CALORIMETRY, EXCESS HEAT, AND FARADAY EFFICIENCY IN NI-H2O ELECTROLYTIC CELLS

Apparent excess heat is observed in light wafer electrolytic cells con taining a variety of nickel cathodes, a platinum anode, and an electro lyte of K-2 CO3 in H2O. High-accuracy calorimetric measurements show a pparent excess heat in the range of 15 to 37% of input power if a 100% Faraday efficiency is assumed for H-2 and O-2 gas release. The H-2 an d O-2 gases released during electrolysis are recombined in a vessel ex ternal to the cell, and the quantity of recombined H2O is compared wit h the quantity of H2O expected from 100% efficient electrolysis. The m easured Faraday efficiency is shown to be significantly <100%, and con ventional chemistry can account for the entire amount of observed appa rent excess heat to within an accuracy of better than 0.5%.