Explosive-free valve design wins Space Propulsion Innovation Award

Sam Hyde and Valdis Krumins beat 14 finalists from leading space science companies, design agencies and university research centres with their new design for permanent valves – valves on a space craft that operate only once during a mission, after which they remain open or closed.

Currently, standard valves use a pyrotechnic activator consisting of a small explosive charge to open or close valves permanently. However, firing creates gases, particles, shocks and vibrations, which can break welds and causing a satellite or rocket to be damaged.

The pair replaced the moving cylinder of the old valve with a tapered cone and replaced the explosives with a simple spring, which is compressed and secured by a piezoelectric trigger.

When a current flows through the trigger, it releases the spring, which pushes the valve into its new, permanent position.

The trigger returns to its original position when the current is switched off and then prevents the valve from moving back.