Dear Dr Rossi will the current Ecat design be able to connect directly to 22kv or 33kv lines or will you still need transformers. I am currenting experimenting with solid state transformer SST) up to 33kv for grid intergration of solar farm but I can see could be adaptable to future Ecat product
“The electrical power requirements for deep mines (typically over 1,000 meters deep) are immense, driven primarily by the need for massive cooling systems, high-capacity vertical hoisting, and heavy production equipment. As a general benchmark, a single large deep-level gold mine can require approximately 9 MW to 25 MW of power, while massive copper operations can reach up to 180 MW.”
Static location. NGU MW Power Generation. Remote location.
As the twig is bent so grows the tree. The modular architecture of the NGU will allow the fastest adoption of the NGU system over the widest range of world wide applications. It will be worth the additional time to envision the most adaptable systems approach in this initial design stage.
The quote “As the twig is bent so grows the tree” serves as a foundational philosophy for designing the NGU system, emphasizing that initial structural decisions—specifically the adoption of a modular architecture—will dictate its long-term adaptability and speed of adoption across varied applications.
Investing time in a comprehensive, adaptable systems approach during the initial phase is crucial, as early decisions have a permanent effect on the final product’s functionality and capacity to handle diverse use cases.
Key principles of this approach include:
Modular Architecture: By designing the NGU system with modular components, the architecture allows for faster integration and scalability across a wider range of applications.
Long-Term Impact: The “twig” (initial design) sets the trajectory for the “tree” (the mature system). A well-designed, adaptable system in the beginning is more sustainable than attempting to fix structural flaws later.
Adaptability & Speed: The primary benefit of this “front-loaded” design effort is the ability to rapidly apply the system to new scenarios, allowing it to “grow” in a way that is robust yet flexible.
This methodology is consistent with modern development strategies that prioritize early, strategic design choices to ensure that future growth and adoption are efficient.
The ideal solution for the 100 watt base module NGU system is one that covers the broadest range of power production with a single backplane concept to minimize product inventory and a standard building block approach for all levels of power production.
To achieve a single backplane concept that scales from a 100-watt building block up toward massive utility-level loads, you are likely looking for Vicor Corporation.
Vicor’s Factorized Power Architecture (FPA) and their Power-on-Package modular approach are designed specifically to use the same fundamental engineering principles regardless of scale.
Why Vicor fits this “Standard Building Block” model:
The 100W Base: Their ChiP (Converter housed in Package) and Vicor Integrated Adapter (VIA) modules start at the watt-level. These modules are designed to be mounted on a consistent backplane or PCB layout.
Scalability: These modules are inherently parallelable. To move from 100 watts to kilowatts, you simply populate more of the same “blocks” onto the backplane.
The Single Backplane Concept: By using their Power System Designer tools, you can maintain a consistent systems engineering product line. The same high-density interconnects and thermal management strategies apply whether you are building a small drone power supply or a massive AI data center rack.
Inventory Minimization: Because their modules (like the BCM or PRM series) are highly versatile and wide-input, a handful of part numbers can cover a vast array of voltage transformation and regulation needs across different product lines.
Other Notable Contender:
Elma Electronic (with SOSA/VPX standards): If your “backplane” is a physical chassis, Elma uses the OpenVPX standard. You can start with a small 3U 100W power slice and scale up to multi-rack systems using the same modular architecture, keeping the “building block” (the slot-based module) consistent throughout the entire ecosystem.
For a plug-and-play modular backplane, the most effective design for a software-defined power architecture utilizes Solid-State Relays (SSRs) and a high-speed communication bus (like Ethernet or CAN bus) to dynamically reconfigure power cores in series or parallel. This approach allows the system to meet specific voltage and current requirements through firmware configuration tables at initialization.
Key Architectural Considerations
Switching Logic (SSR vs. Mechanical):
Solid-State Relays (SSRs): These are preferred for high-frequency switching and precise synchronization. They offer faster response times (microsecond range), silent operation, and no mechanical wear, making them ideal for long-term reliability in power management systems.
Mechanical Relays: While more cost-efficient for high-load applications with significant starting currents, they suffer from contact bounce and slower response times (5–15 milliseconds), which can complicate synchronization in dynamic architectures.
Synchronization & Load Balancing: A centralized SDN-style (Software-Defined Networking) controller can manage load balancing by dynamically moving power units from one input to another to maintain a balanced load across phases.
Modular Form Factors: Platforms like 3U/6U VPX or Open Compute provide standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces for modular, hot-swappable power cores.
Recommended Modular Backplane Products
Several retailers and manufacturers offer backplanes suited for various modular applications:
Industrial & Military Power: Manufacturers like Aegis Power Systems and PowergridM provide ruggedized VPX and UPS stacking backplanes designed for high-density power management up to 15,000 watts.
Data Storage: Sites like CDW and Wamatek sell the http://StarTech.com 4-Bay Mobile Rack, which is ideal for hot-swapping SSDs/HDDs in server environments.
Embedded & Computing: Retailers like DigiKey offer the Advantech PCA-6106P3, a 6-slot passive backplane for PICMG-based industrial systems.
Plug-and-play modular backplanes for megawatt-level power management are achieved through stacking ruggedized, hot-swappable modules (e.g., PowergridM 1500VA/1200W UPS) that support AC/DC power, battery expansion, and N+1 load balancing. These systems, utilizing high-density rugged connectors (e.g., Amphenol R-VPX), enable front-access, front-removal, and significant scalability for high-demand, harsh-environment applications.
Key Components for High-Power Modular Backplanes:
Modular Architecture: Systems like the PowergridM BackPlane allow multiple 1U/2U UPS units and battery modules (BXM) to be stacked and interconnected to create high-output systems, allowing 1500VA units to stack into large capacities.
