Since 1989 NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has performed some small-scale limited experiments that show evidence of effects claimed by some to be evidence of Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR). The research at GRC has involved observations and work on measurement techniques for observing the temperature effects in reactions of isotopes of hydrogen with palladium hydrides. The various experiments performed involved loading Pd with gaseous H2 and D2, and exposing Pd thin films to multi-bubble sonoluminescence in regular and deuterated water. An overview of these experiments and their results will be presented

Fralick, Gustave C.

Niedra, Janis M.

Wrbanek, John D.

Wrbanek, Susan Y.

NASA Technical Reports Server

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
NASA Glenn Research Center experience with 
"LENR Phenomenon" 
Susan Y. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick, 
John D. Wrbanek, Janis M. Niedra (ASRC) 
NASA Glenn Research Center 
• 
www.nasa.gov 1 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20130001794 2019-08-30T23:40:31+00:00Z
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Outline 
• LENR Brief History 
• Advantages of Fusion 
• Selected Hypothesis 
• NASA Glenn Research Center small related 
experiments 
• 
www.nasa.gov 2 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
LENR - Brief History 
• 1989 Electrochemists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann 
observed higher than expected heating in electrolysis experiments 
involving Deuterium and Palladium. 
- Observed that the temperature rise was higher than could be 
accounted for by known chemical processes. 
- Speculated that nuclear reactions might explain excess energy. 
- Dubbed "cold fusion" in the press, often known as "Low Energy 
Nuclear Reactions (LENR)," sometimes "Chemically 
Assisted/(activated) Nuclear Reactions (CANR) 
• Actual cause of reactions still debated at this time. 
• A variety of experiments and theories since 1989 
• 
www.nasa.gov 3 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Fusion Processes 
Known Fusion Processes: 
• D + D ~ T (1.01 MeV) + p (3.02 MeV) 
• D + D ~ 3He (0.82 MeV) + n (2.45 MeV) 
• D + D ~ 4He (73.7 keV)+ y (23.8 MeV) 
• D + T ~ 4He (3.5 MeV) + n (14.1 MeV) 
• D + 3He ~ 4He (3.6 MeV) + p (14.7 MeV) 
- 0 = 2H T = 3H , 
- Some have suggested that yet unknown 
"fusion processes" may be involved. 
- Many "LENR phenomenon" occur without 
energetic particle or wave radiation 
measured. 
- A few research efforts have claimed 
radiation from LENR phenomena, but too 
little to attribute to known processes. 
Glenn Research Center 
• 
www.nasa.gov 4 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
• 
Deuteron-Deuteron Coulomb Barrier 
based on Parmenter & Lamb 
Some Hypotheses 
"Pet Theories" (i.e., Hypotheses where 
+-+---- - Potentia lwith Electron -
Pro p 0 n e nts a I rea d y co n v in ced pee r - +--+----- __ ::'::~ii:lg:~t::~a:~cc:ron : 
__ 
--:~I Screening reviewed journals): 
--------
• Electron Screening armenter & Lamb) 0 2 molecule O' Sloch 
• Band States (Chubb & Chubb) 1 1 - - - . 
• Shrunken Hydrogen (Maly, Vavra & Mills) ----------.:J 
, 
• Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons 
(Widom & Larsen) 
• Dislocation Loops (Hora & Miley) 
• Bose-Einstein Condensates (Kim) 
Do any of these encompass gll 
reported observations? 
• More than one effect may be occurring 
Glenn Research Center 
-, 
, 
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-, 
-, 
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- 6 
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cold atoms 
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Bosons i-
