Lasted edited by Andrew Munsey, updated on June 14, 2016 at 9:36 pm.
This frequently asked questions (FAQ) page compiled on June 17, 2011 by Directory:Hank Mills pertains to PlasmERG's Directory:Plasma Energy Controls' Plasma Expansion Motor.
PlasmERG is the company developing and commercializing the "Plasmic Transition Process" engine and related technologies.
Currently, John Rohner is the CEO of PlasmERG. He is also the founder and principle developer of the "Plasmic Transition Process" technology. However, a restructuring of the company is taking place due to the imminent commercialization of the technology. In the near future, his role in the company may change.
The short answer is that it is a process that allows noble gases (such as helium, xenon, krypton, neon, and argon) and other gases to replace traditional fuels in setups resembling internal combustion engines. The gases are consumed very slowly, do not need to be frequently replenished, and a large amount of energy is produced.
The first step in the process is filling a cylinder with a combination of noble gases, and sealing it so they cannot leak out quickly. This can be done with piston rings.
The second step is to produce a magnetic field around the cylinder utilizing one or more electromagnetic coils. This pinches or compresses the gases, and primes them to undergo the transition process.
The third step is to excite the gases and ionize them with the use of a high frequency antenna. This antenna sends high frequency (megahertz to gigahertz range) radio frequency energy into the cylinder.
The fourth step is to bring the piston to top dead center so the piston head is almost in contact with the cylinder head. Due to the shapes of both the piston head and the cylinder head, a torodial reaction chamber is formed.
The fifth step is to produce an arc or high voltage ball of lightning between a set of electrodes positioned on the cylinder head. This arc is only created for picoseconds, and is then turned off. The result is a ball of plasma being created, that produces a linear force capable of pushing the piston and powering the engine.
The sixth step is to bring the piston to bottom dead center, turn off the coils producing magnetic fields, turn off the antenna, and allow the plasma ball to collapse. The gases return back to their original state, from their ionized plasma state. This produces a force (weaker than the original push) that pulls the piston back. The process can now begin again.
An engine utilizing this technology with one liter of displacement and two cylinders can produce hundreds of horsepower.
The same engine can produce hundreds of foot pounds of torque. In simple terms, it produces lots of torque.
Like an electric motor, the torque curve is flat. It is a strait line. All the torque is available even at low RPMs.
No, it produces very little heat and does not need a cooling system.
Very little fuel is consumed. A single charge of fuel (one liter of fuel for an engine with one liter of displacement) is expected to supply an engine for months during 24/7 operation. In reality, most of the fuel does not get consumed, but leaks out.
No one knows. It is possible the fuel could last for years.
A single re-charge would cost less than ten dollars.
You could go to a store and buy a recharge kit, just like you can currently buy a refrigerant recharge canister.
Engines will be offered that allow you to attach a recharge canister that continually adds fuel for years.
This is almost impossible. In a billion years, maybe. These engines use tiny amounts of fuel that last long periods of time. Also, in addition to noble gases, hydrogen and nitrogen can be used. The fuel is not going to run out, because quantity of noble gases in the atmosphere is large enough to last for millions of years, and hydrogen and nitrogen are even more plentiful.
Eventually, there will be wear and tear, and the engine will have to be repaired. However, since there are far fewer parts than an ordinary engine, there are fewer parts to fail. Additionally, the engine does not get hot, which could add time to the life of the engine. With everything considered, the engine is expected to operate for several years in 24/7 operation.
It is expected that the engine will sell for around $500 (five hundred dollars). It would have greater horsepower and torque than a conventional engine costing six times as much.
Of course. The technology is completely scalable. Engines of all sizes can be designed. Engines with greater displacement can be designed, or engines with a greater number of cylinders. Currently, two, three, four, five, and six cylinder prototype engines are being produced.
Any type of engine or motor. A "Plasmic Transition Process" engine can replace any internal combustion engine, electric motor, or turbine. It can be used in appliances, vehicles, trains, trucks, aircraft, locomotives, or even space craft.
Yes, because the engine is sealed and does not require oxygen.
The impact is next to zero. No CO2 is emitted by the engine, no particulate matter is released, and no radiation is emitted. The technology is the greenest technology presently known on the planet. However, there is a tiny bit of environmental impact, due to the fact the materials for the engine have to be mined.
The previously mentioned one liter displacement, two cylinder engine has turned a 300 kW electrical generator at full load at 1800 RPMs. Basically, a single small engine could power an entire neighborhood, for almost zero fuel costs.
This is a debated topic. It has been proposed that both fusion and fission reactions are taking place. For example, helium atoms fusing and that resulting in secondary fission reactions. However, others have stated that zero point energy or vacuum energy is being tapped. At this point, no one knows for sure. Scientists are researching the topic now, and will be publishing their conclusions in the coming months.
Yes! The fuel cost associated with this technology is almost zero. Instead of spending thousands of dollars for gasoline a year to power a vehicle, you would only spend ten dollars or so. When this technology is used to produce electrical energy, the cost per kilowatt hour drops down to under one cent per kilowatt hour! Perhaps even a small fraction of a cent.
If one of these engines were damaged the electronic control system would detect it, and shut down the engine. There would be no danger. The engine could be replaced.
- The engines are very quiet.
- The engines are lightweight.
- The engines are easy to manufacture.
- The engines have a high power density.
- The engines are produced from common materials.
- The engines are very safe due to advanced electronic control systems.
It blows solar, geothermal, wind power, and hydroelectric power away. The power density is greater, the cost is less, it is portable, and it can solve all the world's energy needs now.
He was a Hungarian emigrant that came to the United States in 1968. Shortly afterwards, he developed a "Noble Gas Engine." The engine worked, but the technology was not commercialized.
The Plasmic Transition Process engine is an evolved and tremendously enhanced version of Papp's Noble Gas Engine. It utilizes no radioactive elements (unlike Papp's engine), utilizes modern electronic control circuitry, consumes less fuel, uses less input energy (only about 200 watts on average with the ability to produce 300 kW or more of output), utilizes modern simulation software, and is fabricated with modern 3-D CAD methods. Before John Rohner founded PlasmERG, the technology laid dormant for decades. PlasmERG has dusted off this technology, developed it, and has made it ready for commercial use.
A U.S. patent is about to be granted. It is titled, "Plasmic Transition Process Motor." The patent has been published, and it is on the internet. It provides lots of details about the technology and how it works.
PlasmERG has moved to the Las Vegas area, and is opening a manufacturing plant to produce the control electronics for Plasmic Transition Process engines. The company has found partners that can produce the engine parts. There is no certain public launch date. However, when a stock of motors has been accumulated and the lisencees are all ready, public demos will take place and engines will be sold to the public. This may take place in the coming months.