D Y Patil International University and Albot Technologies join hands to undertake research in Nuclear Fusion Technology

The Project gets seed funding of USD 1 Million

PUNE: The D. Y. Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune, and Albot Technologies Private Limited have joined hands to carry out research in Nuclear Fusion under the project titled ‘Project Sanlayan’. This was announced by Prof Prabhat Ranjan, Vice-Chancellor, D. Y. Patil International University, Akurdi, Pune, and Dr. Akash Singh an Innovator and Investor based out of Silicon Valley, the USA during a Press Conference held in the city. Albot Technologies is set up by Dr. Akash Singh to promote cutting-edge technologies in India.

While sharing the details of the project Prof. Prabhat Ranjan, who is the Chief Mentor of this project, said,

“This is a first-of-its-kind private initiative that aims to deliver a compact volume neutron source capable of producing medical isotopes along with nuclear fuel breeding by converting Thorium to Uranium. It would also be possible to do nuclear waste management.”

“The ultimate goal of the project is to generate baseload electricity in a clean and sustainable manner. On the way to energy production, we also aim to use neutrons produced through nuclear fusion for several critical applications to enable commercialization.”

According to Prof Ranjan, the ‘Project Sanlayan’ was announced on Dec 3, 2020, during the 8th Bihar Science Conference. In addition to developing a reactor for energy generation, the project is focused on the development of a spherical Tokamak-based Compact Volume Neutron Source (CVNS) with the purpose of producing extremely short-supplied Medical Isotopes. Modifications to the system for Fissile Fuel Production (especially Thorium to Uranium) and Nuclear Waste transmutation are also envisaged.

“Technology-wise, we are exploring the unique possibility of using a non-superconducting magnet system to reduce the complexity, and cost and make the system modular to improve the duty cycle of the operation. This approach, while discussed in the literature, has not been experimentally achieved so far”, Prof Ranjan added.

The project would try to create temperatures about 6-12 times that of the core of the sun to develop conditions necessary to produce nuclear fusion. In spite of efforts going on across the globe for a few decades no one has been able to commercialize this technology so far. A team of scientists and engineers is working in DYPIU to design and develop the system.

Due to the nature of the project, the main experimental activities would be carried out outside the industrial area and not inside DYPIU. However, DYPIU has provided the facility for the team to carry out design and planning. The facility to carry out modeling has also been created.

Dr. Akash Singh, an alumnus of the University of Leeds, Founder of Alobot Technologies Private Limited, and a Silicon Valley-based investor said,

“We have provided the initial seed funding of USD 1 million for this project. This is a long-term project with timelines of about 15 years for achieving the desired outcome. As the project grows and moves ahead 200 to 300 Million USD would be required. We intend to approach Indian and International investors who fund high-risk high returns kind of projects with long term objectives.”

This project is for the benefit of the whole world as it would solve many pressing needs such as energy, safety, and health. Students would benefit by participating in the different stages of the project.

About Prof Prabhat Ranjan – He is among the first Indian researchers to do a Ph.D. in Nuclear Fusion and has worked in this field for nearly two decades in India and US National Labs. He was the project leader of ADITYA Tokamak (a type of nuclear fusion reactor) along with SST-1 Tokamak Operation and Control Group and made major contributions to this field.

Before joining DYPIU in 2018, Prof Ranjan was heading Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi. TIFAC is India’s technology think tank that works under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It may be noted that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam served as the Chairman of TIFAC from 1993-to 2001.

source https://nrinews24x7.com/d-y-patil-international-university-and-albot-technologies-join-hands-to-undertake-research-in-nuclear-fusion-technology/

April 06, 2022