I proposed a simple test procedure for the MFMP team at the EU site to conduct.
First, they need to let the cell cool down to around room temperature. Then, the 48 watt step drive function should be applied to the inactive wire for 1 hour. After that period has elapsed, the drive needs to be rapidly switched to the active wire for the next 1 hour period. Next, the drive should be reapplied to the inactive wire as quickly as possible and allowed to continue for the next 1 hour period. My reasoning is as follows: First, any ambient wave effects should be visible during the entire period if they are a result of HVAC or air currents. It is unlikely that the center time frame will be treated differently to external forces. Second, I have an excellent curve fitting routine that follows the time domain responses for the power input steps and it is suggesting strongly that there appears to be excess power during the time that the outer glass temperature exceeds 100 C when drive is applied to the active wire. Below that temperature, the fit is consistent. It seems logical that the drive power, if it reaches the outer glass surface, will behave the same to a large extent regardless of which wire is driven. When the drive is applied to the inactive wire, the actual temperature of the active wire will be much lower than when the drive is switched. This state should correspond to the region where my curve fit routine matches the measurements well since little excess power appears to be generated at the lower active wire temperature. With the data, I should be able to generate a rock solid curve fit for the first hour that will allow comparisons against the second hour during the active wire drive. The third hour should then fall onto the curve fit as continued from the first hour. If the outer glass temperature indeed shows the 2.5 C rise that I suspect, then I will be fairly confident that excess power is generated. The only hole in the hypothesis is if the true outer glass temperature depends upon which wire is driven due to some strange geometry. Earlier testing tended to suggest that there was little if any excess heat being generated. There appeared to be periods of time during which energy was absorbed followed by release of roughly the same amount of excess energy. This needs to be followed up upon since something strange is suggested to be occurring. I think it is important to understand the breathing response and see if it is correlated with some process. It will be most interesting if the breathing only happens when the active wire is driven! The MFMP team has done a great job with their testing and we should support them at every opportunity. Dave
