11/09/06 - Recent Intellectual Property Developments:  I am pleased to report that a utility Patent No. 200,657 was granted for the EDF Generator in India on August 10, 2006, and that all applicable fees to date have been paid. We are still waiting to receive an official decision of grant regarding the corresponding Chinese application, but apparently that patent has also been approved for issuance. I should also note that Mexican Patent No. 236044 for the EDF Generator was issued April 19, 2006, and the maintenance fees are paid up until July 11, 2011.
    Also, I've been granted Design Patent # 309465 in Australia for the Syntrefoil Aeroturbine as of September 4, 2006, and the next maintenance annuity is not due until August 1, 2011. We have had some excellent feedback and strong indications of interest regarding this exciting novel approach to an age-old technology, and are actively seeking a "Project Sponsor" for the 16-foot-dia. prototype pilot plant we'll be putting up in the spring! I might point out that this residential wind turbine system will have an exceptional nominal rating of 5.3kW (at 32 mph), compared to the 3kW 12'-diameter "design model" described on our webpage . . .!  

Cordially, 

Mark R. Tomion
Pres.
AESI

9/20/06 - 2nd PoC Experimentation Update:  As difficult to believe as it is, twelve weeks have already elapsed since the first successful firing of AESI's proof-of-concept experimental assembly (for the EDF Generator), and an overdue but fairly comprehensive update to the 2nd PoC webpage will be posted over the course of the next several days. A wealth of important and encouraging data has been obtained from analysis of the stator-only and armature-firing test results recorded to date, although (as perhaps to be expected) the armature's radial output electrodes have so far proven as difficult to fire properly as the stator circuit was cooperative and obliging . . .!      Nevertheless, we have actually succeeded at this point in lighting a number of radial armature discharges, even if they were spontaneously firing in places around the assembly's circumference other than on the added output ("pickup") electrodes as desired . . . But this does prove that the momentary negative firing voltage we can achieve on the armature is sufficient to light those output electrodes, given the right positive 'trigger' voltage as similarly applied, in a rather complex double-pole momentary firing methodology being developed that's quite analogous to the action of the little cylindrical "starter" one sees in older fluorescent lights . . .
    I therefore have little doubt that this technique will work just fine, even though it will certainly require many more test firings to find the best voltage and resistance settings in the new armature trigger circuitry. The control board has really gotten complicated accordingly as we've gone along, but again new photos and descriptive text will be posted very soon.
    Finally, at least from our perspective here at AESI, it should be noted and understood that: (i) firing the experimental assembly's stator circuit, in very close accordance with the analytical model previously developed, constitutes the key and major portion of the proof of concept obtainable with this limited pre-prototypic setup; (ii) firing the armature circuit in conjunction with the stator, either simultaneously or otherwise, constitutes "the lion's share" of the remaining proof-of-concept obtainable in the circumstances; and (iii) a finding that the test assembly's net input COP is greater than unity would of course be gratifyingly like "the icing on the cake", and perhaps comprise the greatest proof-of-concept obtainable until the construction of a full prototype Generator is completed.
    Most importantly, however, any final finding that the experimental assembly's net output COP when fully fired is under-unity would in no way void or invalidate the proof-of-concept physically and electrically demonstrated thus far, given that the complete prototype will incorporate thermionic electron sources that exponentially lower the output circuit's resistance and correspondingly increase its current and power by orders of magnitude. When this final series of joint stator-&-armature firing trials is complete, the assembly's COP as figured under both of the said definitions will be posted. 

