Filed under: Etc.
EcoWatts: another "free energy" company touts their scam *ahem* invention
Remember a while back when a company tried and failed to show off their "free energy" machine? For the purposes of this post, we'll simply refer to that event as the "Stoern debacle." That company claims that their machine is capable of giving off more energy than it takes to run it. In fact, 285 times more energy! Yeah, but it turns out that the last time that they tried to show off their wares, the machine failed to work.
Now, there is another company making claims of free energy. Simply put, nobody is really expecting this machine to work either. The company is called EcoWatts, and they claim that their machine gives off hot water containing twice the energy that it took to produce the hot water. Call us skeptical. Click here for more.
Related:
[Source: Daily Mail via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
detroit9000 11:58AM (9/17/2007)
Thank goodness you posted on this. Otherwise, I would have never heard about it and it might have gone away without me ever hearing about it.
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Tony Belding 11:58AM (9/17/2007)
If you look closely, this device seems to fall more in the "cold fusion" category, rather than perpetual motion as such. They are suggesting that some kind of not-yet-understood nuclear reaction is taking place to produce the energy.
Which means the odds of it working are slightly greater than the odds of the Stoern thing working: slightly greater than zero. But not much greater.
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Phil L. 12:50PM (9/17/2007)
I might be less inclined to immediately hurl this into the nearest trash bin if they'd be a little more forthcoming about what their "secret liquid catalyst" is. "Chrome based" doesn't help much.
Oh, and if processing the secret catalyst uses more energy than the magic heater produces, it isn't really too good to be true anymore...
Color me skeptical, but *anything* that claims to violate hundreds of years of well-understood science should expect to produce extraordinarily clear and complete proof. I'm waiting.
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Tim 1:02PM (9/17/2007)
Being an optimist, I won't condemn outright. Instead, I'll take the "prove it or shut up" attitude while hoping with all my heart that they can prove it.
Everything is possible until the opposite is proven.
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MarkR 2:26PM (9/17/2007)
Jeremy,
Nothing like a so called "green" minded person dismissing a potential green invention without really researching the subject and waiting for results to prove or disprove the invention. And you expect green tech to take hold with constant dismissal of new ideas and research?
Tim's post at 1:02 is how all of us should handle the inventions that may fall in category's that could set new standards and understanding.
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A.Brien 2:57PM (9/17/2007)
I think that they do electrolysis of water inside that thing then the hydrogen and oxygen released react with a catalyst to produce heat and the hydrogen and oxygen after the reaction return to a water molecule so it can be repeated.
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Tim 4:05PM (9/17/2007)
There may yet be hope for Hydrogen…
For those science geeks out there, Blacklightpower.com relies on a new chemical process of releasing the latent energy of the hydrogen atom in what’s referred to as the BlackLight Process. In this process, the electron in an ordinary hydrogen atom is induced to move closer to the proton, below the prior-known ground state. This process extracts 100X the energy from hydrogen than is released by just combusting it or using it in a fuel cell. Hydrogen gas electrolyzed from water serves as the fuel. Electrolysis is 25–45% efficient. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water
Here’s more http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Blacklight_Power
It all makes my head hurt…
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Chris M 6:01PM (9/17/2007)
Knowing that the fundamental laws are inherent in this universe adn are inviolate, I'd say there were only 3 possibilities here:
1. Simple measurement errors made them think it was producing more heat or using less electricity than it actually was.
2. A chemical reaction between the potash, the "mystery catalyst" and possibly other components inside are generating the extra heat, and that heat will cease once the reactants are used up. Corrosion of metal parts can create heat.
3. A straighforward scam for profit, with seductive claims and lots of bafflegab to cover up the duplicity.
So we have 2 honest errors and one dishonest scheme as possibilities. Only time will tell which is right.
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mattypape 6:16PM (9/17/2007)
just look at the paper this is in though and it instantly puts in to my mind that this is rubbish, i wont say if it is because i obviously dont know and maybe it is true.
but in my oppinion never take the word of a british tabloid, they just make news to sell papers, they dont care if it true or not.
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grimmex 6:45PM (9/17/2007)
I think that Autobloggreen.com should do us all a favour and declare "In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics", and subsequently any "new research" that claims to break said laws, should not be reported upon.
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Tim 7:42PM (9/17/2007)
Chris M – What’s Unified Field Theory? Maybe we don’t know EVERYTHING yet. Einstein was WRONG when he once thought the universe was static. We now know that it’s not just growing, but accelerating! Where is the energy coming from for acceleration? Exactly what is “Dark Matter”? What is in the space BETWEEN atoms?
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Chris M 8:47PM (9/17/2007)
Tim - Which "unified field theory" are you talking about? Standard model? String theory? Brane theory?
Doesn't really matter here, all of them support all of the standard laws of physics, including conservation of mass/energy, and entropy. None of them support the "more energy out than in" claimed here.