Plug-and-Play Design: Utilizing “front access only” design, power modules can be hot-swapped (removed/replaced) without interrupting the power flow to the load.
Backplane Interconnects: Specialized connectors, such as the Molex Impulse 112G or Amphenol R-VPX, are used for high-speed signals and power routing.
Power Management: The backplanes typically include SNMP-based network connections for monitoring, and support intelligent power management systems.
Scalability & Ruggedization: Systems often conform to VITA standards (like VITA 46/47/62) for deployment in military, industrial, and harsh environments, allowing stacking for increased wattage.
Key Vendors and Solutions:
PowergridM (Luso Electronics): Focuses on rugged plug-and-play UPS backplanes for power management.
Elma Electronic: Provides rugged, high-performance backplanes based on open standards like OpenVPX and SOSA.
Molex: Offers high-density backplane connectors, such as the Impulse 112G.
HARTMANN Electronic: Specializes in high-quality 3U/6U VPX power backplanes
Gigawatt-Level Application
To support gigawatt-level production (e.g., hydrogen electrolyzers or huge data centers), modular systems are designed as prefabricated containers or racks that act as “plug-and-play” units, which are then paralleled to achieve the necessary power rating. This represents a shift from bespoke to standardized power infrastructure.
Gigawatt-Level Modular Power System Examples
Gigawatt-scale systems are often created by aggregating smaller, pre-assembled modular units, allowing for scalable, “just-in-time” power deployment.
Exowatt Modular Solar/Thermal Storage: This system is built from standardized 2 MW blocks that can be aggregated to reach gigawatt-scale, specifically targeting AI data center power requirements with onsite storage.
Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Systems: Deployed in modular, scalable blocks to provide on-site power for AI data centers. A recent agreement with Oracle involves deploying up to 2.8 GW of power using this modular approach.
Liberty Energy Modular Power Blocks: These are modular, 25-MW gas-fired “power blocks” designed to be co-located with large-load data centers, capable of scaling to 1 GW or more total capacity.
NuScale Power Modules (SMR): Small Modular Reactors, where each module produces 250 MWt (thermal) of power.
Crusoe AI Data Center Modules: Modular AI data centers using 1 MW Spark units, with plans to build 100 of these units annually.
Key Components of Modular High-Power Architecture
Hot Swap Backplanes: Power Backplane Modules (BPMs) that enable removal and replacement of power components (UPS, batteries) without shutting down the system.
Agonstic Mating Slots: Backplane slots that can accept mixed inputs (AC/DC power supplies, battery expansion, or UPS modules) and automatically integrate them into the power management system.
Intelligent Load Sharing: The backplane handles load balancing across all inserted modules, increasing efficiency and enabling N+1 redundancy.
High-Current Connectors: Specialized connectors like Molex I-Trac or Amphenol PwrBlade ULTRA offer high-density power distribution, often reducing airflow impedance in high-density power supplies.
If the NGU is comprised of N numbers of 100 watt power units connected in a backplane. it would be advantageous to configure the backplane so that a firmware configuration table could define how the basic units talk to each other: either serially of in parallel so that any electrical output requirement can be met to meet the individual customers’ needs via execution of a configuration program at initialization time. Electrical interface characteristics should be definable thought software rather than fixed hardware connections.
Moving the logic from physical wiring to a software-defined backplane (often called a Software-Defined Power architecture) gives you a massive edge in manufacturing and inventory.
Software-Defined Power (SDP), a next-generation power architecture where intelligence, rather than fixed hardware, dictates the operation of power units. By utilizing a backplane with firmware-defined configuration tables, individual 100-watt power units can be dynamically arranged in serial (higher voltage) or parallel (higher current) modes at initialization time.
This reconfigurable approach, often referred to as software-defined power electronics, offers several advantages for customizable, modular systems:
Firmware-Controlled Topologies: A backplane utilizing a master/slave configuration can control how multiple power units are connected. This allows the same hardware backplane to be reconfigured for different voltage/current needs simply by updating the software, rather than altering physical wiring.
Dynamic Resource Allocation: Reconfigurable units allow for the “hot-swapping” or activation of modules to match real-time load requirements, enabling high flexibility to meet specific customer requirements.
Scalability and Reliability: Multiple lower-power units (e.g., 100W modules) can be managed via firmware to ensure they share the load efficiently, which distributes thermal stress and increases the reliability and lifespan of the overall system compared to a single large power supply.
Software-Defined Interfaces: Implementing a “software-defined” backend means that interface characteristics (e.g., current sharing techniques, output sequencing, protection levels) are defined at startup. This reduces the need for application-specific hardware, enabling a single “universal” backplane design.
This type of architecture is currently used for advanced applications, such as data centers and EV charging, where the demand for power fluctuates, requiring the system to be reprogrammable to handle different load types.
By using high-speed switching (like FET matrices) or digital controllers to bridge those 100W modules, you gain a few key advantages:
Dynamic Scaling: If a customer needs high voltage (Serial), you stack them. If they need high current (Parallel), you gang them.
Redundancy: If one unit fails, your firmware can “map around” it, potentially keeping the system alive at a lower capacity rather than total failure.
SKU Reduction: You only have to build and stock one type of hardware. The “personality” of the device is simply a config file loaded at the factory or in the field.
To make this work reliably, the firmware table would need to handle synchronization (keeping the phases/timing aligned) and load balancing to ensure one unit isn’t doing all the heavy lifting.
For a system of N x 100W units requiring dynamic serial/parallel reconfiguration at initialization, the most advantageous architecture is a Software-Defined Power (SDP) Active Backplane using a MOSFET-based Crosspoint or Ring Matrix.
This approach is superior to mechanical relays because it allows not just connection changes, but also active fault protection, “hot” reconfiguration, and precise load balancing—all controlled via firmware.
