14 replies to this topic

[TTHQ Staff]

An Erie, Pa., cancer researcher says he has found a way to burn salt water, a novel invention that is being touted by one chemist as the "most remarkable" water science discovery in a century.

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John Kanzius happened upon the discovery accidentally when he tried to desalinate seawater with a radio-frequency generator he says he developed to treat cancer. He discovered that as long as the salt water was exposed to the radio frequencies, it would burn.

The discovery has scientists excited by the prospect of using salt water, the most abundant resource on earth, as a fuel.

Rustum Roy, a Penn State University chemist, has held demonstrations at his State College, Pa., lab to confirm his own observations.

The radio frequencies act to weaken the bonds between the elements that make up salt water, releasing the hydrogen, Roy said. Once ignited, the hydrogen will burn as long as it is exposed to the frequencies, he said.

The discovery is "the most remarkable in water science in 100 years," Roy said.

"This is the most abundant element in the world. It is everywhere," Roy said. "Seeing it burn gives me the chills."

Roy will meet this week with officials from the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense to try to obtain research funding.

The scientists want to find out whether the energy output from the burning hydrogen — which reached a heat of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit — would be enough to power a car or other heavy machinery.

"We will get our ideas together and check this out and see where it leads," Roy said. "The potential is huge."

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=h6vSxR6UKFM

[gorydog]

An Erie, Pa., <snip>

Skeptical!!!!! For this to work, the energy input (via radio waves) to break the covalent bonds between Hydrogen and oxygen would have to be much less than the energy released (by burning) to recombining the exact same bonds!!!! You would still have to capture the released heat and light energy quite efficiently, because (assume input ~equals output), you would still lose whatever percent you could not capture due to inefficiencies > I say this is a perpetual motion machine.

GD

[arbman]

It sounds like the big oil better starts buying the oceans asap!

I would pay for 4 bucks a gallon of salt water honestly instead of oil...

I say this is a perpetual motion machine

It is a perpetual machine as it stands probably, but if it can recharge its battery some to sustain a very long range while burning the salt water, it is still a good invention considering that its fuel costs nothing. So, you would go to a salt station and charge a bit your battery while refueling some salt water. I suspect the electricity needed is much greater than what you can supply with a simple battery though.

[TTHQ Staff]

I say this is a perpetual motion machine

It is a perpetual machine as it stands probably, but if it can recharge its battery some to sustain a very long range while burning the salt water, it is still a good invention considering that its fuel costs nothing. So, you would go to a salt station and charge a bit your battery while refueling some salt water. I suspect the electricity needed is much greater than what you can supply with a simple battery though.

That's the only sticking point as far as I can see, that is, "How much energy does it take to exert the high frequency radio wave?" But I love the idea.

EDIT: btw: I just looked back at the first comments for these videos on youtube-- they span 3 months. Don't know why this is the first I've heard of it, unless it has already been dismissed in the scientific community. Bummer.

Edited by TTHQ Staff, 11 September 2007 - 11:09 AM.

[Mtrader]

I believe it when I see it. da da da da da. Science fiction anyone

[mike123]

It all depends how much salt water weekends the bonds. People have been trying to find catalyst to generate H2 from water for years.

[Mtrader]

Power of YouTube news?? I haven't seen on real news. Big news like this!!

[TTHQ Staff]

Power of YouTube news?? I haven't seen on real news. Big news like this!!

There is no such thing as news anymore, only infotainment. That's why I trade TA, and not the news.

[Mtrader]

physicist forum: http://www.physicsfo...ad.php?t=172018

[redlocks11]

An Erie, Pa., cancer researcher says he has found a way to burn salt water, a novel invention that is being touted by one chemist as the "most remarkable" water science discovery in a century.<br><br>

<hr>John Kanzius happened upon the discovery accidentally when he tried to desalinate seawater with a radio-frequency generator he says he developed to treat cancer. He discovered that as long as the salt water was exposed to the radio frequencies, it would burn.<br><br>

<b>The discovery has scientists excited by the prospect of using salt water, the most abundant resource on earth, as a fuel.</b><br><br>

Rustum Roy, a Penn State University chemist, has held demonstrations at his State College, Pa., lab to confirm his own observations.<br><br>

The radio frequencies act to weaken the bonds between the elements that make up salt water, releasing the hydrogen, Roy said. Once ignited, the hydrogen will burn as long as it is exposed to the frequencies, he said.<br><br>

The discovery is "the most remarkable in water science in 100 years," Roy said.<br><br>

"This is the most abundant element in the world. It is everywhere," Roy said. "Seeing it burn gives me the chills."<br><br>

Roy will meet this week with officials from the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense to try to obtain research funding.<br><br>

The scientists want to find out whether the energy output from the burning hydrogen — which reached a heat of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit — would be enough to power a car or other heavy machinery.<br><br>

"We will get our ideas together and check this out and see where it leads," Roy said. "The potential is huge."
<br><br><hr>
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<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" data="http://www.youtube.c...xR6UKFM"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.c...UKFM"></object>

Below is a link to article on John Kanzios (including his background) from Office of Science of McGill University. Very instructive, though not very positive towards Mr. Kanzios.

http://oss.mcgill.ca...ech/kanzius.pdf

Redlocks11