Design, Fabrication And Testing Of A Shape Memory Alloy Based Cryogenic Thermal Conduction Switch

Author

Vinu Bala Krishnan, University of Central Florida

Keywords

Actuators, Alloys -- Thermal conductivity, Engineering design, Shape memory alloys, Cryogenic, Hysteresis, Niti alloys, R phase, Shape memory effect, Sma spring, Thermal conduction switch, Zero boil off systems

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) can recover large strains (e.g., up to 8%) by undergoing a temperature-induced phase transformation. This strain recovery can occur against large forces, resulting in their use as actuators. The SMA elements in such actuators integrate both sensory and actuation functions. This is possible because SMAs can inherently sense a change in temperature and actuate by undergoing a shape change, associated with the temperature-induced phase transformation. The objective of this work is to develop an SMA based cryogenic thermal conduction switch for operation between dewars of liquid methane and liquid oxygen in a common bulk head arrangement for NASA. The design of the thermal conduction switch is based on a biased, two-way SMA actuator and utilizes a commercially available NiTi alloy as the SMA element to demonstrate the feasibility of this concept. This work describes the design from concept to implementation, addressing methodologies and issues encountered, including: a finite element based thermal analysis, various thermo-mechanical processes carried out on the NiTi SMA elements, and fabrication and testing of a prototype switch. Furthermore, recommendations for improvements and extension to NASA's requirements are presented. Such a switch has potential application in variable thermal sinks to other cryogenic tanks for liquefaction, densification, and zero boil-off systems for advanced spaceport applications. The SMA thermal conduction switch offers the following advantages over the currently used gas gap and liquid gap thermal switches in the cryogenic range: (i) integrates both sensor and actuator elements thereby reducing the overall complexity, (ii) exhibits superior thermal isolation in the open state, and (iii) possesses high heat transfer ratios between the open and closed states. This work was supported by a grant from NASA Kennedy Space Center (NAG10-323) with William U. Notardonato as Technical Officer.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2004

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Vaidyanathan, Rajan

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Program

Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000038

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000038

Language

English

Release Date

January 2009

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering and Computer Science; Engineering and Computer Science -- Dissertations, Academic

STARS Citation

Krishnan, Vinu Bala, "Design, Fabrication And Testing Of A Shape Memory Alloy Based Cryogenic Thermal Conduction Switch" (2004). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 100.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/100