Operating an E-Cat at Near the Melting Point of Nickel

The most recent test of the E-Cat reports that the E-Cat was operated at a temperature of up to 1,400 degrees Celsius. An E-Cat contains nickel as fuel. Nickel melts at 1,455 °C (2,651 °F). So it appears that there is not very much room for error in the operation of the E-Cat. Trying to make an E-Cat operate at 1,440 °C might induce fluctuations in the operating temperature that can cause the nickel fuel to melt, thereby causing the reactor to stop operating.

Making an E-Cat operate at a higher temperature and therefore at a higher coefficient of performance appears to be a difficult task. This task will probably require a very responsive control system that can take the nickel fuel near to its melting point without allowing the fuel to reach that point.

The melting point of iron is 1,538 °C (2,800 °F). If iron is involved in the LENR transmutation process (rather than just providing a foundation for the development of nickel whiskers) then perhaps an E-Cat could operate at a temperature in excess of the melting point of nickel. But Rossi has reported that if the nickel melts then the LENR process stops. So I think that the iron is probably playing a supporting role in the LENR process, rather than a central role. These roles will have to be investigated by additional research. I wonder if titanium or tungsten, which have higher melting temperatures, could play supporting roles and allow an E-Cat to operate at higher temperatures.