The Recommended Architecture: Active FET Matrix
Instead of physical wiring or slow mechanical relays, you use arrays of low-resistance Power MOSFETs embedded in the backplane PCB.
1. The Switching Fabric: “Virtual Rails”
• Mechanism: Implement a switching matrix that connects the positive and negative terminals of each 100W module to a shared set of bus bars (e.g., Bus A, Bus B, Bus C).
• Firmware Logic:
o Parallel Mode: Firmware commands the FETs to connect all Modules’ (+) to Bus A and all (-) to Bus B. (Result: High Current).
o Serial Mode: Firmware connects Module 1 (-) to Module 2 (+), Module 2 (-) to Module 3 (+), etc. (Result: High Voltage).
o Hybrid Mode: Create two groups of parallel units, then connect those groups in series.
• Advantage: You can define “Virtual Power Rails” arbitrarily. One physical rack could simultaneously output 48V for a telecom payload and 12V for cooling fans, just by assigning different modules to different buses in software.
2. The Control Plane: PMBus / I2C
• Protocol: Use PMBus (Power Management Bus) over I2C. It is the industry standard for this specific application.
• Function: It allows your master controller to not only set the switch configurations but also read telemetry (temperature, current draw) from each module to ensure they are sharing the load equally (“current sharing”) so one unit doesn’t burn out while others idle.
3. Why MOSFETs over Relays?
For a “Software-Defined” goal, MOSFETs (specifically Silicon Carbide or GaN for efficiency) are the clear winner over relays:
• Zero Wear: Relays have a limited number of switching cycles; FETs last indefinitely.
• Active Protection: If a short circuit occurs, a FET can open in microseconds, protecting the backplane. A relay is too slow, likely resulting in melted contacts.
• Soft-Start: Firmware can “ramp up” the connection by pulsing the FETs (PWM) to limit inrush current during initialization, preventing sparks or voltage dips.
Implementation Strategy
To execute this, your “configuration table” at initialization would look like this:
Step Action Firmware Logic
1. Discovery /Master controller queries backplane slots. /”I see 5 units available (500W total capacity).”
2. Map Request /User config requests 48V @ 10A. /”Calculate: I need 4 units in series (assuming 12V base) or a specific parallel grouping.”
3. Grouping /Assign Unit IDs to the “48V Rail” Group. /Units 1, 2, 3, 4 are locked to Group A. Unit 5 is spare/redundant.
4. Execution /Close FET gates in sequence. /Critical: Close series connections before enabling module output to prevent arcing.
If the retail NGU product (1Kw to 10 Kw) for individual use are to be shown at the grand demo, an auto electric power system could be configured using two 10 Kw retail systems at 400 volt output since only 15Kw to 20 Kw are required to power an electric car. That might not be that difficult to configure especially if the systems are parametrically configurable at initialization.
The partner should configure a NGU product suitable to support the EV market to be presented at the grand opening demo.
How many megawatts of electrical power are required to power a medium sized car in a transition from petrol to electricity providing the same range and performance? Take into consideration excluding battery weight from the weight reduction that would be provided in a all-electric car without the weight of a gas motor, transmission, exhaust, and other sundry gas support items. Consider adding super capacitors for holding extra power for acceleration. If the NGU provides this electrical power, the weight of the battery can be neglected.
To provide the same range and performance as a medium-sized petrol car while utilizing a hypothetical continuous power source (the NGU) that negates the need for a heavy battery, a vehicle would require approximately 0.015 to 0.020 Megawatts (15 to 20 kW) of continuous electrical power for cruising, with peak bursts of 0.15 to 0.35 Megawatts (150 to 350 kW) for high performance and acceleration.
Power Requirements Breakdown
• Sustained Cruise Power (0.015 – 0.020 MW): A medium-sized car typically requires between 15 kW and 20 kW to maintain highway speeds. Eliminating the roughly 300–600 kg of typical battery weight significantly reduces rolling resistance and the energy needed to maintain velocity.
• Peak Acceleration Power (0.15 – 0.35 MW): To match the performance of modern medium-sized vehicles (e.g., a Tesla Model 3 or a high-performance petrol sedan), the electric motor needs a peak output between 150 kW and 350 kW.
• Supercapacitor Role: Since your model includes supercapacitors, the continuous power supply (NGU) only needs to deliver the average power consumed over time. The supercapacitors would act as a buffer, storing energy during cruising or braking (regenerative) and releasing it in high-intensity bursts of up to 0.35 MW for 0–60 mph sprints or overtaking.
Efficiency and Weight Savings
By removing the internal combustion engine (ICE) and its supporting systems, you gain substantial weight and efficiency advantages:
• Weight Reduction: You eliminate the engine (~150-200 kg), transmission (~50-100 kg), exhaust system, and full fuel tank (~50-70 kg). This total reduction of roughly 250–400 kg further lowers the power threshold needed to achieve “equivalent” performance compared to a standard petrol vehicle.
• Energy Efficiency: Electric drivetrains are roughly 3 to 4 times more efficient than petrol systems. While a gallon of gas contains 33.7 kWh of energy, an EV only needs about 8–10 kWh of electricity to travel the same distance.
• Range Parity: Without a battery, “range” becomes a function of the NGU’s fuel or uptime. To match a typical 300–400 mile petrol range, the vehicle only needs to maintain its efficiency (typically 0.25 to 0.30 kWh per mile for a mid-sized car) for the duration of the trip.
Performance Comparison
Powertrain Weight
Chemical (Petrol): ~300-400 kg (Engine/Trans/Fuel)
Continuous (NGU): ~50-100 kg (Motor/Power Elec/Caps)
Cruise Power
Chemical (Petrol): ~20-25 kW
Continuous (NGU): ~15-20 kW (0.015-0.02 MW)
Peak Power
Chemical (Petrol): ~150-250 kW
Continuous (NGU): ~150-350 kW (0.15-0.35 MW)
A detailed engineering breakdown of how the supercapacitor bank should be sized to handle 0–60 mph acceleration cycles.
