Protecting car engines and controlling their temperature by using shape memory alloy as an automatic mechanical cooling sensor

H.Y. Imran; D.L.A. Abdul Majid; M.F. bin Abdul Hamid; E.J. binti Abdullah; S.E. Mohammed; S. Karunakaran

doi:10.15282/jmes.17.3.2023.10.0764

Authors

Husam Yahya Imran Al Saadawi Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Phone: +9647712110090
D.L.A. Abdul Majid Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Phone: +9647712110090
M.F. bin Abdul Hamid Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Phone: +9647712110090
E.J. binti Abdullah Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Phone: +9647712110090
S.E. Mohammed Faculty of Engineering, University of Thi-Qar, 64001 Al-Nassiriya, Iraq
S. Karunakaran Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Phone: +9647712110090

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.17.3.2023.10.0764

Keywords:

Sensors design, Coolant temperature sensor, Shape memory alloy, SMA spring, Automotive

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are smart materials with a dual function as a sensor as well as an actuator that can generate cyclic contraction and extension when exposed to an increasing and decreasing temperature. In this work, the potential of SMA in the form of spring as an actuator that activates a warning system for detecting high temperatures in vehicle engine is investigated. The working principle of SMA spring is it activates thermomechanically to generate linear reciprocating motion as a result of the contraction (heated) and extension (cooled). This unique feature is employed in the design of a new type of smart automatic switch that regulates and controls the temperature of the vehicle engine instead of using conventional sensors such as thermocouple. The smart automatic switch has two poles positive and negative, where the positive pole represents the SMA spring, which is completely immersed in the water of the engine. While the negative pole is the operating shaft that collects all the parts of the smart switch and is installed on the engine body. A lab scale experiment was conducted to analyse the displacements and results shown that contraction of 20 mm can be produced from the SMA spring due to pulling force when the temperature of the engine increases from 50 ℃ to 80 ℃ and the recovery of the SMA spring to the original position can be obtained by the pushing force 0.5 N from a bias spring when the temperature decreased. From this experiment, a design of the smart switch is that can be utilized the shape memory function is presented. The simplified design proposed demonstrates the shape memory alloy as having good potential in automotive applications such as this as it low cost, space saving, silent operation, and simple in design aspect.

References

M. Niinomi, “Metals for biomedical devices,”, 2ndEdition, Woodhead Publishing, United Kingdom, 2019.

H. Scherngell and A. C. Kneissl, “Generation, development and degradation of the intrinsic two-way shape memory effect in different alloy systems,” vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 327-341, 2002.

B. Lynch, X. X. Jiang, A. Ellery, and F. Nitzsche, “Characterization, modeling, and control of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy based on electrical resistance feedback,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, vol. 27, no. 18, pp. 2489–2507, 2016.

M. H. Moghadam, M. R. Zakerzadeh, and M. Ayati, “Robust sliding mode position control of a fast response SMA-actuated rotary actuator using temperature and strain feedback,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, vol. 292, pp. 158–168, 2019.

P. Šittner, M. Landa, P. Lukáš, and V. Novák, “R-phase transformation phenomena in thermomechanically loaded NiTi polycrystals,” Mechanics of Materials, vol. 38, no. 5–6, pp. 475–492, 2006.

Y. Kim, T. Jang, H. Gurung, N. A. Mansour, B. Ryu, and B. Shin, “Bidirectional rotating actuators using shape memory alloy wires,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, vol. 295, pp. 512–522, 2019.

W. Y. Ci, T. A. Abu Bakar, E. Hamzah, andS. N. Saud, “Study of X-phase formation on Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys with Ti addition,” Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 2770–2779, 2017.

P. Kumar, and D. C. Lagoudas, “Introduction to shape memory alloys,” Shape Memory Alloys, vol. 1, pp. 1-51, 2002.

X. Y. Zhang and X. J. Yan, “Continuous rotary motor actuated by multiple segments of shape memory alloy wires,” Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, vol. 21, pp. 2643–2649, 2012.

S. S. Mani Prabuet al., “Thermo-mechanical behavior of shape memory alloy spring actuated using novel scanning technique powered by ytterbium doped continuous fiber laser,” Smart Materials and Structures, vol. 28, no. 4, 2019.

D. C. Lagoudas, “Shape memory alloys: Modeling and Engineering Applications,” 1stEdition, Springer, New York United States, 2008.

D. Singh, R. Choudhury, M. Mukherjee, and Y. Singh, “Development of non-linear models to evaluate the NiTi SMA spring actuator,” Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 8754–8769, 2022.

S. M. Dutta and F. H. Ghorbel, “Differential hysteresis modeling of a shape memory alloy wire actuator,” IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 189–197, 2005.

J. M. B. Sobrinho et al., “Experimental and numerical analyses of a rotary motor using shape memory alloy mini springs,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, vol. 302, p. 111823, 2020.

J. Mohd Jani, “Design optimisation of shape memory alloy linear actuator applications,” Ph.D. Thesis, RMIT University, 2016.

J. Mohd Jani, M. Leary, and A. Subic, “Designing shape memory alloy linear actuators: A review,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, vol. 28, no. 13, pp. 1699–1718, 2017.

X. Y. Zhang and X. J. Yan, “Continuous rotary motor actuated by multiple segments of shape memory alloy wires,” Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, vol. 21, no. 12, pp. 2643–2649, 2012.

L. Zhang, G. Hu, and Z. Wang, “Study on liquid-jet cooling and heating of the moving SMA actuator,” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 306–314, 2008.

J. Wang, X. Ren, Y. Xu, W. Zhang, J. Zhu, and B. Li, “Thermodynamic behavior of NiTi shape memory alloy against low-velocity impact: experiment and simulation,” International Journal of Impact Engineering, vol. 139, p. 103532, 2020.

I. S. Osman and N. G. Hariri, “Thermal investigation and optimized design of a novel solar self-driven thermomechanical actuator,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 9, p. 1057, 2022.