As for "whats between the atoms", it is assorted subatomic particles, electromagnetic fields, gravitational fields, strong and weak nuclear force fields, and all the energy transferring waves associated with those fields. Are you going to claim that energy is being beamed into these heaters?
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Tim 11:40PM (9/17/2007)
Chris - Not the “product” on this report, but the folks at Blacklight may be on to something. http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Blacklight_Power
They have a strong patent and a working model with over 50 independent validation reports. There is a 2 part audio at this site that sounds interesting. Lots of other info and they’ve received gobs of private funding. Take a look for yourself.
By the way, the “theories” you mentioned are just that, theories. These guys say they’ve cracked it in the lab, not just on paper theory. Maybe BS, maybe they are pulling in “black energy”. But if they are right…
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Will 9:27AM (9/18/2007)
Hey Tim,
"By the way, the “theories” you mentioned are just that, theories."
I wouldn't go around repeating that. Theories are called as such because some of the relationships that were deemed "laws" during the Renaissance have been disproven. Now, by default, all new models and equations are called theories.
Also, the product and the methods used to test it haven't shown up in any peer-reviewed journals. Who are the people that backed up their findings? What are their names? Backgrounds? Company?
The fact that it appears to violate thermodynamics, appears on websites along side "Britney does drugs" articles, and doesn't list the names of ANYONE involved in verifying the results makes it appear like a scam. A rush to market before someone with evidence can come forth.
In science you are assumed wrong until you prove, for a useful set of conditions, that your method/model/invention works. This is the way. It may sound harsh, but everyone in the field goes through it. Science is not faith-based.
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Tim 1:48PM (9/18/2007)
Will- at least people these days aren't charged with heresy and burned at the stake for questioning the status-quo. They are just labeled stupid, ignorant and ignored. This is doubly so when their ideas disturb competitive funding or can't easily have a meter attached. I guess you consider this is progress.
It’s O.K. I realize that it's much easier to ignore than it is to investigate, so the closed-minded, lazy and greedy will stubbornly stick to your “we know it all” convictions and continue making buggy whips long after the horse has been put out to pasture. As long as it makes you happy…
As for me, I have learned through experience that arrogance means death and that the more I learn, the more ignorant (not stupid) I realize I really am. I choose to believe in the possibilities and look up rather than stare at my heels. I hope you and the rest of the “scientific” community have good luck with that though!
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Adrian Akau 2:10PM (9/18/2007)
Chemical Reaction Resonance
The reaction appears to be from some type of electrolysis that produces a great deal of heat. If it seems to go against the laws of thermodynamics (more energy output than input), then there must be an energy conversion of an unknown type. If it is by high frequency voltage, then the atoms in the chemical compound could be separated by low energy input but then recombined by normal combustion activity to produce standard amounts of energy. If the electrons binding the atoms are being frequency resonated, then they might be interacting with unknown particles or energy in space during the time of the molecular separation. The process appears similar in that sense to the way other unknown energy resonant conversion devices are supposed to work. It is not a violation of the laws of thermodynamics if the process is one of conversion.
adrianakau@aol.com
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Tim 2:34PM (9/18/2007)
Adrian - Jim Lyons, of the University of York, independently evaluated the system. He said,
"This is a very efficient replacement for the traditional immersion heater. We have examined this interesting technology and when we got the rig operating, we were getting 150 to 200 per cent more energy out than we put in, without trying too hard."
Yes, I can hear some little closed-minded, stubborn brains sizzling from here, but I suggest that they try a cold compress.
Here’s more info.
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Ecowatts_Thermal_Energy_Cell
You're right in the fact that it does NOT validate the established laws. Apperantly, they've found a NEW source of energy. Kind of like when man found Oil, Coal, Nuclear etc. If they are wrong, NEXT. If they are right? SUPPORT THEM.
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Snark 2:56PM (9/18/2007)
"Apperantly, they've found a NEW source of energy. Kind of like when man found Oil, Coal, Nuclear etc. If they are wrong, NEXT. If they are right? SUPPORT THEM."
What you seem to be espousing, however, Tim, is that we support them until they're shown to be wrong, not support them after they support their claims. Until and unless ANY scientific claim is supported with the best available evidence, the essential philosophy of rational thinking prevents a rational thinker from taking that claim seriously. Until and unless they publish a peer-reviewed paper presenting airtight evidence, their claim is empty and I cannot assume that it has merit.
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Jeremy Korzeniewski 3:51PM (9/18/2007)
All - after reading all of the comments so far, I'm still skeptical. Of course I am willing to accept the "product" if and when it's output becomes a proven fact. This, however, is not the case at this point.
Tim - I really do agree with you that all should keep an open mind. Continue to be skeptical, but be ready to accept if and when something is proven. We're not there with this yet, though.
Jeremy
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Tim 6:05PM (9/18/2007)
Jeremy- Keeping an open mind is all one could ever ask for. Please direct your future headlines with THAT goal in mind. Thank you.
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