Experimental Studies of Elements from the Functional Intermetallic Cu-Al-Mn for Construction of a Heat Engine and Power Plant

The main objectives of the work are to study the thermomechanical characteristics and establish the patterns of reactive force generation by elements made of functional Cu-Al-Mn intermetallic compounds for their further use in heat engines of electrical power generation plants. The objectives were achieved using a test setup with control and measuring instruments to determine the thermomechanical characteristics of elements made of functional intermetallic compounds with different geometric and physical parameters, and by plotting the force-temperature curves. Based on the results of experimental studies, thermomechanical characteristics (dependencies of the reactive force developed by thermosensitive elements on their heating temperature) were constructed, and specific indicators of reactive force generation relative to the mass of thermosensitive elements were determined. It was established that samples at a heating temperature of +90...+100 °C restore their initial shape (after preliminary deformation) in 0.15 s. The specific indicator of reactive force generation relative to the unit mass of thermosensitive elements was determined to be – 0.97 W/g. The significance of the results obtained lies in the fact that the results of experimental studies and the established regularities will be used as a basis for the creation of a heat engine and, on its basis, an electrical installation for the generation of electrical energy operating with low-potential sources of thermal energy – secondary heat energy from technological cycles, water reservoirs of thermal and nuclear power plants, as well as thermal sources.