A Shape Memory Alloy Based Cryogenic Thermal Conduction Switch
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816 (United States)
- NASA Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899 (United States)
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) can produce large strains when deformed (e.g., up to 8%). Heating results in a phase transformation and associated recovery of all the accumulated strain. This strain recovery can occur against large forces, resulting in their use as actuators. Thus an SMA element can integrate both sensory and actuation functions, by inherently sensing a change in temperature and actuating by undergoing a shape change as a result of a temperature-induced phase transformation. Two aspects of our work on cryogenic SMAs are addressed here. First - a shape memory alloy based cryogenic thermal conduction switch for operation between dewars of liquid methane and liquid oxygen in a common bulkhead arrangement is discussed. Such a switch integrates the sensor element and the actuator element and can be used to create a variable thermal sink to other cryogenic tanks for liquefaction, densification, and zero boil-off systems for advanced spaceport applications. Second - fabrication via arc-melting and subsequent materials testing of SMAs with cryogenic transformation temperatures for use in the aforementioned switch is discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 20653219
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 711, Issue 1; Conference: CEC 2003: Cryogenic engineering and international cryogenic materials conference on advances in cryogenic engineering, Anchorage, AK (United States), 22-26 Sep 2003; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1774548; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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