. BEC ~ 
www.nasa.gov 5 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Related Experiments at 
NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 
• Instances of short-term experiments 
- 1989: Gaseous 02, H2 in Hydrogen Purifier 
• Fralick, Decker, Blue 
- 1996: H20-Ni-K2C03 Electrolytic Cell 
• Niedra, Meyers, Fralick, Baldwin 
- 2007: Multi-Bubble Sonoluminescence investigation 
sponsored by Low Emissions Alternative Power (LEAP) 
Project & Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) Project 
• Fralick, Wrbanek J., Wrbanek S. 
- 2009: "Anomalous Heating in Bulk Palladium" Innovative 
Partnership Program (I PP) 
• Fralick, Wrbanek J., Wrbanek S., Millis, Niedra 
• 
www.nasa.gov 6 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1989 Gaseous H2 and 02 
• 1989 - Following Pons and Fleischmann 
announcement GRC team of Fralick, Decker, and 
Blue performed gaseous H2 and 02 experiments using 
a hydrogen purifier containing Pd/Ag alloy. 
- Goal: avoid wet electrochemical cell since they were not 
electrochemists. 
- Look for neutrons. 
- Use resources readily available. 
- Keep experiment as simple as possible. 
• 
www.nasa.gov 7 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1989 Gaseous H2 and 02 
• Johnson Matthey HP Series palladium 
membrane hydrogen purifier 
• Used in the semiconductor industry and 
applications where ultra-high purity 
hydrogen is required (to 99.9999999%) 
• An at-hand substitute for a palladium 
electrolytic cell 
Flow 0 agram HP Series 
nl N -
H, Feed 
YIClIlfm 
Glenn Research Center 
• 
www.nasa.gov 8 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1989 Gaseous H2 and 02 
EQUIPMENT 
• Hydrogen purifiers are made 
using Palladium membranes 
EXPERIMENT 
• After evacuating purifier, it was 
loaded with deuterium gas at 
pressures up to 250 psig. 
• Purifier temperature and 
neutron count monitored for 
several months-non 
electrochemical variant of Pons-
Fleischmann experiment 
Glenn Research Center 
High Pressure Low Pressure ~ 0 2 4 
H2 ...-.. 02 3 . H H2 
.. ... H -'" e .. 
1-12 H20 H' ..... . -" 
... __ 12 t 5 5 ..!!.2 
CO2 ...-.. 1 - --
H20 '" H2 H2 
H2" t ,., . --. e H .. 2
C02 02 • 
H20 " .. 
.. H20 
H2 _ 
-- C02 H2--
H2 
.. 
H2 
.. 
PdI Ag M. mbran. 
Hydrogen purifier (center) with 
neutron detectors on either side 
• 
1. Adsorption 
2. Dissociation 
3. Ionisation 
4. Diffusion 
S. Recombination 
6. Desorption 
www.nasa.gov 9 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1989 Gaseous H2 and 02 • Results: 
• Temperature increase noted while 
gas was loaded into palladium cell, 
for both 0 & H 
• Neutron detector counts did not differ 
significantly « 20) from background 
in any run (Monitored with BF 3 wI 
Polyethylene ["Snoopy"] detectors). 
• Temperature increase noted when 0 
unloaded at end of experiment 
• Compared to hydrogen gas as the 
experimental control: 15°C increase 
in purifier temperature consistently 
seen with O2 that was not seen with 
the H2 control when gasses were 
unloaded from the purifier. 
Published: 
• Fralick, Decker, & Blue (1989) NASA 
TM-102430 
Purifier plumbing, showing vacuum 
pump used to evacuate cell, and gas 
bottle used to load cell 
-------------------------------------------------------Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 10 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
1996 H20-Ni-K2C03 Electrolytic Cell 
Experiment: 
• Investigated reports of significant long-
term excess heat in light water-Ni-
K2C03 electrolytic cells 
• Two 28-liter electrolytic cells for tests, 
one active cell for electrolytic tests, second 
inactive cell for reference thermal 
measurements 
• Tested at several dc currents and a 
