Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles
A combustion-based mesoscale thermal actuator is proposed and its performance is studied in both open and closed cycle operations using a physics-based lumped-parameter model. The actuator design is unique as it implements a free-piston complaint architecture where the piston is free to move in a li...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Actuators |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/8/4/73 |
| _version_ | 1819261064234139648 |
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| author | Sindhu Preetham Burugupally |
| author_facet | Sindhu Preetham Burugupally |
| author_sort | Sindhu Preetham Burugupally |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A combustion-based mesoscale thermal actuator is proposed and its performance is studied in both open and closed cycle operations using a physics-based lumped-parameter model. The actuator design is unique as it implements a free-piston complaint architecture where the piston is free to move in a linear direction. Our objective is to study the actuator behavior in both the cycles to help identify the benefits and highlight the differences between the two cycles. The actuator is modeled as a spring-mass-damper system by taking an air standard cycle approach. Three observations are reported: (1) for nominal heat inputs (140 J/cycle), the actuator can produce large displacement strokes (16 cm) that is suitable for driving mesoscale robots; (2) the efficiency of the actuator depends on the heat input; and (3) for a specific heat input, both the open and closed cycles operate differently—with different stroke lengths, peak pressures, and thermal efficiencies. Our study reveals that the performance metrics of the actuator make it an ideal candidate for high speed, large force, and large displacement stroke related applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:35:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8341de22345540f78116011e0f0e6525 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0825 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:35:51Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Actuators |
| spelling | doaj.art-8341de22345540f78116011e0f0e65252022-12-21T17:33:47ZengMDPI AGActuators2076-08252019-10-01847310.3390/act8040073act8040073Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating CyclesSindhu Preetham Burugupally0Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260, USAA combustion-based mesoscale thermal actuator is proposed and its performance is studied in both open and closed cycle operations using a physics-based lumped-parameter model. The actuator design is unique as it implements a free-piston complaint architecture where the piston is free to move in a linear direction. Our objective is to study the actuator behavior in both the cycles to help identify the benefits and highlight the differences between the two cycles. The actuator is modeled as a spring-mass-damper system by taking an air standard cycle approach. Three observations are reported: (1) for nominal heat inputs (140 J/cycle), the actuator can produce large displacement strokes (16 cm) that is suitable for driving mesoscale robots; (2) the efficiency of the actuator depends on the heat input; and (3) for a specific heat input, both the open and closed cycles operate differently—with different stroke lengths, peak pressures, and thermal efficiencies. Our study reveals that the performance metrics of the actuator make it an ideal candidate for high speed, large force, and large displacement stroke related applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/8/4/73thermal actuatorcompliant architectureopen and closed operating cyclesmesoscale |
| spellingShingle | Sindhu Preetham Burugupally Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles Actuators thermal actuator compliant architecture open and closed operating cycles mesoscale |
| title | Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles |
| title_full | Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles |
| title_short | Evaluation of a Combustion-Based Mesoscale Thermal Actuator in Open and Closed Operating Cycles |
| title_sort | evaluation of a combustion based mesoscale thermal actuator in open and closed operating cycles |
| topic | thermal actuator compliant architecture open and closed operating cycles mesoscale |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/8/4/73 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sindhupreethamburugupally evaluationofacombustionbasedmesoscalethermalactuatorinopenandclosedoperatingcycles |