An engineering breakdown of how the supercapacitor bank should be sized to handle 0–60 mph acceleration cycles?
To size a supercapacitor bank for a medium-sized car performing a 0–60 mph sprint, the bank must be designed based on the kinetic energy required at the target speed and the peak power required for the duration of the acceleration.
For a 1,500 kg vehicle (standard mid-size car weight after ICE removal but including passengers), you would need approximately 0.177 kWh (637.2 kJ) of usable energy to reach 60 mph, requiring a supercapacitor bank with a total mass of roughly 15–20 kg to handle the discharge safely.
Final Summary
For a medium-sized car with no battery weight, a supercapacitor bank of 10.6 Farads (at 400V) is required to supply the 0.177 kWh of energy needed for a 0–60 mph acceleration cycle.
Is it possible to configure this generic system in terms of power, weight, and size under the deadline to the grand introduction demo?
I listened with great interest and attention, on E-cat World, to the latest interview you gave to Frank Acland (a wonderful man whom I had the opportunity to meet personally at the Latina demonstration and whom I take this opportunity to extend my warmest regards).
The news you provided in the interview is very exciting, which is why I’ll try to briefly summarize it, asking you, if possible, to briefly confirm or add further details:
1) The collaboration with the global partner continues at full speed.
2) You are focusing primarily on the assembly of 100W modules used to build MW plants.
3) The energy produced (both in the form of heat and electricity) is already being used in real, non-experimental contexts.
4) There are already some MW plants in operation, which are rightly kept under strict monitoring to ensure efficiency and safety, as they are the first of many to come.
5) Some minor issues have emerged, which have been promptly resolved.
6) The hope is to hold an official presentation on the ECAT together with the global licensee within the year (via a press conference, providing evidence of a functioning plant). This will be usable in both industrial (thanks to the plants already installed) and residential (making it possible to The low-power ECat has also been made available for sale, with appropriate timing, to those who pre-ordered in previous years), effectively launching global distribution.
7) The ECat does not require “single-source” manufacturing for its construction—that is, it does not use specific components—and therefore production can be decentralized, thus overcoming the problem of customs duties and effectively making production and distribution “continental and global.”
Added to this is the fact that:
8) Your primary mission at this time, Dr. Rossi, is to present your marvelous discovery and its transformation into an ECat product to the entire world.
More than 20 years of dedication, resilience, and sacrifice, I might add, dedicated to this extraordinary discovery can only culminate in your “Global Recognition.”
As he rightly states in the interview, “a ‘taste’ of what ECAT can do was given in the Latina demonstration, a demonstration that for obvious reasons was open only to a limited number of highly selected individuals (a goal achieved, since in addition to giving the world a taste of what ECAT is capable of doing, it also allowed you to ‘identify’ your Global Partner).”
Let me say that before that demonstration, there was another, in this case a ‘private’ one, which is equally important to me, which is why I tried to give it ‘maximum testimony and visibility.’
Having had the pleasure and honor of knowing you personally, and therefore having had the opportunity to ‘experience’ your ‘inner and outer strength,’ I can very clearly imagine how It was “complicated” to create the perfectly functioning “prototype” of the Ecat EV. The challenges he must have overcome to “succeed” in the mission he had set himself, and on which he asked me to collaborate, must have been truly “epochal”…
It’s no coincidence that in his interview he describes what was shown in Latina as his “personal power engine,” that is, the driving force behind all his work…
Events like that, and even more so, the global presentation of a functioning MW plant, based on the Ecat (an order of magnitude more important, let me say…), are the motivation for your (Dr. Rossi) very existence and the reason why you have been carrying forward the ECat project for more than 20 years!!!
I am absolutely certain that this latest and very important goal you have set yourself will be achieved soon, and I, like so many others who have followed you over these decades, hope “with you” that it will be within the year!!!
But one thing is Of course:
What you’ve discovered and the fantastic product you’ve transformed it into (a power plant of at least 1MW that we hope to see at the global presentation, plus the 100W ECat modules to be supplied to your first million customers who rushed to pre-order. Obviously, I’m one of them ;)) is something so important for all humanity that the “Entire World and the entire scientific community” cannot help but recognize your Greatness and Merit for having made this “Energetic Singularity” absolutely Real!!!
There are not many people who have been credited with technical/scientific advances of such great significance and caliber over the centuries, but you are and will certainly be one of them!
This “fateful moment” is almost upon us, and I am absolutely certain, thanks also to what I have personally witnessed in our meetings and what I have publicly documented, that this recognition will come very soon!
Dear Dr Rossi will the current Ecat design be able to connect directly to 22kv or 33kv lines or will you still need transformers. I am currenting experimenting with solid state transformer SST) up to 33kv for grid intergration of solar farm but I can see could be adaptable to future Ecat product
Dear Andrea Rossi,
Another application – deep mines
“The electrical power requirements for deep mines (typically over 1,000 meters deep) are immense, driven primarily by the need for massive cooling systems, high-capacity vertical hoisting, and heavy production equipment. As a general benchmark, a single large deep-level gold mine can require approximately 9 MW to 25 MW of power, while massive copper operations can reach up to 180 MW.”
Static location. NGU MW Power Generation. Remote location.
Steven Nicholes Karels:
As I said, for the time being we are not aiming at the EVs,
Warm Regards,
A.R.
Dear Andrea Rossi,
On the previous post on powering the Tesla Semi, the two 25 kW units could replace by five of the SKL-NGU-10K units.