pulse mode current 
Results: 
Two 28 liter electrolytic cells 
• 
• Apparent current-dependent excess heat exhibited when tested in all modes 
• Excess heat consistent as heat from hydrogen-oxygen recombination 
catalyzed by the Pt and Ni electrodes within the cell 
• Did not reproduce the large excess heat reported in literature 
- Gain Factors of <1.7 @ GRC vs. >10 in literature 
• NASA TM-107167 (J. Niedra, I. Myers, G. Fralick, R. Baldwin; 1996) 
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 11 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Multi-Bubble Sonoluminescence • 
Experiment: 
• Investigated energy of ultrasonic-
generated multi-bubble 
sonoluminescence (MBSL) 
• Sonoluminescence with Palladium-
Chromium (PdCr) Thin Films Over 
Platinum (Pt) Traces on Alumina 
Results: 
• No Crater seen on films in H20, but 
Crater Formation seen in 0 20 
• Large Grain Failures usually seen in 
thin films due to mismatches in 
coefficients of thermal expansion at 
high temperature (-1000°C) 
- Indicates point heating in films? 
Light Water 
(H20) 
Heavy Water 
(°20) 
Surface morphology of films exposed to sonoluminescence in 
light water (left) and heavy water (right) 
• J. Wrbanek, G. Fralick, S. Wrbanek, & N. Hall, "Investigating Sonoluminescence 
as a Means of Energy Harvesting," Chapter 19, Frontiers of Propulsion Science, 
Millis & Davis (eds), AIAA (2009), pp. 605-637. 
--
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 12 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Summary Observations from 1989 to 2009 
• Previous NASA D-Pd experiment (Fralick, et aI., 1989) looked for 
neutrons (saw none) - but saw anomalous heating 
• 
• NASA H20-Ni-K2C03 Electrolytic Cell experiment (N iedra et aI., 1996) -
Apparent current-dependent excess heat consistent as heat from 
hydrogen-oxygen recombination 
• NASA Sonoluminescence Experiment (Wrbanek, et aI., 2007) - Crater 
formation in PdCr films seen with heavy water, not seen with light water 
• After 1989, Cold Fusion research evolved into research in "Low Energy 
Nuclear Reactions" (LENR), primarily at U.S. Navy, DARPA & various 
Universities 
• 2009 - NASA IPP-sponsored effort to: 
- Repeat the initial 1989 tests to investigate the anomalous heat 
- Apply GRe's instrumentation expertise to improve the diagnostics for this 
experiment 
- Establish credible framework for future work in LENR 
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 13 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Hood Vent 
2009 IPP APPROACH: 
Flow System Schematic 
Atmospheric 
Pressure Gas 
Bag 
100 psig 
Relief Valve 
2 Kunkle 0548-
A01-KM0100 
• 
Gas Pressure Gauge 
8 N035 STP 4 
9 Gas Bottle Control Valve 
SS-16DKM4-F4-A1 
Exchange 
Lecture Bottle 
(400 ml) 
DOT 3E-1800 
D2 
(Swagelok 304L-
HDF4-400) 
Glenn Research Center 
HP-25 
Purifier 
(Feed 
Port) 
Gas Bottle Regulator 
Linde UPG 3 75 350 
Supply 
Lecture Bottle 
(440 ml) 
DOT 3E-1800 
S~stem Line Valves 
Open ~ 
Closed ~ 
All Valves Swagelok SS-4H 
unless otherwise indicated 
www.nasa.gov 14 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
APPROACH: 2009 Test Apparatus • 
• Johnson Matthey H P-25 hydrogen purifier 
- Purifier Filter contains a -50g heated Pd-25%Ag membrane 
• Load Filter by flowing hydrogen gas into the purifier 
• Unload Filter by pumping the gas out of the purifier into a sample bottle 
• Turn off filter heater for a time when Loading & Unloading 
• Monitor changes in temperature, neutron/gamma background 
• Repeat with deuterium gas; Compare results 
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 15 
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a
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e
 
