Fluid Efficiency

Fluid Efficiency originates from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and was established in 2014 by a team of chemical engineers, including Professor Julie Kornfield, Dr. Ming-Hsin "Jeremy" Wei, and Dr. Simon Jones. The company's foundation rests on over a decade of research conducted at Caltech to develop its core technology.

The founders' backgrounds are deeply rooted in polymer science and its commercial applications. Professor Kornfield is an expert in how polymers are influenced by flow, with research dating back to the 1990s and holding 23 patents. Dr. Wei's doctoral thesis focused on the synthesis and potency of long end-associative polymers for mist control. Dr. Jones, with a D. Phil. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Oxford, brought experience in scaling up technologies from academic labs to meet real-world application requirements, having held senior roles in other startups commercializing Caltech and MIT technologies.

The company's business revolves around the production and sale of advanced polymer additives, branded as MegaSupraMolecules™ (MSM™), to clients in the energy, lubricants, and fuel transportation sectors. Its primary product, the Single Injection Flow Improver, is designed to reduce the energy required to pump fluids like crude oil and refined products through pipelines. This is achieved by mitigating turbulent drag, which can increase energy consumption significantly. The business model likely involves direct sales of these additives to pipeline operators, oil and gas companies, and lubricant manufacturers. Fluid Efficiency has secured $9.37 million in funding over six rounds, with a significant Series A round of $7.66 million in February 2024. Investors include Rhapsody Venture Partners, Cortado Ventures, and EIC Rose Rock.

The core technology, MegaSupraMolecules™ (MSM™), consists of self-assembling, long end-associative polymers. These molecules are composed of smaller individual polymer chains that are designed to resist permanent breakage under high-shear conditions found in pumps and pipelines. Unlike traditional long-chain polymers that can break apart irreversibly, the MSM™ linkages are reversible, acting like Velcro. They can detach under high stress and then reconnect when conditions normalize, allowing them to maintain their effectiveness throughout a pipeline with just a single injection point. This shear-stable characteristic improves the viscosity index of lubricants, makes fuels less explosive by controlling misting, and enhances pipeline throughput by reducing drag. The company's intellectual property is protected by over 20 issued patents worldwide.

Keywords: polymer additives, pipeline flow improver, MegaSupraMolecules, Caltech spin-out, drag reduction, fluid dynamics, fuel safety, lubricant additives, chemical engineering, energy technology