Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan
Online ISSN : 2188-1650
Print ISSN : 1382-3469
ISSN-L : 1382-3469
Regular Papers
The Fabrication and Output Power Characteristics of a Heat-Engine using a Shape Memory Alloy Spiral Spring Actuator
H. ChoM. SenjuY. TakedaT. YamamotoT. Sakuma
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2013 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 423-426

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Abstract

Heat-engines using shape memory alloy (SMA) were expected to be employed as heat-engines driven by low-temperature thermal energy. Therefore, some trial products of heat-engines using SMA were produced and studied. However, since the inhomogeneous temperatures of the SMA element result during heating / cooling of the SMA element, the product-life cycle of conventional heat-engines using SMA becomes short. Moreover, if large power outputs are to be achieved, these engines would become large in size. Therefore, conventional SMA heat-engines have not been put into practical use. We propose a new actuator using a SMA spiral spring. By using this system, the uniform heating / cooling of the SMA element (improvement of the product life) and downsizing of the equipment are expected. Therefore, we manufactured a prototype of a heat-engine using a SMA spiral spring actuator, and the output characteristics of this heat-engine were investigated.

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© 2013 The Materials Research Society of Japan
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