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)
H
y
d
r
o
g
e
n
D
e
u
t
e
r
i
u
m
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
RESULTS: Temperatures vs. Time • 
Loading 
Observed Temperture for H2 Load 
370 
----
/ 
" -- , 
365 
360 
355 
"-
" 
350 
345 
o 20 40 60 80 
Time (5) 
Observ@dTemperturefor ID2 Load 
370 ---------.--------~------~~------~ 
U 
t.. 
:~ 360 
,3 
m t 355 ---------I----------f-------~--------_l 
'1:1. 
E 
~ 350 
345 
o 20 
Glenn Research Center 
40 
Time ls.I 
60 80 
~ 
CI.I 
... 
::::I 
..... 
ttl 
... 
CI.I 
Q. 
E 
CI.I 
I-
v 
t.. 
! 
~ 
... 
~ 
... X, 
C. 
I-
370 
365 
360 
355 
350 
345 
340 
3701 
365 
360 
3.55 
350 
345 
340 
Unloading 
Observed Temperture for H2 Unload 
~ 
o 
0 
"\ -, 
./" 
'" 
" 
" 50 100 150 
Time (5) 
Observed TemiPerture for D2 runlo:ad 
+ 
50 ]00 
TIme (5) 
I I 
150 
200 
~ I 
200 
www.nasa.gov 16 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
10 
o 
u 
~ -1 0 
QJ 
:; 
~ -20 
QJ 
Co 
E -30 
QJ 
I-
-40 
-50 
-60 
-50 
-~ 
RESULTS (continued): 
Temperature Changes vs. Time 
Observed Temperture Changes Differential Heating Rate 
~ ~ 
V , 
" ~~~ 
.......... 
'" " 
- H2Un load 
-
15 
QJ 
m 5 g;; 
b.O 
c: 
.~ 0 
QJ 
;!; 
·5 
-10 
I:r... 
"""IIIiiii 
\ 
~ 
I T"" ~ 
V - H2Unload 
- 02 Unload 
A... 
A.,. - I" 
- D2Unload - Anomalous Heating iD2 -H2) 
I 
o 50 100 150 
Time(s) 
-15 
200 
-50 o 50 
Time(s) 
100 
Results of GRC IPP investigation: a) the temperature data is shown 
for H2 and D2 unloading (left); b) the calculated thermal power in/out 
is given with the net anomalous heating (right). 
150 
• No changes seen in neutron background counts 
• 
200 
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 17 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Summary & Conclusions 
• NASA GRC has conducted a variety of small-scale short-term 
investigations into LENR-related claims 
• 
• Isotope-dependent heating was seen in a hydrogen purifier during gas 
evacuation in 1989 
• Point craters in films exposed to sonoluminescence in water in 2007 
also had isotope dependence 
• Follow on study of hydrogen purifier heating done in 2008 documented 
the 1989 anomalous heating effect 
- More data needed to draw conclusion of its nature 
• Small-scale work continues: 
- 2011 Center Innovation Fund "Fast-Track" 2-week project to determine 
dependency of rate of withdraw on the heating effect 
- Short project time limited effort to experiment setup and rough preliminary 
data run; more data still needed to clarify uncertainties 
• If proven useful, the transient nature of this heating effect needs to be 
better characterized for applications to cyclic power systems 
www.nasa.gov 18 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
References 
• Fralick, G., Decker, A., Blue, J., "Results of an Attempt to Measure 
Increased Rates of the Reaction 20 + 20 ~ 3He + n in a Non-
electrochemical Cold Fusion Experiment," NASA TM-1 02430 (1989). 
• Niedra, J., Myers, I., Fralick, G., Baldwin, R. "Replication of the Apparent 
Excess Heat Effect in a Light Water-Potassium Carbonate-Nickel 
Electrolytic Cell", NASA TM-1 07167 (1996) 
• 
• Wrbanek, J., Fralick, G., Wrbanek, S., "Development of Techniques to 
Investigate Sonoluminescence as a Source of Energy Harvesting", NASA 
TM-2007 -214982 (2007) 
• Wrbanek, J., Fralick, G., Wrbanek, S., Hall, N. "Investigating 
Sonoluminescence as a Means of Energy Harvesting," Chapter 19, 
Frontiers of Propulsion Science, Millis & Davis (eds.), AIAA (2009) pp. 605-
637. 
• Fralick, G., Wrbanek, J., Wrbanek, S., Niedra, J., Millis, M., "LENR at 
GRC", Presentation at LENR Workshop, NASA GRC, September 22, 2011. 
Glenn Research Center www.nasa.gov 19 


