Calorimetry, Excess Heat, and Faraday Efficiency in Ni-H₂O Electrolytic Cells

Apparent excess heat is observed in light water electrolytic cells containing a variety of nickel cathodes, a platinum anode, and an electrolyte of K₂CO₃ in H₂O. High-accuracy calorimetric measurements show apparent excess heat in the range of 15 to 37% of input power if a 100% Faraday efficiency is assumed for H₂ and O₂ gas release. The H₂ and O₂ gases released during electrolysis are recombined in a vessel external to the cell, and the quantity of recombined H₂O is compared with the quantity of H₂O expected from 100% efficient electrolysis. The measured Faraday efficiency is shown to be significantly <100%, and conventional chemistry can account for the entire amount of observed apparent excess heat to within an accuracy of better than 0.5%.