A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | M A R C H 2 0 2 3 3 6 FEATURE environment (+46°C). The tests were repeated for each target temperature condition to evaluate positional repeatability. The EUT was given command signals of a test profile involving a series of step inputs ranging from 0.5% to 10%. This test profile allows the performance of the entire valve assembly to be evaluated. Actuator position was measured against the commanded position to determine positional accuracy. For all temperature conditions, the measured outputs from each test were consistent between repeated runs (Fig. 3). Dead time was largely unaffected by temperature; however, a slight decrease was observed for tests in the +23°C environment. It was observed that the EUT was capable of accurately responding to the smallest motion command available (0.25% positional increment). Thus, it was determined that the EUT’s dead band is smaller than 0.25%. Positional accuracy was found to be within 0.1%, or 19 µm, of the commanded setpoint for all temperature conditions. Settling time was found to have a decreasing trend with increasing temperatures. CONCLUSION The experiments conducted in the ETC laboratory validated that the KVA was able to provide closing forces typical of those found in industrial applications. The positional accuracy of the actuator was also examined under various temperature conditions (-43°C, +23°C, +46°C). For all temperature conditions, actuator accuracy was within 0.1% of the commanded positions with a dead band smaller than 0.25%. Areas of interest for optimizing performance include adjusting actuator response rates to maintain control over industrial processes while minimizing electrical power consumption. KVA units are currently being tested at natural gas well sites to gauge performance in an operational environment. ~SMST For more information: Ryan Gibson, product manager, Kinitics Automation Limited, 8430 Fraser St., Vancouver, BC V5X 0A4, Canada, 604.304.1181, info@kiniticsautomation.com, www.kiniticsautomation.com. Acknowledgments Kinitics acknowledges support from Emissions Reduction Alberta, Natural Gas Innovation Fund, and National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program. The University of Calgary Emissions Testing Center laboratory acknowledges support from the Natural Gas Innovation Fund and the University of Calgary’s Canada First Research Excellence Fund program, the Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low-Carbon Unconventional Resources. References 1. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Review of Canada’s Methane Regulations for the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector, Gatineau, 2021. 2. D.T. Allen, et al., Methane Emissions from Process Equipment at Natural Gas Production Sites in the United States: Pneumatic Controllers, Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol 49, No. 1, p 633-640, 2015. 3. Alberta Energy Regulator, Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting, 2021. 4. U.S. Government Accountability Office, Oil and Gas: Federal Actions Needed to Address Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Development, 2022. 5. L. Eitel, Shape-memory Alloys Linear Actuators: A New Option for Positioning, Design World, 10 July 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.designworldonline.com/shape-memory-alloys-linear-actuators-a-new-option-for-positioning/. [Accessed 11 January 2023]. 6. H. Abuzied, et al., Usage of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators for Large Force Active Disassembly Applications, Heliyon, Vol 6, No. 8, 2020. SMST UPCOMING EVENTS SMST ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP March 14-15, Fort Worth, Texas See the Show Preview opposite the SMST NewsWire guest editorial in this issue for event details. NITINOL FOR MEDICAL DEVICES COURSE March 27-29, ASM World Headquarters Instructor: Alan Pelton SMST 2024 May 6-10, Cascais, Portugal Visit smst.asminternational.org for up-to-date information on these events. 1 0
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