holding the flowing water only >> the internal "torus" wall of the reactor would be able >> to transfer heat to the adjacent water. The external >> wall of the "torus" configuration would not be able to >> transfer ANY of its heat to the flowing water. > > I suspect the electric heater is not there to heat water, but to > heat hydrogen and increase its pressure inside the reactor > and therefore controlling the reaction together with water flow > (which cools the reactor). Once the Ni-H reaction starts, water > is heated by it.
This is an intriguing hypothesis. I certainly agree with you that the heater is NOT there to heat the water! > Increasing heater power and decreasing water flow probably > stimulate Ni-H reaction, and vice-versa. I find it difficult to believe there would be any flowing water between the heater element and the e-Kitten reactor. If water was between them, it would be EXTREMELY difficult to raise the reactor cell's temperature much above 100 C. The water would have to be under tremendous pressure, like a pressure cooker, in order to increase temperatures significantly. Why would any mechanical engineer want do design a thermal transfer configuration like that! It's totally counter productive. Therefore, and IMHO, the auxiliary heating elements is most likely in direct physical contact with Rossi's e-Kittins. Therefore, a torus shape does seem to be the likely solution. The apparent fact that there is copper pipe lining between the heater and torus shaped reactor will allow heat to transfer fairly efficiently. In fact, having the copper between the heater and the reactor might help transfer some of the reactor's internal heat to the adjacent water as heat begins transferring /propagating down the copper pipe and into the water. Now, whether the auxiliary heating element is there to heat the nickle powder or the hydrogen - THAT is indeed a burning question! ;-) Regards Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
