Nitinol Heat Engine

CooliNiTi Nitinol Heat Engine Project ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Objective

To design and prototype a new device using Nitinol for possible mass production and distribution. Additionally, to Identify a possible market for the product and construct a basic cost analysis for NDC.

TImeline

1) Identify a market for product2) Utilize shape memory or hysteresis effect of Nitinol Wire3) Design a product unique to existing market products4) Design preliminary tests to assess product performance5) Prototype product6) Assess prototype performance vs. preliminary standards

Utilizing the hysteresis a prototype heat exchanger was designed toheat or cool a liquid medium for use in a heat exchanger.

Results

Prototype data did not match preliminary testing data of an observed single cycle ∆1. C in 500 ml of H2O

Prototype did not perform in repeatable and replicable cycles creating erratic behaviour

Wire provided the least thermally efficient geometry for creating uniform strain and thus ∆H was considerably below expected rates

Maximum wire temperature of 98̊. F Minimum wire temperature of 65. F

Recommendations

Pursue Continuous Spooling Concept and attempt current design using square wire instead of round wire to improve heat exchanging efficiency.

Contact Info: aschader@calpoly.edu, Austin Schader