Development of this cold fusion power system focuses on a novel solution to the U.S. and world demand for new, lower cost, renewable, long-term, and economically practical sources of energy. Concerns about increasing pollution and its impacts on our planet and civilization must also be addressed by technology that is clean.

Design of the Mk12.31 was developed by a scientific team who reviewed a vast amount of technical information on cold fusion over the last 30 years. Their resulting Mk12.31 design is described in US patents 6,248,221 B1 dated June 19, 2001, 10,465,302 B2 dated November 5, 2019, and 10,480,084 B1 dated November 19, 2019 and in https://www.newenergypowersystems.org.

Innovation: The system is novel as follows:

• Designed to work by nuclear fusion of hydrogen (protium) and deuterium (deuterons) that, in a cold fusion setting, should occur more easily than deuteron-deuteron (d-d) and other types of fusion reactions.
• Extraction of deuterium and hydrogen gas from water to fuel the proposed cold fusion system can be ensured into perpetuity.
• Designed to produce 200 kilowatts (kW) of heat, which can be converted into mechanical horsepower and electricity.
• Gamma radiation energy produced is low enough to be absorbed and contained by the system’s physical components.
• Energy from each p-d fusion reaction is greater than the energy which could be produced by averaging types of d-d fusion. Less deuterium will be needed.
• Deuterium and hydrogen are provided to the reaction in small, high pressure gas puffs that contain only a millionth of the quantity of gas ordinarily dealt with in conventional power systems.
• Reactant gas (helium-3) is extracted and temporarily stored, enabling addition of more deuterium/hydrogen gas for long period operations.

Manufacturability: All components and parts can be manufactured using standard production methods. The reaction chamber (shown in the figure) is designed to contain high gas pressures and temperatures during operation and also to be opened and closed for maintenance. The cathode (also shown) can be made by high pressure, metal powder consolidation. The design also includes high pressure gas sub-systems and parts, stainless steel tubing and connectors, electric and mechanical valves, pressure transducers, temperature sensors, electronic pressure and temperature transmission units, and electronic controllers and controller software.

Marketability: This technology is envisioned to become the primary source of power in microgrids and new, local community-based power plants. More individuals and communities are embracing “microgrids” to become independent of the long-distance utility power grid, to reduce their cost of power, and to remain resilient in the face of natural disasters. Microgrids are particularly useful in areas where power may not be readily available and/or reliable. Microgrids are useful commercially when lower cost and critical backup power are needed.

Microgrids powered with cold fusion energy will lead to advanced applications such as future transportation systems, including high-speed trains and spacecraft, space stations and outer space colonization. This technology will have far-reaching impacts on the advancement of industry, the economy, our prosperity and our way of life.