NASA Glenn Research Center Experience with "LENR Phenomenon"

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
NASA Glenn Research Center experience with 
“LENR Phenomenon” 
Susan Y. Wrbanek, Gustave C. Fralick,  
John D. Wrbanek, Janis M. Niedra (ASRC) 
NASA Glenn Research Center 
1 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160000347 2019-08-31T04:36:11+00:00Z
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
Outline 
•  LENR Brief History 
•  Advantages of Fusion 
•  Selected Hypothesis 
•  NASA Glenn Research Center – small related 
experiments 
2 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
LENR – Brief History 
•  1989 Electrochemists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann 
observed higher than expected heating in electrolysis experiments 
involving Deuterium and Palladium. 
–  Observed that the temperature rise was higher than could be 
accounted for by known chemical processes. 
–  Speculated that nuclear reactions might explain excess energy. 
–  Dubbed “cold fusion” in the press, often known as “Low Energy 
Nuclear Reactions (LENR),” sometimes “Chemically Assisted/
(activated) Nuclear Reactions (CANR) 
•  Actual cause of reactions still debated at this time. 
•  A variety of experiments and theories since 1989 
3 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
  Fusion Processes 
Known Fusion Processes: 
•  D + D → T (1.01 MeV) + p (3.02 MeV)  
•  D + D → 3He (0.82 MeV) + n (2.45 MeV) 
•  D + D → 4He (73.7 keV)+ γ (23.8 MeV) 
•  D + T → 4He (3.5 MeV) + n (14.1 MeV) 
•  D + 3He → 4He (3.6 MeV) + p (14.7 MeV) 
–  D = 2H, T = 3H 
–  Some have suggested that yet unknown 
“fusion processes” may be involved. 
–  Many “LENR phenomenon” occur without 
energetic particle or wave radiation 
measured. 
–  A few research efforts have claimed 
radiation from LENR phenomena, but too 
little to attribute to known processes. 
Glenn Research Center 4 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
“Pet Theories” (i.e., Hypotheses where 
proponents already convinced peer-
reviewed journals): 
•  Electron Screening (Parmenter & Lamb) 
•  Band States (Chubb & Chubb) 
•  Shrunken Hydrogen (Maly, Vavra & Mills) 
•  Ultra Low Momentum Neutrons    
(Widom & Larsen) 
•  Dislocation Loops (Hora & Miley) 
•  Bose-Einstein Condensates (Kim) 
Do any of these encompass all  
 reported observations? 
•  More than one effect may be occurring 
 Some Hypotheses 
5 Glenn Research Center 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
Related Experiments at  
NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC)  
•  Instances of short-term experiments 
–  1989: Gaseous D2, H2 in Hydrogen Purifier 
•  Fralick, Decker, Blue 
–  1996: H2O-Ni-K2CO3 Electrolytic Cell 
•  Niedra, Meyers, Fralick, Baldwin 
–  2007: Multi-Bubble Sonoluminescence investigation 
sponsored by Low Emissions Alternative Power (LEAP) 
Project & Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) Project 
•  Fralick, Wrbanek J., Wrbanek S.  
–  2009: “Anomalous Heating in Bulk Palladium” Innovative 
Partnership Program (IPP) 
•  Fralick, Wrbanek J., Wrbanek S., Millis, Niedra 
6 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
1989 Gaseous H2 and D2 
•  1989 – Following Pons and Fleischmann 
announcement GRC team of Fralick, Decker, and 
Blue performed gaseous H2 and D2 experiments using 
a hydrogen purifier containing Pd/Ag alloy.   
–  Goal:  avoid wet electrochemical cell since they were not 
electrochemists.   
–  Look for neutrons. 
–  Use resources readily available. 
–  Keep experiment as simple as possible. 
7 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
1989 Gaseous H2 and D2 
•  Johnson Matthey HP Series palladium 
membrane hydrogen purifier  
•  Used in the semiconductor industry and 
applications where ultra-high purity 
hydrogen is required (to 99.9999999%) 
•  An at-hand substitute for a palladium 
electrolytic cell 
Glenn Research Center 8 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
1989 Gaseous H2 and D2 
9 
EQUIPMENT 
•  Hydrogen purifiers are made 
using Palladium membranes 
EXPERIMENT 
•  After evacuating purifier, it was 
loaded with deuterium gas at 
pressures up to 250 psig. 
•  Purifier temperature and 
neutron count monitored  for 
several months–non  
electrochemical variant of Pons-
Fleischmann experiment 
Glenn Research Center 
Hydrogen  purifier (center) with 
neutron detectors on  either side	

