NANO Nuclear Energy Collaborates with CUNY and Advanced Engineering Solutions on DOE SBIR Project for Microreactor Cooling and Monitoring Technologies

NANO Nuclear Energy Collaborates with Advanced Engineering Solutions and City University of New York on DOE SBIR Phase I Project for Microreactor Cooling and Smart Monitoring Technologies

March 3, 2025

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE), a pioneering company in advanced nuclear energy technology focused on clean energy solutions, has announced its collaboration with the City University of New York – City College (CCNY) and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC (AES) of Jersey City, New Jersey. This partnership supports a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project application aimed at developing innovative cooling techniques and monitoring systems for microreactor transport safety.

Led by Dinesh Kalaga, Ph.D., a chemical engineer with extensive experience in DOE-funded projects, AES will serve as the principal investigator for the project, titled “Investigation of Microreactor Cooling and Development of a Smart Alarming System for Reactor Pressure Vessel Surface Temperature Monitoring.” This initiative falls under DOE’s Funding Opportunity Announcement and seeks to address the critical challenge of safe decay heat removal during microreactor transportation.

Pending approval and funding from the SBIR Phase I application, the project will explore advanced Heat Pipes (HPs), Thermoelectric Cooling Modules, and Smart Alarming Systems. These innovations are designed to manage decay heat effectively during the transportation of nuclear microreactors, including NANO Nuclear’s ZEUS microreactor. The goal is to develop a Type B-certified transport container equipped with an integrated cooling system, ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

“Our support of AES and CCNY is a significant step toward addressing one of the most pressing challenges in microreactor deployment: the safe and efficient removal of decay heat during transport,” stated James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development at NANO Nuclear Energy. “By utilizing advanced heat pipe technologies and smart monitoring systems, we aim to create a groundbreaking transport system that enhances microreactor safety and regulatory compliance. As the microreactor industry expands, overcoming transportation challenges is essential for widespread deployment. NANO Nuclear’s participation in this potential DOE-funded initiative underscores our commitment to advancing safe, efficient, and scalable microreactor technologies.”

If funding is granted, the SBIR Phase I project will concentrate on:

• Developing a Thermal Management System for microreactor transport containers, utilizing advanced Heat Pipes (HPs) and Thermoelectric Cooling Modules to passively and actively dissipate decay heat.
• Creating a Smart Alarming System with real-time monitoring sensors and computer vision technology to identify temperature and pressure anomalies, allowing operators to respond quickly to any issues.
• Designing and testing a scaled-down prototype system at CCNY’s Thermal-Hydraulics Laboratory to validate performance and ensure regulatory compliance.

“This project perfectly aligns with our mission to advance the next generation of nuclear energy solutions, particularly in reactor transportation,” commented Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “A robust and compliant transport system is vital to unlocking the full potential of microreactors. Collaborating with AES and CCNY enables us to take proactive measures to ensure microreactors can be safely delivered to where they are needed most.”

Microreactors represent the forefront of innovation in nuclear energy, designed to provide clean and resilient power in remote locations, military bases, disaster relief operations, data centers, and other industrial settings. However, even after being shut down, microreactors continue to generate decay heat, necessitating an advanced cooling system to prevent overheating during transport. The project aims to enhance thermal management and monitoring technologies for microreactor transportation, addressing key barriers to deployment and accelerating commercialization.

The successful completion of Phase I will set the stage for a Phase II expansion, where NANO Nuclear may collaborate further with AES and CCNY to develop a full-scale prototype and conduct real-world testing.

“This partnership with NANO Nuclear, CCNY, and AES combines top-tier research and industry expertise to tackle one of the most critical issues in microreactor deployment,” said Dr. Carlos O. Maidana, Ph.D., NANO Nuclear’s Head of Thermal Hydraulics and Space Program. “Our strategy integrates both passive and active cooling technologies, ensuring that microreactors fulfill stringent transportation safety requirements while maintaining operational reliability.”

NANO Nuclear Energy’s portfolio includes various next-generation microreactors currently in development. To support these technologies, NANO Nuclear is also spearheading domestic High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel development through its subsidiary, HALEU Energy Fuel Inc., ensuring a secure and sustainable fuel supply for microreactors.

NANO Nuclear is committed to engaging with government agencies, national laboratories, and industry leaders to foster innovation in nuclear energy solutions, and is dedicated to developing advanced reactor technologies and infrastructure to facilitate the transition to clean nuclear energy.

About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced, technology-driven nuclear energy company focused on becoming a commercially viable, diversified, and vertically integrated entity across five business lines: (i) cutting-edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space, and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear is believed to be the first portable nuclear microreactor company publicly listed in the U.S. Under the leadership of a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear is developing several advanced reactor products, including “ZEUS,” a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN,” a low-pressure coolant reactor, both representing significant advancements in portable and on-demand clean energy solutions.

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Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
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