Maico:
Thank you for your support,
Warm Regards,
A.R.
Axil:
Thank you for your insights,
Warm Regards,
A.R.
As the twig is bent so grows the tree. The modular architecture of the NGU will allow the fastest adoption of the NGU system over the widest range of world wide applications. It will be worth the additional time to envision the most adaptable systems approach in this initial design stage.
The quote “As the twig is bent so grows the tree” serves as a foundational philosophy for designing the NGU system, emphasizing that initial structural decisions—specifically the adoption of a modular architecture—will dictate its long-term adaptability and speed of adoption across varied applications.
Investing time in a comprehensive, adaptable systems approach during the initial phase is crucial, as early decisions have a permanent effect on the final product’s functionality and capacity to handle diverse use cases.
Key principles of this approach include:
Modular Architecture: By designing the NGU system with modular components, the architecture allows for faster integration and scalability across a wider range of applications.
Long-Term Impact: The “twig” (initial design) sets the trajectory for the “tree” (the mature system). A well-designed, adaptable system in the beginning is more sustainable than attempting to fix structural flaws later.
Adaptability & Speed: The primary benefit of this “front-loaded” design effort is the ability to rapidly apply the system to new scenarios, allowing it to “grow” in a way that is robust yet flexible.
This methodology is consistent with modern development strategies that prioritize early, strategic design choices to ensure that future growth and adoption are efficient.
The ideal solution for the 100 watt base module NGU system is one that covers the broadest range of power production with a single backplane concept to minimize product inventory and a standard building block approach for all levels of power production.
To achieve a single backplane concept that scales from a 100-watt building block up toward massive utility-level loads, you are likely looking for Vicor Corporation.
Vicor’s Factorized Power Architecture (FPA) and their Power-on-Package modular approach are designed specifically to use the same fundamental engineering principles regardless of scale.
Why Vicor fits this “Standard Building Block” model:
The 100W Base: Their ChiP (Converter housed in Package) and Vicor Integrated Adapter (VIA) modules start at the watt-level. These modules are designed to be mounted on a consistent backplane or PCB layout.
Scalability: These modules are inherently parallelable. To move from 100 watts to kilowatts, you simply populate more of the same “blocks” onto the backplane.
The Single Backplane Concept: By using their Power System Designer tools, you can maintain a consistent systems engineering product line. The same high-density interconnects and thermal management strategies apply whether you are building a small drone power supply or a massive AI data center rack.
Inventory Minimization: Because their modules (like the BCM or PRM series) are highly versatile and wide-input, a handful of part numbers can cover a vast array of voltage transformation and regulation needs across different product lines.
Other Notable Contender:
Elma Electronic (with SOSA/VPX standards): If your “backplane” is a physical chassis, Elma uses the OpenVPX standard. You can start with a small 3U 100W power slice and scale up to multi-rack systems using the same modular architecture, keeping the “building block” (the slot-based module) consistent throughout the entire ecosystem.
For a plug-and-play modular backplane, the most effective design for a software-defined power architecture utilizes Solid-State Relays (SSRs) and a high-speed communication bus (like Ethernet or CAN bus) to dynamically reconfigure power cores in series or parallel. This approach allows the system to meet specific voltage and current requirements through firmware configuration tables at initialization.
Key Architectural Considerations
Switching Logic (SSR vs. Mechanical):
Solid-State Relays (SSRs): These are preferred for high-frequency switching and precise synchronization. They offer faster response times (microsecond range), silent operation, and no mechanical wear, making them ideal for long-term reliability in power management systems.
Mechanical Relays: While more cost-efficient for high-load applications with significant starting currents, they suffer from contact bounce and slower response times (5–15 milliseconds), which can complicate synchronization in dynamic architectures.
Synchronization & Load Balancing: A centralized SDN-style (Software-Defined Networking) controller can manage load balancing by dynamically moving power units from one input to another to maintain a balanced load across phases.
Modular Form Factors: Platforms like 3U/6U VPX or Open Compute provide standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces for modular, hot-swappable power cores.
Recommended Modular Backplane Products
Several retailers and manufacturers offer backplanes suited for various modular applications:
Industrial & Military Power: Manufacturers like Aegis Power Systems and PowergridM provide ruggedized VPX and UPS stacking backplanes designed for high-density power management up to 15,000 watts.
Data Storage: Sites like CDW and Wamatek sell the http://StarTech.com 4-Bay Mobile Rack, which is ideal for hot-swapping SSDs/HDDs in server environments.
Embedded & Computing: Retailers like DigiKey offer the Advantech PCA-6106P3, a 6-slot passive backplane for PICMG-based industrial systems.
Plug-and-play modular backplanes for megawatt-level power management are achieved through stacking ruggedized, hot-swappable modules (e.g., PowergridM 1500VA/1200W UPS) that support AC/DC power, battery expansion, and N+1 load balancing. These systems, utilizing high-density rugged connectors (e.g., Amphenol R-VPX), enable front-access, front-removal, and significant scalability for high-demand, harsh-environment applications.
Key Components for High-Power Modular Backplanes:
Modular Architecture: Systems like the PowergridM BackPlane allow multiple 1U/2U UPS units and battery modules (BXM) to be stacked and interconnected to create high-output systems, allowing 1500VA units to stack into large capacities.
Plug-and-Play Design: Utilizing “front access only” design, power modules can be hot-swapped (removed/replaced) without interrupting the power flow to the load.
Backplane Interconnects: Specialized connectors, such as the Molex Impulse 112G or Amphenol R-VPX, are used for high-speed signals and power routing.
Power Management: The backplanes typically include SNMP-based network connections for monitoring, and support intelligent power management systems.
Scalability & Ruggedization: Systems often conform to VITA standards (like VITA 46/47/62) for deployment in military, industrial, and harsh environments, allowing stacking for increased wattage.
