First Evaluation of Coated Constantan Wires Incorporating Capuchin Knots to Increase Anomalous Heat and Reduce Input Power at High Temperatures

Abstract

Anomalous Heat Effects (AHE) have been observed in wires of Cu55Ni44Mn1 (Constantan) exposed to H2 and D2 in multiple experiments during the last eight years. Improvements in the magnitude and reproducibility of AHE, and improvements in wire preparation and reactor design were reported by the authors in the present and previous papers. The oxidation of the wires by pulses of electrical current in air creates a rough surface featuring a sub-micrometric texture that proves particularly effective at inducing thermal anomalies when temperature exceeds 400◦C. This effect appears also to be increased substantially by deposing segments of the wire with a series of elements (such as Fe, Sr, Mn, K, via thermal decomposition of their nitrates applied from a water solution). Furthermore, an increase of AHE was observed after placing the treated wires inside a sheath made of borosilicate glass (B–Si–Ca; BSC), and even more after impregnating the sheath with the same elements used to coat the wires. The treated wire, comprised of knots and sheaths, was wound around a SS316 rod and inserted inside a thick wall glass reactor. The presence of thermal and chemical gradients is an important factor, especially when considering the noteworthy effect of knots on AHE. The ICCF21 Conference held in June 2018 marked a turning point, when the scientific community showed notable interest in the effects of knots and wire treatments, further increasing confidence in the approach. From that time on, attempts to further increase AHE focused on the introduction of different types of knots, leading to the choice of the “Capuchin” type. This knot design produces very hot spots along the wire and it features three areas characterized by a temperature difference up to several hundred degrees. Efforts were also made to better understand the thermionic effect of the wire, and the spontaneous voltage that arises when a second wire is introduced close by (anode). Eventually a large AHE rise was observed when an extra voltage was introduced between the active wire (cathode) and the second wire (anode) through an external power supply; a truly remarkable effect, despite its short duration due to the wire failure caused by an AHE runaway that melted the wire. This article summarizes the presentation given at the 13th International Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen Loaded Metals and reports the latest AHE results obtained from a new reactor design comprised of Capuchin knots and new custom manufactured, enhanced sheaths.