let me share today’s heartwarming good news from Madhya Pradesh, India!
In a remarkable display of innovation, three talented high school students—Dhruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania, and Mridul Jain—have created a groundbreaking salt-powered refrigerator known as the Thermavault.
This incredible device functions without electricity and has the potential to revolutionize life in areas lacking reliable power sources.
Dhruv, Mithran and Mridul / theearthprize.org
Their outstanding invention recently earned them the esteemed 2025 Earth Prize along with a $12,500 award, which they plan to utilize in producing and distributing 200 units to 120 hospitals for practical testing.
The Thermavault operates on ionocaloric cooling, utilizing the heat-absorption process of salts dissolving in water. The students discovered that ammonium chloride, a salt, could decrease water temperature by up to 28°C. To achieve even lower temperatures (as low as -10°C), they incorporated a chemical reaction between barium hydroxide octahydrate and ammonium chloride, making the device suitable for freezing applications with antifreeze.
Encased in a layer of fiberglass wool insulated with nitrile rubber, a copper box inside the unit aids in maintaining cool temperatures for extended periods. Users simply need to pour salt into the box, add water, and stir the solution using a gyroscope or by shaking. The result? Efficient and uniform cooling—perfect for preserving food and medicine sans electricity.
The team fine-tuned their creation through rigorous testing, collaborating closely with Professor Mobin Shaikh, a material sciences expert at IIT Indore. By experimenting with 15 different salts and employing principles like enthalpy and specific heat, they optimized the design. Their dedication to research and hands-on prototyping paid off, garnering admiration from expert mentors and faculty members who backed their innovation.
Beyond its scientific brilliance, the Thermavault brings hope for off-grid living, disaster relief, and rural healthcare—regions where dependable electricity is scarce. By offering an eco-friendly solution for preserving essentials, these young inventors are truly making a difference.
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