Key Vendors and Solutions:
PowergridM (Luso Electronics): Focuses on rugged plug-and-play UPS backplanes for power management.
Elma Electronic: Provides rugged, high-performance backplanes based on open standards like OpenVPX and SOSA.
Molex: Offers high-density backplane connectors, such as the Impulse 112G.
HARTMANN Electronic: Specializes in high-quality 3U/6U VPX power backplanes
Gigawatt-Level Application
To support gigawatt-level production (e.g., hydrogen electrolyzers or huge data centers), modular systems are designed as prefabricated containers or racks that act as “plug-and-play” units, which are then paralleled to achieve the necessary power rating. This represents a shift from bespoke to standardized power infrastructure.
Gigawatt-Level Modular Power System Examples
Gigawatt-scale systems are often created by aggregating smaller, pre-assembled modular units, allowing for scalable, “just-in-time” power deployment.
Exowatt Modular Solar/Thermal Storage: This system is built from standardized 2 MW blocks that can be aggregated to reach gigawatt-scale, specifically targeting AI data center power requirements with onsite storage.
Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Systems: Deployed in modular, scalable blocks to provide on-site power for AI data centers. A recent agreement with Oracle involves deploying up to 2.8 GW of power using this modular approach.
Liberty Energy Modular Power Blocks: These are modular, 25-MW gas-fired “power blocks” designed to be co-located with large-load data centers, capable of scaling to 1 GW or more total capacity.
NuScale Power Modules (SMR): Small Modular Reactors, where each module produces 250 MWt (thermal) of power.
Crusoe AI Data Center Modules: Modular AI data centers using 1 MW Spark units, with plans to build 100 of these units annually.
Key Components of Modular High-Power Architecture
Hot Swap Backplanes: Power Backplane Modules (BPMs) that enable removal and replacement of power components (UPS, batteries) without shutting down the system.
Agonstic Mating Slots: Backplane slots that can accept mixed inputs (AC/DC power supplies, battery expansion, or UPS modules) and automatically integrate them into the power management system.
Intelligent Load Sharing: The backplane handles load balancing across all inserted modules, increasing efficiency and enabling N+1 redundancy.
High-Current Connectors: Specialized connectors like Molex I-Trac or Amphenol PwrBlade ULTRA offer high-density power distribution, often reducing airflow impedance in high-density power supplies.
If the NGU is comprised of N numbers of 100 watt power units connected in a backplane. it would be advantageous to configure the backplane so that a firmware configuration table could define how the basic units talk to each other: either serially of in parallel so that any electrical output requirement can be met to meet the individual customers’ needs via execution of a configuration program at initialization time. Electrical interface characteristics should be definable thought software rather than fixed hardware connections.
Moving the logic from physical wiring to a software-defined backplane (often called a Software-Defined Power architecture) gives you a massive edge in manufacturing and inventory.
Software-Defined Power (SDP), a next-generation power architecture where intelligence, rather than fixed hardware, dictates the operation of power units. By utilizing a backplane with firmware-defined configuration tables, individual 100-watt power units can be dynamically arranged in serial (higher voltage) or parallel (higher current) modes at initialization time.
This reconfigurable approach, often referred to as software-defined power electronics, offers several advantages for customizable, modular systems:
Firmware-Controlled Topologies: A backplane utilizing a master/slave configuration can control how multiple power units are connected. This allows the same hardware backplane to be reconfigured for different voltage/current needs simply by updating the software, rather than altering physical wiring.
Dynamic Resource Allocation: Reconfigurable units allow for the “hot-swapping” or activation of modules to match real-time load requirements, enabling high flexibility to meet specific customer requirements.
Scalability and Reliability: Multiple lower-power units (e.g., 100W modules) can be managed via firmware to ensure they share the load efficiently, which distributes thermal stress and increases the reliability and lifespan of the overall system compared to a single large power supply.
Software-Defined Interfaces: Implementing a “software-defined” backend means that interface characteristics (e.g., current sharing techniques, output sequencing, protection levels) are defined at startup. This reduces the need for application-specific hardware, enabling a single “universal” backplane design.
This type of architecture is currently used for advanced applications, such as data centers and EV charging, where the demand for power fluctuates, requiring the system to be reprogrammable to handle different load types.
By using high-speed switching (like FET matrices) or digital controllers to bridge those 100W modules, you gain a few key advantages:
Dynamic Scaling: If a customer needs high voltage (Serial), you stack them. If they need high current (Parallel), you gang them.
Redundancy: If one unit fails, your firmware can “map around” it, potentially keeping the system alive at a lower capacity rather than total failure.
SKU Reduction: You only have to build and stock one type of hardware. The “personality” of the device is simply a config file loaded at the factory or in the field.
To make this work reliably, the firmware table would need to handle synchronization (keeping the phases/timing aligned) and load balancing to ensure one unit isn’t doing all the heavy lifting.
For a system of N x 100W units requiring dynamic serial/parallel reconfiguration at initialization, the most advantageous architecture is a Software-Defined Power (SDP) Active Backplane using a MOSFET-based Crosspoint or Ring Matrix.
This approach is superior to mechanical relays because it allows not just connection changes, but also active fault protection, “hot” reconfiguration, and precise load balancing—all controlled via firmware.
The Recommended Architecture: Active FET Matrix
Instead of physical wiring or slow mechanical relays, you use arrays of low-resistance Power MOSFETs embedded in the backplane PCB.
1. The Switching Fabric: “Virtual Rails”
• Mechanism: Implement a switching matrix that connects the positive and negative terminals of each 100W module to a shared set of bus bars (e.g., Bus A, Bus B, Bus C).
