|
TO BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS: |
Tathacus releases results of ARC tests |
|
CALGARY, ALBERTA, Apr. 6 -/E-Wire/-- Tathacus Resources Ltd. (CDNX: TTC) announces that it has received the independent test data from the Alberta Research Council (ARC) regarding Xogen Power Inc.'s ("Xogen") oxygen-hydrogen gas generation system. Tathacus owns 20 per cent of Xogen, a private Calgary- based technology and research company. Tathacus engaged ARC recently to conduct specific tests of Xogen's proprietary technology.
|
"The testing and the Company's subsequent evaluation of the ARC results confirm that the Xogen process (the "Process") works to produce an oxygen- hydrogen gas mixture," said Barrie Shibley, president of Tathacus. "Our own due diligence, based on the ARC testing provides a clear proof of concept for the Xogen technology. Both Tathacus and Xogen are eager to further refine and optimize the technology's operational parameters as we drive towards commercialization."
|
"Xogen's technology is not a fuel cell, nor is it a typical electrolysis system for producing hydrogen. It is a compact, patented system that produces an oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture," added Mr. Shibley. "In that sense, the technology establishes its own unique niche in the hydrogen industry. We remain confident that the technology has the potential to deliver oxygen- hydrogen gas as a fuel for home and industrial applications."
|
Under the terms of Tathacus' agreements with Xogen, certain components of the data will remain confidential for proprietary and competitive reasons. A summary of the ARC results and the Company's comments are provided as an attachment to this release. A complete copy of the ARC report has been filed with the Canadian Venture Exchange on a confidential basis.
|
ARC's role and test results are summarized as follows: - Four prototype Xogen generators were tested for the following: - Chemical analysis (done by an independent analytical laboratory) of the tap water used in the process before and after a test, - Temperature rise in the water during the test in one of the generators, - Gas production rate and chemical analysis (done by an independent analytical laboratory) of the same in one of the generators, - Pressure increase in one of the generators, and - Energy input to the process in one of the generators (ARC was not required to conduct an economic assessment of the process).
|
- The Process involves the passage of electrical current through water for the generation of oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture. - The Process employs a digital waveform generator capable of running multiple cells (up to eight were tested) simultaneously. - The gas production appears to be controllable on demand, and prototype generators tested did not use any moving parts. - Gas samples collected and analyzed were found to contain hydrogen and oxygen gas in a ratio approaching a value of 2:1. - The Process produced oxygen and hydrogen gases without recombination to at least 50 pounds per square inch (PSI) pressure. - Chemical analysis of the Process water showed increases in manganese and iron after the short duration test. - Temperature increase in the water for a single cell modular generator was measured to be 0.0013 degrees centigrade/minute/watt of battery power. The test apparatus did not incorporate any apparatus designed to cool the water.
|
Additional internal analysis performed by Tathacus confirms that Xogen's process: - is capable of producing variable, on-demand generation of oxygen- hydrogen gas mixture at the point of consumption; - uses only regular tap water as feedstock; - is compact in size; - is modular, with an expandable design; - uses a totally digital electronic system; - uses simple, relatively inexpensive "off the shelf" components; and - has "plug & play" compatibility with solar and wind power. (Normal AC power is not necessary, but the system can be run from grid power if desired.)
|
"The U.S. Department of Energy identifies distribution and storage as two of the major barriers to the emergence of the hydrogen economy, arguing that it will take billions of dollars and many years to make the necessary changes to the energy infrastructure," added Mr. Shibley. "Xogen's goal is to eliminate the need to transport and store hydrogen energy by producing it on-site and on-demand. In my opinion, the production of commercially viable quantities of oxygen-hydrogen gas mixture utilizing renewable energy sources has the potential to take the world out of the fossil fuel loop."
|
The ARC data were collected during two rounds of testing conducted in mid-January and early-March, 2001. The ARC confirms that the Xogen Process utilizes multiples of 12 volt DC lead-acid batteries, an electronic digital waveform generator, electronic drivers and "cells," each cell consisting of an array of stainless steel plates. Municiple water containing no additives was used in each test.
|
Tathacus and Xogen continue to develop and fabricate a demonstration home furnace prototype under their joint venture. Xogen advises that it has completed its research and development phase for the home furnace prototype. Xogen is now consulting with an independent engineering company to implement necessary engineering and safety considerations. A prototype furnace will be operational in the near future.
|
About Tathacus Resources Ltd. Tathacus Resources Ltd. is an Alberta-based energy company that plays an active role in the natural gas industry while pursuing viable alternative energy sources. The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Crucero Resources Ltd., has 41 natural gas wells on production in the Altee-Buffalo area of southeastern Alberta. Tathacus Resources also owns 20 percent of Xogen Power Inc., a private company that is developing an advanced energy technology that generates oxygen-hydrogen from tap water on demand.