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
1989 Gaseous H2 and D2 
Results: 
•  Temperature increase noted while 
gas was loaded into palladium cell, 
for both D & H 
•  Neutron detector counts did not differ 
significantly (<2σ) from background in 
any run (Monitored with BF3 w/ 
Polyethylene [“Snoopy”] detectors). 
•  Temperature increase noted when D 
unloaded at end of experiment 
•  Compared to hydrogen gas as the 
experimental control: 15°C increase 
in purifier temperature consistently 
seen with D2 that was not seen with 
the H2 control when gasses were 
unloaded from the purifier.  
Published:   
•  Fralick, Decker, & Blue (1989) NASA 
TM-102430 
Glenn Research Center 10 
Purifier plumbing, showing vacuum 
pump  used to evacuate cell, and gas 
bottle  used to load cell	

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
1996 H2O-Ni-K2CO3 Electrolytic Cell 
11 
Experiment: 
•  Investigated reports of significant long-
term excess heat in light water-Ni-
K2CO3 electrolytic cells  
•  Two 28-liter electrolytic cells for tests, 
one active cell for electrolytic tests, second 
inactive cell for reference thermal 
measurements 
•  Tested at several dc currents and a 
pulse mode current 
Results: 
•  Apparent current-dependent excess heat exhibited when tested in all modes 
•  Excess heat consistent as heat from hydrogen-oxygen recombination 
catalyzed by the Pt and Ni electrodes within the cell  
•  Did not reproduce the large excess heat reported in literature 
–    Gain Factors of <1.7 @ GRC vs. >10 in literature 
•  NASA TM-107167 (J. Niedra, I. Myers, G. Fralick, R. Baldwin; 1996) 
Glenn Research Center 
Two 28 liter  electrolytic cells	

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
Multi-Bubble Sonoluminescence 
Experiment: 
•  Investigated energy of ultrasonic-
generated multi-bubble 
sonoluminescence (MBSL) 
•  Sonoluminescence with Palladium-
Chromium (PdCr) Thin Films Over 
Platinum (Pt) Traces on Alumina 
Results: 
•  No Crater seen on films in H2O, but 
Crater Formation seen in D2O 
•  Large Grain Failures usually seen in 
thin films due to mismatches in 
coefficients of thermal expansion at 
high temperature (~1000°C) 
–  Indicates point heating in films? 
Light Water 
(H2O) 
Heavy Water 
(D2O) 
NASA GRC	

•  J. Wrbanek, G. Fralick, S. Wrbanek, & N. Hall, “Investigating Sonoluminescence 
as a Means of Energy Harvesting,” Chapter 19, Frontiers of Propulsion Science, 
Millis & Davis (eds), AIAA (2009), pp. 605-637. 
12 Glenn Research Center 
Surface morphology of films exposed to sonoluminescence in	

light water  (left) and heavy water (right)	

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
 Summary Observations from 1989 to 2009 
•  Previous NASA D-Pd experiment (Fralick, et al., 1989) looked for 
neutrons (saw none) – but saw anomalous heating 	