• Firmware Logic:
o Parallel Mode: Firmware commands the FETs to connect all Modules’ (+) to Bus A and all (-) to Bus B. (Result: High Current).
o Serial Mode: Firmware connects Module 1 (-) to Module 2 (+), Module 2 (-) to Module 3 (+), etc. (Result: High Voltage).
o Hybrid Mode: Create two groups of parallel units, then connect those groups in series.
• Advantage: You can define “Virtual Power Rails” arbitrarily. One physical rack could simultaneously output 48V for a telecom payload and 12V for cooling fans, just by assigning different modules to different buses in software.
2. The Control Plane: PMBus / I2C
• Protocol: Use PMBus (Power Management Bus) over I2C. It is the industry standard for this specific application.
• Function: It allows your master controller to not only set the switch configurations but also read telemetry (temperature, current draw) from each module to ensure they are sharing the load equally (“current sharing”) so one unit doesn’t burn out while others idle.
3. Why MOSFETs over Relays?
For a “Software-Defined” goal, MOSFETs (specifically Silicon Carbide or GaN for efficiency) are the clear winner over relays:
• Zero Wear: Relays have a limited number of switching cycles; FETs last indefinitely.
• Active Protection: If a short circuit occurs, a FET can open in microseconds, protecting the backplane. A relay is too slow, likely resulting in melted contacts.
• Soft-Start: Firmware can “ramp up” the connection by pulsing the FETs (PWM) to limit inrush current during initialization, preventing sparks or voltage dips.
Implementation Strategy
To execute this, your “configuration table” at initialization would look like this:
Step Action Firmware Logic
1. Discovery /Master controller queries backplane slots. /”I see 5 units available (500W total capacity).”
2. Map Request /User config requests 48V @ 10A. /”Calculate: I need 4 units in series (assuming 12V base) or a specific parallel grouping.”
3. Grouping /Assign Unit IDs to the “48V Rail” Group. /Units 1, 2, 3, 4 are locked to Group A. Unit 5 is spare/redundant.
4. Execution /Close FET gates in sequence. /Critical: Close series connections before enabling module output to prevent arcing.
If the retail NGU product (1Kw to 10 Kw) for individual use are to be shown at the grand demo, an auto electric power system could be configured using two 10 Kw retail systems at 400 volt output since only 15Kw to 20 Kw are required to power an electric car. That might not be that difficult to configure especially if the systems are parametrically configurable at initialization.
The partner should configure a NGU product suitable to support the EV market to be presented at the grand opening demo.
How many megawatts of electrical power are required to power a medium sized car in a transition from petrol to electricity providing the same range and performance? Take into consideration excluding battery weight from the weight reduction that would be provided in a all-electric car without the weight of a gas motor, transmission, exhaust, and other sundry gas support items. Consider adding super capacitors for holding extra power for acceleration. If the NGU provides this electrical power, the weight of the battery can be neglected.
To provide the same range and performance as a medium-sized petrol car while utilizing a hypothetical continuous power source (the NGU) that negates the need for a heavy battery, a vehicle would require approximately 0.015 to 0.020 Megawatts (15 to 20 kW) of continuous electrical power for cruising, with peak bursts of 0.15 to 0.35 Megawatts (150 to 350 kW) for high performance and acceleration.
Power Requirements Breakdown
• Sustained Cruise Power (0.015 – 0.020 MW): A medium-sized car typically requires between 15 kW and 20 kW to maintain highway speeds. Eliminating the roughly 300–600 kg of typical battery weight significantly reduces rolling resistance and the energy needed to maintain velocity.
• Peak Acceleration Power (0.15 – 0.35 MW): To match the performance of modern medium-sized vehicles (e.g., a Tesla Model 3 or a high-performance petrol sedan), the electric motor needs a peak output between 150 kW and 350 kW.
• Supercapacitor Role: Since your model includes supercapacitors, the continuous power supply (NGU) only needs to deliver the average power consumed over time. The supercapacitors would act as a buffer, storing energy during cruising or braking (regenerative) and releasing it in high-intensity bursts of up to 0.35 MW for 0–60 mph sprints or overtaking.
Efficiency and Weight Savings
By removing the internal combustion engine (ICE) and its supporting systems, you gain substantial weight and efficiency advantages:
• Weight Reduction: You eliminate the engine (~150-200 kg), transmission (~50-100 kg), exhaust system, and full fuel tank (~50-70 kg). This total reduction of roughly 250–400 kg further lowers the power threshold needed to achieve “equivalent” performance compared to a standard petrol vehicle.
• Energy Efficiency: Electric drivetrains are roughly 3 to 4 times more efficient than petrol systems. While a gallon of gas contains 33.7 kWh of energy, an EV only needs about 8–10 kWh of electricity to travel the same distance.
• Range Parity: Without a battery, “range” becomes a function of the NGU’s fuel or uptime. To match a typical 300–400 mile petrol range, the vehicle only needs to maintain its efficiency (typically 0.25 to 0.30 kWh per mile for a mid-sized car) for the duration of the trip.
Performance Comparison
Powertrain Weight
Chemical (Petrol): ~300-400 kg (Engine/Trans/Fuel)
Continuous (NGU): ~50-100 kg (Motor/Power Elec/Caps)
Cruise Power
Chemical (Petrol): ~20-25 kW
Continuous (NGU): ~15-20 kW (0.015-0.02 MW)
Peak Power
Chemical (Petrol): ~150-250 kW
Continuous (NGU): ~150-350 kW (0.15-0.35 MW)
A detailed engineering breakdown of how the supercapacitor bank should be sized to handle 0–60 mph acceleration cycles.
An engineering breakdown of how the supercapacitor bank should be sized to handle 0–60 mph acceleration cycles?
To size a supercapacitor bank for a medium-sized car performing a 0–60 mph sprint, the bank must be designed based on the kinetic energy required at the target speed and the peak power required for the duration of the acceleration.
