Can this M.D. do real physics?

[redwalker]

Is Randall Mills hopelessly incompetent at physics? Is he knowingly hoaxing?

Mills is at:
http://www.blacklightpower.com/

His critics are at:

http://www.phact.org/e/blp.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randell_Mills

2006-2008
BlackLight Power, Inc. announced it had raised over $50M in venture capital.[22] As of May 2008, its board members include former Assistant Secretary of Energy Dr. Shelby Brewer and Michael H. Jordan, who has served as CEO of various major corporations including PepsiCo Int'l. Foods and Beverages, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, CBS Corporation, and EDS.[23]
In June, the subsidiary Molegos, Inc. was formed to market a molecular-modeling software application based on CQM theory. In October 2006, Molegos was renamed to Millsian. On June 14, 2007, Millsian made the beta-version of their molecular modeling software available for download.[24]
In March and April 2008, Blacklight Power had four UK patent applications relating to models and apparatus based on hydrino theory refused by the UK Intellectual Property Office, partly on the grounds that the hydrino theory was objectively wrong. [25]
In a press release issued May 28, 2008, BlackLight Power, Inc. said that they have developed a prototype power system generating 50,000 watts of thermal power on demand.[26]

 

[Tellon]

Interesting stuff .. I wonder if it's a Tesla type of energy ...

I'd look at it and the works especially to see if they are reproducable by other scientists and experiments ...

 

[Anders]

Given that his theory contradicts a whole bunch of experimental findings, I don't think it is credible. Then again, if he can just demonstrate something producing far more energy than he puts in, then it doesn't matter. Unfortunately, so far he seems to be better at producing attention and investors than producing energy. When he starts selling power back into the power grid, I will take it seriously.

 

[Anthony]

I'm going to go with a knowing hoax, though being hopelessly delusional is a possibility.

 

[redwalker]

Given that his theory contradicts a whole bunch of experimental findings, I don't think it is credible. Then again, if he can just demonstrate something producing far more energy than he puts in, then it doesn't matter. Unfortunately, so far he seems to be better at producing attention and investors than producing energy. When he starts selling power back into the power grid, I will take it seriously.

If his prototype really puts out 50,000 watts from plain water, I think the experimental findings need a re-think.

If, on the other hand, he has as much professional backing as he does and he can't measure his output correctly, it's a hoax.

I'm going to go with a knowing hoax, though being hopelessly delusional is a possibility.

The thing is, he's got an awful lot of prestigious backers to be a typical hoax. If he's a hoax, he must be the world's greatest salesman.

Normally, I wouldn't comment, but his company *says* they're putting out 50,000 watts on demand. Therefore they should be in a position to sell power to the power company. If they're *not* selling power back to the company, they *ought* to be.
Edit:
Wait a minute, this looks like weasel wording in the press release:

Two of the potential applications of its technology are in heating and electric power production. The heat-generating prototypes have shown the BlackLight Process to be potentially competitive with existing primary generation sources over a range of scales from micro-distributed to central power generation.

So the heat production is fairly cheap, but for some reason, the electric company can currently do it more cheaply. The heat is *potentially* competitive, meaning that it's not competitive yet. That's why the press release doesn't say, "We're selling 50 kW to the power company."

Then again, the fact that he started out in a privileged social stratum may be to credit for his plentiful backing. If the resume says "Harvard," doors open.

 

[Anthony]

If his prototype really puts out 50,000 watts from plain water, I think the experimental findings need a re-think.

Depends. Is he putting in 50 kW of electricity to get 50 kW of heat?

If, on the other hand, he has as much professional backing as he does and he can't measure his output correctly, it's a hoax.

What professional backing? I see some business people there, but business people are not notably technically capable.

 

[rust]

Well, if Andreas Rathke of ESA considers it a hoax, it is almost certainly one -
after Rathke's evaluation I would put the probability of a hoax at 99,99 %. :nonono:

 

[shadowdragon]

its a hoax- it basically is a 50kW heating element. the advert claims "50,000 watts of thermal energy on demand"- certainly. shove enough electricity through a big enough element and bingo- you have thermal energy, on demand. thats why it is only potentially competitive, the electric company supplies the initial energy required. its all just wordplay and double-speak..