•  NASA H2O-Ni-K2CO3 Electrolytic Cell experiment (Niedra et al.,1996) – 
Apparent current-dependent excess heat consistent as heat from 
hydrogen-oxygen recombination  
•  NASA Sonoluminescence Experiment (Wrbanek, et al., 2007) – Crater 
formation in PdCr films seen with heavy water, not seen with light water 
•  After 1989, Cold Fusion research evolved into research in “Low Energy 
Nuclear Reactions” (LENR), primarily at U.S. Navy, DARPA & various 
Universities 
•  2009 – NASA IPP-sponsored effort to: 
–  Repeat the initial 1989 tests to investigate the anomalous heat 
–  Apply GRC’s instrumentation expertise to improve the diagnostics for this 
experiment  
–  Establish credible framework for future work in LENR 
Glenn Research Center 13 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
 2009 IPP APPROACH:   
Flow System Schematic 
Glenn Research Center 14 
System Line Valves 
Open 
Closed 
All Valves Swagelok SS-4H 
unless otherwise indicated 
HP-25 
Purifier 
(Feed 
Port) 
D2 
Hood Vent 
Gas Pressure Gauge 
Gas Bottle Regulator 
Linde UPG 3 75 350 
100 psig 
Relief Valve 
Kunkle 0548-
A01-KM0100 
Supply 
Lecture Bottle 
(440 ml) 
DOT 3E-1800 
Exchange 
Lecture Bottle 
(400 ml) 
DOT 3E-1800 
(Swagelok 304L-
HDF4-400) 
XDS10 Scroll 
Pump 
Gas Bottle Control Valve 
SS-16DKM4-F4-A1 
Atmospheric 
Pressure  Gas 
Bag 
N035 STP  
Compressor 
1 
2 
3 
4 
6 
7 
8 
5 
9 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
APPROACH: 2009 Test Apparatus 
•  Johnson Matthey HP-25 hydrogen purifier 
–  Purifier Filter contains a ~50g heated Pd-25%Ag membrane 
•  Load Filter by flowing hydrogen gas into the purifier 
•  Unload Filter by pumping the gas out of the purifier into a sample bottle 
•  Turn off filter heater for a time when Loading & Unloading 
•  Monitor changes in temperature, neutron/gamma background 
•  Repeat with deuterium gas; Compare results 
Glenn Research Center 15 
Filter 
Heater 
Controller 
Feed Gas 
Inlet Port 
Type J 
Thermocouple 
Heater  
Gas 
Compressor 
Vacuum 
Pump Purifier 
Gas 
Bottles 
Neutron 
Detector  
w/ Counter 
Gas Bag 
Purifier Interior	
 Photo of 2009 GRC test setup	

National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
RESULTS: Temperatures vs. Time 
Glenn Research Center 16 
H
yd
ro
ge
n 
D
eu
te
riu
m
 
Loading Unloading 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
RESULTS (continued): 
Temperature Changes vs. Time 
17 
Results of GRC IPP investigation: a) the temperature data is shown for 
H2 and D2 unloading (left); b) the calculated thermal power in/out is 
given with the net anomalous heating (right). 
Glenn Research Center 
•  No changes seen in neutron background counts 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration!
www.nasa.gov 
Summary & Conclusions 
•  NASA GRC has conducted a variety of small-scale short-term 
investigations into LENR-related claims 
•  Isotope-dependent heating was seen in a hydrogen purifier during gas 
evacuation in 1989 
•  Point craters in films exposed to sonoluminescence in water in 2007 
also had isotope dependence 
•  Follow on study of hydrogen purifier heating done in 2008 documented 
the 1989 anomalous heating effect 
–  More data needed to draw conclusion of its nature 
•  Small-scale work continues: 
–  2011 Center Innovation Fund “Fast-Track” 2-week project to determine 
dependency of rate of withdraw on the heating effect 
–  Short project time limited effort to experiment setup and rough preliminary 
data run; more data still needed to clarify uncertainties 
•  If proven useful, the transient nature of this heating effect needs to be 
better characterized for applications to cyclic power systems 
18 
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www.nasa.gov 
References 
•  Fralick, G., Decker, A., Blue, J., “Results of an Attempt to Measure 
Increased Rates of the Reaction 2D + 2D → 3He + n in a Non-
electrochemical Cold Fusion Experiment,” NASA TM-102430 (1989). 
•  Niedra, J., Myers, I., Fralick, G., Baldwin, R. “Replication of the Apparent 
Excess Heat Effect in a Light Water-Potassium Carbonate-Nickel 
Electrolytic Cell”, NASA TM-107167 (1996) 
•  Wrbanek, J., Fralick, G., Wrbanek, S., “Development of Techniques to  
Investigate Sonoluminescence as a Source of Energy Harvesting”, NASA 
TM-2007-214982 (2007) 
•  Wrbanek, J., Fralick, G., Wrbanek, S., Hall, N. “Investigating 
Sonoluminescence as a Means of Energy Harvesting,” Chapter 19, 
Frontiers of Propulsion Science, Millis & Davis (eds.), AIAA (2009) pp. 
605-637. 
•  Fralick, G., Wrbanek, J., Wrbanek, S., Niedra, J., Millis, M.,  “LENR at 
GRC”,  Presentation at LENR Workshop, NASA GRC, September 22, 2011. 
Glenn Research Center 19 


NASA Glenn Research Center Experience with "LENR Phenomenon"

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