Nitinol Actuated Water Pump

Project Overview: Our team designed and built a self-priming water pump powered exclusively by the cyclical, thermal motion of a Nitinol heat engine. The core engineering challenge was converting the slow, low-force output of the "smart material" engine into a continuous mechanical force capable of lifting a stream of water 8 inches for irrigation or distribution.

Technical Contributions & CAD: My primary responsibility was the CAD development in SOLIDWORKS and the additive manufacturing of the system components.

• Design & Modeling: I modeled the custom rotor, rollers, adapter, housing, and the main skid using SOLIDWORKS to ensure precise mechanical alignment.

• 3D Printing: I managed the fabrication of all 3D-printed parts, navigating material constraints and printer tolerances to ensure the assembly fit within the strict 12" x 12" x 16" footprint.

• Prototyping: I performed multiple design iterations to improve the durability of the parts and reduce friction in the rotating assembly.

The Solution: Peristaltic System. We chose a peristaltic pump design for its simplicity and efficiency. By utilizing rotating rollers to compress flexible silicone tubing, we created a steady flow that handles the cyclical nature of the Nitinol engine without requiring complex valves. The final result is a robust, compact, and non-electric device that demonstrates how theoretical materials science can be applied to functional mechanical systems.