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       Every successful project starts with a framework. A vision statement. A blueprint. The staff of Engineered Systems is proud to present The Blueprint — a monthly Q&A interview with HVACR engineering’s leading voices. These one-on-one discussions examine the trade’s history, current industry trends, the factors shaping the sector’s future, and more.         
       In the most recent installment, Kevin O’Toole, co-founder and managing director of Exergyn Ltd., discusses shape memory alloy (SMA) technology, its use in the U.S. and abroad, and much more.

       Engineered Systems: Exergyn touts SMA as the “future of sustainable energy.” Seeing that you are well-informed on the subject, can you please introduce us to SMA and explain how it works?
       O’Toole: SMA is a unique metal alloy that exhibits two distinct behaviors — the shape memory effect and superelasticity. Primarily made up of nickel and titanium, the alloy has two distinct metallic states — austenite and martensite. Our thermal management solutions are based on superelasticity, where an external force — typically generated by a hydraulic ram or electric actuator — compresses the SMA material. This results in an internal phase change from austenite to martensite. In doing so, the material releases a large amount of latent heat. The reverse is true during unloading in that the SMA absorbs a large amount of latent heat. This behavior mimics that of a refrigerant gas, but we are doing so with no negative impact on the environment. This is quite unlike refrigerant gases, which are the leading contributor to climate change. Since both our phases are metallic, we don’t suffer leaks and are thus global warming potential (GWP)-free. (For reference, one unit of GWP is equivalent to the warming impact of one unit of CO2. Most refrigerant gases have GWPs in the hundreds or thousands, and, thus, are extremely bad from a climate change perspective).
       The inherent advantage of SMA is that we are changing the ratios of the chemical elements in the matrix, meaning we can optimize the material for different applications. So, an SMA stack for refrigeration looks almost identical to an SMA stack for, say, a district heating application, with the only difference being the chemical ratios in the microstructure. This means we have a very high commonality of components across the full spectrum of applications, quite unlike the current HVACR landscape.
 
       Engineered Systems: Is SMA expensive to own, operate, and maintain?
       O’Toole: Not at all. SMA is made from nickel and titanium, mostly, both of which are common materials and relatively ubiquitous. Our unique approach means we can use the lowest grade of material possible, which keeps system costs as low as possible in terms of capex. We have had independent third parties assess our system manufacturing costs at high volumes, and they expect us to be in line with today's traditional cooling systems, and, in some cases, we're significantly cheaper. From an opex perspective, we have demonstrated the equivalent of 40-plus years of operation in accelerated testing of the SMA, which will ensure maintenance of the SMA stacks is kept to a minimum. The balance of the plant is all made of standard items and engineering materials and, as such, is subject to standard maintenance and its associated costs.  

Read the entire interview on Engineered Systems’ website.

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       Percussive Maintenance is defined as the use of physical concussion, such as a knock or a tap, in an attempt to make a malfunctioning device or person work. In Engineered Systems’ Percussive Maintenance podcast, we’re poised to do much more than rattle the engineering industry’s exterior, we’re digging deeper into the subjects and topics that matter most with some of the industry’s most important names.         
      In the latest episode, Kevin Brown, vice president of engineering at ABM and member of Energy Management Association’s (EMA’s) board of directors; and Jennifer Szaro, president and CEO at Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP), discuss the details behind the organizations’ recent partnership.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of the Percussive Maintenance podcast.  

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Prescient Technical Services - Video 1: Gas Piping Valve Mistakes

       Gas piping valve mistakes cost two lives and more than $30 million in damages annually. Here are some actions that can be taken to avoid these simple mistakes, courtesy of John Puskar, P.E., president of Prescient Technical Services.

See the video on Engineered Systems’ website.

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November 2021

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