With best regards, 

Mark R. Tomion
Pres.
AESI

8/11/06 - A General Operations Update:  It has recently come to my attention that the assigned addresses for several of the many e-mail submission links provided on our website were no longer valid, and a certain amount of new visitor correspondence was probably lost and never answered. We have therefore overhauled the entire site's e-mail submission system, so that your letters will be routed in the best way – either to Archer Enterprises (in engineering design and technical publishing matters) or to our corporate office. I sincerely apologize to those who may have had trouble, or no luck at all, in receiving a reply to your valued correspondence!
    On the engineering side:  Having treated us quite righteously in the first stator firing trails, our prototype power system assembly would seemingly like to make us work a little harder in this next series of tests! To properly fire four (4) new armature [output] discharges simultaneously with those of the stator requires that the current in the two stator subcircuits be as balanced as possible. As it turns out, we now have to reconfigure the relative orientation of the assembly's three ceramic plates, to reposition a 'bad spot' on the armature which, in its initial firing-test position, wanted to "short" to the lower stator plate. By taking repeated armature-gap resistance readings, we will soon be able to determine the optimum armature plate positioning (i.e., which face 'up', and with which of 4 possible radial orientations relative to the lower plate, results in the highest gap resistance) . . .
    Naturally now, when it's totally inconvenient, we will also have to address a slight problem with our vacuum chamber: It seems that the acrylic-walled chamber's geometry has shifted somewhat from repeated use, and it will have to be reassembled with new corner seals. As it stands, we can't get quite deep-enough pumpdown values, due to air infiltration (microleakage), and therefore have too-high a vacuum decay rate and insufficient 'run time' to get all the necessary electrical readings! Fortunately, we have two complete sets of seals on hand, and the chamber refurbishment shouldn't be too problematic or entail any substantial delay in continuing with this most important final series of proof-of-concept experiments.
    Further news and photos will assuredly be forthcoming. Thanks! 

Yours truly,  

Mark R. Tomion
Pres.
AESI

6/28/06 - Et ainsi, vers la flamme . . .!: We were recently able to 'fire' the stator assembly of our proof-of-concept experimental apparatus, successfully on the first attempt! Below is a photo which shows the stator's glow discharges operating beautifully (albeit at a minimum power setting), in that they lighted evenly around the assembly's full circumference – and nothing burned up . . .!      This admittedly may not be terrifically impressive yet, since the control board's ballast resistors were turned up nearly all the way (to prevent an unpredictable over-current situation). However, in the present series of tests the ballast will gradually be reduced, and the vacuum chamber's argon enrichment adjusted, thus allowing the power (and brightness) of the plasma stream to rise sharply!
    Even this small beginning, though, constitutes a major step in obtaining definitive proof-of-concept for this technology! Once stable stator operation at a certain desired high current value is achieved, grounded output "pickup" electrodes will be positioned near several of the armature discharge tabs (which can be seen about the assembly's circumference), and we will see just how potent we can make the resultant output discharges . . .
    A series of new photos and accompanying text will soon be added to the "Description of the Experiment" section of our 2nd PoC Experiment webpage.

5/28/06 - A Special Memorial Day Administrative Report: As some regular correspondents already know, we had to briefly suspend the energized vacuum chamber testing of our prototype primary power system to order and install a special all-plastic needle valve, to isolate the electronic pressure gauge's sensing head from the electrified gas (during experimentation). This simple but essential part finally arrived last week, and energized experiments will resume on Tuesday, May 30.
    We should then have determinate initial results to disclose on or about June 10th. The substantial and wholly unexpected delay we experienced in getting all of the 'bugs' worked out of our 30" custom-built vacuum chamber system – on top of the huge problem we had getting the experiment's fundamental ceramic pieces delivered, last year – was almost enough to stall our forward momentum completely, and raised grave havoc with our fundraising capability . . .
    During this latest 'down time', however, I have attended to some important administrative issues, and so please note that our AESI Business Plan 2006 and our Offering Memorandums have been updated as of Saturday, May 20th – to reflect substantial recent achievements in our international patent campaign, and marked improvements in our equity capitalization. [Those of you who were issued either of these documents before that date may obtain a pdf copy of the revised condensed financial statements by e-mail, upon request.]
    In the upcoming tests, I have little doubt that we will be able to fire the experimental stator assembly and keep it lit – and reasonably within the analytical model's preferred electrical parameters! In my view this constitutes at least half of "definitive proof-of-concept", and that's what we should be able to disclose within the next couple weeks.* All that remains then is simply to fire several sustained radial discharges – so that an armature (output) current is developed, even through a conventional ballast (load) resistor, at a net input COP greater than unity (the feasibility of which is clearly shown in the 2nd PoC experiment operating theory). [* I beg your indulgence, one and all, for few things in life could be more 'problematic' than what we're about to attempt . . .]
    Starting in July, although our commitment must always be to engineering first, I will endeavor to provide every AESI shareholder with a simple 1-pg. monthly "Executive" or "Associate" (Series 'B') Newsletter [pdf], to keep our stockholders better informed of significant issues (e.g., the patenting of our Syntrefoil Aeroturbine design in Australia and India!) and to foster a more solid company foundation. I'd like to thank the whole 'team' for your patience and understanding as we pursue some truly extraordinary objectives, and I hope everyone has a safe and pleasant Memorial Day! 

