thermogenerator experiment

Recently I came across an interesting experiment. To replicate it requires doing some things I have never done. I must safely handle finely ground metal powders, gas purge a very small reactor vessel, and work with lithal.

Like many experimenters here I seek to control cost.

In my naivete I posted to the beginners thread till a wise member suggested I outline my end goal here in Technochemistry - where it belongs.

My guide for safety is Prudent Practices in the Laboratory.

I invested in Canadian Nickels and plan to homebrew ball mill to an appropriate fineness.

Thus far, my efforts to locate a source for affordable and available LAH have yet to bear fruit. I need very little lithal.

Any ideas? I first imagined I could remove lithium foil from disposable batteries - not lithium ion - and make LAH. More study indicated other reagents would better serve.

I seek guidance on procuring or synthesizing LiAlH4.

A glove box, fume hood, and fire/blast safety is in process. The sticking point right now is the lithal.

Thanks to all posters who have already enriched this forum and to those who will in the future benefit from this thread.

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[Edited on 12-30-2014 by nickec]

[Edited on 12-30-2014 by nickec]

A translation from the original Russian paper, of the experiment I am imitating - not replicating as yet - is found here.





[Edited on 12-30-2014 by nickec]

nickec, I have read through your source literature. It claims a higher thermal output than electrical energy input and I might be inclined to believe that. I look forward to your results of reproducing this experiment.

However, there is no nuclear fusion occurring as some imply, but there is chemical fusion: hydrogen is fusing with oxygen

In the reactor, you are decomposing LiAlH4 in a closed metal reactor at very high temperature (1000°C). This makes lots of hydrogen, resulting in very high pressure (they mention 100 atm).

Quite simply, at high temperature and very high pressure, hydrogen readily diffuses through many metals. While the hydrogen is travelling through metal, it is mono-atomic AFAIK and so quite reactive when it emerges on the other side where it will react almost instantly on the outer surface of the reactor with air to form H2O. This releases a lot of heat! The heat is well trapped partially because the reactor is coated in a porous insulator by design... alumina!!!

Anyhow, I believe you could show this by running the Rossi reactor encased in a flow of inert gas it would then show no net heat generation because the hydrogen cannot burn and will simply be carried away in the inert gas stream.

The Rossi reactor while looking cool is just a complex and expensive equivalent of wrapping nichrome wire around a piece of wood and lighting it up... sure you'll get net heat production.

BE CAREFUL, hydrogen embrittlement of the metal can weaken the reactor and this might cause it to explode under the internal pressure. Presumably this doesn't happen, but it might. I'd encase the Rossie reactor behind a brick box on the bench if it were me just in case it decides to pop... at least it can absorb some of the metal shrapnel.

Anyhow, please don't take this the wrong way, I don't mean to attack you, but I do mean to debunk the way this thing works.

[Edited on 18-1-2015 by deltaH]

Quote: Originally posted by deltaH

... While the hydrogen is travelling through metal, it is mono-atomic AFAIK and so quite reactive when it emerges on the other side where it will react almost instantly on the outer surface of the reactor with air to form H2O. This releases a lot of heat! ... Anyhow, I believe you could show this by running the Rossi reactor encased in a flow of inert gas it would then show no net heat generation because the hydrogen cannot burn and will simply be carried away in the inert gas stream. ... I'd encase the Rossie reactor behind a brick box on the bench ... [Edited on 18-1-2015 by deltaH]