Anti-Scald Valves using

Shape Memory Alloys

Swati Bansal
18108048
 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

An anti-scald valve is a special device

that is installed into the showers that
regulate the water pressure from the
hot and cold water lines to prevent
sudden extreme changes in
temperature.
PRESSURE BALANCED VALVES

Pressure Balanced Valves: In this design, a piston or diaphragm is installed in the valve which
responds to changes in water pressure. If the cold water pressure drops for any reason, the piston moves
into position to limit the amount of hot water that can flow through the faucet.
The pressure balance shower valve has just one handle that controls both the volume and the temperature.
So, if there is any change is pressure due to excessive outflow of water, the pressure balance sensor will
sense that there is less amount of water and will automatically add more water without even considering
the temperature of the water.
Another downside to installing a pressure-balance shower valve is that it doesn’t necessarily pay attention
to the temperature, so if you set the valve to the hottest temperature that you can, and then turn the handle
all the way to “hot”, the water that will come out of the shower will be as hot as the water heater can get
(which could be even higher than what you set on the thermostat).
 MATERIAL PROPOSED

Shape Memory Alloys are the alloys that are

highly temperature sensitive and can be
deformed when cold but returns to its pre-
deformed shape when heated. Thus, they have
a unique ability to alter their mechanical and
physical characteristics in response to
temperature range making them immensely
popular in safety equipments as actuators.
 MODIFICATIONS

The main aim is to replace the method to control of hot and cold water by a thermostat element like a shape memory alloy
that can easily detect the changes in water temperature. The idea is to introduce a spring made up of a shape memory
alloy that expands and contracts as the water temperature changes. An increase in temperature expands the element,
blocking the hot water inlet to limit the amount allowed into the mixing chamber.
ADVANTAGES OF THERMOSTATIC VALVES

• Shape Memory Alloys have very low response time to change in temperature and thus can easily
detect sudden changes in temperature.
• Thermostatic shower valves have two handles. One of the handles controls the volume of water that is
dispensed and the other handle controls the temperature of the water. Thus, you can change the flow
volume without affecting the temperature
• Temperature sensing, fluid control, and valve position modulation are all inherently contained in the
valve without the need for external temperature transducers or power.
• A significant economy in terms of saving water and energy and saves the user from the possibility of
burns or freezing .
• Allows water to be stored at a sterilizing temperature and delivered at a safe temperature.
• Reduces the complexity of the design.
DISADVANTAGES OF USING WAX

• Wax has much higher response time than shape memory alloys.
• Also, wax cannot be directly used to control the movement of the spring and
thus needs to be fitted inside a cylindrical piston which can make the design
more complex and further decrease the response time.
• At very high temperatures, wax can melt causing the whole system to fail.
How Shape Memory Alloys work?

• Shape memory alloys display two distinct crystal structures or phases. The phase that the SMA will be
at is determined by Temperature and Internal stresses. Martensite exists at lower temperatures, and
austenite exists at higher temperatures. When a SMA is in martensite form at lower temperatures, the
metal can easily be deformed into any shape. When the alloy is heated, it goes through transformation
from martensite to austenite. In the austenite phase, the memory metal "remembers" the shape it
had before it was deformed.
Composition of Spring

• Working Temperature: 100-1300 F

• The SME spring 20 is preferably made from an inexpensive, corrosion resistant material
affording a shape memory effect in the temperature range 100°-130° F, as specified for scald
condition.
• Composition: 65-75 % Copper + 20-30% Ni + 5-15% Al
MECHANISM

• The present invention provides a pilot valve system which uses a leaf spring made of metallurgical transformed
memory material, e.g., martensitic metallurgical transformation shape memory effect (SME) alloy. When the fluid is
cool the leaf is deflected and the pilot valve is held closed by a bias spring. Under this condition the main valve
element comprising a diaphragm is in its open position and flow is not hindered. When the temperature of the fluid
increases to a predetermined level, a metallurgical transformation takes place in the leaf spring. Stiffness of the leaf
spring increases and it returns to an undeflected shape which deflects the bias spring and unseats the pilot valve.
With the pilot valve unseated, fluid fills the cavity behind the diaphragm causing it to seat so that the main flow
path is blocked.
TRAINING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

STEP 1: Fix SMA into the shape you STEP 2: Heat it upto 400 degrees for
want. 10-15 mins.
TRAINING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

STEP 3: Drop it quickly into cold water. STEP 4: Take it out from the fixing tool
and test it.
 MECHANICAL CYCLING

 The idea is to use mechanical cycling under conditions of fixed temperature (the isothermal
response) to achieve stabilization rapidly and efficiently.
 This novel method uses the isobaric response to establish the stabilization point under conditions
identical to those that will be used during service.
 Once the stabilization point is known, a set of isothermal mechanical cycling experiments is then
performed using different levels of applied stress. Each of these mechanical cycling experiments is
left to run until the strain response has stabilized.
 When the stress levels required to achieve stabilization under isothermal conditions are known, they
can be used to train the material in a fraction of the time that would be required to train the
material using only thermal cycling.
 As the strain state has been achieved isothermally, the material can be switched back under isobaric
conditions, and will remain stabilized during service