Cordially, 

Mark Tomion
Pres.
Archer Energy Systems, Inc.

4/23/06 - 2nd PoC Experiment Status Report:  We're very happy to announce that preliminary testing of our vacuum chamber system is finally complete – and the long-awaited firing trials of our 2nd PoC Experiment's induction assembly are scheduled to begin Monday, May 1st!
    Because of the large edge area and finite permeability of our chamber's 'quick-change' top seal (as seen in the photo below), we are able to draw an initial vacuum of "only" 15 milli-Torr prior to argon enrichment (up to the operating pressure range), and this is a bit short of the ~0.10 milli-Torr that will be required inside the housing of the prototype Generator. Nevertheless, at the projected working (enriched) pressure of 4 Torr, this large chamber holds its negative pressure very well (with the pump off), with a barely measurable vacuum decay rate, assuring us that operating cycles of extended duration will be possible during dynamic testing of the induction assembly.
    AESI is also very pleased to disclose that, in the last 30 days, we have received unofficial confirmation that PCT patent applications for the EDF Generator have been allowed (approved for issuance) in China, India, and Mexico – which of course represent huge and important strategic markets! We've also been able to move similar applications forward into examination in Europe, Japan, and Canada, now the only remaining jurisdictions in our worldwide intellectual property rights campaign! We have faith that the upcoming proof-of-concept experimental tests will establish the tangible value of this very expensive undertaking . . .

3/27/06 - 2nd PoC Experiment Status Report: The photo below shows the current state of our vacuum chamber, with a new and quite successful corner seal system. The reading shown on the gauge is in the milli-Torr range, with 83 x 10^–3 Torr being the lowest value achieved before we had to make a chassis adjustment and re-torque the corner bolts. We should soon be able to achieve our pre-enrichment pressure goal of 1.0 x 10^–4 Torr, and commence dynamic testing of the 24kW prototype's induction assembly (or "Primary Power System")!      We have verified our clear-walled vacuum chamber's seal integrity down to a pressure of only 15 milli-Torr! The pressure reading shown on the digital gauge is 376 mTorr, which is nearly as low as required before the chamber may be completely backfilled with argon and re-evacuated to the Experiment's working pressure (~1.65-1.78 mTorr), in the alternative enrichment protocol generally used in the firing trials.

    The experiment's electrical feedthroughs can be seen on the top left, and the induction assembly's mounting baseplate is visible inside. Although all of the inner metal surfaces have been coated with a special insulative etching primer (since the rarified argon will be "live" in the experiments), great care must be taken to provide proper high-bias grounding and/or electrical isolation of the various system components during the firing trials.
   On the intellectual property front, we will have some exciting news very soon regarding the issuance of EDF Generator patents in China and India – and the filing of a U.S. design patent application for (believe it or not) a unique 3kW residential vertical-axis aeroturbine kit!

3/2/06 - 2nd PoC Experiment Analysis Update: Our 2nd Proof-of-Concept Experiment page's Operating Theory section is now in reasonably proper and final form – albeit rather more complex and challenging than originally thought! As many now probably realize, correctly developing such a key analytical model favoring proof-of-concept has required that a change of approach or two be made along the way, but the exciting results obtained so far (prior to the empirical tests) have now been disclosed.
    It's rather unique for information of this type to be released by the developer of any purported over-unity device – clearly showing logical and mathematical support for its design and operating theory. Even at this point, we feel a solid foundation of academic proof-of-concept for the primary assembly of our prototype EDF Generator has been established, and would welcome appropriate and thoughtful comments – especially from the many persons who have already written us for a copy of the AESI Business Plan 2006.
    In the interim, we will be completing the detailed electrical analysis of the experimental setup and the necessary testing protocols. Everything done so far has yielded complete theoretical support for the operational model, as confirmed by existing proof-sheets, and some of this exciting new material will soon be incorporated in the 2nd PoC Experiment webpage. In fact, we've now developed proper electrical/mathematical circuit resolutions that are mutually balanced for all three fundamental design aspects of the 30"-dia. prototype: (i) the final-reduction series Field circuit resolution; (ii) five valid parallel stator circuit firing solutions; and (iii) the armature polarization circuit resolution! And so, we are very, very close . . .

Best regards,

Mark Tomion
Pres.
Archer Energy Systems, Inc.