For a 1,500 kg vehicle (standard mid-size car weight after ICE removal but including passengers), you would need approximately 0.177 kWh (637.2 kJ) of usable energy to reach 60 mph, requiring a supercapacitor bank with a total mass of roughly 15–20 kg to handle the discharge safely.
Final Summary
For a medium-sized car with no battery weight, a supercapacitor bank of 10.6 Farads (at 400V) is required to supply the 0.177 kWh of energy needed for a 0–60 mph acceleration cycle.
Is it possible to configure this generic system in terms of power, weight, and size under the deadline to the grand introduction demo?
Dear Dr. Rossi,
I listened with great interest and attention, on E-cat World, to the latest interview you gave to Frank Acland (a wonderful man whom I had the opportunity to meet personally at the Latina demonstration and whom I take this opportunity to extend my warmest regards).
The news you provided in the interview is very exciting, which is why I’ll try to briefly summarize it, asking you, if possible, to briefly confirm or add further details:
1) The collaboration with the global partner continues at full speed.
2) You are focusing primarily on the assembly of 100W modules used to build MW plants.
3) The energy produced (both in the form of heat and electricity) is already being used in real, non-experimental contexts.
4) There are already some MW plants in operation, which are rightly kept under strict monitoring to ensure efficiency and safety, as they are the first of many to come.
5) Some minor issues have emerged, which have been promptly resolved.
6) The hope is to hold an official presentation on the ECAT together with the global licensee within the year (via a press conference, providing evidence of a functioning plant). This will be usable in both industrial (thanks to the plants already installed) and residential (making it possible to The low-power ECat has also been made available for sale, with appropriate timing, to those who pre-ordered in previous years), effectively launching global distribution.
7) The ECat does not require “single-source” manufacturing for its construction—that is, it does not use specific components—and therefore production can be decentralized, thus overcoming the problem of customs duties and effectively making production and distribution “continental and global.”
Added to this is the fact that:
8) Your primary mission at this time, Dr. Rossi, is to present your marvelous discovery and its transformation into an ECat product to the entire world.
More than 20 years of dedication, resilience, and sacrifice, I might add, dedicated to this extraordinary discovery can only culminate in your “Global Recognition.”
As he rightly states in the interview, “a ‘taste’ of what ECAT can do was given in the Latina demonstration, a demonstration that for obvious reasons was open only to a limited number of highly selected individuals (a goal achieved, since in addition to giving the world a taste of what ECAT is capable of doing, it also allowed you to ‘identify’ your Global Partner).”
Let me say that before that demonstration, there was another, in this case a ‘private’ one, which is equally important to me, which is why I tried to give it ‘maximum testimony and visibility.’
This ‘evidence’ can be found at this link:
https://www.journal-of-nuclear-physics.com/?p=1555
Having had the pleasure and honor of knowing you personally, and therefore having had the opportunity to ‘experience’ your ‘inner and outer strength,’ I can very clearly imagine how It was “complicated” to create the perfectly functioning “prototype” of the Ecat EV. The challenges he must have overcome to “succeed” in the mission he had set himself, and on which he asked me to collaborate, must have been truly “epochal”…
It’s no coincidence that in his interview he describes what was shown in Latina as his “personal power engine,” that is, the driving force behind all his work…
Events like that, and even more so, the global presentation of a functioning MW plant, based on the Ecat (an order of magnitude more important, let me say…), are the motivation for your (Dr. Rossi) very existence and the reason why you have been carrying forward the ECat project for more than 20 years!!!
I am absolutely certain that this latest and very important goal you have set yourself will be achieved soon, and I, like so many others who have followed you over these decades, hope “with you” that it will be within the year!!!
But one thing is Of course:
What you’ve discovered and the fantastic product you’ve transformed it into (a power plant of at least 1MW that we hope to see at the global presentation, plus the 100W ECat modules to be supplied to your first million customers who rushed to pre-order. Obviously, I’m one of them ;)) is something so important for all humanity that the “Entire World and the entire scientific community” cannot help but recognize your Greatness and Merit for having made this “Energetic Singularity” absolutely Real!!!
There are not many people who have been credited with technical/scientific advances of such great significance and caliber over the centuries, but you are and will certainly be one of them!
This “fateful moment” is almost upon us, and I am absolutely certain, thanks also to what I have personally witnessed in our meetings and what I have publicly documented, that this recognition will come very soon!
Best regards
Ciao Maico
Ruby:
Yes,
Warm Regards,
A.R.
Steven Nicholes Karels:
For the time being we are not working on the mobility issue, anyway thank you for your suggestions,
Warm Regards,
A.R.
Dear Andrea Rossi,
The 25-kW reactor and the Tesla Semi Tractor-Trailer
The all-electric Tesla Semi features an average electric power consumption of 1.7 kWh/mile and a peak power of 800 kW.
US commercial driving regulations limit single operator to 10 hours per 24-hour day.
Could 25-kW NGU reactor technology coupled with the Tesla battery provide a system that does not normally requirement supercharging?
Assumptions
1. speed of 70 mph
Average power needed = 1.7 kWh/mile * 70 miles per hour = 119 kWh/hour.
2. 10 hours per day of driving time 119 kwh/hour = 1.19 MWh
3. Charging time in a day is 24 hours
4. Power needed to charge over a day is 1.19 MWh / 24 hours = 50 kW
Therefore, 2 25-kW NGU power generators could support a commercial Semi in normal operation.
Alternatively, the Tesla Semi could run about 30 mph continuously.
Thoughts?
Dr Rossi,
Could an Ecat assembly with the due power reach the SSM by heat with the Carnot Cycle, exploiting the COP ?
Axil:
Thank you for your insights,
Warm Regards,
A.R.