Hyderabad-based start-up, HYLENR, has developed what is claimed to be the world’s first cold fusion technology product that helps generate clean energy with multiple applications in industrial and consumer sectors.
The Low Energy Nuclear Reactor (LENR), developed using cold fusion technology, has received a patent from the Union government’s Patent Office under the Department for Promotions of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the company promoters have announced in Hyderabad.
The LENR reactor which generates excess heat using low-energy nuclear reactions was unveiled at the T Hub by M Srinivasa Rao, CEO of the T Hub, and the team of HYLENR.
The team showed that the reactor can produce 150 watts of clean energy from 100 watts of electrical input. “The LENR reactor does not use or emit any nuclear waste and no radioactive material is used. It’s safe too”, said Siddhartha Duriarajan, CEO of HYLENR.
The objective of the company is to integrate LENR with existing power generation systems to enhance efficiency and reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. It will also help in amplifying electricity generation from renewable and non-renewable sources and space applications to ultimately increase power output by 2.5 times to the input.
LENR is also known as ‘Cold Fusion’. The start-up uses milligrams of hydrogen and small volumes of electricity to generate excess heat through the fusion process.
“This technology has the potential to be a game changer in power generation,” says Dr Prahlada Ramarao, Chief Innovation Officer of HYLENR and a former distinguished scientist of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).
“More than 10 years of research has gone into developing the technology. The start-up has its advanced R&D facilities in T Hub, an innovation intermediary and business incubator, in Hyderabad. One more development centre is located in the Electronic City in Bengaluru,” said Siddhartha.
The company has formulated two revenue models targeting sectors like space, logistics, railways, shipping etc., and consumer products from the simple iron box, induction devices, room heaters and so on, explained Siddhartha.
The HYLENR’s reactor is a promising alternative for power generation for space applications, steam generation for multiple applications, room heating across cold regions globally, and induction heating for domestic and industrial requirements. The company’s devices decrease the risk profile for space missions.
The start-up is seeking investments to further accelerate production, scale up, and improve efficiency, R&D, and business development. The estimated market for global small modular reactors is pegged at $ 8.06 billion.
“Additionally, we also look forward to collaborating with regulatory bodies to establish safety standards and approval processes to ensure successful deployment and commercialisation of LENR technology (the art of making atomic nuclei merge and, ideally, harnessing the resultant additional energy),” said Shree Varaprasad, Chief Scientific Officer of HYLENR.