Andrea Rossi’s Energy Catalyzer (E-Cat) is a thermal energy source capable of outputting 10-30 watts of energy per cubic centimeter of fuel. The E-Cat utilizes the Rossi Effect, in which anomalous amounts of heat are generated by the reaction of Lithium and Hydrogen using Nickel as a catalyst
In November 2017, the latest E-Cat design was demonstrated in Stockholm to a group of independent journalists and researchers in a presentation led by scientific journalist Mats Lewan.
During the presentation, a 1-hour experiment was conducted to test the E-Cat’s performance and energy output. In the experiment, water was pumped into a heat exchanger containing the E-Cat. Over the course of the hour heated water was extracted from the exchanger and weighed. Using the temperature and weight of the extracted water, the thermal energy produced by the E-Cat was measured. The input power used to initiate the reaction was also measured throughout the experiment, and after the experiment the circuit was tested to confirm it was not outputting additional power.
Over the course of the hour-long experiment, these measurements demonstrated a Coefficient of Performance between 400 and 500, far exceeding that of any known chemical reaction.
The E-Cat QX model used in the demonstration has successfully completed tests operating for 180 days without fuel, and a 1MW plant based on this model completed a 350-day test the same year, producing six times the energy it consumed.