This invention relates to the conversion of energy by nuclear reaction.

The conversion of mass to energy by the fusion of light elements has long been known as a potential method of generating thermal energy. Several researchers (M.Fleischman & S. Pons- and S.E. Jones et al) have recently demonstrated that nuclear fusion can be achieved at relatively low temperatures and that thermal energy can be generated this way by creating conditions of high activity of monatomic deuterium species in certain metals capable of taking up the monatomic deuterium species .

The term "monatomic deuterium species" is herein understood to mean "deuterium atoms and deuterium cations (deuterons)."

The researchers achieved these conditions of high activity of monatomic deuterium species by applying an electrical current between an electrode formed from palladium- a material capable of taking up deuterium atoms and deuterons, and a suitable counter electrode in a heavy water solution of deuterated lithium hydroxide at atmospherically ambient conditions. The electrical current split the heavy water into oxygen anions and deuterons, and the deuterons flooded into the palladium and were forced together so closely that they fused. In this way the researchers were able to achieve what has become known as "cold nuclear fusion", that is fusion at o relatively low temperatures of less than say 1000 C. The researchers considered the activity of the monatomic deuterium species obtained in the apparatus to be equivalent to that which would be obtained if deuterium gas could be compressed to a pressure of 10 26atm.

We consider that an improved method of obtaining such high activities of monatomic deuterium species is by means of an electrical field applied to a gaseous atmosphere of deuterium. This method has advantages over the aqueous electrolysis method described in the preceding paragraph in that it can readily be operated at temperatures above 100°C which are suitable for generating steam at elevated temperatures.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating thermal energy comprising, contacting a material capable of taking up monatomic deuterium species with a gaseous atmosphere comprising deuterium, and subjecting said atmosphere to

an electrical field to generate a sufficiently high activity of monatomic deuterium species to achieve nuclear fusion reactions thereof, said fusion reactions producing said thermal energy.

The electrical field may be of any suitable form and produced by any suitable means.

Preferably the electrical field is at radio or microwave frequencies.

Preferably the means to generate the electrical field comprises a glow discharge apparatus, a radio frequency generator or a microwave energy generator. Suitable means and operating parameters are described in detail in Chapters 3 and 4 of a book entitled "Plasma Chemistry in Electrical Discharges" by F. K. McTaggart, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1967.

The atmosphere may be a mixture of deuterium and one or more other gases such as hydrogen. Preferably the atmosphere is held at less than atmospheric pressure, more preferably less than 10 atm, and most

-2 preferably less than 2 x 10 atm.

Materials which are capable of taking up monatomic deuterium species within the context of the present invention include palladium, titanium and zirconium in their normal metallic states.

Preferably the thermal energy is extracted by circulation of a coolant to maintain a substantially constant temperature around the region of fusion. Preferably the coolant emerging from the region of fusion is superheated steam and is in the temperature

range appropriate for electrical power generation by conventional means.

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In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for generating thermal energy compr sing:

(a) a sealed container for a gaseous atmosphere comprising deuterium;

(b) a material capable of taking up monatomic deuterium species located in the container; and

(c) a means to apply an electrical field to the atmosphere to generate a sufficiently high activity of monatomic deuterium species to achieve nuclear fusion reactions in the material, said nuclear fusion reactions producing thermal energy.

Preferably the electrical field comprises radio frequency or microwave radiation sufficient to induce an electrical discharge or plasma in the atmosphere.

Without wishing to be constrained by it, an explanation is now offered of the reasons the present invention works in the manner described.

.The pressure of deuterium atoms in equilibrium with deuterium gas is given by:

p(D) - K P<D

/ or p(D ₂ > = (p(D)/K)

where p(D) = thermodynamic pressure of deuterium atoms in atmospheres

p(D ₂ > = pressure of deuterium molecules in atmospheres

K = a constant which is a function of temperature

-17.5 0.5 K values are typically equal to about 10 atm at

300°C (see A.Burcat, Ideal Gas Thermodynamic Functions of Hydrides and Deuterides, Part 1, TAE Report 411,

Technion-Israel Inst. Technol., Haifa, 1980).

By subjecting a deuterium gas atmosphere at a pressure of say 10 atm to an electric field of radio frequency or microwave discharge, more than 50% of the deuterium molecules can readily be dissociated into deuterium atoms thus giving an effective pressure of about 10 atm of deuterium atoms. Substituting this value into the equation above it is clear that the activity of mondtomic deuterium species generated in

29 this way is equivalent to a D ₂ pressure of about 10 atm. At lower temperatures this pressure would be increased markedly.

Introducing into this atmosphere a material able to take up deuterium atoms will result in a high steady state activity of monatomic deuterium species in the material leading to cold nuclear fusion.

An embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying figure which is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

- 6 -

The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a sealed cylindrical container 10 constructed from a non-electrioally conductive material, such as ceramic or glass, which contains an atmosphere of deuterium with a trace of water vapour at a pressure of 1 x 10~3 atm.

The apparatus further comprises a coil 11 wrapped around the container 10. The coil 11 is connected to a power source selected such that the discharge produced by the coil is at radio frequencies sufficient to dissociate and/or ionise the deuterium in the atmosphere to produce deuterium atoms and/or deuterons.

The apparatus further comprises a tube 12 formed from palladium extending axially through the container 10. The inner wall 14 of the tube 12 is coated with a layer of gold or any other material which acts as a barrier to deuterium atoms and deuterons. The tube 12 forms part of a steam circulation circuit (not shown) to extract thermal energy generated by the apparatus.

In use of the apparatus, when the power source is switched on, the discharge produced by the coil 11 in the atmosphere causes deuterium to disassociate and/or ionise, and the palladium tube 12 takes up the deuterium atoms and/or deuterons produced. As described earlier, by appropriate control of the operating parameters, such as the pressure of the deuterium and the energy of the discharge, it is possible to cause the deuterium atoms (and deuterons) to have an activity sufficient to lead to cold fusion thereby liberating thermal energy within the tube 12, and the thermal energy is conducted away by steam passing through the tube 12. The superheated steam produced can be used for driving electrical

power generators in a known manner before being recycled through the steam circulation circuit.

Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.