|
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and the Company can give no assurance that these expectations are correct. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements, including financial considerations and those predicting the timing and market acceptance of future products. The Company disclaims any intention or obligations to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Statement. The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
|
Tathacus Resources Ltd. Summary of ARC test results and Company comment April 6, 2001
|
Following is a summary of some of Alberta Research Council's test results. ARC was not required to conduct an economic assessment of the process. Under the terms of agreements between Tathacus Resources and Xogen Power, certain of the data will remain confidential for proprietary and competitive reasons. A complete copy of the ARC report on the tests has been filed with the Canadian Venture Exchange on a confidential basis.
|
Summary of ARC test results: - The Process involves the passage of electrical current through water for the generation of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas mixture. - A single waveform generator was used to operate a number of cells simultaneously. - No mechanically moving parts were apparent in the four generator systems which were examined and tested. - The feedstock water for the tests of the Process was taken from a municipal water supply line. No additives to the water are employed in the Process. - The gas production appears to be controllable on demand. - Gas samples collected and analyzed were found to contain hydrogen and oxygen gas in a ratio approaching a value of 2:1. - The Process produced a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gases without recombination to at least 50 psi. (ARC did not test beyond 50 psi.) The pressurization increased in a linear manner over time (during the short duration test), as illustrated in the graph in the following URL.
|
http://files.newswire.ca/123/0405pressure.xls
|
(Company note: The data points were derived from an early prototype generator designed for research purposes only and not optimal gas production) - There was no heat sinking or cooling of the water incorporated in the test apparatus. - Water temperatures increased from 13 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius during the test. Temperature increase in the water of the Single Cell Modular Generator was observed to be 0.0013 degrees centigrade/minute/watt of battery input power.
|
http://files.newswire.ca/123/0405temp.xls
|
- Chemical analysis was conducted on the water by an independent laboratory before and after testing. The elements iron and manganese had increased as follows:
|
<< (All Prototype Systems)
|
Before After 10 Minutes After 20 Minutes of Operation of Operation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Iron less than 0.002 mg/L 0.568 mg/L 0.786 mg/L Manganese 0.001 mg/L 0.079 mg/L 0.175 mg/L ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>
|
Both iron and manganese are components of stainless steel, suggesting that the source of the increased iron and manganese content may be the stainless steel plates which form the cells.
|
Tathacus comment on select ARC results: Prototype testing Four prototypes were tested by the ARC. They can be described as follows: 1. Sealed Horizontal Generator - A sealed vessel containing a single cell comprised of stainless steel plates connected to a 12 volt DC power supply, a driver and a single electronic digital waveform generator. The total volume of the vessel with the cell in place was 5.35L. 2. Split System Generator - A split generating system comprised of two sets of four cells contained in 8 open trays, where each tray contained 5 litres of City of Calgary tap water. Each set of four cells was connected to separate 24 volt DC supplies but the two sets were both connected to a single electronic digital waveform generator. 3. Vertical Multiple Cell Generator - A multi-cell sealed vessel containing six vertically aligned cells all connected to a single 24 volt DC power supply, two electronic drivers and a single electronic digital waveform generator. 4. Single Cell Modular Generator - A modular design vessel containing a single horizontal cell measuring approximately 15 cm x 25 cm x 8 cm. The vessel was made from 18 mm thick acrylic material with a top cover of 9.5 mm thick aluminum. The cover allowed for the connection of a thermocouple to monitor water temperature. The vessel contained a single cell connected to a 24 volt DC power supply, a single driver and a single electronic digital waveform generator. The single cell within its own vessel was intended by Xogen to function as the basic building block of its modular, scaleable system.
|
Xogen confirmed to Tathacus that the prototypes supplied for testing deliberately did not incorporate any form of heat sinking of the water. This was necessary to calculate the Process heat gain in order to engineer the cooling requirements necessary for commercial applications. Similarly, the tested prototypes included no filtration equipment to ensure accurate measurement of all properties of the Xogen process.
|
Comment on gas analysis Xogen has advised Tathacus that conventional electrical methods of hydrogen production typically have wet gas output that requires drying prior to most commercial uses. Due to the lower operating temperatures possible with the Xogen process, a dry oxygen-hydrogen gas can be produced that is suitable for combustion purposes without further processing. Given the two-thirds hydrogen, one-third oxygen composition of the gas, Xogen has a nearly perfect stoichiometric mixture for combustion.
|
Comment on iron and manganese findings Xogen has confirmed that plate and connector material optimization has yet to be undertaken. (Re-specification of plate material or design adjustments may occur in future as a result of optimization studies.) Further, Xogen advised the Company that none of the test apparatus has been the subject of optimization engineering, this being the matter of future development intended to be conducted largely in the context of technical co-venture or licensing agreements with appropriate, qualified parties in each field of potential commercial application.
|
"Two graphs are available to accompany this release. To receive a copy by fax please call Canada NewsWire at (403) 269-7605."
|
