Engineering milestone marks continued progress in the maturation of the KRONOS MMR™ toward commercial readiness
New York, N.Y., Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear micro modular reactor and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, announced continued progress toward the development of the primary helium circulator for its proprietary KRONOS MMR™ Energy System under its engineering collaboration with Howden, a Baker Hughes Business.
The helium circulator is a critical mechanical subsystem within the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System, responsible for circulating helium coolant throughout the reactor to efficiently transfer heat generated within the reactor core. As one of the principal components supporting reactor performance, the circulator plays an essential role in overall plant efficiency, thermal performance, and long-term operational reliability.
Working closely with NANO Nuclear's reactor engineering team, Howden, a provider of air and gas handling products that is now a part of Baker Hughes after its acquisition of Chart Industries, is leading the engineering design of the helium circulator, applying its expertise from decades of experience in helium turbomachinery and high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology to develop a solution tailored to the performance requirements of the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System.
The progress from preliminary engineering into the detailed design phase marks an important engineering milestone. Building upon the reactor performance requirements established by NANO Nuclear, Howden has completed key engineering evaluations, developed detailed three-dimensional design models, performed supporting engineering analyses, and conducted formal design reviews with NANO Nuclear's engineering team. Collectively, these activities establish a mature technical foundation for the helium circulator subsystem and increase confidence in its performance, manufacturability, and integration within the broader KRONOS MMR™ Energy System. NANO Nuclear and Howden are continuing engineering activities, including component qualification, materials and performance testing, continued design optimization, and manufacturing planning.
Figure 1 - NANO Nuclear and Howden, a Baker Hughes Business, Advance Engineering Collaboration for the KRONOS MMR™ Primary Helium Circulator to Detailed Design Phase
This announcement follows recent progress related to NANO Nuclear’s collaboration with Fortil on the design of the Fuel Handling & Storage System, another essential subsystem within the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System architecture. The Fuel Handling & Storage System supports the safe handling, storage, and management of nuclear fuel throughout reactor operations. Collectively, these announcements support future subsystem standardization and reinforce the engineering foundation necessary for future deployments and long-term commercialization.
James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear Energy, said:" Progressing the primary helium circulator into detailed design represents another important milestone in the continued development of the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System. Advancement of the circulator design strengthens the technical foundation of the overall reactor program and demonstrates the disciplined engineering execution essential for successful commercialization. We continue to make steady progress across both engineering and regulatory activities as we advance the KRONOS program toward prototype construction, regulatory licensing and future deployment."
Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy, added: "NANO Nuclear's strategy is built upon developing advanced reactor technology through disciplined engineering execution and strategic collaborations with world-class supply chain partners. Our continued work with Howden reflects that commitment, bringing together complementary expertise to advance a critical reactor subsystem. Each engineering milestone strengthens the industrial ecosystem supporting KRONOS while further positioning the program for future first-of-a-kind deployment and long-term commercial success."