I wrote:
> An automobile catalytic converter has very little Pd in it. The metal is > exposed to a terrific flow of hot gas. Yet the Pd does not sublime or > vaporize. > Plus, most of the hot gas must come in contact with the Pd particles, because it is all catalyzed (cleaned up). I assume if there was a lot unprocessed nitric oxide left over they would add more Pd. A lot of the Pd does, gradually, erode. Or sublime, I guess you would call it. Because Pd is expensive, I assume that the Pd is spread as thinly as possible, with the least amount of metal you can use to achieve complete catalysis. I am going out on a limb here, but I also assume that one of the limiting factors is the heat. You could not expose a much smaller sample of Pd to this much heat without it melting, or vaporizing. Assuming this is about the best that modern technology is capable of, I figure this indicates approximately how much Pd you would need in a Pd-based cold fusion heat engine with the capacity of an automobile engine. I am assuming you have complete control over the reaction and you can make the Pd as hot as you like, up to the melting point, so the practical limit is the heat transfer capacity of the metal and substrate. As Jones Beene indicated. - Jed
