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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."
%SEDAR: 00010678E-30-For further information: John Thibodeau, IR Profile, 1-888-504-8464 or
ir@tathacus.ca
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