An Investigation on an SMA Valve in Micro-Channel Through FSI Approach

Abstract

Micro-channels with built-in shape memory alloys (SMAs) can respond intelligently to channel temperature variations without applying an external force and control the flow rate. In this work, a 2D micro-channel with a shape memory alloy (SMA) valve is designed and studied using fluid–structure interaction (FSI) conditions. The behavior of the SMA valve, which includes bending under the effect of force loading and inlet fluid pressure, and the recovery of the shape of the valve, has been investigated in this study. The temperature at which the valve is completely recovered and the output fluid reaches the lowest value is called the closing temperature. This research investigates the impact of different geometrical and functional parameters on closing temperature, such as fluid inlet pressure and velocity, channel height and valve thickness. The outlet fluid flow rate of the SMA micro-channel is evaluated by employing a relevant constitutive equation to model the SMA valve behavior and implement it in Finite Element Method (FEM) multiphysics frameworks. The results show that the outlet flow rate relies on the shape recovery of the SMA valve and the fluid velocity field in the FSI simulations.